“Let Freedom Ring”

by beCause CEO Nadine Hack – On August 28 at 3:00 pm EST, 50 years to the hour of the exact time and date when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous I Have a Dream speech, the King Center is calling on us to reaffirm Dr. King’s message of “Let Freedom Ring.” Click here to watch speech. The King Center hopes there will be programs in sites globally and they encourage local creativity, like: Arrange to ring the largest bell (and/or as many other bells) in your city, state or nation; Encourage churches, temples, mosques, community centers and schools to ring bells; Create any other activity – small or large – that would have meaning where you live.

Please organize some activity in your part of the world and/or publicize this through whatever channels you choose, including: FacebookTwitter; Pinterest; Instagram; Hashtag #mlkdream50

King Center CEO Bernice A. King said, “Join us as we pause to mark the 50th anniversary of my father’s ‘I Have a Dreamspeech with ‘Let Freedom Ring’ bell ringing events that affirm the unity of all people of all races, religions and nations.” For more information, click here.  Let’s come together around the globe to commemorate history: let freedom ring!

{ 64 comments… add one }
  • Deanna Gould August 24, 2013, 3:32 pm

    Thanks, Nadine, for posting this. NBC is announcing coverage but can’t find times. Meet The Press is airing their show with Dr. King tomorrow at 10am. I plan to DVR everything and spend time with Rudy watching. Kids today lack a basic knowledge of American history.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 24, 2013, 5:38 pm

      Deanna – On the King website is a comprehensive list of activities and media coverage. Out now is a full special edition of TIME magazine devoted to King (with some pictures never seen before). At the least, let Rudy watch the YouTube video in my link, which is the speech. So, important to tell the story to next generations….

      Reply
  • Ivan Mesaros August 25, 2013, 1:34 pm

    Dear Nadine,
    This is a very beautiful and generous gesture of respect for a man who is really a symbol of the struggle for a better and fairer world in the spirit of the Gospel. Nadine, every time I read something about you, really, my heart is full of some inexplicable happiness and satisfaction because still exist people like you on this planet!
    Warm Regards,
    Ivan

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 25, 2013, 2:35 pm

      Ivan – thank you for you kind words! I agree that King embodied the essence of the Gospel, which I believe is the central message of every faith-based tradition on earth as they all call us to serve humanity. May this anniversary inspire others to follow that simple yet profound path!

      Reply
  • Nina Streich August 25, 2013, 5:40 pm

    Sharing this with various faith leaders in Central Florida and the Community Affairs Director for the city of Orlando. Although I haven’t heard about anything happening locally, I’m hoping there’s already something going on. But if not, perhaps we can make it happen now!

    I’m in Orlando through the end of September for the Global Peace Film Festival (@peacefilmfest) that’s coming up in less than a month now. In addition to the films, for one of our educational panels, we’re having a conversation on race and class in central Florida that I hope will be productive.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 25, 2013, 5:56 pm

      Nina – I wish you every success with the upcoming Sept 17-22 Global Peace Film Festival. For those who don’t know about it, check its website http://peacefilmfest.org/ to learn about this wonderful initiative that follows in the tradition of Dr King and all great peace-makers!

      Reply
      • Nina Streich August 26, 2013, 12:29 am

        Just got word back that one of the Global Peace Film Festival partners, the Interfaith Council of Central Florida, has been working with Orlando’s city government and there will be an event in City Hall. I received messages back immediately from the people I’d contacted after reading your message. I don’t see any way to include an attachment – I was going to share the flyer…

        Reply
  • Zdravko Popov August 25, 2013, 8:19 pm

    Dear Nadine,
    Thank you very much for reminding us this historic event! Your initiative in Montreux is really great. It’s worth to be followed. I fully agree with you – Martin Luther King’s proclamation is absolutely relevant today. “Let Freedom Ring”!

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 10:00 am

      Zdravko – as you are the President of the Public Policy Institute in Bulgaria and served in your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am heartened to see that Dr King’s message resonates for you too!

      Reply
  • O.Maurice Stewart August 26, 2013, 4:01 am

    Nadine, I am a Jamaican/African-American. It’s great for me to see hosupportive your husband and yourself are in making sure that Dr. King’s work lives on. I am particlarly impressed with your efforts! How receptive have the Swiss been to this message? Let me know!
    O. Maurice Stewart
    Global Executive Recruiter
    StaffingForce

    Reply
  • Katarina Skoberne August 26, 2013, 9:33 am

    Brilliant initiative, thanks for raising awareness and motivating us to commit!

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 10:58 am

      Yes, Kat, freedom requires our eternal vigilance!

      Reply
  • Catherine DeVrye August 26, 2013, 10:31 am

    Have suggested this to my local government council in Australia….as wherever we are in the world, we should never take freedom and civil liberties for granted…and Dr King’s amazing legacy transcends any national borders-throughout time.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 10:57 am

      Catherine – it is thrilling to me to see the overwhelming response with activities planned from Bangladesh to Bulgaria to Tokyo and beyond! It will be wonderful if you can make something happen in Australia!

