Images, ideas, and emotions that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep constitute dreams, but dreams can be conscious beliefs, hopes or goals someone wishes to accomplish for a positive outcome in a perfect world. For most Americans who are not ensconced in right-wing extremist ideology of racial and religious purity inherent in a Christian Aryan society, a dream for a nation in which “all men are created equal” is as attractive today as it was for Thomas Jefferson who penned those famous words in the Declaration of Independence nearly 237 years ago. As the nation remembers Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy and dream of an America fulfilling Jefferson’s “self-evident” assertion that all men are created equal, it is evident that King’s dream is unattainable so long as Republicans promote inequality.
It is readily apparent the biggest obstacle to Dr. King’s dream of a society founded in equality for all is the Republican Party he was affiliated, and since the election of an African American President, they have expanded their inequality agenda to include women, the poor, gays, and any American not aligned with extremist Christians and anti-government neo-conservatives on the right. In fact, King’s party epitomizes the obstacles to equality he fought against during his activism, and as if racial bigotry was not a big enough barrier to overcome, Republican have erected a wall of separation with the sole intention of perpetual inequality favoring the wealthy, fundamentalist Christians, and bigots of all stripes.
There is no doubt America has moved closer to achieving Dr. King’s dream of a nation where “sons and daughters of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood,” or that all 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.” In many parts of the nation, Dr. King’s Utopian dream of “little black boys and black girls joining hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” is a reality and not the exception to the rule, but despite this nation twice electing an African American man as President based on the content of his character and drive to halt the injustice of inequality, Republicans across the nation propagate suspicion and hate towards women, minorities, gays, non-Christians, and the least fortunate among us to promote their dream of a theocratic oligarchy and a peasant population to serve the rich.
Two of Dr. King’s dreams; America transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice, and the extinction of “interposition and nullification” are anathema to Republicans, and their call for divisiveness is the biggest impediment to equality since the Civil War and threatens a unified America. The last election and Republican legislative agenda highlighted the GOP’s attempt to restrict voting rights, economic freedom, and personal liberty of the poor, minorities, women, gays, and non-Christians to drive wedges between Americans that exceed political ideology. There were deliberate attempts to perpetuate inequality and embolden Americans clinging to Civil War, Puritanical, and corporatist sensibilities that is increasing despite the results of the last election.
It is possible, at some point in the future, to achieve Dr. King’s dream of a nation where every citizen is equal, but it will take more than just lofty words and altruistic ambitions. The bigotry infecting the population notwithstanding, Republicans must abandon their favoritism for the rich, fundamentalist Christians, and big business and work to eliminate income inequality affecting the majority of the population, and it is imperative they support and defend freedom from religious imposition they promote to pit Americans against each other. The GOP must also cease obstructing President Obama’s efforts to foster an economic environment that gives every American an equal opportunity for financial security that Republicans are wont to reserve for the privilege few, or the people will never be free and equal.
Martin Luther King Jr. fought against bigotry and injustice, and although he fought a gallant battle for a noble cause, his primary enemy was racial bigotry. Today, the enemy is a small army of wealthy corporatists, religious extremists, and racial bigots unique to the Republican Party that oppresses women, gays, minorities, the poor, seniors, and even Veterans, and although they are a formidable foe, the American people sent a strong message in the last election that all Americans deserve equal treatment giving a modicum of hope for a nation united by equality.
Dr. King’s legacy is not that he fought for racial parity, but that he fought injustice, and his legacy is still alive in Americans who understand the only way to “transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood,” is to “work together, struggle together, and stand up for freedom together.” After the last election, it is evident Americans understand that by rejecting religious extremism, economic inequality, and racial bigotry inherent in the Republican Party, America will “be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope,” and by following Dr. King’s example, it is possible that all Americans will be “free one day” and finally be able to say with unreserved confidence that “all Americans are equal” regardless their color, gender, sexual preference, or economic station. Bigotry can only be eradicated when all Americans enjoy economic and social equality, and as long as Americans continue rejecting Republicans promulgating inequality as an ideology, Dr. King’s legacy will live on and his dream will stay alive.
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Anne
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 11:33 am
MLK’s ideals were initially motivated by racial inequality, but came to encompass a desire for justice for all. At the end of his life, he was fighting for sanitation workers and against the Vietnam War. His words about uniting as Americans or perishing as divided fools years ago have proven to be prophetic. He’s been dead for nearly 45 years, but his words still resonate. As much as I have come to despise the current Republican party and its Democratic enablers, their presence on the political scene of 2013 is instructive for forcefully making the point that any injustice visited on any group of Americans eventually impacts all of us.
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johnbrown
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 1:32 pm
the sort of communism that you and your misguided brothers preach is deplorable. MLK was a truly great man; do not twist his historic words to fit your socialist views.
For God’s sake, have some respect for MLK!
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Anne
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 9:18 am
My words DO respect MLK, but apparently that fact goes way over your pea-brained head. You do know that MLK was called a Communist in his day, don’t you? You either have a misunderstanding of what he was about, which was helping fellow humans, or you are so stuck on stupid when it comes to understanding Communism that you can only echo the McCarthy-style nonsense that too many Republicans are known to do.
