Let mortal tongues awake

[shkrobius]

NPR was broadcasting King's "I have a Dream" speech, ending

...This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a 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 when this happens... we

Comments

[brno]

So, should one quote true to the original meaning of the quotation; would you say such free interpretation is bad taste? Usually, Dr.King knows exactly the implications of what he writes.

[shkrobius]

As far as I know, this sermon/address was not even written by Dr. King. I do not know what implications were made here. On the face of it, it is a prophecy about the coming of messianic times, hence the multiple Biblical allusions and the strange two-song finale, with the chanting brotherhood of God's children facing their maker. To me it looks like fairly standard Baptist preaching that skillfully uses the issues of the moment.

[brno]

Ah, thanks for the heads up. The fact that it is based on the Jones' draft is thoroughly buried in the media. If I accept as a fact that the "I have a dream" portion was included by Dr.King on the spot, it could explain why the speech in general (except this portion) is so terrible. It is a cliche on a cliche with another cliche holding reins.