The media is going nuts proclaiming that Martin Luther King, Jr. would be so proud of the day that Barack Obama, a black man, is inaugurated President of the United States. But when I read his "I Have a Dream" speech, it makes me wonder if this is true. The beginning line of this speech is the source of my question, "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."
Was Barack Obama really elected because the content of his character or the color of his skin? It is a question that many have, but few really voice. When we look at Barack Obama, we find that we really know little about him. Even now, the question of his birthplace is being challenged and the eligibility to be President. When one looks to his political record, we find that he voted "present" more than yes or no. When we look at his past we find again more questions than answers. It says that he led inner city groups...but doing what exactly? It is very much a mystery. And for a young man with very little political record to rise to the position that he has in such a short amount of time, one wonders how this is possible. So I have to ask the question, was he really judged for his character or his skin color? And I have to ask, just because the judgement is a positive one and the result of that judgement is a Presidency, is it not just as negative because that judgement was indeed made based on his color? And if that is the case, if it is his color that won him the election, and not his character, how can we proclaim that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream has been realized?
On another note, Martin Luther King Jr. wanted equality. He spoke of this in his speech. He said, "Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom 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!" This does not sound like the Marxist nation that President Obama is encouraging. This does not sound like the "spreading the wealth" that he is proposing. It is equality plain and simple that he desired. It is that everyone regardless of race, religion, or gender be afforded the same opportunities. Not a hand-out, or a "robbing from the rich to provide to the poor", but an even playing field. I think President Obama has missed this point...and we all know that thanks to Joe the Plumber.
I pray for this President and I pray for the nation and I pray for the black community that they will not be disappointed when they realize that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is not realized in this President. For this President was indeed judged for his skin color and not for his character...whether the judgement was positive or not.
