I Have A Dream

I have a dream. The famous words recited by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. are ringing in my ears. Because today I have a dream. I can’t be as eloquent and I can’t empower thousands, nay millions as Rev. King could do. But hear my dream because we may be seeing a turning point in America. Several years ago we watched the Arab Spring rise up and change the lives and mindset of millions. We may be seeing the start of the American Youth Spring (not quite as catchy, but you never know).

As the fallout from the Parkland High School shooting continues we are witnessing an influx of non-voting age activists dominating the headlines. Children, that’s right, children are having to grow up too fast and change the world in ways adults have not been able (or willing) to do!

“My main concerns are funerals, gun control and whether or not I’m going to be shot wherever I go,” Tarr said. “My innocence ― our innocence ― has been taken from us. I’m 17, but in a matter of days have aged decades.”

Delaney Tarr and Emma Gonzales among others are becoming the voice of this movement. They are taking on the NRA and the politicians that take money from them. One student asked Marco Rubio if he would commit to refusing contributions from the NRA. He stumbled through an answer that we can only take as a refusal to commit.

With rallying cries of “WE CALL BS” and “WE ARE KIDS” the students are turning a nation towards a discussion it has never been willing to have…gun control laws that need to be changed. By organizing rallies and protests, walkouts and sit downs, our nation is now listening. The politicians know these KIDS will be voting soon and many in this year’s elections. Could this be the time?

We are hearing about national corporations distancing themselves from the NRA. MetLife, Hertz, United, Delta, Symantec, First Bank of Omaha and others have severed ties (or will not be renewing contracts). But the NRA is fighting back releasing a statement that condemns the corporations for their actions as:

“an effort to punish our members who are doctors, farmers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, nurses, shop owners and school teachers that live in every American community,”

Our president has stated that teachers should be trained and armed so this doesn’t happen again. Once again showing he has no idea what comes out of his mouth. Samuel L. Jackson responded by tweeting:

“Can someone that’s been in a Gunfight tell that Muthafukka that’s Never been in a Gunfight, the flaws of his Arm The Teachers plan??!!”

Educators, parents and students have lashed out at the president for this idea. There has been some turnaround in the GOP. Rick Scott, Governor of Florida, has proposed raising the age of gun purchasing to 21 (from 18). Al Hoffman, Jr. announced he will not donate to candidates that don’t support banning of AR15s. These are two hard-line Republicans and it is a start.

And now we have the March For Our Lives on March 24th. Student activists have planned this march and demonstration to happen across the country. The right wing has denounced this as a ploy by the left wing and the entertainment industry, saying they are kidnapping the student’s emotions for their own agenda. The students/activists are not so easily swayed. They have their agenda and there doesn’t seem to be any stopping them now!

So yes, I have a dream. A dream that this is the beginning, a turning point when democracy rears it’s head and storms back into American society. That is all that we can ask for. We may not like the outcomes and we may disagree with the results, but if it is a democratic, true democratic process then our country will be “great again”. Let’s all have a dream. A dream that our country will be the one the world respects. And a country we can respect!

Note: My apologies to the family of Rev. King for bastardizing his famous words. I use them with great admiration and respect.