We Must Have A Dream

A day set aside as a national holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was established in 1986.  His words and voice rings through streets and capitols today as it did so many years ago.

"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." - August 28, 1963

Dr. King was a great orator and a passionate, moving speaker.  Throughout the years there have been numerous great orators and none captured the spirit and feelings of a people and a nation as his did.  His speeches continue to be repeated and quoted.  The years have added to the strength and appeal of his Dream.

All too regretfully the Dream remains a Dream -- the end of poverty - the end of violence - the end of racism.  Dr. King's words were not full of "thou shall nots" but of Dreams - a living wage, peace, dignity, education.  A place were all children are fed.  All children receive an education leading out of poverty into a rightful place in society.  His was the Dream of hope and faith.

As a society boasting of freedom and liberty we must examine why we have such a large and growing rate of poverty.  Why are there children going to bed without proper food and nutrition in a nation of plenty.  Why are the ranks of billionaires growing while two jobs frequently cannot feed a family of four?  Has the spirit of independence and hard work moved into one of selfishness and callousness?  The TV brings us horrible news of the plight of people from all over the world and we only need to look out the window.

Public education has been the path and the road for Dr. King's Dream.  An avid reader, Dr.King must have learned from another great orator:

Public education must remind us all that many such as Frederick Douglas and Dr. King struggled to ensure that all children have an education.  Public education is not just for the rich or the privileged.  It is a necessity for a free society.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson 1816

Jefferson must be seen through the lens of his age and his words empowered in the spirit intended.  We must make sure that all children have the big Dreams of food, shelter and learning.  A future of poverty, homelessness and despair do not lead a nation to peace and dignity.

,Today is a celebration of what can be the best of people and a society.  The challenge is clear.