the american dream

today marks the 40th anniversary of the death of one of america's greatest civil rights leaders, dr. martin luther king, jr. though i've always recognized and honored his contributions to american society and the advancement of civil liberties, i don't think that i've thought about the mark he made as much as i have in the past few months. as i watch another passionate, forward-thinking african-american leader unite the country in a way that we so desperately need, i am struck by the connections this man made to so many of his countrymen and women. i am struck by the fire of his convictions and the fuel of his words as he made people care about how they were treated, and how they could be the change they hoped to see in their own worlds (to quote another inspirational leader, mahatma gandhi). and i am struck by how this connection is being made-- and lived-- by another leader.

the immortal words of dr. king (in excerpt):
"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 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."

and those of barack obama:
"That's the future within our reach. That's what hope is - that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better is waiting for us around the corner. But only if we're willing to work for it and fight for it. To shed our fears and our doubts and our cynicism. To glory in the task before us of remaking this country block by block, precinct by precinct, county by county, state by state.

There is a moment in the life of every generation when, if we are to make our mark on history, this spirit must break through.

This is the moment."