Still Listening for the "Symphony of Brotherhood"...

As yesterday, January 15, was Martin Luther King's birthday, it seemed only fitting that I watch the iconic "I Have a Dream" speech with my children. I have heard and seen the speech before, of course, both as a young person as an adult. This time, however, I had a deeper, more profound reaction.

The speech is, of course, beautifully crafted. The way he uses the words of  "America the Beautiful" to draw every listener in and make us feel a part of it. The lyric turns of phrase like  "work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive"; and "we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream"; and "with this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood".

Dr. King was speaking about race relations in our nation at a time when the least of the egregious treatment of African Americans forced them to drink at separate fountains, and sit at the back of the bus,  before the Civil Rights Bill was passed. I imagine what Dr. King would say today on the eve of the inauguration of our first African American president. We have so far to go, but thank God, we have come a long way from Alabama in 1963. Forty-five years have seen many improvements in race relations and conditions for people of color. White and black children do hold hands and play together, in some places, anyway. Even though we have much left to do to make his dream a reality, we have much about which to rejoice.

The other thought I had as I watched the speech, was that while so many aspects of his dream have come to fruition in my lifetime,  I can't help but think about the other places in the world where fear, racism, hatred, oppression and cruelty continue to flourish. Will any of those situations be alleviated in my lifetime? Or my children's? Will child soldiers in places like Rwanda, Chad and Philipines become a thing of the past? Will child labor in Pakistan and China be eliminated? When will women no longer be sold into slavery? Will the Palestinians be free to live in their land, unmolested and unimpeded by others? When will the richest us offer a hand up to the most impoverished among us? 

If only we could "lift our [world] from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood." If only, indeed. In the meantime, I will try very hard to heed Dr. King's admonition not to "wallow in the valley of despair".

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