As we watch the escalation of the situation in Syria and hear the buzz words that let us know that America is gearing up for yet another war, it is disturbing after just celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and so much emphasis was put on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you know true history, you will know that he spoke about so much more than what is repeated time and time again in the “I Have A Dream” speech. He was very critical of foreign and domestic US policy. In a speech given on April 4, 1967, 1 year to the day before he was assassinated, he said, “I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today — my own government.” Ever since those in power realized that they could use the “safe” speeches of Dr. King, such as “I Have A Dream,” to pacify our people, the rest has been snuffed out!
It would be most disturbing to have President Obama decide to attack Syria at this time of reflection. It almost feels like the administration is trying to let enough time pass to separate the attack from the recent events commemorating 50 years since the march. With all that needs to be addressed here in America regarding poverty, jobs, failing schools, and gun violence, shouldn’t America be the focus of attention? Shouldn’t the millions of taxpayer dollars that it would take, even for a limited strike on Syria, be spent here on the citizens of the United States?
Dr. King’s dream included an end to war. If we look at the results of the wars that have been fought since 9/11, it has only made the hatred for our government even stronger. Nothing good can come of an attack at this time. Even the British, often referred to as our greatest ally, won’t back this one up. President Obama, keep the dream alive. Fight for jobs, not war! Put an end to the drone attacks that continue to take place, but that we rarely hear about. War is not the answer.