"America" the land of freedom, liberty, equality and richness. People in other land wants to come here in America. An "Everybody's Dream" that people want to experience. I am so fortunate that I fulfilled my own dream of being an American Citizen. My friends and relatives are so jealous because I am living the Filipino Dream, enjoying the richness and beauty of America. So, are they right?
"I Have a Dream" famous speech of Martin Luther King was an eye opening for all the people that live here in America. He delivered his speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1963. The location made a great impact because it connects his speech after one hundred years ago. Where he stood in front of the symbolic statue of Abraham Lincoln who signed the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1, 1863. The proclamation freed many negro slaves from captivity. It pronounced the acceptance of black men into United States Navy and Army. It gave hope for all black people. But after one hundred years later, in commemoration of the proclamation Martin Luther King stood up and voiced out the unchanging world. The proclamation promise is still a promise.The black people were still looking for freedom, liberty and suffering from inequality. A lot of people came from many different places and touched by his speech.
"Language that inspired change" that many who heard the voice of Martin Luther King regardless of race realized the inequality among American people. I may not be aware how bad was black people been treated on those days. It surely brought a big change in the lives of many black people. As I observed now, regardless of nationality everybody has the equal opportunity to vote, work and practice their rights. A very good example is Barrack Obama being the first black President in United States. That means majority of the American people voted for him. He was not discriminated because of his color. He won in his candidacy with fair judgement. People trusted his knowledge and ability to lead this country. Equal opportunity is observed in many business establishment and government offices. We have many black people serving our country in the military, many of them are leaders. There is no segregation of where we have to live and where to go. Nobody is discriminated in regards with education. As a student we share the same class room with everybody else. We are all dining in the restaurant and enjoy different kinds of entertainment. Mixed nationality goes to the church and pray together. Laws were written for everybody. All are obligated to follow the law of the Constitution, nobody is exempted. Everybody is judge fairly and recognized. In media, everybody has the freedom of speech. We all can write and voice our plea. We are not restricted to enjoy our freedom.
Martin Luther King's dream is every body's dream. It is true that "America is the land of the free". All minorities enjoyed the independence, liberty and equality. We are all given the same opportunity like everybody else. I myself is having that opportunity to work and treated fairly. My husband is a white, he recognized my culture and traditions. He respected me and my family. His parents treated me like their own children. I was accepted with his circle of friends and family.
All that dreams came into reality. People from all walks of life regardless of race, color, culture and nationality enjoyed America's freedom. Martin Luther King's plea for "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is what we have in America. From generation to generation it affects lives of many leaders and citizens. We are all given the opportunity to practice our rights. To stand, fight and live to the belief of what Martin Luther King had started.
I think you must, as a naturalized citizen, have a greater appreciation than many citizens who take their freedoms for granted. Can you imagine the momentum that led to that day on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial? Always living in fear, discriminated against, disenfranchised, fearing standing up for rights lest you be knocked down. How incredibly exhilarating and empowering must that day have been. And I’m sure, though they had hope, the blacks there that day knew that it would not be an easy change, but they wanted to share in the dream that so many others had living in this country. Though they were great in numbers, they would still go home alone to stand against forces that sought always to put them down. I think that is what gave the Civil Rights Movement so much momentum, though: the demonstrations and marches reinforced that they were not alone and all blacks were in this together. They had had enough.
ReplyDeleteKing was a man for the hour. He was intelligent, courageous, articulate, and poetic. He could inspire and chastise and still stick consistently to his commitment to non-violence. I don’t know that I would have the kind of strength he exhibited.
As a Canadian, I have never experienced prejudice as other nationalities have. And I am glad your experience has been one of equality. I hope as a nation that we learn the lessons of the past and not fail to allow everyone who wants to, to share in the dream of freedom.