"...the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."

Martin Luther King Jr's 1963 "I Have a Dream Speech" is one of the most influential speaches by a historical figure in the United States, and his daring approach to tackle a hostile race issue would not only solidify Dr King as a leader in the American Civil Rights movement, but his speech a lone would have the largest impact on the fight for American Civil Rights.

The video and speech bought me back to a topic in my Political Science 390 class, which is crosslisted with African American Studies 390:  What is racism in the South never exsisted?  What if Dr. King didn't have to risk his life to defend basic human rights that were being denied to millions of Americans?  How would the world be different? 

Dr. King knew that he was about to make history.  He knew that his words would have power and his words would reach generations long after his Finis Origine Pendet, or The End Depends on the Beginning is true in testimant to Dr King's speech.  If Dr. King would have went up to the podium, in front of a crowd that large in the shadows of Abraham Lincoln and said "This might have an impact" or "Maybe we . . ." etc., then the speech wouldn't have been as poweful; his supporters would have seen him as weak just as much as his critics. 

As ELs, we each have our own dream that we want to be able to achieve or see this world achieve, and just as Dr. King, we have the ability follow through and stand with steadfast faith and not quiver with fear or let ourselves think our dream or action is not good enough.  How would Dr. King's speech have been if he stumbled through it, appeared nervous, or was lackluster in his delivery?  Words are poewrful, but so is delivery.

"Be brave.  Even if you're not.  No one knows the difference."