January 19th, 2026 is Martin Luther King Day and February is the birthday month of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. February 24th 2026 is the date of President Trump’s 6th State of the Union Address before Congress. As we start a new year it is important to remember the foundations and leaders of peace and justice. We need to return to the words and actions that support our movement in American society towards a “more perfect union.” The headlines of January show a type of constitutional crisis that is threatening this union through the use of power without true authority. Some government actions are harming the general welfare of the people. In this article we attempt to weave together the important lessons of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr while reporting on some of the headlines that show a threat in upholding these lessons.
In 1787 when the US Constitution was written, Thomas Jefferson said to James Madison that the American Dream must protect individual citizen rights. He said “A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.” This shows us how the founding fathers’ outline for peace and justice was relational. They believed that the right of being treated fairly should not be something that should be asked, it should be granted naturally. Jefferson emphasized the need to put this specifically in writing while Madison knew that the strength of a Government comes from its protection of the people.
George Washington was the first President of the United States. His example of honor and humility set a precedent for the United States Presidents who follow him. Some powers of the U.S. President are specifically written in the U.S. Constitution. Many more powers have been created by the example of previous Presidents. The Constituion says in Article II section 3 clause 1 that a President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” President Washington interpreted “from time to time” as meaning an “Annual Message”. Every President since Washington has delivered this message. It has been delivered over 100 times just in writing. Thomas Jefferson felt that a speech looked too much like a King or monarchy so he set a tradition of hand written letter for the State of the Union that lasted until the beginnings of radio media in the 1920s. President Calvin Coolidge was the first President to deliver a State of the Union Address over broadcast radion on December 6th 1923. In that 1923 address of just over 6,000 words, he spoke of the world at peace saying, “For us peace reigns everywhere. We desire to perpetuate it always by granting full justice to others and requiring of others full justice to ourselves.” Only two Presidents, William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield, never gave a State of the Union address because they died in office within their first year. President Washington holds the all-time record for the shortest annual message, delivering only 1,089 words in 1790. Richard Nixon holds the record for the shortest spoken State of the Union address in modern history, with his 1972 speech lasting only 28 minutes and 55 seconds followed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 at 31 minutes. The most recent State of the Union address delivered on the night of February 24th 2026 holds the all time record as the longest lasting in U.S. History. This was mostly because he stopped many times for the applause of Republican loyalists and to criticize those who did not stand and appluad him. The word count was only 10,600 words . President Jimmy Carter delivered the longest address in words in 1981 at 33, 667 words.
In Trump’s most recent speech he paused to recognize special guests. The words he used the most were “thank“, said 45 times and “great” said 41 times. Trump said the word “War” 36 times. It is notable in light of current events that President Trump never used the word “Immigrant” but he did say “Alien” 10 times and “Foreign“10 times. Using the word “Criminal” 5 times, it was often directly following the word “Alien“. The transcript of the 2026 State of the Union Address is LINKED HERE if you would like to do your own word search. Our current President stood in contrast to our first in many ways. One interesting contrast can be noted as Trump is quoted saying, “So, in my first year of my second term — should be my third term, but strange things happen —” George Washington did not want to be a new American king. He knew that he needed to serve a limited term and not be elected for life. This is why he set the precident or example of a two term maximum. This became official after President F. D. R was elected 4 times from the Great Depression through World War II and President Truman helped push for the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution which limits Presidents to a maximum of 10 years or two elected terms. February is an appropriate month to remember the 22nd Amendment because it was ratified into the Constitution on February 27th, 1951.
even our commercial policy should hold an equal
and impartial hand“
Thomas Jefferson was our nation’s 3rd President. He lived in Virginia and is responsible for the founding philosophy outlined in the Declaration of Independence. He too is remembered on President’s Day, especially this year as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the July 4th signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is interesting to note that Jefferson 
was born in the spring and died on July 4th 1826; 50 years after the signing and 200 years ago. In the opening of the Declaration of Independence he states We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. One of the most important ways to protect these natural rights according to Jefferson was through quality education. Speaking of wars in Europe in his third annual address to Congress in October 1803, Jefferson said, “to cultivate the friendship of the belligerent nations by every act of justice and of innocent kindness;… “ Education in Jefferson;s eyes was about awareness through relationship. Good citizenship could only be possible with educated people. In order to protect peace and justice we are each charged with an obligation to be educated. “ A nation cannot be both ignorant and free.” – Thomas Jefferson 1/6/1816 in a letter to Charles Yancey
Abraham Lincoln, elected in 1860, is the 16th President who faced the challenge of Civil War over the social and economic institution of slavery in America. Lincoln came to realize that ” A house divided cannot stand” and slavery was one of the
biggest denials of truth and divisions in our American history. For this reason, during the Civil War he emancipated all slaves in the rebelling states and after his death by assassination his legacy helped ratify the 13th Amendment.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King supported civil rights100 years after the leadership of Abraham Lincoln. He was strictly against violence, he believed violence & destruction cannot bring any advantage, He said “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” For Martin Luther King love was a source of truth. He called his theory of nonviolence truth force. His idea of “truth force” was learned from the example of global leaders like Mohatma Gandhi of India at a time when the United Nations was being formed after World War II. Truth Force according to Gandhi and King is always creative and life giving. The truth sets us free and lifts everyone up. He’s known for always fighting for equality, ending poverty, and bringing peace. He was a man of justice.
