BARACK OBAMA: THE EPITOME OF MLK’S DREAM AND AN ICON OF AMERICA’S FUTURE, BUT I HAVE A DREAM
Today, as I ponder in reading the life story of Martin Luther King, Jr. a clergyman and a civil rights activist, and of course, heard his famous “I HAVE DREAM” speech given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for jobs and freedom, I just can’t help but wonder how in high heavens that an ordinary man like Barack Obama emerged from a modest nowhere to become the first black president of the United States of America.
Such journey is a unique epitome of MLK’s dream and indeed, Obama is now become an icon of America’s future. His rise to power is a phenomenon which started from a simple community organizer to become a civil rights lawyer and eventually a senator. These small beginnings will made us to think that this man, I believe, a righteous man, is the one destined to hold the reign of the most powerful country in the world. His futuristic approach of making a America to be a changed icon from a “war freak to a peace- loving country of the West.”
I would like to take note of the following facts of his life:
• Born to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. (1936-1982) and Ann Dunham (1942-1995), married from 1960 to 1965.
• Named one of Time magazine's "100 most influential people in the world" list in 2005 and 2007.
• His first name comes from the word that means "blessed by God" in Arabic.
• On "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1993), he revealed that President George W. Bush nicknamed him "Bama" and "Rock".
• Is the first African-American man to be elected President of the United States (November 2008).
• When elected President, he won the battleground states of Florida, Virginia and Colorado - all of which had voted Republican in 2004.
• Is the first American president to be born in Hawaii.
• Was the 27th lawyer to be elected American president.
• Was elected to be the 44th president of the Unites States of America on 4 November, 2008.
• Presidential campaign slogan: "Yes we can".
The very person of President Obama even symbolizes a new rising hope for America and the whole world. His tenacity of character built by experience and sheer beauty of heart made up the whole peaceful land of hope and honey. Indeed, there is a greater change of making a America as a new shifting gear in attaining world peace.
In my quarter ounce thought, I should say, HE IS THE MAN.
I’ve read THE MAN by Irving Wallace in 1983. It was a very exciting reading experience I have had a thought that such novel must have a reality. And it is now.
President Obama possessed the idealism of an American dream that worked within the American system of politics and lifestyles. The consistent strive of achieving something more and the uniqueness of fate in working out of the odds symbolically built his character.
Today, America has reached the very zenith of its own long-time dream of change. It has sparked a new light and a new will of beginning to track the future of the American people into making history again to mingle with their historic constitution, even at the time of President Abraham Lincoln. The equality of man, as a creation of God and an unfeigned faith, has become a consistent pace of race reconstructed by the past and being more ignominiously rebuilt for the future of a people, is no such phenomenon as it is now a reality. At this one time, a black President will chart a new America.
I would like to express my congratulations to the American people for their liberty and freedom exemplified in their choice of who would run their great country. I have great hopes that the path that they are now tracking will be a blessing for all nations of the earth.
My country, the Philippines, I believe will be in unison to the astounding sacrifice that the American people have displayed. Our election will be in 2010. I have great hopes that the Filipino people will emanate or if not, duplicate the great achievements that the American people have done for their country and for their dreams and aspirations.
I fairly hope that even the poorest among the poor of our people will have a clear voice in Congress, not just a symbolism of hope nor an empty dream to spare, but a reality that will rise up the whole country into a symbol like America.
I have also a dream; one not far different like everyone else has.
I have a dream that one day the Filipino people will rise above its own enigma where choices is not paid by the cause of money and every vote counts a trust from individual faith and hope.
I have a dream that one day, Philippines will be known as one that believes his own people and that every right is defended by the blood and perspiration of our own forefathers; and that truth is revealed by the lucid sacrifice of our own martyrs to redeem our country from the ancient plague of self-destruction, mistrust, and corrupt culture.
I have a dream that one day the Philippines will enjoy the fruits of its own well-defined democracy in spite of vast differences in culture of its own people. A country that will hear the voice of the largest part of its constituency; where corrupt few will be incarcerated; where the elite will bow down the will of the majority; when congress is no longer a place for dynasty and tyrannical rule among the few; and instead become a hall of respect, decency, love of country, which will be the surmounting spirit that reviles disunity in principle and in character; where people live in dynamism without fear of being kidnapped or being caught in between crossfire; where the youth have known their path in the history of their country and prepared themselves with all willingness to belong to the future and be the hope of many. I have a dream.
I have a dream that one day the thunderous sound of artillery will be demolished and the shattering fires of M16s and M60s will be buried in memory; where people enjoy the fruits of their own labor unscathed by the destructive blast of grenade or land mines; where children can play their own games while the old enjoy the blessings of their own industry; when war has ended between Christians and Muslims, and peace reign more definitely.