      Reply
  • Carl J. Bergström August 26, 2013, 11:08 am

    Dear Nadine,

    Great initiative! I live in a small village close to Fribourg. It would take more than two days to make this happen here close to mu home as well..our world need more initiatives like yours Nadine.

    Warm regards,
    Carl J. Bergström
    CEO / Geschäftsführer
    Learnia GmbH

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 11:13 am

      Carl – while it might be too late to organize a formal event in your village, maybe you can have a private moment – alone or shared with family and/or colleagues – in which you reaffirm the importance of creating a world where all people have dignity and freedom!

      Reply
  • Peter Cook August 26, 2013, 11:28 am

    Nadine,

    I’ve just placed this on my Linkedin group “The Music of Business” as it relates well to the themes we explore there. See

    http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Music-Business-4797230

    TITLE : Whatever happened to … the 60’s, freedom etc.

    See this post from Nadine Hack on a moment in history where the world turned. Any views on how things have changed?

    It is gaining interest and comment

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 11:33 am

      Peter – thanks for sharing this on LinkedIn. It’s vital that people globally reaffirm the importance of dignity and freedom for all human beings! I am heartened by the overwhelmingly positive response internationally!

      Reply
  • Dianne August 26, 2013, 2:51 pm

    Snow covered the streets of Washington DC in January 1977 as political veterans as well as novices like me shared taxi cabs with strangers who quickly became friends, toured the nation’s capital and celebrated what we considered a surprising victory for this former Georgia Governor with no experience in national politics. We were in Washington to celebrate the inauguration of Jimmy Carter to a four-year term as President of the United States of America. Madge Overhouse, the long-time director of the Democratic headquarters in San Jose where I was attending the University, accompanied me to the Lincoln Memorial at dawn to hear a talk by “Daddy” King, the father of slain civil rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. As we huddled in the cold and dark, Rev. King’s voice rang out as he said, “This is the place where my son stood when he told you he had a dream”. No one heard much of the remainder of his speech for everyone was sobbing at the loss of this hero who was, like the newly elected President, a native son.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 2:58 pm

      Diane – thank you for sharing this evocative intimate memory of a moment where Daddy King paid tribute to his son. Jerry and I have many wonderful memories of being with Daddy King. Every time we visit Atlanta and see you and our other friends like Andy Young, John Lewis, members of the King family and others who were integral to the movement, including those we’ve since lost like James Orange, we feel blessed to have our connections with you!

      Reply
  • Charles Smith August 26, 2013, 3:43 pm

    Thanks Nadine,

    We will observe this as a family.

    All the best,

    Charlie

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 4:38 pm

      Charlie – what a great legacy to share with your family! When we tell our history to our children and their children, they can understand their lives more fully.

      Reply
  • William Woloschuk August 26, 2013, 4:53 pm

    William Woloschuk

    Managing Principal, SCS Consulting, International

    hi Nadine, This is not only an important tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but to all freedom loving people around the World. Democracy isn’t just a word we use without meaning..but a way of life to recognize all people regardless of their origin, religious beliefs, party affiliations or flag that they fly worldwide. It takes personal courage to standup for everyone’s rights as human beings when it’s easier to be silent and go with the flow which doesn’t improve the way we apply our freedom.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 5:02 pm

      William – you’re absolutely right! This gives all of us an opportunity to recommit to work on behalf of every human being’s right to a full and free life.

      Reply
  • shirley williams August 26, 2013, 5:50 pm

    Nadine,
    You do such good work. I will engage and follow your lead

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 26, 2013, 6:06 pm

      Shirley – thanks for sharing this on multiple platforms and creating a buzz for #mlkdream50! The feeling is mutual about your work too!

      Reply
  • Gerard Senehi August 26, 2013, 7:43 pm

    Having grown up in Switzerland, I really appreciate how significant it is for a Swiss city to acknowledge Dr. King in this way. Thank you so much for making it happen!!! Dr. King was a real revolutionary, and it’s great to recognize his achievement in this way as it acknowledges that he has and is benefitting all of humanity.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 27, 2013, 11:04 am

      Gerard – Jerry and I have been amazed at the phenomenal global response to participate in this 50th anniversary of Dr King’s historic speech and we’re very happy that Switzerland is included!

      Reply
  • Siddharth Chatterjee August 27, 2013, 9:58 am

    As a young boy at my school in New Delhi, India the morning assembly often had the school choir sing, ” We shall overcome”, which we all sang together. Incidentally there is also a Hindi version of this song. A poet in India called Girija Kumar Mathur translated it into Hindi “Hum Honge Kaamyab / Ek Din”( We shall overcome someday) and this song became a very popular during the 1980s and continues to inspire many school children in India. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is a man who has had a deep influence in my growing up years in India. By the way, “We Shall Overcome” was also a prominent song in a Bollywood film. A giant personality Dr. King, and known to many Indians as America’s Gandhi. Nadine thank you for organizing this. This is the spirit of humanity and this is about keeping our humaneness alive. “ Let freedom ring” and let humanity shine.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 27, 2013, 11:07 am

      Sid – As you must know, King was inspired by Ghandi’s call for non-violent social action, just as I was. Also, Jerry and I once watched a documentary film about the song We Shall Overcome and we were profoundly touched by how this song inspired people and was sung by them throughout the world wherever they were struggling for fundamental human rights, something I admire you for having fought for in your important international work.

