Charles Shiflett Column February 12, 2006

Time To Make The Dream A Reality

Thousands packed into New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday for what should have been a
dignified celebration of Coretta Scott King's life… the key word phrase here is “should have”. It's sad
that during a ceremony such as this, some so-called leaders show they are anything but.

Rev. Joseph Lowery, a longtime verbal bomb thrower, stated from the pulpit, "She extended Martin's
message against poverty, racism and war. She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on
missions way afar. We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there."

He added, "But Coretta knew, and we know that there are weapons of misdirection right down here.
Millions without health insurance, poverty abound. For war, billions more, but no more for the poor!"
Lowery looked toward President George W. Bush and nodded during his socialist laced anti-war
diatribe.

Even more disappointing, a large number of those in attendance stood to their feet and wildly cheered
Lowery's comments for several minutes.

Not to be outdone, Georgia's status as having provided the nation with one of its worst presidents in
history was solidified when Jimmy Carter just couldn't resist the temptation to pile on.

Speaking about the King's… Carter said, "It was difficult for them then personally with the civil liberties
of both husband and wife violated as they became the target of secret government wiretaps." Of course
this was a direct reference to the current issue of eavesdropping on the conversations of suspected
terrorists… and the crowd cheered again. (Of note, it was Democrats JFK and brother Bobby who
wiretapped King)

Later Carter switched gears and attacked Bush on the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. "This
commemorative ceremony this morning, this afternoon, is not only to acknowledge the great
contributions of Coretta and Martin, but to remind us that the struggle for equal rights is not over. We
only have to recall the color of the faces of those in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi," Carter said.

He added, "Those who were most devastated by Katrina know that there are not yet equal
opportunities for all Americans. It is our responsibility to continue their crusade."

Never mind that the evidence shows most of the failure to adequately respond can be primarily laid at
the feet of state and local officials… never mind the statistics show blacks and whites were equally
impacted in relation to their percentage of population in the disaster. Never mind the truth as long as
you can score political points.

Over four decades have passed since the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act. Four decades to
erase the barriers that separate us. Four decades to get beyond the bitterness.

Yet every day we see reminders that the old guard of the civil rights movement refuses to beat swords
into plowshares. To do so would cause them to lose their grip on the organizations from which they
derive their livelihoods.

Just last week former Atlanta Mayor and former Ambassador Andy Young, who most would view as a
legitimate and even-'keeled leader, made an unbelievable statement in reference to the government
corruption trial of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell.

Young said, “No one who's white thinks he's innocent… no one who's black thinks he's guilty.”
Whether Young himself believes this or was just stating what he feels is the reality of the situation, it
is still a sad commentary on the current state of race relations in America.

Never mind the evidence… never mind the law… it's all about race.

After reading this it would be easy to conclude that “the dream” as expressed by Martin Luther King,
Jr. has died. However, as I look at a new generation of young black leaders and elected officials now
moving into positions of power I have hope.

Many are challenging the status quo… they see government as a barrier to their freedom and upward
mobility instead of it being an all-encompassing nanny state as is desired by the Julian Bond's and
Jesse Jackson's of the world.

Yes, these up and coming leaders are still a minority within the black power structure in this nation…
and the Democrat Party along with their liberal friends in the media are desperate to unfairly label them
as “Uncle Tom's” lest they become a political force.

While the old civil rights warhorses say they are striving to keep the “dream” alive, the new generation
will hopefully work to make the “dream” a reality. This changing of the guard can't come soon enough.