Monday, January 21, 2008

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream...do you?

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and I just got done watching a tribute on t.v. with my daughters. I wanted them to know why they had a day off today. Although we homeschool, we are with a charter group and we have the day off. As they watched the show, they saw how poorly and unjustly people were treated because of their skin color - just their skin color!
We are a multi-national family. I am Korean, French and German. My husband is Bolivian. My husband and I grew up here in the U.S. I want my daughters to realize that some people will judge them by their skin color, by the shape of their eyes, or the sound of their last name. They will be judged because of their Christian beliefs. They will be judged.
I want them to know though, that it is not right. I want them to know that it is more important that they are caring and compassionate toward others, that they are forgiving and honest, that they are true to God and to themselves. I want them to believe that they are blessed and that they can be anything they want to be, that they can trust and believe in Christ and not be afraid to say so. I want them to look at others and trust. I have a dream for my children - do you?
Taken from the "I Have A Dream" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.
"...I say to you today, my friends, 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 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... 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 exhalted, 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 comments:

Kayluray said...

The local arts center had a free showing of a Rosa Parks movie today. I took my daughters to see it. Although we studied Rosa Parks all last week in anticipation of this movie, our conversations today have been very reflective on what she and Dr. King did. I'm so glad we went and had the conversations we did today. So far as judgement goes, the only true judge is God. That's the only judgement that matters.

SavedbyGrace said...

I could have sworn you were mexcian!

Bwahhahaha