i have a dream

今日Washington Post的Editorial說Martin Luther King Jr的話比較之前的選舉年更加相關. 當然是指1963年他在Lincoln Memorial的演講I Have a Dream.

When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.

1968年4月3日, 他被刺的前一天:

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. . . . I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.

對很多美國人來說, "that land remains out of reach." 何況其他人.