I Have a Dream: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As the nation honors the 50th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 2013 , a testament to his greatness is that nearly every major city in America has a street or school named after him.

After his death in Memphis on April 4, 1968, the words of Martin Luther King Jr. still hold captivating influence and inspiring gracefulness:

On Equality (Birmingham jail, 1963)
"Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson etched across the pages of history the majestic words of the Declaration, we were here."

On Nonconformity (1963)
"The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority."

On Civil Rights (Selma to Montgomery, 1965)
"We are moving to the land of freedom. Let us march to the realization of the American dream."

On Peace (1964)
"Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood."

On the Dream of Freedom (1964)
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed...that all men are created equal."

On Freedom (1963)
"So let freedom ring. From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire let freedom ring. From the mighty mountains of New York, let freedom ring. From the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania, let freedom ring. But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi..."

On the Future (April 3, 1968 – the night before his murder)
"I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight, I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

Listen to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Serving

9/11 Remembrance: Honor the Fallen, Honor the Heroes, Transform the Nation

As the nation pauses on Patriot Day, Wednesday, September 11, 2013—the twelfth anniversary of the day that changed America forever—it is necessary to honor the fallen, their loved ones, and the heroes who served and continue to serve. We must honor them eternally. The remembrance of 9/11 also compels us to transform our nation.

The victims from the World Trade Center, Flight 11, Flight 175, Flight 77, Flight 93 and the Pentagon will forever remind us of that fateful day. All across America—in our churches, synagogues, mosques, communities, homes and hearts—we must pray for the repose of their souls and for peace in the hearts of their families and friends. We must also remain vigilant and rededicate ourselves to the virtues inspired by the tragedy: patriotism, compassion and perseverance.

The anniversary of 9/11 also inspires the nation to honor the countless heroes who served victims and their loved ones. These heroes, many whom are unsung, represent the best in all of us and rose to the occasion from every imaginable profession, nationality, religion and ethnicity. America is forever grateful for these dedicated men and women and their tireless service to the community.

May we rise together from the trials and tragedy of that day and commit to a new era of renewal and triumph in our great land.

National Night Out: Community Policing Par Excellence

On Tuesday, August 6, 2013, America celebrated a community policing initiative par excellence, National Night Out. At the request of Police Officer Gary Mankowitz, President of the Essex County Crime Prevention Officers Association, I attended the event in his jurisdiction; Livingston, New Jersey.

This year marked my 19th National Night Out, which I have participated in at the request of different police departments, as memorialized in my August 5, 2009 post:

National Night Out: Police and Community Partnerships

On Tuesday, August 4, 2009, communities throughout America gathered to celebrate National Night Out a police & community partnership initiative. At the request of the Livingston, New Jersey Police Department, I was invited to share remarks during the opening ceremony with Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dowd, Police Chief Craig Handschuch, Township Manager Michele Meade, Mayor Charles August and Police Officer Gary Mankowitz. Officer Mankowitz coordinated this first National Night Out for Livingston with true professionalism.

As a crime prevention specialist, I have been privileged to participate in and encourage involvement with National Night Out celebrations for the last 15 years. I first experienced this event at the invitation of Patrick Fay, retired Lt. from the Hackensack Police Department in New Jersey. For many years while managing a private security company, I would send a team of employees to meet the Hackensack Community and to fingerprint children so their parents could have these records as a safety measure.

Last night's event—held at the spacious fields of Livingston High School—was remarkably successful and attended by thousands of Livingston residents as well as people from throughout Essex County and New Jersey. These included families, law enforcement agencies, first responders and the generous businesses who donated time, foods, refreshments and prizes for hundreds of children.

Reprinted from the National Night Out website

http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno/about.html

National Night Out is America's Night Out Against Crime designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
  
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
  
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
  
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The Livingston Police department, especially Chief Handschuch, Officer Mankowitz and the entire community policing unit is to be commended for their first National Night Out which enhanced police–community partnerships and gave Livingston families a night to remember.

PED's in Major League Baseball: Dangerous, Damaging, Dishonorable

Steroids in professional, college and high school sports are a dishonorable contradiction to the integrity of athleticism that demands character as the heart of competition. Yet some athletes persist in abusing steroids for self-serving hypocrisy that serves as an unfair competitive advantage, which, quite simply, is cheating, unethical, and unjust.

Aside from the moral high ground society must take in regard to steroids, there are physical and mental side effects that demand prevention:

• Sexual Dysfunction
  
• Bloated Appearances
  
• Rapid Weight Gain
  
• Clotting Disorders
  
• Liver Damage and Cancers
  
• Premature Heart Attacks and Strokes
  
• Elevated Cholesterol Levels
  
• High Blood Pressure
  
• Weakened Tendons
  
• Depression
  
• Delusions
  
• Eating Disorders
  
• Severe Irritability and Hostile Emotions
  
• Premature Halting of Growth in Adolescents

Players, coaches, trainers, parents and doctors need to know about the "Russian Roulette" hazard of abusing anabolic steroids. Education to counteract steroid abuse is critical on the professional, college and high school level. Complimenting this education, implied approval by any individuals associated with sports must be strongly responded to by educational campaigns, testing and serious consequences that serve as a deterrent and punishment. Click here to read more about steroid abuse...

Principles of Ethical Leadership: Reawakening the Nation

On Thursday, August 1, 2013 I conducted a program titled Principles of Ethical Leadership for Security Professionals at the renowned Christie’s. The program took place at their Rockefeller Plaza, New York City location and was attended by their supervisors, manager and Vice President Director of Security.

As noted on their website:

Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise.
Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million.
Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong.

This initiative is a continuation of my leadership programs for law enforcement, schools, security professionals and community leaders nationwide for many years. Aside from today’s initiative, another that I conducted in New York City for the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI/NYPD, gives insight into the importance of ethical leadership development and cultivating a unity of effort for security and law enforcement professionals:

Safeguarding America: NYPD/FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force

On Tuesday, May 30, 2006, over 200 FBI agents, NYPD Detectives, analysts and others that make up the NYPD/FBI Joint terrorism Task Force gathered at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York City Office as part of their ongoing training and development initiatives.

I was privileged to address the task force on America's Call to Leadership in an Age of Scandal, which focused on the pervasiveness of corruption in contemporary society with government, corporate, sports and faith-based scandals. The presentation emphasized the criticality of instilling character in the heart of our nation and showed appreciation for those in the FBI and NYPD who are so critical to protecting the homeland.

As with all of my presentations, I concluded with a tribute honoring military personnel, which was particularly relevant in light of the recent Memorial Day holiday.

Read American Leadership in an Age of Scandal.

http://www.vincentbove.com/vb_article_010.php