Comments on: Martin, Obama, and an Ongoing Dream

By: amijane

amijane — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:38:25 +0000

I am neutral about this day. I feel like something is superficial about it, however, this will look good in the history books. I will just continue to better myself and hopefully others as a person and watch this interesting presidential term.

By: Pearlsrevealed

Pearlsrevealed — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:15:36 +0000

I agree with many of the sentiments expressed. especially MissKStrong. MLK’s new agenda was to be the “poor peoples” campaign when his life was tragically ended.

With freedom, rights and priviledges comes the responsiblity to use these wisely and for the common good of all. Unfortunately, the rights won through the sacrifices of MLK and untold thousands are being squandered on greed and selfish motives in our community and the whole nation.

Nope. Real change is yet to come.

But I am encouraged by the creativity that this campaign has inspired as evident from the dozens of youtube videos I have reviewed since this summer. It makes me feel like this is what it was like during the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement of the sixties. A time when voices were loud and everyone had a song, a book, a painting, a whatever, that was inspired by what was going on during those treacherous times.

By: Shell

Shell — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:51:44 +0000

I feel my ancestors are happy to see this day as is Martin. The dream of equality of all is a dream that is becoming brighter every day.

By: Audrey Lewis

Audrey Lewis — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:29:49 +0000

I have no words because it is hard to interpret emotions so close to the soul. Happy? Yes. Very. Ready to roll up my sleeves and be an active part of the change? Yes. Definitely. I was there when Dr. King delivered his I Have A Dream speech. More than anything, I wanted to be treated like an American. When I was young I was told I was Colored, then I became a Negro. By the time I was an adult, I was Black and now on applications I’m asked if I am an African American. I have always been American and now I honestly believe that I will no longer have to express my differences but my commonality. I am an American! and proud of it.

By: Ebonys

Ebonys — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:31:59 +0000

I think Barack Obama is a link in the continuum of Dr, King’s dream. To believe that his presidency fulfill the dream would assume that they are no future leaders male or female who will come along and continue to transform the face of humanity.
Today I reflected that on Martin Luther King Jr. day last year I sat and watched a segment on Oprah about Gees Bend Alabama; a community whose African-American residents were denied resources for decades due to discrimination; until a couples years ago. Fast forward 365 days later and I am anxious to witness the possibilities of Mr. Obama’s term of leadership.
I think Dr. King and the soldiers of the civil rights movement would not be surprised at all. Dr. King said on August 28th 1963 “we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt”. I think Obama’s election in part brings that belief to fruition.

By: Nicki

Nicki — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:30:58 +0000

I would say, and my parents would agree, that the world and time that I have grown up in is much different than what they had to deal with. It boggles the mind that it wasn’t that long ago that there were separate drinking fountains in the south.

We have come so far since the “I Have A Dream” speech. And yes we have farther to go.

But each day that I wake up see that I am valued as an employee at my company or can shop where I want to and even hit a couple of balls at a driving range, I realize that there is hope.

By: Dad and Mom

Dad and Mom — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:38:02 +0000

Just singing James Brown’s song; I feel good…… so good, so good…..
He has the capacity, the capability, the intelligence and the confidence to excell. Yet, he needs our prayers. A lot has happened, but there is so much still to happen to provie the comfort Americans and the world need now and in the future. Let us protect him with our love, goodwill and good vibes, always.
And may Almighty God protect him so that he can continue the work that he was sent on this planet to do
D&M

By: MissKStrong

MissKStrong — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:36:26 +0000

Without taking anything away from the importance of this moment and what it has meant and will mean for the world, I think we need to go back and understand what MLK’s dream was all about. For many, our understanding of The Dream is a very shallow sense of integration, of blacks and other people of color occupying positions that have historically been denied to us. In my understanding, this is a very sanitized and incomplete version of what Martin Luther King had in mind. The vast majority of the so-called I Have a Dream speech was not about dreaming, but about tangible social-justice public policy! So, until we have full social justice and the achievement of human rights (which, if you look at the increasing economic and educational segregation, seems as far away as it did then), then we will continue to be falling FAR FAR FAR short of what Martin Luther King and other influential activists who have been forgotten had in mind.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:28:12 +0000

As people we are ever evolving. Without Martin there would have been no Barack. Barack is here to fulfill his destiny and to pave the way for those to come after him both in thought and deed.

Martin’s dream was for us to have a place at the table. We have that place. Now it’s up to us to decide what to do with it.

Love to all on this great day.

By: Pastor Jeff

Pastor Jeff — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:59:59 +0000

I believe that thinking that MLK would be happy or proud of Obama just because he is a black man goes against everything that King’s dream was about. Dr. King would have never had supported someone, regardless of color, who openly defies the Word of God that he stood for. I believe that Dr. King would be rolling over in his grave to know that the Liberal media has used his Vision to advance their leftist agenda. Dr. King was an amazing man, but most of all he was a Man of God!!