Hope for Life

The world needs change, change is now

On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, a black woman by the name of Rosa Parks refused to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. She was subsequently arrested for her defiance. This incident sparks off the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The boycott resulted in the U.S. civil rights movement receiving one of its first victories and gave Martin Luther King Jr. the national attention that made him one of the prime leaders of the cause.

In Washington, 1963, a prominent American Civil-Rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Extract:


I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

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 one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four 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.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.



On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr was was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. After King was assassinated, rioting broke out in 125 cities across the United States. At that time, it was impossible to imagine that one day, United States of America will have a black president.

But today, an important chapter of history had been made. Obama Barack became the first African American president of US, 50 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King. He proved that anyone can pursue the American dream, regardless of your age, gender, race, nationality or sexual orientation.

He represents change and hope. He represents the new era.

And the world needs change. And the change is now.

A new era has began. The man who made it happened is Obama.

posted by Fay @ 8:34 AM