Where are the Inspiring Voices of Righteousness?
Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Speaking at 1963 Freedom March on Washington
Professor Joe Goldblatt
When the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King stood at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC in 1963 I doubted if he had consulted any poll or marketing guru before shouting the imortal words “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!” He repeated the words “I have a dream” eight times.
The speech was inspired by the United States Declaration of Independence, President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and the United States Constitution. Early in his speech he refers to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address when he announced “Five score years ago …” referring to the abolition of slavery.
Perhaps this is why in the aftermath of the recent tragic murders of Jewish people at Sydney, Australia’s Bondi Beach I have wondered over and over again why our leaders do not find the emotion that should be underpinned by their moral authority to deliver orations that inspire their citizens?
Instead we have the Prime Minister of Australia calling for more stringent laws regarding the mitigation of hate crime and especially anti semitisim and only after the murder of Jews does he call for futher education in his schools to prevent future atrocities.
I began to imagine if Reverend Dr King had been asked to speak to his followers and even those who opposed his views in a similar circumstance what colourful, strong, and dramatic words he would have found to seize the day and move those listening to positive action?
Where are the dreamers today? Where is the courage of our leaders to envision a future that is free of hate and founded upon the principles of kindness, compassion, and love?
When my father lost by a mere 200 votes his election to become the first Jewish Mayor of Dallas, Texas he spoke to a crowd of 500 disappointed slumped over supporters shouting “This election was not won. It was stolen! I shall prove beyond a shadow of a doubt in Federal Court that we are right!” The crowd rose from their seats and cheered loudly and for a long time.
A few years after this defeat my 86 year old father died. A reporter for the local newspaper wrote a tribute to Papa and said “Many people thought Councillor Goldblatt was a political gadfly. This is not true. He was a genuine firefly. He captured the imagination of others and they followed him to see where they might go.”
A few weeks after I read the article about my father, I was driving my car to my home and as the sun slowly set I noticed the fireflies were starting to appear in a golden carpet upon the grass. My eyes suddenly filled with tears and I was forced to pull over to the side of the road and stop the car. I then silently recalled that wonderful image the journalist who paid tribute to my father had given me as my eyes followed the fireflies disappearing among the tall trees.
Perhaps rhetoric and oratory should be reintroduced into our schools so that in the near future we have leaders who may paint word pictures that capture the imagination of their listeners and lead us, especially in times of tragedy, to better places where we may find comfort and even hope.
I am afraid our current leaders are too often victims of consultants and marketing experts along with researchers who choose words that will not offend rather than inspire. What is desperately needed now are the words that will inspire a new generation of citizens to deeper thought and greater action.
Cavett Robert (1907 – 1997) was a renowned American motivation speaker who often reminded politicians, business leaders and others he coached in public speaking that “People do not care how much you know until they first know how much you care!” He knew that our words demonstrate how much we care about our audience.
When Martin Luther King Jr concluded his historic speech he said in a weary but still strong voice
And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.
I also have a dream that one day soon another leader shall emerge and their words will speed up the day when we are all inspired to become a better and more civil society because the thoughts of these future orators will have at long last enlightened our souls to as King suggests, work together, hand in hand, for a better world.
Professor Joe Goldblatt is Ambassador of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and his views are his own. For more information about his views visit www.joegoldblatt.scot