I have a dream Book

While we do not celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Canada, the sentiments that MLK evoked in many of his speeches and actions are at the heart of the Canadian spirit. I read this version of the famous “I have a dream...” speech because someone close to me ask if I would. I am so very pleased that I took the time to read and absorb everything that is in it. This book offers some powerfully illustrated pages with an abridged version of the speech, as well as a full text copy at the back, both of which are very important for the reader to digest. The illustrations alone are some of the most powerful I have seen in a book, but the text truly brings the sentiment home. King speaks about how things had not changed from 1863–when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation—through to the date of the speech, in 1963. I sit here, on January 20, 2020 and think that 157 years have not made much difference. While there have been advancements, the world populace is still in a rut of racism, hatred, and class system based on the colour of one’s skin and what they accept as a personal creed. The world turns to its leaders for guidance and action (as, perhaps, King turned to JFK and then LBJ), but America has locked itself into a leader whose bigotry, misogyny, and racism is as blunt as the intellect his puts forth when he opens his mouth. “But he speaks for the people of America, the grassroots people who cast votes for him, across the country,” some will say. That, in and of itself is enough to show that there are serious issues.

How can we sit here, one-fifth of the way into the 21st century and still have such hatred for someone based on their skin or religion? How can we continue to push along and think it is ok to allow others, leaders especially, to stand around and spout this garbage? It sickens me to think that this is acceptable in the world today. This is a domestic issue, an international one. It is at the heart of the laws and the constitutionality of the state. No one can brush this off and say, “but look at this aspect of the country”, for this interconnects with all things. On the eve of a sobering experience of constitutional rendering, America stands and calls it a political issue, yanking the blindfold off Lady Justice and choking her with it, pretending that there is anything forthright with these actions. Martin Luther King, Jr. sought equality and fairness, but I am sure he’d be even more embarrassed with today’s America, and the world. I venture to say George Wallace would be right there with him!

For those who can vote on November 3, 2020, do what you will. But, I would ask that each and every one of you read this speech—if not this book—ahead of time. The world is watching to see how you want to be seen, and what stain you wish to make or launder going into 2021.

I, too, have a dream... and hope Neo can live long enough to see it.

Kudos, Dr. King, for being so frank and honest. Your words resonate with me, as does your memory!

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