THE AMERICAN QUESTION " I HAVE A DREAM" SAGA

THE I HAVE A DREAM SAGA


FROM LINCOLN TO OBAMA

1.- THE SWORD & THE WORD

Abe Lincoln

Rev. Martin L. King jr

THE WORD & THE SWORD

 

 

 

 

In the beginning there was "the word."

 

But before "the word" ended up changing our world, there would be a lot of trouble. By the time Abe Lincoln made his famous address at the  Gettysburg cemetery, many lives were taken a lot of blood had been shed; thus the cemetery of Gettysburg became a pilgrimage and rendezvous spot. But it will not be remembered as such. It is the so called "Gettysburg address" that has remained in history as a clash between those two weapons: the word and the sword.

 

The Gettysburg address still refers to the word power. Abe Lincoln made his speech because he wanted to end the war and save the unity of the nation. He also made it because he believed that God created all human beings equal and that they were born to be free. He was such a believer of such ideas, that even at the worst point in the war, he stuck to his faith, begging God for inspiration and guidance. Many Christian writers thought that the Gettysburg address was considered the best of his career, has been inspired by God.

 

Since then, the war ended leaving a divided, though free America. Thanks to the magic of this address, America became more committed to any cause whichever it might be, and even to stuck to it until death, in fighting for what it stands for. This country became stronger and more involved in its national affairs on behalf of American idealism.

 

From the end of the Secession War (1865) to the Washington March (1963), although slavery had officially been abolished and the race battle might have seemed to have been over, segregation and discrimination still plagued the American life, particularly, in the deep South. Black activists were on duty. The fifties witnessed a climax in the civil rights battle. Arson and killings were not uncommon in Alabama where a scared Rosa Parks recalled the horse riding of  the KKK at night and the rifle of her grandpa to fight a coming masked miscreant. Freedom! Freedom! young Blacks sang in rallies and especially at the March on Washington in the summer of 1963. Here again, the world overcame the sword with words. That day from a point of view of racial tolerance, the famous "I have a dream" speech of  the Reverend Martin L. King seemed to herald the coming Civil Rights bill passed  on July 2nd,1964 almost one year later.

 

Why is it that this speech still moves people so much? Even more than 50 years later, elder Blacks remembering this emotional momentum, cannot fight back tears streaming down their checks like Philip Randolph cried that very day whispering: "This is the most beautiful day of my life." Welcoming that same day in his cabinet office, M.L.K.'s staff a short time after this address, Pres. John F. Kennedy smiled and told the Baptist minister: I have a dream . Today the emotion power condensed in the speech is still strong. Even today no one can listen to thunderous rolling of these words without feeling  those goose bumps. In fact, the "I have a Dream" speech did more than anything else for the advancement of the Civil Rights battle.

 

And now, what about this power by theses times of uncertainty lying ahead? Truly, America is at a crossroads. There even exists a nascent doubt in the American psyche like in the Vietnam years, with at the same time much concern. What are those concerns? Since September 11th, this country never afraid of the future, is now watching out over the incoming visitor, even over what their neighbor may be cooking. Nevertheless, America has to move out of its fears. America wishes to be less dependent  on overseas for its energy needs. America is  about to invent a new health care system. In one word, America expects some change, maybe a radical one. The voice that expresses so many expectations seems to be Obama's. "Let's be the generation that ends poverty in America...Let's transform this country...I want to tackle the oil tyranny." Here probably, are the main words that urge the need  to change this country.

Coming next : 
2.- Before and After the Dream...
3.- Beyond the Red Sea