Dr. King had a dream, John Lennon "Imagined" ..and I have hope

After the fight and eventual passage of the Civil Rights Acts in 1964 and 1965, Dr. King began to challenge the nation's fundamental priorities. Maintaining that civil rights laws were lacking- without "Human Rights".

Noting that at the time the majority of Americans below the poverty line were white. Dr. King began to develop the class perspective, using the income gap between rich and poor. Saying that there was a dire need for "radical change in the structure of our society" .

In the last months of his life, King crisscrossed the country, speaking and gathering a multiracial group "army of the poor". Dr. King's economic bill of rights called for massive government jobs programs to help rebuild the nation's cities. 

The "Poor People's Campaign" addressed issues of economic justice, demanding economic aid to the poorest of our country. He argued that a reconstruction of society itself was the real issue. 
         
http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/americanradioworks/features/king/work_stoppage.mp3?_kip_ipx=2074458718-1358810534

Dr. King stood for -Peace, Human Rights, Equal Opportunity, Economic Equality and Civil Rights. He was an Educator, Theologian, Mentor, Activist and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 


In speaking once about how he wished to be remembered after his death, King stated:

"I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody.I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major. Say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter"

As we observe Dr. King today, or if you feel you have no reason to show any respect for a man who fought for something that didn't pertain to you. Perhaps you will stop, think and realize that Dr. King's fight was for ALL of Mankind. Not a select group of people. 

That in the end, underneath the skin, Male, Female and Skin Color put aside....Rich or Poor..Highly Educated or Ignorant, Straight or Homosexual..what matters is our Moral Fiber. Right Vs. Wrong. What we stand for- or against. 

In today's world we tend to covet material possessions, social standing, fame and fortune. We are raising a generation of children who feel they are entitled to luxuries beyond their parents economic reach. We teach them to live beyond their means, to think about themselves before others. On a whole, children today are -ungrateful, rude, entitled, morally off kilter, self-centered and selfish. Lacking empathy in general. 

For those of us who live at or near the bottom of the economical "food chain". Raising our children is struggle that is hard to explain to the more "fortunate" parents. It's hard enough to have to tell your children you simply can't afford certain things ..like cell phones, ipads, $200.00 shoes and name brand outfits. Brand new cars for their 16th Birthday's..even a College Education is sometimes out of reach if you fall between the gaps economically. Making too much...but not enough. 

There has always been the "haves" and the "have not's". The have's give some of us something to aspire to. The have not's give the have's something to fear, so maybe..just maybe they appreciate what they have a little more. Seems like now...the classes are even further apart. The middle income families are slowly fading away into oblivion, as they slide down into middle to low income. The haves..well..they just keep climbing that ladder..and the gap between widens even more. 

It's becoming more pressing as the world slides further into debt...That we ALL stand together, take care of each other. Reach our full HUMAN potential. 

I believe that is our true purpose. We could be so much more..but society, class distinction and judgement stands in the way. 

Dr. King had a dream, John Lennon "Imagined" ..and I have hope that WE will come to our senses-turn around-and do what we were meant to do..and that is treat each other equally, to love one another, to respect our differences and not sit in judgement. Equal ...........

http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/americanradioworks/king/promised_land.mp3?_kip_ipx=1017154409-1358810374