photo credit: Santhosh Janardhanan
“I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
Excerpt from “I Have A Dream Speech” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963
He truly was a visionary, wasn’t he?
(I’ve been to Stone Mountain many times. Spent my honeymoon there and in Tennessee. It’s one f the most patriotic places I’ve ever seen.)
Jamie Simmerman´s last blog post..Getting Up Close and Personal
Lance,
It seems like the perfect week to remember that speech. I’m getting ready for church and decided to have a Little Lance on the way.
I really like your Sunday morning posts. I don’t always have a moment to write a comment because we are doing that SUnday morning getting ready thing, but today I did..
Have a blessed Sunday Lance.
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirations´s last blog post..High Flying Faith
I like this speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, and coincidentally, I also caught a little bit of it on the history channel this morning! Have a good weekend Lance!
How very appropriate, Lance.
God Bless America!
Linda Abbit´s last blog post..Funny Fridays: Because It’s Better to Laugh than to Cry!
Well, now we know what happens when people dream big: sooner or later those dreams come true and the rest of us are all better for it
Marelisa´s last blog post..The Secret of Unbridled Creativity
Perfect timing Lance! Very nice! Enjoy your day!
It’s finally happened! Let’s hope Obama can do well for all of our sakes. He certainly has a chance to be a great president. Of all the candidates I think he was the best qualified to handle all the challenges facing us.
Jean Browman–Transforming Stress´s last blog post..Kreativ Blogger Award
Hi Lance,
I’ve grown to love and expect your Sunday posts. This is perfect with the week we had last week and Veteran’s Day on Tuesday. I’m from the snow capped Rockies, this dream makes me long for a better world. I know I can’t just sit around, I have to be the change I so desperately desire.
Audra Krell´s last blog post..Hootie Can Blow
Being free.…Dr.King had a wonderful dream and slowly we are making progress. We also need to look internally at what shackles our heart. What keeps us imprisoned internally? Not living authentically? Having another life that is hidden from our loved ones? Addictions, hurts, hang ups? As we move forward with Dr. King’s dream and see people as people, all valuable, lets also value ourselves by breaking our internal chains of bondage. I say, “Let Freedom Ring!”
I agree with Laurie “we have to look internally at what shackles our heart” I truly believe that is where so many answers can be found!
Stacey Shipman´s last blog post..Part II: Are You Thinking BIG Enough?
His speech is definitely very inspiring!!! Thanks for sharing it here!
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..The Lipstick Indicator To Great Wealth
Perfect post for this week, Lance. As a writer I bow to the passion and the brilliance of these words.Has their ever been a better speech? And as a human being they never fail to make me cry.
Thanks
Kelly:)
@Jamie Simmerman — Yes, Dr. King really was a visionary — and his dream is beginning to come true. And now you’ve piqued my interest in Stone Mountain — another place to add the the list of things to see!
@Wendi — I was thinking the same thing as I was getting this together Wendi — what a perfect week to be reminded of this powerful speech by Dr. King! With our new President-elect Obama, our country is at a point where this dream really is beginning to come true. Walls and barriers are being broken down — and I pray that Mr. Obama uses this position of power in a very positive way to continue our country down the road that Dr. King worked so hard for many years ago…
@BC Doan — Wow, that is a coincidence that you saw this on the History channel today! Very cool!
@Linda — Yes, with the historic week we’ve just had in the United States, “God Bless America” as we forge forward in directions toward greater equality!
@Marelisa — YES! Dream big! Share your dreams! And just because we don’t see them to completion, doesn’t mean we can’t plant the seed that start a revolution. Indeed, that is exactly what Dr. King did — and getting to where we are in the U.S. today — is one more step in the direction of this dream being fulfilled! And, yes — we are all better because of what Dr. King dreamed so many years ago. His dreams have changed the world!
@Mark — Yes, this just seemed so fitting as I was thinking about what to post for today. I went back and forth with a couple of ideas, but just kept being drawn back to this speech — and how it related so well to the elections in the U.S.A. this past week. My hope is that President-elect Obama uses his position of power in ways that continue to strengthen and embrace the equalities Martin Luther King, Jr. worked so hard for.
@Jean — Yes, dreams from long ago are beginning to come true! President-elect Obama really has an opportunity before him like no other — and one that really can help the movement that Dr. King started many years ago. Godspeed! And, thank you, Jean for including me amongst your favorite bloggers — I am deeply honored.
@Audra — Thank you so much Audra, that really means so much to me. And that’s what makes doing this so worth it, so thank you — from the bottom of my heart. Dr King, he really was the epitome of “be the change” wasn’t he! Just look at what he is still accomplishing today because of his effort so many years ago — really, an amazing man working for very noble causes. I hadn’t thought about Veteran’s Day, and that’s another great time to remember this speech — so thank you for bringing that up as well Audra. Let freedom ring all throughout the world!! We’re getting there…one step at a time.