He has given a speech about “I have a dream” which has won hearts of all people even as it is addressed to the injustice of slavery and racism towards blacks. This is because we are all tied by humanity. Injustice, cruelty to one is to all of us. He led groups of people who boycotted Montgomery buses, because American Africans used to get bullied by many whites. It is fear and ignorance that cause racism. People were afraid of losing control, they were afraid of integration. Martin Luther King Jr.spoke about the force of truth with unconditional. Rev. Martin Luther King worked with President Eisenhower, President Kennedy and President Johnson to advance his American Dream.
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
One noted example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. responding to the President’s State of the Union Address. The 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, spoke of a “War on Poverty” in Janury 1964 as a way to further social justice in America. The speech one year later built on this idea with his concept of “A great society”. It spoke of America as a light of hope to the world welcoming immigrants. His address ecouraged a more just and strong democratic republic as it prepared the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. LINK to Speech
“I want to thank you for that great State of the Union message. It was really a marvelous presentation, and I think we are on the way now toward the Great Society.” – Rev. Dr. M. L. K.
The Political Headlines of 2026; Immigration & Citizenship
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Rev. Dr. MLK Jr.
JANUARY 2026; A crisis in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota
What happened January 7th in Minneapolis with ICE?
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal officials and local leaders clashed Wednesday over their differing characterizations of a fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.
While President Donald Trump’s administration described the killing of a 37-year-old mother as an act of self-defense amid his latest immigration crackdown, Minneapolis officials have disputed that narrative. AP NEWS
Does Donald Trump change when he observes the video? Who does he blame?
https://www.youtubeeducation.com/watch?v=yrtSDmRXv4E
” The woman in the car (who was shot and killed) was unbelievably bady behaved.”
-President Trump
In 2026 at least 6 individuals have been killed under direct custody of federal agents and the officials in the Government continue to blame the victims almost exclusively before an investigation begins. LINK
In early 2026, multiple deaths have been reported involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the U.S., including at least six to eight in-custody deaths within the first few weeks of the year, following 32 deaths in 2025. High-profile fatal shootings by agents, such as Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, have caused public outcry.
The president of Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota on Tuesday called for the immediate release of tribal members who were detained at a homeless encampment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota last week.
Three of the four Oglala Sioux Tribe members who were arrested in Minneapolis on Friday have been transferred to an ICE facility at Fort Snelling, President Frank Star Comes Out said in a statement released with a memorandum sent to federal immigration authorities.
“Enrolled tribal members are citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty.”
What do the tribal treaties between Native Americans and the National Federal Government say? LINK
- U.S. Citizenship: The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born within the United States.
- Tribal Citizenship: Enrolled members hold citizenship in their respective sovereign nations, which pre-dates the U.S. Constitution.
- Context: The Oglala Sioux Tribe uses this legal standing to argue that tribal members are not subject to federal immigration detention (ICE).
How are local and state and global government responding to the power of the national government?
- American citizens are been harmed or killed by immigration police; Leaders of cities and states are speaking out against the national ICE police.
- No communication between ICE and city and state police with ICE
- Citizens are afraid but are supporting each other
- At the World level, US ls leaving organizations for peace and health.
- Local mayors in Maine and Minnesota speak and protest
How does this topic relate to the
US CONSTITUTION and/or HUMAN RIGHTS?
The Associated Press reported today that an internal memo shows some new federal immigration officers have been trained to forcibly enter homes without a judge’s warrant, a sharp reversal of guidance that protected constitutional limits. – DZ
5 facts + LINK
- 700 ice agents are being sent home from minnesota
- Minneapolis is a city in minnesota
- There have been 2 different killings in this city
- killings of citizens have caused protests for weeks
- 16 residents in the U.S. have been killed by ICE agents this year; this is a clear violation basic civil and human rights.
How are people advocating for peace and justice? SDG 16 + How does this show the 1st Amendment at work?
“Goal 16 is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. People everywhere should be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives whatever their ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation.”
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/peace-justice/
Buddhist monks’ 15 week walk for peace ends in Washington DC on Tuesday Feb. 10
5 facts + LINK
- On Tuesday 2/10 the “Walk for Peace” came to Virginia and Washington DC.
- The walk began in Texas.
- Thousands gathered along icy streets.
- In the winter cold many Americans also feel that our nation is losing the leading flame of peace and justice.
- The walk lasted 15 weeks or over 3 months, it witnessed the news of citizens being killed by ICE agents.
M. + E.