Delusion in Denver

Trying to get to the promised land without the prophet

By Clenard Childress

The stage is set. It's August 28th, 2008 and the timing couldn't be better. Everyone's expectations are running high. All eyes are focused on the democratic nominee for president of the United States of America. This nominee is African-American, and all are certain they're witnessing history. Never before has a person of color been nominated to the highest office of the land. It is happening on the same day on which 45 years ago a courageous Black Baptist Preacher gave his most recognized sermon — "I Have a Dream" — from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

Ironically, it isn't until 45 minutes into his speech, Obama references the Prophet from Georgia. "Americans from every corner brought to this land to stand together on a mall in Washington, DC before the Lincoln Memorial and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak his dream." That Preacher, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was summoned by God to prick the conscience of America. Most of us remember the electric atmosphere generated by the prophetic wisdom of his insightful words. In comparison, listening to Obama's message, the date was the closest thing they had in common. The content of Obama's dream was a long way from "The Dream" of Dr. King.

Obama stated, "I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office; I don't fit the typical pedigree." Describing himself as being the least likely candidate is not the problem. What America has been hearing, and redundantly so in Denver, is Obama's jaded perception of The American Dream. Juxtaposed against the tenants of the The Dream of Dr. King, we find an antithetical value system which would exacerbate America's social ills and would accelerate the deplorable conditions in the Black community. The message we heard in Denver would defer The Dream thus allowing the nightmare to continue.

Obama said, "We can find common ground on abortion, gay marriage and education." It would be important to note here most African-Americans have sadly forgotten the essence of The Dream. Recollection of the messages of Dr. King would undoubtedly cause us to vigerously reject the "content of character" Obama's platform represents.

"Any law that does not reflect God's divine law is no law at all!" said Dr. King, often quoting this statement from Thomas Aquantis. In light of this insight, I must then ask:

• What common ground can there be for a child in the womb, with no choice or opportunity, to pursue happiness?
  
  
• What viable reason can there be to legislate the destruction of the family, the fundamental building block of all of society?
  
  
• How can you deny the right to inner city youth the necessity of a quality education, and at the same time, protect a system that has utterly failed them?
  
  

But as King so aptly stated, "We shall overcome because there is something in this universe that justifies James Russell Lowell in saying, truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne. Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown, standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own." And I would add, even behind the scenes of the DNC.

Not mentioned by the mainstream media or politicians were those who embodied The Dream of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement of his day; citizens who realized the need for social activism when there were those being denied the privileges of that society, for behind the scenes of the DNC, there were Civil Rights workers acquiring signatures. Echoing from another era is the call to America to make good on its promise and live out its creed, and due to their efforts, Proposition 48 will be on the ballot in Colorado on November 4th.

What is Proposition 48? It is a call to put into law the rights of "Personhood" for all of America's citizens; the right of every person at conception (fertilization) to be protected as the Declaration of Independence has promised. When demanding the rights for African-Americans on August 28th, 1963, King referred to this document as the basis of his argument and the essence of his dream. Martin Luther King said,

"In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

Never before had a socio-political document expressed with such profound eloquence, and unequivocal language, the dignity and worth of our humanity and that these gifts are neither derived from, nor conferred by the state, but are gifts from the Hand of almighty God.

No, Obama didn't mention personhood, nor did he express the values of the Prophet, nor The Dream, yet talked about bringing America into a new day and a better tomorrow. On April 3rd, 1968, Dr. King saw that tomorrow stating unequivocally, "... I have been to the mountain top..". .".. and I have seen the Promised Land!" Yes, a land where America finally lives out its creed; a land where the "dignity and worth of human personality" are respected; a land when one is asked, "When does life begin?" ...will give an intelligent and honest answer.

© Clenard Childress