MLK Day - 2008

Today we remember a man. In my eyes, not a black man. Not a Christian man. Even though he was both. Today we remember a man who had a dream for his children to grow up in a better world than he grew up in. And a man who was called upon to make a difference.

This morning I pondered how different my life would be if Dr. King didn’t have that dream. It’s amazing. You see, I grew up in an integrated Miami. A Miami who welcomed a person and didn’t care about background, ethnicity or color of skin. Now I am not saying it was perfect or that racisms ugly head did not rise up at times. But for the most part we grew up in a culture where the color of your skin was of no consequence. I found it very weird that when I was in the Marine Corps there were people who had a problem of men and women of different races dating or even marrying each other. I remember boys and girls of different ethnic backgrounds “going steady” way back in middle school. And this was in the 70’s.

I sat with my nine-year old this morning and watched Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech from Washington D.C. She has a grasp on why it is important to remember this man. When I asked her why it was so important to look at people for what’s on the inside and not the color of their skin she told me that not liking someone because of how they look is stupid. Hmmmm. Racism equals stupidity? Good observation AMI.

I have a dream. That one day, my daughters will not have to explain these things to their children. The day that racism and prejudices are gone. For all people. We live in the great melting pot. I am an American. And I stand beside my brothers and sisters to defend the principles that our great country was founded on.

Teach those to your children! And dream for them!

Thanks Dr. King. Today you are remembered in our home.