Americans everywhere should also realize that the work of Dr. King is far from finished. Our country is still divided into Two Americas. Unfortunately, the social divide that Dr. King fought so bravely, and eloquently against still exists in our country. There are two Americas today, divided along class as well as racial boundaries. That is what makes the message of Dr. King so timeless.
Today, another leader who recognizes the great inequalities in our country took the time to speak on the amazing life life of Dr. King, and what it represents to the American dream. Here is John Edwards statement on the birthday of the great civil rights leader, whose work needs to continue in our time:
"Today we honor the incredible life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was a man of peace, a man of principle and a man of profound conscience.
"As someone who grew up in the segregated South, I have seen firsthand the change we have achieved thanks to Dr. King and all those who shed their blood, sweat and tears. Our country is forever changed thanks to Dr. King's work and the work of so many other Americans who were determined to restore the promise of America.
"If we are going to truly honor Dr. King, the heroes of Greensboro, Selma, Birmingham and Orangeburg, and all the heroes of the civil rights movement, then we must be honest that we still have work to do. The fight for civil rights and equal rights and economic and social justice is still going on across our country. Today, we still live in two different Americas – one America for those who are doing extraordinarily well and one for everybody else. We still have two school systems, two health care systems, two systems of justice and two economies.
"America can do better than this. We've seen that a group of people with the courage to stand up for what's right can struggle and survive, and even change the course of history. Today, let's commit ourselves to igniting the revolution of values that Dr. King dreamed about, to speaking out against unfairness and injustice, to making sure the voice of every American is heard and to building One America."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
On this day, when a great American leader was born who gave voice to us all, I want to voice my opinion in agreement with John Edwards that the work of Dr. King must go on. While we have made strides towards racial equality, many obstacles still exist for minorities in our country.
As John Edwards has said, we have to be honest about the work we still have to do. There are Two Americas today, and it is not merely drawn around racial lines. People of all races now live in the forgotten America, the one of the have-nots.
That is why I support the message of John Edwards and Dr. King so steadfastly. Americans moreover in our day and age are divided not as much along racial lines, as economic ones. As a working poor white person, me and my fellow working poor of all races understand that we are in the same boat together. The deck is stacked against us ever getting a voice in our government.
That is why I think John Edwards is the best candidate to represent all of us, be us black, white, yellow, or red. He understands that the timeless message of Dr. King includes equality for all, not merely along racial lines but along class lines also. The powers that be see ALL working Americans as the same. They care little what race we are from as long as the lure of big money in politics can continue to block Progressive change for us all.
So, on this day that a great leader was born to bring his message of equality and peaceful protest to change our country for the better, I would like to salute the life of Dr. King, and reaffirm my belief in what this great American leader stood for.
While the other candidates squabble over who is racist, who is race baiting, etc., one candidate has put the message of Two Americas on the front pages of his campaign for equality for all Americans. One candidate has consistently fought for the equality of all races by fighting for the people who are falling further behind and have no voice in our government. I think the fight waged by John Edwards to create One America should be resonating with us all. He realizes that the fight Dr. King started should be continued not with talking points, but with hard action and policies that give voice to Dr. King's message of equality for all.
On this day when a great leader was born that gave hope to millions of Americans with no voice, I reaffirm my resolve to fight for One America for all of us.
Thank you Dr. King, for setting the example and beginning this important and much needed fight. You gave your life to give all of us a voice, and millions of Americans just like me will never forget your unselfish sacrifice.
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