I have a dream
Today is Dr Martin Luther King Jr.' s birthday. Tomorrow, President-elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated as our next president, and many of us struggling out of depths of economic woes and trying to harmonize class and ethnic divisions in this proverbial mixing pot, today we have a lot to hope for. What is hope but a waking dream?
I have many a dream...
My main love squeeze just told his parents that he was getting married.
We have a dream...
This would be great news to them if I had somehow managed to switch to a lighter skin tone. American born Hispanic seems to be ok, African American is not. Hablo un poco espanol? I don't think that counts.
His mom said she was glad that he was happy and following his heart...
He has a dream...
...but she can't have anything to do with this.
I have a dream...
When I was going through my grandmother's books after she passed I found a yellowed article and a program. They both spoke of Mr. King's moving speech given last Wednesday. She was there. She left those to me.
She had a dream...
My mother's girl scout troop frequently had to alter their plans because she couldn't swim in the same pools as the other girls. When it was time for me to be in girl scouts I was accepted with open arms.
I have a dream...
"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.
I have a dream today."
And even though my heart is aching and I once worried if bitterness would rear its voracious head, strangely I wonder what kind of anguish his parents are going through. I wondered if his mother is sitting in her kitchen, crying, alone, unable to discuss this anyone else. I wish I could sit with her and try to understand, not persuade, just hear what she is thinking, worried about, hoping for.
"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream."
Dreams are stubborn, beautiful things. I love their son and cannot act like they do not exist, even if they wish I did not. Our decision is made. I'll hope theirs isn't as final as ours. I'll leave the door open.
They are still welcome to share the dream... today, tomorrow...