The knowledge that I've gained has increased my appreciation for how far we have come, as a human race, particularly in this country, and how far we have to go, locally and globally.
I never read the full text of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's I have a dream before starting this inquiry. If you haven't, I encourage you to do so. View the video too. Here they are.
Here's an excerpt:
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
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!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
One phenomena that is particularly gratifying is that people are talking about this, at least in our small corner of the world.
One woman stopped me at the post office the other day and wanted to make sure I saw this story from the NY Daily News. She said the comments are the best part of the story and she is right about that.
A man came into my office to tell me a story. He remembered as a child in Middletown in the 60's how his black neighbors' home was burned down and he never saw them again. He wanted to share with me how far we've come.
Last night as I was volunteering at the Highlands Clam Festival I was struck by how diverse the crowd was. Black, Latin, Asian and White people were all peacefully enjoying the festival. Eating together, playing together, taking the NASA space tour together. Teens, twenty and thirty somethings were particularly diverse in their social interactions. I couldn't miss the 60 or 70 something black woman with her big beautiful white hat and her cane having a lengthy conversation with a 40 something white woman.
Sometime in the last two weeks someone told me a story about how black workers would make sure to pack up and get out of Highlands before sun down many years ago.
I have many more stories to tell about what I've learned, noticed, experienced, and remembered since we got this ball rolling. However, if you would be so generous, I would like to read how this conversation has impacted you, if it has, in the comments.
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5 comments:
Art,
I think there is no progress without some pain and an indication of the character of the participants in that progress.
You have shown yourself to persevere through emotionally charged moments with logic, wit and empathy.
Others, particularly, Jim Purcell, has shed light on exactly what type of character he has. When he perceived what in his mind was a "racist statement" he was not interested in creating peace, discussing the issue and coming to a positive solution. He immediately defamed you. There is an old Italian saying that described Jim very well.
L'uomo con un cuore nero
Which translate to "A man with a black heart".
I think that aptly describes him.
Oh yawn, Art, get over yourself. If you can't see what is wrong with using the n-word, try using it to someones face. Thanx for pointing out how great you are, and how wonderfully diverse we are.
\sarcasm off
not at all
Mrs. Anonymous #2 says... "try using it to someones face"
This is a great example of a racist comment; let us review how and why.
Suppose I call Art a "fatso", ie "Hey Art! You're a fatso!" and Art, having a sense a humor, will go "Hey James! You're ugly!".
We'll both be *VERY* offended over being called these words and go cry in our respective corners and wait until the next round, or we'll make some jokes about the words used, high five each other and go about our day as normal, civilized people. In fact, in some way, we may have helped each other, ie, Art might go on a diet and I might start wearing a mask, ie, we'll stop acting like fat/ugly people.
Now, suppose Art calls the rapper who goes by the name "Ludacris" "the n-word" as you challenge Art to do. Your suspicion, and the reason you challenge Art to say "the n-word" to someone's face is because you believe that all blacks are so uncivilized that Art will be physically assaulted, if not even murdered, over the mere use of the word. There could be almost no other reason you would challenge Art to say "the n-word" to someone's face unless this is the response you expect. (Unless of course you expect Art to engage in a rap battle maybe? Care to give us a sample rap Art? HAH!)
So which is more racist, Art - a relative no-one (no offense Art) - repeating the word in a civil discussion, Jesse Jackson (a well known, prominent global figure) saying the word (about a presidential candidate) in a hateful and derogatory manner, and/or you having the belief that all black people must be so uncivilized and violent that we should expect a black person to commit some felony assault as a result of hearing the word, from Art?
Of course, it is possible that Mr. Jackson was as accurate about Mr. Obama as Art is accurate in his assessment of me being ugly. Just as I take Art's comment about me being ugly to improve my appearance, maybe Mr. Obama needs to take Mr. Jackson's criticism and improve himself as well?
In any case, I'm offended that you imply black people are violent and would harm Art and I expect you to apologize to all black people for being racist.
Really Mr. Hogan, "almost no other reason". Your argument is full of logical fallacies. However, the straw man that you set up is the one I will address.
The writer may have been implying that Art knows that he can't use such a hateful word to address someone, because it is such a loaded word. It is unlikely that Art would use that word to one of his black friends, or a black customer.
I am impressed at your use of rhetoric (as full of logical fallacies that it is) to try to turn around that statement.
Next time try it with out the straw man, false dilemma and appeal to probability arguments
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