John, Bobby, and Martin

“I have been to the mountaintop, I have seen the promised land.”

These three men of wisdom and courage spoke to a disillusioned America torn apart by racism and war.  Fifty years have passed and we cannot help but ask, “Have we learned nothing?”

Many of my generation moved into the hippie movement, dropouts from the hypocritical, violent, racist society we detested.   We cared little about the political process and were happy to get drunk and high living only for the present day.

But, we were damned idealistic.  And that should be no surprise.  Listen to the words of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King, Jr. and then try to tell me that our generation was not blessed with leadership greatness which is absolutely lacking in today’s political and social atmosphere.

Friends, the words of John, Bobby, and Martin challenge us to do better.  They encourage us to move forward together fighting racism and bigotry and hatred.  Especially after the events in Charlottesville this past weekend, we have no other choice if we hope to survive as a nation celebrating freedom, justice, and equality for all.