..

 For Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Part 2

On August 28th, 1963 Martin L. King stood with thousands of black and white men equally and said the following,

 “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 would be guaranteed the inalienable 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. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.” 

“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children.”

“But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.  We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”

What an amazing speech! What an amazing man! What an amazing dream!   As I read this text I realized that today our government has indeed seen no segregation among the citizens whether black, white, red, or yellow; today the Elite rule the day and the colorful generations of our beautiful country are trodden beneath political injustice and greed.    We must value the greatest of all values, that being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.   This cannot be done if we yield to the destructive forces of deceptive power, and hate.

I close by supplying quotes from Thomas Jefferson, one of the Framers of our great country:

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

“Liberty is the great parent of science and virtue; a nation will be great in both always in proportion as it is free.”

 “A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither.”

Samuel Adams wrote the following with regard to the liberty of man:

“If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace.  We ask not your counsels or arms.  Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.  May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”

                                                            LIVE THE UNDEFEATED LIFE!