I, too, have a dream

To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I, too, have a dream.

I have a dream that someday soon, within my lifetime, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the third Monday in January, and on every other day of the year, commitment to peace and social justice will grow steadily and irrevocably, overwhelming violence, greed, and prejudice.

I have a dream that men and women, regardless of skin color, country of origin, and religion of birth or choice, and regardless of the messages of hate and prejudice they may have heard, will join hands in brotherhood and sisterhood and the true cousinhood they all share.

I have a dream that from coast to coast and mountain to valley, Americans will no longer rely on the courage of whistle blowers to expose governmental lies, plots, and dirty laundry because their government will have come clean.

I have a dream that from one end of the globe to the other, people will see that friends are better than enemies, that clean air and water are better than smog, sludge, and pollution, and that people everywhere have a right to a safe and verdant environment.

I have a dream that the war on drugs will be replaced by achievement of a living wage, equal opportunity, and better education.

I have a dream today that Big Brother will be sent packing, and his drones and electronic spying equipment will be beaten into plowshares.

I have a dream today that Martin Luther King Day will become an internationally cherished day for celebrating the achievement of nonviolence and service to others.

I have a dream today that apathy will be replaced with empathy, that hatred will be replaced with love, that prejudice will be replaced with understanding, that harm will be replaced with help, that oppression will be replaced with social justice.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology