This is my dream;
At the conclusion of World War One the big powers signed peace treaties with the rest of the world. Although different, the common theme in each of these treaties was, of course, peace. Not every country in the world was involved in these negotiations, but the larger, powerful ones were.
What happened to this peace that was signed for? Is the world at peace today? That would be a massive NO, it is not. There was even a second world war, after these agreements were made. What did these wars, and all wars since, achieve? What good did they do? Solve conflict? Solve problems? Secure peace? It is obvious that they did not. The purpose of each of these was gain. To gain power, money, resources. It is sad to think that we live in a world that is driven by greed, and yet, this is obviously the case.
How is it fair to invade a country and kill their people and justify it with pathetic excuses. We need their resources, the world is over populated, it is not my country...
No, it may not be your country that has been invaded, it may not be your children who are being shot dead on the street, it may not be your house that has been bombed to dust. It may not be your grandmother who was beaten to death by a soldier right before your eyes.
No, these may not be the things that impact upon, and shape your life, but does that make it ok? Ask yourself this: Is it justified?
You may think that 'Ignorance is bliss', but where is the justice in ignorance? I have to say to you- ignorance is NOT bliss! Turn off your Ipods and open your eyes!
Do you see the homeless in the street? Do you see them as human beings? Do you know that there are starving children in your own country? In your own neighbourhood? In your own street?
Do you know that every 26 seconds a child is sold as a sex slave??? Over more than two a minute.
This isn't in other countries; this happens here too, in Australia! Where is the justice in that!?
It seems impossible to imagine that one day every human being might be equal to one another. But- why can't they be? Who is to say they can't be?
You may think it is an overwhelming, impossible task. But it is not. We must believe that we can achieve it. There is an urgent need to work towards a better world. Things are not changing on their own. It will take the effort and commitment of all. But i know we can do it.
Right now, I fear for the future. Especially for my children. What sort of world are they going to be growing up in? Right now, not one i want them to be a part of!
The world is not a fair place. It is filled with injustice. Injustice to all people.
When did it become acceptable to treat another with anything less than love, purely because of race? When did it become ok for millions of people to die everyday?
What happened to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights? Do people no longer follow them because they have become less than human?
What happened to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals? What happened to working towards achieving these?
Have you forgotten that every person is a child of God, created as equal? Regardless of colour, race, religion or social class?
We cannot let this neglect get the better of us. We must act, and change the world for ourselves, and our children.
Even though the world is filled with despair, and met with hatred at every turn, i still have a dream.
I have a dream that one day injustice will cease to exist in the world. That every person will be given the same opportunities, regardless of who they are.
I have a dream that one day children will no longer be sold as sex slaves. They they too can have a childhood filled with happy memories of family holidays, sunshine, laughter and the chance to just be a child.
I have a dream that one day every religion in the world will be treated with equal respect, and no one will be judged for what they believe in.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day my children will be able to grow up in a world filled with love and respect for all. That they won't know what the word injustice means.
I have a dream that one day no human being will no longer be suffering from hunger or malnutrition. That the goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger will be achieved.
I have a dream that one day the 72 million primary school-aged children without an education will receive one. And that this will lead to the 1 Billion illiterate people in the world to drop dramatically.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that the 9 million children who die before their 5th birthday will have the chance to live longer. That the child mortality rate will drop, and children will grow to be adults.
I have a dream that the alarming statistics of one human being dying every thirty seconds from Malaria will reduce dramatically, and that the goal to combat Malaria and other diseases will be achieved.
I have a dream that one day the leaders of our countries will realise that guns, murder, bombs and violence solve nothing. That there is a way to solve conflict, and create peace without these methods.
I have a dream today!
This is my dream. A dream i carry in my heart, a dream i wish to share with the world.
I carry this dream and the hope and faith that this will one day be more than just a dream- with me always.
With this hope and faith, this dream that i have, we can all work towards these goals. I urge you to awaken your hope and faith to move our world from a place filled with anguish, hate and violence, to a place filled with love, kindness and peace.
Oh, imagine how glorious the day will be when the lion and the lamb lie down together in a spirit of brotherhood. No contention among two enemies. Friends at last.
When this day comes, when we finally reject injustice and let peace govern our lives, oh how wonderful it will be.
Freedom.
Equality of life for all.
Justice.
Peace at last.
This is my dream. I invite you to awaken yourselves and join me.
The time to act is NOW.
