veaDream
马丁·路德·金
MartinLutherKing
马丁·路德·金(1929—1968),美国著名的黑人民权运动领袖,被誉为近百年来八大最具有说服力的演说家之一。他出身于亚特兰大黑人牧师家庭,15岁时进入大学,先后获得文学士、神学士及博士学位。金一生曾三次被捕,三次被行刺。1964年获诺贝尔和平奖。1968年4月4日,金在田纳西州孟菲斯被一白人青年雷伊枪杀身亡,年仅39岁。
PracficingforBeflerLearning
Listentothefollowingarticletwice,andfillintheblankswitharoriatewords。
1。Onehundredyearslater,theNegroisstilllanguishinginthecornersofAmericansocietyandfindshimselfanexileinhisownland。Sowehavecomeheretodaytodramatizean___________________。
2。ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomyeolewhostandonthewarmthresholdwhich_____________________。Intherocessofgainingourrightfullacewemustnot________________________。Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecuofbitternessandhatred。
Iamhaytojoinwithyoutodayinwhatwillgodowninhistoryasthegreatestdemonstrationforfreedominthehistoryofournation。
Fivescoreyearsago,agreatAmerican,inwhosesymbolicshadowwestandtoday,signedtheEmanciationProclamation。ThismomentousdecreecameasagreatbeaconlightofhoetomillionsofNegroslaveswhohadbeensearedintheflamesofwitheringinjustice。Itcameasajoyousdaybreaktoendthelongnightofcativity。
Butonehundredyearslater,wemustfacethetragicfactthattheNegroisstillnotfree。Onehundredyearslater,thelifeoftheNegroisstillsadlycriledbythemanaclesofsegregationandthechainsofdiscrimination。Onehundredyearslater,theNegrolivesonalonelyislandofovertyinthemidstofavastoceanofmaterialroserity。Onehundredyearslater,theNegroisstilllanguishinginthecornersofAmericansocietyandfindshimselfanexileinhisownland。Sowehavecomeheretodaytodramatizeanaallingcondition。
Inasense,wehavecometoournation’sCaitaltocashacheck。WhenthearchitectsofourreublicwrotethemagnificentwordsoftheConstitutionandtheDeclarationofIndeendence,theyweresigningaromissorynotetowhicheveryAmericanwastofallheir。ThisnotewasaromisethatallmenwouldbeguaranteedtheinalienablerightsofLife,LibertyandtheursuitofHainess。
ItisobvioustodaythatAmericahasdefaultedonthisromissorynoteinsofarashercitizensofcolorareconcerned。Insteadofhonoringthissacredobligation,AmericahasgiventheNegroeoleabadcheck;acheckwhichhascomebackmarked“insufficientfunds”。Butwerefusetobelievethatthebankofjusticeisbankrut。Werefusetobelievethatthereareinsufficientfundsinthegreatvaultsofoortunityofthisnation。Sowehavecometocashthischeck—acheckthatwillgiveusuondemandtherichesoffreedomandthesecurityofjustice。WehavealsocometothishallowedsottoremindAmericaofthefierceurgencyofnow。Thisisnotimetoengageintheluxuryofcoolingoffortotakethetranquilizingdrugofgradualism。NowisthetimetomakerealtheromisesofDemocracy。Nowisthetimetorisefromthedarkanddesolatevalleyofsegregationtothesunlitathofracialjustice。NowisthetimetooenthedoorsofoortunitytoallofGodschildren。Nowisthetimetoliftournationfromthequicksandsofracialinjusticetothesolidrockofbrotherhood。
ItwouldbefatalforthenationtooverlooktheurgencyofthemomentandtounderestimatethedeterminationoftheNegro。ThisswelteringsummeroftheNegro’slegitimatediscontentwillnotassuntilthereisaninvigoratingautumnoffreedomandequality。1963isnotanend,butabeginning。ThosewhohoethattheNegroneededtoblowoffsteamandwillnowbecontentwillhavearudeawakeningifthenationreturnstobusinessasusual。TherewillbeneitherrestnortranquilityinAmericauntiltheNegroisgrantedhiscitizenshirights。Thewhirlwindsofrevoltwillcontinuetoshakethefoundationsofournationuntilthebrightdayofjusticeemerges。
ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomyeolewhostandonthewarmthresholdwhichleadsintothealaceofjustice。Intherocessofgainingourrightfullacewemustnotbeguiltyofwrongfuldeeds。Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecuofbitternessandhatred。