A Tale of Two Dreamers

I thought that I would share a few thoughts on this most special day regarding two dreamers and their hope for this nation. Some people may scoff at the connecting of these two people but I think if people would actually look at them honestly, they will find that these two men have more in common than they’d otherwise admit. The two men that I speak of are the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the soon to be inaugurated 47th president of these United States of America, Donald John Trump. 

On one August day in 1963, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to share his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to a nation fractured by segregation. To put this into context, remember that it was Abraham Lincoln who, as the 16th president of this nation paved the way for slaves to be free via the Emancipation Proclamation, at a time when the nation was divided and fully engaged in a civil war over slavery. Dr. King’s Dream Speech at that Memorial set the tone and hope for a better America during a time when there was so must division over equal rights under the law.  

Donald John Trump ran and won the election in 2016 to become the 45th president of the United States of America with the slogan, hope and dream that America could be great again. Part of that dream that he saw included aspects of Dr. King’s dream, believing that all people should be judged based on their character, not based on the color of their skin. Many of the present-day agenda being pushed by government and Corporate America has worked against that ideal. Now, as we are becoming witnesses to a second term for Donald Trump who is being inaugurated as the 47th president, we will hopefully get an opportunity to see many of his dreams realized as he initiates many of the plans that were not fulfilled in the first term.  

While Dr. King did not live long enough to see how much of his dream would be actualized, President Trump is getting a second opportunity to see his unfold. What should be understood when it comes to both of these dreamers is that neither dream will be fulfilled as others become carriers of the dream. None of these dreams were solely for the dreamer. The dreamers both shared or cast their vision so that the masses would catch it and run with it. What would it be for a nation to believe that their dreams were attainable? Why shouldn’t America be great? Why shouldn’t every nation have the opportunity to be great? 

Can America become a place that is hopeful, a place where the American dream isn’t a fading wish? Can the dream be achieved by the common man and not just the exceptional one? Both of these men saw America as a land of opportunity. It’s my hope and prayer that we will honor each of these dreamers today and every day for daring to dream and share their dream.