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Our Party BlogHave your say about all things democraticJanuary 21, 2008A SPECIAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
This is a special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for all Americans. It is special because unlike any other presidential election year we have experienced, we now see frontrunners for the presidency seriously representing us despite their race, gender or religion. We see now the real opportunity of electing a Mormon, a woman, or an African-American to the White House. And these are only a few of the candidates for president.We have come to this moment of having such diverse presidential candidates, I believe, because of what came before us. And I do not only mean the troubling presidency of George W. Bush and its consequences, although as Chairman of the local Democratic Party I could harp on the Iraq War and a bad economy. Instead, I mean what came before us historically in terms of civil rights. I mean what was fought for daily by blacks and women and any who may have joined them to fight for equality and opportunity for all. I mean on this day King's dream not deferred but delivered. This is an extraordinary time, a time of hope and change in the midst of terrorist fear and economic worry. It appears to be a new day, and it is a new day. But it was an old day some forty years ago that changed everything. It was a movement born in the South to pay up finally on promises of rights and opportunity for all. And while King's movement was resisted by fear and violence, the Civil Rights movement was nonviolent and hopeful because there can be no lasting opportunity for all if it seeks disgrace and bloodshed. I believe we are nearing the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr., had for our country. I said "nearing" for we have far to go before we include health care for all people, fair wages for everyone, and real criminal justice for all races. Yet we come closer to the prize of equality as we seriously consider electing someone not because of race, gender or religion, but because of the content of their character and the truth of their words. Getting here so that we can seriously consider a Mormon or a woman or an African-American as our next President of the United States has not been a walk down a flat road to a cul-de-sac. It has been a climb up a mountain, which when reached will reveal other mountaintops yet to climb. This certainly is a special day to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. And by the next Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January 2009, we will have a new president. Whoever he or she is, we will have brought about such change that there will be no turning back. Post a Reply... Most Recent Posts: 07/04: Fourth of July & Patriotic Picnic 07/01: Greg Beck demostrated he is most realistic choice at SETPAC last night 06/27: Beck will join other sheriff candidates at SETPAC Forum Monday Night 06/24: C-SPAN's Campaign 2008 Bus in Chattanooga Today 06/21: The Big Bounce: Obama increases his lead over McCain 06/21: Gov. Bredesen, Sen. Berke, Rep. Favors, and TN-ALFA Chair Bailes Promote Long-Term Care Community Choices Act 06/19: UNITE FOR CHANGE EVENTS 06/19: UPCOMING DEMOCRATIC EVENTS: JUNE 19-28 06/17: Democrats Celebrate at First Annual Marilyn Lloyd Dinner 06/16: Tonight: The First Annual Marilyn Lloyd Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. at the Choo Choo 06/13: Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd: Leader in Energy, Health, and Aging in America 06/11: FIVE DAYS LEFT! SEATING STILL AVAILABLE FOR MARILYN LLOYD DINNER! 06/10: "Unity Proclamation" at 11 a.m. Today at Party Headquarters 06/08: "Unremarkable" by Stuart James 06/04: HCDP to establish "Marilyn Lloyd Scholarship" for public service 06/04: Obama Claims Democratic Nomination for President 06/03: "ROCK THE VOTE" VOTER REGISTRATION: CHATTANOOGA RIVERBEND FESTIVAL 06/03: Obama Supporters Will Celebrate End of Primary Season at Pisa Pizza Tonight 06/01: DNC "Rules and Bylaws Committee" Reaches Agreement on Florida and Michigan 05/30: HONORING MARILYN: Collecting Photographs |
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