Dream Fulfilled

Yesterday, on assignment for the community paper I write for, I attended the annual MLK Day celebration at Simi Second Missionary Baptist Church. The theme of the service was "A Dream Fulfilled-- On the Road to Equality." A banner hung above the choir with the images of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barack Obama opposite one another. The connection between the two figures is apparent and deep. And today's inauguration was on the minds of every person sitting in the church pews. In anticipation of the swearing in, members of Simi Second's congregation acknowledged the special significance of this MLK Day. A portion of the dream has been fulfilled, they said. The country is moving toward the dream King envisioned. Because more than 45 years after King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Obama would take the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Most expressed a sense of amazement, saying that they never thought that in their lifetime they would see a black man step into the country's highest office. 

The joy and hope for the future was evident in the dancing, the singing, the praising. Church-goers were moved out of their seats at the reading of King's dream, which still rings so true today:

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."

...

"When we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white man, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Echoing King's words, Obama said today in his inaugural address:

The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

...

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed-- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

America, you've come a long way. Congrats.

Get the cool Obama photo/art above at risamay's Etsy shop

Happy Inauguration Day!

Capitol building (spring 2006)

Unfortunately, I missed seeing Barack Obama sworn into office this morning. I had an interview to do at city hall and just saw a snippet of his inaugural address as I was rushing out the door. But I am sure I can catch it later on repeat on TV, or maybe see it online, right? Thank goodness for the internet (and YouTube).

Me in front of the reflecting pool (between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument) in January 2006 during a D.C. internship program. Wish I could have been in the nation's capital today for the inauguration!

Anyway, tons to do being that it is Tuesday (copy deadline day), but I will post later about my MLK Day experience at a Baptist church here in Simi. It was definitely something unlike anything I have experienced, but a lot of fun, too. The connection between MLK and Obama is undeniable and it seemed that yesterday's celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream held more meaning than in year's past as people saw that dream come to life in our 44th president.

More later.

Hello, lovely.

Fifteen days into the new year and I am finally doing something I have been meaning to do for quite some time: start a blog. A relatively simple venture but I had my reasons for staying away. I mean, put my life out there for the world to see? Sounds a bit scary. (That is, if people read this. And I hope that, eventually, they do.) But see, that's the thing. Even though all the NYE hoopla is two weeks behind us, I think I can still safely make a few resolutions and maybe keep them (hey, I am still seeing some holiday-themed commercials after all), and the one I want to make most is this:

Embrace change.

Or even, create it.

"Change" was the buzzword of 2008. We saw it everywhere. And people were looking for it everywhere. They still are. With the economy a mess, people are searching for hope on the horizon. And many times, hope comes in the form of change.

Yes, I voted for Obama. I voted for Bush, too, but that's a different story. Although I pledged my allegiance to Obama at the ballot box this past November and I stand behind his dreams and goals for our country, I wouldn't consider myself an Obama maniac. (Or an Obama Mama? No, no.) And even though I am a reporter and I tried my dardest to keep up to date on the campaign--covering local politics for the Simi Valley Acorn kept me pretty busy. We had quite a mayoral race. Ha ha-- I never got completely swept up in the hysteria surrounding the election of our first black president. I never chanted "Yes We Can" with the fervor displayed by the masses I saw on TV.

And yet, with just four days left before the inauguration of our 44th president and excitement reaching a crescendo, I am reminded of why change is so important and not something to resist. How turning from one path to another can lead to something... Well, I guess we don't know what yet. But I am starting to think "Yes We Can" instead of the hemming-and-hawing, weak-and-wavering philosophy of "No, I can't, I shouldn't, etc. etc. etc."

So while I don't know where I'm going, this blog will document the journey-- sometimes seriously, sometimes not so seriously. I hope you will stay with me for the ride.

Image via www.allposters.com