Many years ago Martin Luther King gave a speech called ‘I have a dream.” In it he talked about peace and equality amongst the races in this country. His speech was an impassioned cry for all of us to get along and help each other in life’s journey. We made some strides towards his dream — often at the point of a gun — and things did get somewhat better — but far from good enough. For you see what Dr. King wanted was not really possible because it had to come from the hearts of the people and not from the government. There are way to many hearts in this country, filled with no desire to get along with others, no matters the issue. It’s not something you can legislate.
Hate, begets hate and once the ball gets going it’s hard to stop. This is an angry world, with lots of issues that go way beyond black and white people getting along. Coupled with that is what seems to be everyone wanting their pound of flesh and compromising seems to have gone the way of the horse and buggy. I use that analogy because there are people who remember the horse and buggy and they also remember a kinder gentler world but I know you don’t want to hear about that.
Each day we read words from learned government people who tell us how to get along with others but most of the time they can’t get along themselves. If our government spent as much time on making laws and passing budgets instead of arguing social issues this would be a better place. It makes me sad to see our country destroyed like this and to be so powerless to do anything about it. I know I’m not alone.
Mike Holst
Crosslake
