Speeches

Reception Honoring the Winners of the U.S. Embassy’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream” Essay Contest

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador John D. Rood

January 15, 2007

Ambassador's Residence
Nassau, Bahamas

           

Thank you for joining us this evening to remember and celebrate the life of a truly great American - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  His values, his ideals and his courage stand as a beacon of hope not only for Americans, but for citizens of all nations who believe in justice and equality. 

On a hot August day in 1963 Dr. King traveled to the Lincoln Memorial to inspire America and to call his fellow citizens to live up to the principles of our nation's founding: that all men are created equal.  An estimated 250,000 people marched to hear Dr. King give an impassioned speech known ever since as the "I Have a Dream" speech.  His dream spread a message of hope, justice, and brotherhood that took hold in the hearts of men and women at home and around the world.

Thanks to that march, that speech, and Dr. King's determined leadership, much of Dr. King's dream has become a reality in the United States.  His vision also resonated in other parts of the world, such as South Africa, that have since overcome racial prejudice and segregation.  And so today, we take time out to honor the memory and the life of a great American who triumphed over injustice and helped make our country "a more perfect union."      

While the United States and the world have come a long way since Dr. King's time, the achievement of Dr. King's vision is not yet complete.  Dr. King challenged his fellow countrymen and people the world over to live together as brothers, to eschew violence, to combat poverty, and to find alternatives to war and violence.  "The American dream," he cautioned, "will not become a reality devoid of the larger dream of a world of brotherhood and peace and goodwill."     

In observing Dr. King's birthday this year, the U.S. Embassy wanted to honor his legacy by giving the young people of The Bahamas an opportunity to use Dr. King's most powerful instrument of change -- the written and spoken word -- to assess his legacy and to offer their modern day vision for how The Bahamas and the world can still strive to fulfill the vision he dreamed and meet the challenges he left us as his legacy.   

So in our call for essays, we asked interested students to reflect on the life and values of Dr. King, and then look at their own society here in The Bahamas and consider how Dr. King’s values and teachings could be applied to problems being faced today.  The response was tremendous: the Embassy received over 35 essays from high school students across The Bahamas.  I was deeply impressed by the depth of understanding these young people articulated about the complex issues facing our modern society today.

They took a hard look at problems ranging from discrimination against the Haitian community, to disability rights and the increasing violence in society.  Their essays spoke of the hope for equality in the country, an end to violence, and the belief that the values cherished by Dr. King could help bring The Bahamas to a better place.  

I am delighted to be able to honor the wisdom and understanding of so many talented and farsighted young Bahamians this evening.  It is your charge to keep Dr. King's dream alive to and get to the Promised Land that he saw, but was unable to get to in his lifetime. 

Thank you.