â€œI have aÂ dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meanÂing of its creed: â€˜We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,â€™â€ said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his speech that immorÂtalÂized the ralÂlyÂing cry of the civil rights moveÂment and furÂther powÂered the wheels of progress.
Each year Ferris State University, and the rest of the counÂtry, takes time to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. He was aÂ man who spoke not just for African-Americans, but also for men, women and chilÂdren of all ethÂnicÂiÂties, demandÂing equalÂity and tolÂerÂance, jusÂtice and peace. He dreamed of aÂ day when those pilÂlars would supÂport our counÂtry, steadfast.
That dream is still alive as we look to one another in our difÂfiÂcult triÂals and vicÂtoÂries, regardÂless of the color of our skin. When those in Haiti cried out, all races, not just one group of peoÂple, lent aÂ hand. When our posÂterÂity, our chilÂdren and our childrenâ€™s chilÂdren go out on the playÂground at recess, it is, and will conÂtinue to be, with peers of every backÂground and creed. And as fightÂing overÂseas and the need for proÂtecÂtion on our streets conÂtinÂues, there is aÂ diverse group of men and women who embody and typÂify that dream. Together we are strengthÂened and blessed by our differences.
On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and proÂclaimed that he had aÂ dream. Itâ€™s aÂ dream that we still speak of and conÂtinue to hope for and achieve, and we have made many steps towards its realization.
As Dr. Kingâ€™s life came to aÂ tragic end, his ideas, and the ideas of peoÂple like him, perÂseÂvere and carry on strengthÂened in the hearts and minds of peoÂple like you and me, who share thatÂ dream.
[original-posting siteurl=”http://www.fsutorch.com/” sitename=”Ferris State Torch” posturl=”http://www.fsutorch.com/2010/01/20/opinions/share-in-the-dream/”]