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Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 9:23 am
My vote goes for stuck on stupid
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djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 9:39 am
This should be required for all those who think they know this great American
MLK Speech – Beyond Vietnam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzzTUqOP4CI
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Reynardine
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 10:09 am
Oh, look, it’s still scared of Communism. How nostalgic!
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robyn ryan
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 11:51 am
We are watching the death throes of patriarchy and enforced ignorance.
The low information person in a high volume information world is either older or cannon fodder for their rich masters. Or both. Their children will curse them for their narcissism. The rest of the world will vacation here – if the whole place isn’t toxic.
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johnbrown
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 1:33 pm
…save it for the cross-burning, Adolph.
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djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 1:41 pm
That ice is very thin
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GemGirl
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 12:25 pm
IMO, one cannot reason with sociopaths. Once we fully “get” this, we can begin to use our energy and efforts better.
The reality is that not all people are reasonable. Those who think they are superior are the most unreasonable because they insist on having the rest of us believe their illusions and other nonsense despite much evidence to the contrary. Republicans’ beliefs that they are somehow “special” is off base since most of them are average or below average in their capacity to think beyond themselves. Some of them are sociopathic. Their belief that they deserve special privileges directly correlates to their inability to see the value and contributions of other diverse human beings. We waste time trying to get them to be rational and fair. They simply are unequipped to deal with reality.
We need to stop expecting those who are unreasonable to change, and focus our energy on what is within our control — which is the ability to work collaboratively with other decent human beings from diverse backgrounds.
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johnbrown
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 1:35 pm
communism is sick and unamerican. it was people like you who started the revolutions in China and Cuba and look what happened there! everyone is poor, no one owns property, technology in those places is vastly outdated, and the basic principles of a free-market economy are bashed.
just because you were lazy in school and ended up getting a crappy education at arizona state doesn’t mean that when you earn less money you get to mooch off of the hard-workers.
try getting off of your la-z boy chair and working for a day in your life.
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Churchlady
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 2:01 pm
No one here is talking about communism. We ARE asserting that the phony “level playing field” must be replaced by real opportunities that prevent a ruling class from taking away freedoms and opportunity from the majority. That is SO American I’m shocked you’d question it.
We do intend to move away from “income redistribution” – the Oliver Twist begging, “Please sir – may I have some more?” to changing the ways we operate. That will include building better economic opportunities in which employees have more say over their jobs such as better bargaining strength for unions, employee owned cooperatives and ESOPs. Every single time that happens we have prosperity flow, stability, and higher productivity. Stable self sufficiency for the greatest numbers is the greatest assurance of a healthy society. It promotes better educated people, people invested in their work, communities, and families, and it promotes economic returns that are reliable.
So we’re not into whining. We are into altering the inequality that has been promoted as good but has nearly destroyed us.
Join in – we relish responsible actions from you along with everyone else. If you don’t like us – your loss.
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Reynardine
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 10:13 am
Who the fuck are you apostrophizing? I doubt you know anyone here personally, because damn few people here would have anything to do with you.
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novenator
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Not sure why Republicans are such villains, but they are. Too bad. This is why we can’t have nice things.
By the way, some MLK quotes I assembled in meme form: http://freakoutnation.com/2013/01/21/the-ultimate-mlk-jr-quotes-collection/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/111051039748078110427/albums/5835917519431471473
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johnbrown
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 1:37 pm
villains? republicans are the party of freedom. whether you like it or not, the basic principles of the republican party are small government, hard work, and people getting to keep what they earn.
democratic party stands for big government, and, i dont know if you’ve noticed, but since obama took office, your taxes have gone way up!
maybe read something for a change.
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1voice1vote
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Liar.
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Churchlady
Jan. 21st, 2013 at 11:19 pm
I suppose it’s silly to reply to you. NO one’s taxes went up over the last four years. Middle and working class Americans had taxes go DOWN. The payroll tax was restored this Jan on schedule. Back to normal. Finally taxes on the upper 2 percent were put back to Clinton era levels – but for ALL FOUR YEARS before, everyone’s taxes went DOWN. The fact you think differently is very confusing to me since it’s not true. If yours DID go up it’s because you’re earning more – so I’d get down on my knees in thanks, not up on my high horse in outrage based on falsehoods.
Republicans are no more about ‘freedom’ than the Dems. They pick winners and losers for who gets to be free – and for them it’s always unfettered economic action no matter who gets hurt by it. For Dems freedom is about personal choices, regulation of economic activity – a VERY American principle – to protect the majority from excesses by the greedy minority. Freedom therefore is a constant in both parties but in different locations based on, well, whom we trust and who bears the consequences. Dems decided that personal choices tend to have very limited impacts on others. Economic choices affect us all so those need to be more regulated.
If you’re going to argue though, I strongly suggest you provide facts here. This is a pretty smart group of people with a lot of insights into policy. It’s not going to fly for you to ‘hit and run’ with accusations (“your taxes have gone way up”) without a SHRED of evidence to back it up. I do NOT mean screed. I mean evidence. Since we all have W-2s and Form 1040s, we kinda need more than your assertion. Remember your Mom – saying so doesn’t make it so. We live by that here.
So give us proof of what you say, we will pay attention. If not – well, we won’t.
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Reynardine
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 10:16 am
I am so sorry about your microcerebrism. Maybe some day, they’ll find a cure.
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