They Both Have a Dream

I was watching a recent episode of Judge Mathis (those court shows are my secret vice. Yeah, I love 'em). The shows are syndicated and are obviously taped well in advance of their air date, but in this particular episode, as an aside, Judge Mathis mentioned that Barack Obama's acceptance of the nomination of the Party for President of the United States would coincide with the date of Dr Martin Luther King's powerful I Have a Dream speech. Dr King's speech galvanized the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's.

This set me to thinking that it might be appropriate (however belated I am) to compare their dreams. Dr King's words appear in quotes. Mr and Mrs Obama's words, where cited, appear in italics. My commentary appears in blue text.

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream."

Michelle Obama: For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country...

Granted, Michelle is not Barack. That being said, it must be fair to say that they share a lot of core beliefs, one of which seems to be that the American dream of which Dr King spoke is a phantasm. It seems to me that Dr King saw in the American dream something worth attaining. It seems to me that Dr King saw something worthwhile in the America which preceded him, something of which to be proud. Dr King saw, as Mrs Obama fails to see the struggle amongst the Founding Fathers to come to grips with the "peculiar institution" of slavery. Dr King saw the blood willingly shed to end that peculiar institution. Dr King saw the soul of a generous nation striving to cast off the remnants of that great evil. He saw nation will to expend its blood and treasure in the defense of freedom in struggles against tyrannies. Dr King could see the hope expressed in the blood and suffering, the sacrifice and soul searching of our forebearers. Mrs Obama cannot.

"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.'"

Barack Obama: ...that whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.

This was in response to a question regarding the point at which life begins. Mr Obama has no idea when a "man" becomes a "man". Hence, he, who will take the oath of office as President of the United States on January 20th, has no idea when the rights guaranteed by the Constitution he will vow to "uphold and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic" attach to a human being! I'm 47 years old and cannot, with any certainty say whether Mr Obama thinks that I'm alive and whether I have rights! But we all know from high school biology that when egg and sperm unite to form a fetus that the genetic makeup is that of a unique individual. It's DNA is, from the moment of conception distinct from that of either parent. Theologically the issue is even more succinct, as God reveals to us through the prophet Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." Even if one were not certain of that scientific fact, or of the Divine Revelation through the Christian Scriptures (which faith Mr Obama professes to believe) logic would dictate that we err on the side of caution and assume that life begins at conception.

"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 a table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice."

Barack Obama: "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act."

Mr Obama favors this legislation, the Freedom of Choice Act, which clearly states, "It is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman."

The sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will not sit on the table of brotherhood, but will recline together on the altar of convenience, presided over by the high priest of the religion of selfishness, the abortionist.

Mr Obama sees the red hills of Georgia tinted with the blood of children; he sees Mississippi's struggle to become an oasis of freedom and justice turned back upon itself so that the bodies of innocents may be consumed in sweltering ovens

"I have a dream that my four 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."

Barack Obama: I've got two daughters, 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby.

I have a dream that my children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by which side of the womb they are on, but will be given the opportunity to be judged by the content of their character.

What a sad thing it will be for Mr Obama's children to one day read this statement and wonder whether they were the blessing that Mr Obama surely must view them as, or whether they were a "punishment" for their parents folly. I was adopted by my parents. I was probably born out of wedlock, quite fortunately before the era when abortion was an alternative solution to an unplanned pregnancy. I was dearly loved, I was never viewed as someone else's punishment which had been foisted upon them. I am not now a punishment to anyone, I have never viewed myself as a punishment, I am, quite simply, Joe.

Children are not a punishment, they are the goal intended by the sex act for nature. It amuses me when I hear folks talk about "accidental" pregnancies. Were you having sex when you got pregnant? Sounds to me like everything worked just the way it was intended to. Nothing acccidental about it.

I have a dream today.

Dr King had a dream. Mr Obama proposes the nightmare of an expanded holocaust.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I don't think Dr King pictured these children holding hands on the way to their deaths. I don't think Dr King had in mind the queues at Auschwitz.

"I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, 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.
This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. 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."

Amen, Dr King! Now that's a dream. Perhaps Mr Obama should take another look at hope.

Til next time, all the best. Joe