I have a dream and this dream I hope will one day become a reality.
Such journey is a unique epitome of MLK’s dream and indeed, Obama is now become an icon of America’s future. His rise to power is a phenomenon which started from a simple community organizer to become a civil rights lawyer and eventually a senator. These small beginnings will made us to think that this man, I believe, a righteous man, is the one destined to hold the reign of the most powerful country in the world. His futuristic approach of making a America to be a changed icon from a “war freak to a peace- loving country of the West.”
I would like to take note of the following facts of his life:
• Born to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. (1936-1982) and Ann Dunham (1942-1995), married from 1960 to 1965.
• Named one of Time magazine's "100 most influential people in the world" list in 2005 and 2007.
• His first name comes from the word that means "blessed by God" in Arabic.
• On "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1993), he revealed that President George W. Bush nicknamed him "Bama" and "Rock".
• Is the first African-American man to be elected President of the United States (November 2008).
• When elected President, he won the battleground states of Florida, Virginia and Colorado - all of which had voted Republican in 2004.
• Is the first American president to be born in Hawaii.
• Was the 27th lawyer to be elected American president.
• Was elected to be the 44th president of the Unites States of America on 4 November, 2008.
• Presidential campaign slogan: "Yes we can".
The very person of President Obama even symbolizes a new rising hope for America and the whole world. His tenacity of character built by experience and sheer beauty of heart made up the whole peaceful land of hope and honey. Indeed, there is a greater change of making a America as a new shifting gear in attaining world peace.
In my quarter ounce thought, I should say, HE IS THE MAN.
I’ve read THE MAN by Irving Wallace in 1983. It was a very exciting reading experience I have had a thought that such novel must have a reality. And it is now.
President Obama possessed the idealism of an American dream that worked within the American system of politics and lifestyles. The consistent strive of achieving something more and the uniqueness of fate in working out of the odds symbolically built his character.
Today, America has reached the very zenith of its own long-time dream of change. It has sparked a new light and a new will of beginning to track the future of the American people into making history again to mingle with their historic constitution, even at the time of President Abraham Lincoln. The equality of man, as a creation of God and an unfeigned faith, has become a consistent pace of race reconstructed by the past and being more ignominiously rebuilt for the future of a people, is no such phenomenon as it is now a reality. At this one time, a black President will chart a new America.
I would like to express my congratulations to the American people for their liberty and freedom exemplified in their choice of who would run their great country. I have great hopes that the path that they are now tracking will be a blessing for all nations of the earth.
My country, the Philippines, I believe will be in unison to the astounding sacrifice that the American people have displayed. Our election will be in 2010. I have great hopes that the Filipino people will emanate or if not, duplicate the great achievements that the American people have done for their country and for their dreams and aspirations.
I fairly hope that even the poorest among the poor of our people will have a clear voice in Congress, not just a symbolism of hope nor an empty dream to spare, but a reality that will rise up the whole country into a symbol like America.
I have also a dream; one not far different like everyone else has.
I have a dream that one day the Filipino people will rise above its own enigma where choices is not paid by the cause of money and every vote counts a trust from individual faith and hope.
I have a dream that one day, Philippines will be known as one that believes his own people and that every right is defended by the blood and perspiration of our own forefathers; and that truth is revealed by the lucid sacrifice of our own martyrs to redeem our country from the ancient plague of self-destruction, mistrust, and corrupt culture.
I have a dream that one day the Philippines will enjoy the fruits of its own well-defined democracy in spite of vast differences in culture of its own people. A country that will hear the voice of the largest part of its constituency; where corrupt few will be incarcerated; where the elite will bow down the will of the majority; when congress is no longer a place for dynasty and tyrannical rule among the few; and instead become a hall of respect, decency, love of country, which will be the surmounting spirit that reviles disunity in principle and in character; where people live in dynamism without fear of being kidnapped or being caught in between crossfire; where the youth have known their path in the history of their country and prepared themselves with all willingness to belong to the future and be the hope of many. I have a dream.
I have a dream that one day the thunderous sound of artillery will be demolished and the shattering fires of M16s and M60s will be buried in memory; where people enjoy the fruits of their own labor unscathed by the destructive blast of grenade or land mines; where children can play their own games while the old enjoy the blessings of their own industry; when war has ended between Christians and Muslims, and peace reign more definitely.
I have a dream and this dream I hope will one day become a reality.
posted by Unknown | Monday, January 19, 2009
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