This week’s post is dedicated in honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. and his dream of racial equality. Although we’ve come a long
way, there’s still plenty more to go, and when I reflect on his dream I like to
think that it has unfolded to include all races, genders and sexual
orientations. To put it bluntly, I don’t look at his message as just a black
and white issue, but as an overall human issue.
I recognize that being white has brought me a level of
social privilege and that being straight has meant that I haven’t had to fight
for the right to express my love in the way I see fit. And I also am acutely aware
that – aside from being female – I haven’t really had to define myself by race
or sexual orientation as a means to overcome social or judicial bias. Though one
thing that has always bothered me are titles like “African-American” and “gay marriage”.
Shouldn’t I then be defined as a Scandinavian-American who used to be in a straight
marriage? Shouldn’t we all have to subscribe to the same structured
definitions? Better yet, no
definitions? I know, easy for me to say as I sit here living in the liberal-peace-love-and-understanding
mecca of the US, but it’s just a thought. And you know what? I can dream too…
Sweet dreams to you all.
With Love.
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From Over There:
“To be exclusive of
any segment of humanity based upon gender or ethnicity creates a fractured
sense of wholeness within oneself. To be exclusive of those whose lifestyle
conflicts with one’s sense of morality – when the behavior deemed offensive
brings harm to no one – creates a state of separateness in viewpoint upon the
world and a skewed sense of moral judgment. This creates a world view not
solely based on love, but one of fear and need for retribution. This moves one
further away from love and further away from a connection with the spirit. It
is in recognition of the interconnectedness of all that one forges a deeper
relationship to the spiritual aspect of oneself. It is through this
connectedness that brings understanding and a harmonious existence for all.”
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Featured Guest:
Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr.
Here is a link to Dr. King’s famous speech, “I Have a Dream”. I’d like to think that today this dream to move to a more just and
inclusive society includes equality for everyone, regardless of skin color,
sexual orientation, gender, or spiritual beliefs.
