Turning the dream into reality
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King’s quote can be applied anywhere not just of a man, but also in a home, city or in a nation. Fifty-plus years after King’s efforts in the American Civil Rights movements when he led the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech, America often still stands stagnant.
The March on Washington was for Jobs and Freedom not just for blacks against whites, or rich against poor. As we head into Black History month, we’ll hear more about King and other black leaders like him but all of their work is for nothing if no one is pushing for it to become a reality.
His efforts and others like him – black and white - proved to have not been in vein as the country has shifted away from those of the past and now offer equal rights to all. However as a nation, we have a new fight and are in new times. Then, it took the voices of people for change. Now, not so much. The measure of our nation deteriorates daily as it seems we self-destruct by fighting against ourselves. As individuals, we are equal but as voters and voices we fail. The higher authorities drown out the smaller voices and seldom hear us out. It’s because our voices are so different - never united. It’s republican views versus democratic views versus liberal and so on. There is no togetherness.
When restrictions on guns are considered we self-destruct as communities with harsh words that insult our neighbor’s political views as if the neighbor has anything to do with the banning or keeping of guns. We say things like those damn republicans or those damn democrats always changing stuff, when really it’s not exactly that.
If we all pull together for the betterment and improving of our country regardless of who initiates the idea the United States can return to the world power it once was. Just because we disagree on political views doesn’t mean we have to disagree to stand united. That’s what propelled us in the times of war and depression. We stuck together.
Let’s not wait for times of difficulty to pull together. Let’s not wait for another Hurricane Katrina or another Sept. 11 attack to call on God and pray for our country to stand together. Let’s do it when things are quiet and looking good - when the sun is shinning.
In America, we all are Americans, bottom line. So be proud to be an American, and make our ancestors who fought to keep this country proud of us for not letting their blood, sweat and tears be in vein. Let’s make their dreams our reality.
Blessings