He Had a Dream

In this divided country we live in, I think it's always a good reminder that someone, somewhere had a dream to bring us together.

I have a dream today! 

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and 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."2

This is our hope, and 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. 

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with 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.

Excerpted from the speech by Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream. You can read the entire speech, along with footnotes, here. (I've also put a link to a video, but I'm not sure how long the link will be active.)