My father once told me that he had a dream; a dream where I would do better in life than he did. Well, I too, have a dream. I dream that there will be a day when we, as a Country, a Society, a State, a County, a City, a Family, and as individuals, will begin to appreciate ourselves and others more not for the color of our skin or our religious views, but for who we are. That for all of our weaknesses we have, we will begin to consider our strengths as a unified community, fighting racism, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, and intolerance in all its forms. No matter what you call it, our community suffers for it.
Recently, I met a man from a small South American country. And, we have become friends. I see in him so many positive qualities: he's humorous and witty - remember, English is not his first language. He's intelligent and insightful. And he's tough and resilient, having experienced the undulations of life and become stronger. But he doesn't see it and chooses to live his life at a level far below where he could be.
Over the year, I've told him of his qualities, hoping through reinforcement that he too will begin to see them in himself. Begin to appreciate them. And begin to grow and nurture them. Perhaps in time, he will hear me. And see himself for who he really is, and unleash the magnificence within himself.
Yes, fellow citizens, I dream that we will begin to see and appreciate ourselves. However, I also dream that we will begin to appreciate others more. Appreciate them for what they do and what they give, not judging them by their color, ethnicity, religion, or any other insignificant thing.
My father is my hero. He taught me to appreciate others for "who" they are, not "what" they are. He did this while I watched many treat him terribly simply because his last name was of Spanish origin. This valuable lesson did not make sense until I experienced it personally. I was judged by what I am, not who I am. What a shame, that in the year 2006, people still cannot put aside the anger, the fears of the past, and look to the future.
I thank my father dearly for this lesson. I am a better person for it. Yes, I also dream that my children will be better off than I have been, but I also dream that we will begin to see what others do for us and show our appreciation in return. I dream that I will be judged for my actions, not my name or color of my skin.
We have so very far to go. But, begin to consider how far we have already come. Think of who and where we were not last month, not last year, not 20 years ago, 50 years ago or 100 years ago, but 230 years ago, when a group of men got together and penned the Declaration of Independence. And you'll see that we indeed have come a long way.
It begins with each of us as individuals among the masses. And, as we take ourselves into the world, we serve as examples for others to follow, not as leaders, not as preachers, not as demagogues, but as ourselves, as examples for others to see, in our homes, in the workplace, on our streets, with our friends and our families.
It is not about making new laws, or passing local ordinances that forbid it, or even The Constitution, it is about you, fellow citizen. Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, author, and lecturer, one of the most influential female thinkers in the social sciences said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Join me today, fellow citizen, and lets work together to fight this plight on our community. Let us have a dream together.
Martin Luther King said it well on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" "I have a dream that my four little 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."
Let us do something powerful this year and in the years to come, undistracted by our fears, undistracted by our prejudices, undistracted by events of the world that tell us we have a long way to go, undistracted by those who would push us back. Let us go ahead and begin to make those changes so that when we look back on our lives, when history judges us, when our children and grandchildren look back on us, they are ready, willing, and able to see the Gifts we have given them.