@Laurie — A dream of being free — we are getting there…and I think our elections in the U.S. this past week are steps in that direction. Laurie — what shackles our heart, and keeps us from living authentically. You pose difficult questions. Difficult because it can be so much harder to look within and see what shackles us from living in true abundance. Our internal chains of bondage — breaking these and we can experience freedom from with in — and that really is the first place to start! I join you in saying “Let Freedom Ring”! And let it start with us…
@Stacey Shipman — Yes, I really think Laurie just said this so well — if we break the chains of bondage in our hearts and souls — we really can free ourselves — and find answers to so many questions in our lives. Stacey, thank you for that today.
@Evelyn — Yes, Dr. King was such an inspiring speaker — and even just reading his words stirs up this inspiration within us!
@Kelly — I just kept being drawn back to this as I was getting ready for this post — it seemed such perfect timing for it, I agree. Dr. King really shared so much passion in what he did, and reading his words even today — that passion just shines through. I don’t know that there has been a better speech — I can’t think of one that I recall as being more powerful and moving than this.
Hi Lance. This was a very appropriate post for this week Lance. You had me with the photo of the candle and the first line, “I have a dream today.” Very moving.
Davina´s last blog post..Akemi Gaines On Intuition, Dreams And Spiritual Guidance–Interview Part 1
I have never ever heard the whole speech, if you can believe that. It more than rocks.
And this is a wonderful time in our history!
Jannie´s last blog post..Funky Folky Fab & Fun
I agree with Kelly, this is a perfect post for this week. Our freedom is a great great joy and gift that I never take for granted.
Stacey / Create a Balance´s last blog post..And the Winner Is…..
I had goosebumps that night and I am having goosebumps as I read this. And we all know it is not political at all. Once again, it brought back dreams to those who had forgotten how to dream. How proud I am to be living in this nation!
Great pick Lance!
Maya´s last blog post..Slideshow: Dogs Lessons for Life and Work
Wonderful choice, Lance.
Blessings to you and your dear ones,
CG
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,
and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness
never decreases by being shared.“
Buddha
CG Walters´s last blog post..Some Things You Just Know
What can one possible say to that, Lance? Let freedom ring indeed.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Bright Ideas
@Davina — I struggled with coming up with a photo that could best relate to this. In the end, I just really like the idea of a candle, of this all — the speech, our new president in the U.S. — being a light onto the world.
@Jannie — This speech rocks on many levels Jannie! And yes, we are at a wonderful time in history — changes IS happening!
@Stacey/Create A Balance — I was drawn to this after everything with the elections here in the U.S. last week. What an extraordinary week it has been — and I think Martin Luther King, Jr. would be proud of what is happening — of his dream becoming reality. Freedom is a great gift — and what has been happening this past week is another step toward truer freedom here on earth.
@Maya — This nation, the “United States” — took a big step toward equality and freedom this past week with our electing of Mr. Obama. Whether your Republican or Democrat, black or white, man or woman — it is hard to argue that we have indeed made great strides toward a more true equality amongst all. And that is good news indeed!
@CG Walters — Thank you CG! And what a wonderful quote to go along with both this speech, our election in the U.S., and the picture I’ve included here! Thanks so much for sharing that!
@Writer Dad — Let freedom ring Sean — let it ring loudly and clearly!!
Still as inspiring as ever
Suzie´s last blog post..Im Off On My Quest
I love that speech.
Very inspiring and motivating.
Rachel´s last blog post..You are “soopr”!
Amazing speech then & and an Amazing speech NOW
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..I Am A Sore Looser So Help Me Win?
I still can’t believe Obama won. I’m proud of this country and I’m grateful that MLK took the time to make a difference. If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t be this far advanced as a society.
Karl — Work Happy Now´s last blog post..My Wish For You
these words always make my spine tingle.
@Suzie — This speech by Dr. King will always be inspiring won’t it!
@Rachel — Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote and shared an amazing vision in his “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s a vision that is still changing the world today, so many years after it was spoken!
@Meleah — Yes, a speech that never loses it’s message — and what a vision Dr. King had!
@Karl — President-elect Obama will definitely have his work cut out for him to continue what Dr. King started, but I also believe that we have gotten to where we are today — with Obama being elected president — because of the foundation laid by the late MLK Jr.
@Aran — Yes, these words, the dreams that Martin Luther King, Jr. had — really do make the spine tingle — there is so much hope in these dreams — and now, to see it coming to be — awesome!
I love this speech! I remember dissecting this in a class in college… I try to watch it on MLK day every year (thank goodness for youtube!).
Caroline´s last blog post..The meaning of your life’s experiences
Okay, so I didn’t vote for Obama but…
…I am thrilled that this country has elected its first black president.
It’s cool to see the strides our country has taken regarding race. Race issues are foremost in my mind, (especially for my children who are of mixed race) and things are looking up.
Pink Ink´s last blog post..Breakfast, Philippine-Style
@Caroline — Yes, there is just so much said in this speech, and it continues to be a powerful reminder of both where we’ve been and where we’re still aiming for…
@Pink Ink — No matter who you voted for, the results of this election are historic. And it really is taking strides toward many of the race issues that exist yet today in our country. So, I really hope this is a good thing for your children (mixed race), my children, and all the races represented in our great country.