I have a dream...

And 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.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
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!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
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

(Taken From:http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm)

Words made famous by a truly courageous man; a man whose words were filled with passion, freedom, and justice. The wake left behind his death would forever change this continent. “I have a dream that my four little children will live in a nation where they are not judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.” He speaks as a father, a man of colour and an equal human being. One cannot read or listen to his speech without feeling convicted in how they treat their fellow man.

Martin Luther King Jr. is a man that I would love to sit and have coffee with. I can only imagine what his vision for the present world would be. We have come so far with equal rights, yet we have so far yet to go.

I have been thinking about this great man a great deal lately. In my classroom we are working on a Courage unit (No, I cannot turn off my brain when it comes to school. Yes, my SweetPea, I’m learning to balance. Yes, I have always been this way, pondering information as I experience it, no matter the source). We have briefly discussed different individuals, such as Mother Teresa, Terry Fox, Farley (from For Better or Worse), Froddo, Despereaux the mighty mouse, Nelson Mendella, and of course Martin Luther King Jr.

After watching his inspiring speech and reading the words that spoke of his dream, my kids were in awe. First, that people have not always been treated equally – thank goodness this is out of the realm of their personal experience. Second, that someone would be killed for standing up for what is right. I felt overwhelmed in that moment, the kids were looking at their world with a different perspective and … wondering.

In a response to the “I have a dream” speech, we brainstormed things we hoped would change in our world. Despite being 9 and 10, these kids were well aware of things that should be different.
Each student wrote their own “I have a dream…” phrases. As I read them, I realized how much hope I have for our world.

“I have a dream that there will be clean water in Africa.”
“I have a dream that there will be no more diseases, violence or pollution.”
“I have a dream that my baby cousins will grow up to be big, strong and healthy.”
“I have a dream that I will make it on my favorite hockey team, then I can shave my head for cancer.”
“I have a dream that no one will be bullied ever again.”
“I have a dream that one day the world will live in peace with no war and no fighting.”
“I have a dream that one day no one will sell drugs and no one will do drugs.”
“I have a dream that everyone will have a home.”
“I have a dream that I will be a millionaire so that I can give my money to the poor.”
“I have a dream that there will be not more murdering and drunk driving.”
“I have a dream that they would find the cure for cancer.”
“I have a dream that one day everyone will have clean water and good food.”

These are dreams of children, dreams that can change the world if we encourage them - leaving behind a wake that could change our world forever.