Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Never Thought I Would See The Day

Much has been made of coincidences that have happened throughout history. There is now a new one to add to the list. I heard it briefly on the news last night and had to check it out. I have not heard it again, at least not yet, but I sure find it interesting. No, it is beyond interesting, it actually gives me "goosebumps".

I have never hidden the fact that I am left of center politically and a supporter of Barack Obama. But I really think I would find this coincidence interesting even if I were not.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and delivered the "I Have A Dream" speech. The last part of that speech has always given me the hope that someday, we as a nation, would move beyond the issue of race.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."

I have a dream today.
MLK, Jr. 8/28/1963

Forty-five years later, on August 28, 2008, Barack Obama will step to the podium in Denver, Colorado and accept the Democratic Party's nomination as their candidate for President of the United States. Is the dream really alive?

Regardless of how the election turns out, history has been made. Even more amazing is the fact that history would have been made regardless of which final Democratic candidate had won! A woman? An African-American male? Wow!

6 comments:

HipKat said...

I totally agree 100%!
This is historic, but not jusgt because a black man and woman were closer than ever to being President, but because I believe this is acandidate who actually believes the things he says and will work to bring about the ship and put it back on course.

MLK's dream wasn't just for racial equality, but for a better America for everyone, and finally, a candidate who embraces that concept is poised to see that dream come true!

Anonymous said...

So you think Obama really believes he can control the rise and fall of the oceans and that he can "heal" the planet? We used to put people who believed such things in the nut house or burned them as witches. Now apparently liberals want such a person to be President. Dark times indeed. Obama's "dream" is a nightmare to me.

Ramble On said...

The post was not about Obama being President, but rather about equality for all people, even the elderly. The election will turn out the way it turns out, it does not take away from the prejudices involved. Sexism, racism and ageism.

Anonymous said...

Equality of opportunity is cool. Equality of outcomes is Socialism.

Ramble On said...

To "i do not know me": Thank you for sharing your opinion and I respect the fact that you have concerns in regards to the upcoming election. I also have concerns, although they are different than yours. That being said, this post is about equal opportunity and how long and difficult the efforts to achieve that equality has been thus far. Unfortunately, it is far from over.

Anonymous said...

I was mostly responding to hipkat's comment.