American Values at the Intersection

Audrey McCann

There is an intersection of American values today, January 20, 2025.

There is a line drawing of Martin Luther King, Jr. holding his arm out as if giving a speech. There is a quote by his head that reads "The time is always right to do what is right." At the bottom of the graphic is his name. The background is a dark blue.

Today is a day to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., sharing his insight on building the Beloved Community on love and justice and taking action that follows in those footsteps. Today is also a day to inaugurate someone who does not hold these values. The tension between these two events is thick with unease that many of us may feel.

Maybe, for you, today is a day to reflect on this dichotomy of American values. Maybe it is a day to volunteer at a soup kitchen, donate to an indigenous climate reparations fund, or get out in nature and clean up your local park with your family. Or, maybe today is a day to breathe. We can recuperate today in whatever ways feel best for each of us so we will have strength to work toward justice. The work will always be ready to pick up tomorrow.

Barbara Hynak, a member of the UUMFE community, offered some questions for each of us to consider:

  • What are my values?
  • How do I uphold those values?
  • What is one thing I can do this week to honor my values?

Whatever today brings for you, the team at UUMFE sends our love.