01/22/2019
Until Tuesday night, blowout free 1/2 & 1/4-cup jars ($16 value) w $5 purchase/Choice of $17 Mini gift boxes for $5 w $10 purchase all to bring attention to the reality that it hasn’t been just minorities being judged by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character. If your character needs improving—now might be a good time to do just that.
Martin Luther King Jr. was in the Birmingham jail where he wrote his amazing letter because he was trying to get merchants to be what he needed them to be to move equality forward. This is us trying to be what we think he was asking us to be.
A good message goes a good distance. A good message with a great offer knows no bounds. So we’ve gone over the top with our Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday offers in hopes of getting you to share this Facebook post. Thanks for spreading the word.
The message we are trying to share starts with Dr. King’s dream that one day his children would not be disqualified by the color of their skin, but instead be fairly judged simply on the content of their character. To see the incoming freshman US Representatives is to see that for one party, Dr. King’s “One Day” really is already arriving. Clearly for a great many Democratic voters the color of someone’s skin, or even their gender identity, is no longer a reason to keep them from the chance to be fairly judged. But the message we hope to share this Martin Luther King Holiday is more than just one of celebration.
This year, more than any before it, marks the dawn of Dr. King’s dream of all people being judged not by the color of their skin but instead by the content of their character. But what’s also becoming increasingly obvious in this dawn of a new day is that Dr. King’s dream has always been a two-sided coin. Just as though there are those whose skin color kept their goodness from being seen, there are also many who were equally unfairly given a free pass who now have to choose between doing some work on the content of their character or face being judged to be not good.
My advice is choose good: stop trying to take health care from those with pre-existing conditions, stop forcing transgender children into restrooms that put them at risk, and be done with devastating the environment for a thousand years to come. Being good is pretty easy; fun, too. For the most part all it takes is treating others the way you would like to be treated. It’s a lot like cooking. Make foods that make those you cook for happy. Don’t be using your privilege to make life more difficult for those with less privilege. It’s time to come join the good side. It’s where our human-kindness lives, and so much more peaceful. Plus, did I mention we have treats?
And if you do have a little spare time this week, please read Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham jail. He was a man of peace and a man of non-violence, but he also understood that if those who stand in the way of equality are not challenged nothing will ever change. In his letter there is this quote: “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."
You can read his letter here: http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html
Our generation as well. Sixty-three million Americans saw what his own party labeled as a “textbook” racist running for president and voted for him anyway. We will get through this. My hope is that after this is all over we will be much better at understanding the real dangers of those who spread racism. Those that use racism and the fear of others today to gain a following are always inherently untrustworthy. They are looking for a shortcut, wanting an advantage they haven’t earned, and this will always lead to their closets being filled with skeletons. Yes, these are painful times, but these are also the times wisdom comes from. Stay strong.
To get your coupons for both the free half-cup and quarter-cup jars with $5 purchase and $5 Mini Gift box with $10 purchase offers to use in one of our stores, please click this link: http://spices.penzeys.com/voice.html
Online at penzeys.com this all works automatically. After $5 in spending your highest priced half-cup cup jar up to $10.49 and quarter-cup jar up to $5.95 will be switched to no charge. With $10 in spending the Mini gift box of your choice will automatically be available for your choosing for just $5. It’s easy.
Shipping is free with $40 spending, but to help make this a little more affordable for all, if you don’t meet the $40 minimum, we’ve dropped shipping from our usual $8.95 to just $5. And regularly $4.59 Ozark Seasoning for just $2 with both of those dollars going to the city of Memphis to help offset the state funds being withheld for removing the Confederate and K*K statues. The City of Memphis removed those two statues to benefit us all. Let’s help them bear the costs, and Ozark is a really tasty way to do it.
And on a personal note, I want to thank those who removed the confederate and K*K leadership statues in Memphis. You’ve set in motion many good things including helping with my own struggle to counter those wishing to keep segregation alive in western suburbs of Milwaukee. The cities Memphis and Milwaukee aren’t that different. Good diverse cities working to create a future with opportunity for all. But surrounding both are suburbs where some of the children and grandchildren of those who fled diversity still work to keep segregation a reality.
Over the decades they’ve gotten good at hiding their motivations. Sure, from the overwhelming evidence it’s clear what they are up to, but try to confront or counter their actions and it’s always “my goodness no” and “how could you ever think that we...” and “we would never...” And it’s one thing to point out racial bias, but to accuse community leaders of intentional discrimination against non-”whites” without proof is something very different. Without that smoking gun confirming their intentions it’s pretty much impossible to truly hold them accountable for their actions. But then came the Memphis statue removal.
I’m not sure how people in Waukesha, Wisconsin even know about Confederate and K*K leadership statues in Memphis, much less care, but care they did. Long story short, these leaders up and sat down in front of us at an event the day following the statues’ removal and tried to contain their emotions about the previous night’s doings in Memphis, but they were only successful in somewhat lowering their voices, but were not at all successful at checking their anger.
Their behavior was a lot like something out of Spike Lee’s latest, BlacK*Klansman, but these people all were white. Hate like that isn’t from experience, it’s taught and that’s got to stop. Since that night, their ability to deny their motivations ended and now progress is being made. And for that I will forever have the people of Memphis to thank. Thank you!
Goodness brings goodness. And in many ways that’s the story of cooking. When we take the time to care for those around us, that goodness does not last for just a moment. Goodness creates waves and ripples and ramifications that can transcend any one lifetime. Dr. King’s life is proof of that. He has now been gone for fifty years but yet his dream is finally arriving. We all have so much to be thankful for. We can show our thanks by continuing his works.
And Ozark Seasoning, too. Just $2 and those $2 entirely go to the city of Memphis to offset the promised support funds for the city’s upcoming Bicentennial celebration the State of Tennessee rescinded after the removal of the statues. Through a previous Ozark Seasoning fundraiser we’ve already sent over $30,000 to the city. With your help, through Tuesday night we can hopefully send at least a few thousand more. Ozark Seasoning is of course great for chicken and fish, but is equally tasty for carrots, potatoes and even Brussels sprouts. Get some to share.
To see our Ozark Seasoning please click here: https://www.penzeys.com/online-catalog/ozark-seasoning/c-24/p-510/pd-s
For a tasty Brussels sprouts recipe try this link: https://www.penzeys.com/shop/recipes/brussels-sprouts-salad/
And we made our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day offer so noticeably good to get you to forward and share it with those you know. Please pass this message and offer to any family or friends who might find it valuable. It’s good through Tuesday 1.22.19.
To see our Mini gift boxes please click here: https://www.penzeys.com/shop/gift-boxes?giftBoxCategory=94
To see our half and quarter-cup Spice/Seasonings offered just visit us at penzeys.com.
Thanks for your support, and please keep doing what you are doing to keep hope alive. It’s your kindness that is making Dr. King’s dream a reality.
You are awesome,
Bill
[email protected]
And so far this year we seem to be struggling a bit to post as often as last year. If you just look for us here and haven’t yet signed up for our Voice Of Cooking emails, you’ve missed a lot of offers and a lot of messages of the hope to be found at the heart of cooking. Please sign up for our email list here: http://spices.penzeys.com/voice.html
