I almost put this chestnut up again... for what would be the third time. I thought better of it, though, mainly because of this:
But this year is different, innit? Tomorrow the first African-American man in our history will be sworn into the highest office in the land. We should ALL be proud of that fact, regardless of our political views or loyalties. While Dr. King's dream hasn't been fully realized by any means, tomorrow's inauguration of Barack Obama at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol marks the biggest symbolic step in that direction I've seen in MY lifetime. It makes me proud to be an American... so VERY proud.
Last year I said "I stand by those words" and the sentiment is still sorta true. I say "sorta" because I'm getting tired of hearing about how far we've come. I don't need reminding, thank you. I was there. I saw it, "it" being Obama's election and inauguration. I was there for Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech, too... even though I was about to board an airplane and head off to basic training at the exact moment he delivered it. I witnessed segregation's ugly face as a child and as a young man, so I understand... as much as any white man can... what this day is all about. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
As someone who grew up in the segregated South and went to public schools where integration and forced busing led to riots, and as someone whose children went to those same schools and made close friends of people of other races, all I can say is a resounding, "Ditto!"
ReplyDeleteThanks, Moogie. I was beginning to wonder about the dearth of comment on this post.
ReplyDeleteWell spoke Buck!
ReplyDeleteI remember watching a program about the making of the dream speech. It was interesting, because it was developed over time, and never as good as the final version.
ReplyDeleteHe dug down deep to produce that speech. I think he gave the speech because he thought it would be his last one. The enemy was at the doorstep.
I found this to be true in my own life, that you try to express yourself this way and that, and you keep missing the mark. Then one day, you cut through and find a way to express everything in one short speech.
Personally, I think the South was finally won with air conditioning. White people moved there by the truckloads. Prior to that, it was just brains cooking in a skillet...