      Reply
  • Jay Hack August 27, 2013, 5:30 pm

    Nadine:

    Did you know I once played touch football with Dr. King? It was in about 1967 at an Anti Vietnam War picnic on Long Island. I was 15 or 16 years old. My mother didn’t want me to go but I rode my bicycle there with some friends. Not a big group. We chose up sides. He was the quarterback on one team. I played interior line on the other team. I sacked him once. I felt bad, since he had won the Nobel Peace Prize.

    The thing I remember the most was that he was wearing brown shoes with a dark suit. I noticed that when I sheepishly leaned over to help him up after knocking him over. He smiled and laughed. In retrospect, it was especially funny since when playing touch football, the custom was to count out seconds before you rushed by counting “one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi” to make sure that you didn’t rush too quickly. That must have been the only time he did not get enough Mississippi.

    I do not remember if he was a good football player. I was not.

    I think the lesson to learn is that Dr. King was a regular guy who did extraordinary things. Everyone has within himself or herself the ability to change the world. You just have to try.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 28, 2013, 8:46 am

      Jay – thanks for sharing your wonderful personal experience with Dr King, which does, indeed, show his profound humanity something that all his close associates talk and write about: like his ability to play in a pillow fight with his colleagues! Yes, leaders like King are ordinary people who do extraordinary things and all of us can follow that example.

      Reply
  • John Bloise August 27, 2013, 6:23 pm

    Dear Nadine,

    Around the world, the need to “pause” today is as important as it was when Dr. King work relentlessly for peace. You’re right, all of us possess at least the desire to positively change the world, and that desire can be the seed for lifelong contribution.

    During the brief time I’ve volunteered at the International Center for Mental Health and Human Rights, I’ve been inspired by people of courage and compassion, people like yourself who have followed in the footsteps of Dr. King to move into the suffering of others in order to help reduce it, instead of moving away, which is so much easier. Thanks for this generous opportunity to once again honor a human being whose life work was one of peace and compassion.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 28, 2013, 8:48 am

      John – thank you for your important volunteer work: let us all be inspired by people of courage and compassion so that we can be like that too!

      Reply
  • michael hopkins August 28, 2013, 12:13 am

    Excellent initiative by Nadine to celebrate the wonderful speech of King, already 50 years ago. Unfortunately racism exists everywhere still today. It always seems to me to be incongruous to judge a person simply on their colour. Having lived in multi-cultural environments all my life I never even observed the colour of my wife, even after a heated discussion of the role of Chinese investment in Africa. Her colour has nothing to do with any discussion including my own colour..which is pink by the way. Yet when I am with her in Africa, I do notice racism because of my pink skin which symbolises the repression by my country (UK) of so many countries and peoples in the past..but not my own father who fought fascism in the second world war so I could live, as I fortunately have, in peace. And when I go to my wifes’ country I am an immediate target by illiterate youngsters who carry an AK whatever it is. Is it because I am pink (well synonomous with white) or an infidel or both? I find such impertinence profoundly depressing. So for Africa, I have a dream that one day Africans will treat people as good or bad on the basis of their views not their colour. I have a dream that one day the power of education will turn even the most radical into human beings that will judge people by their deeds and not their association by colour to the misdeeds of their (or some of them at least) forefathers. I have a dream that infidels will be judged by their humanitarian instincts and not by assuming that the colour of their skin means they oppose peaceful thought processes of reasonable human beings. I have a dream that illiterate kids will not turn to AK47’s to kill infidels and blow themselves into smithereens through some misplaced hope of finding paradise. Happlily I have worked in over 120 countries around the world and have found that 95% of people from Kazakhstan to Colombia to Indonesia to Kenya etc etc are wonderful. I have a dream that the 5% will join the rest of us and seek peaceful co-existence while still being fierce in their arguments followed by an understanding and acceptance of differences……Finally I have a dream that an African King will surface even as the towering Mandela starts to fade…..so let us all dream and act for the good of all how impossible it sometimes seems.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 28, 2013, 8:50 am

      Michael – yes, racism in all its ugly forms – anyone pre-judging anyone else simply based on the color of their skin (or their nationality or religion) is insidious. Following Dr King’s call to all of us, I too fervently hope for a world in which everyone is judged by their character.

      Reply
  • Jeanne Browne August 28, 2013, 6:54 pm

    I am a biracial person. In 1963, I was 11 years old and very much wanted to be part of the March on Washington. But my well-meaning [yet inexplicably politically uninvolved] black father and white mother wouldn’t go, because they were afraid “there would be trouble.” So we watched the event on TV – they in the living room, me in my room growing more angry with every passing moment. Several times, I ran into the living room and yelled at them. “Why aren’t we there; we of all people, why aren’t we there?” I think in retrospect, they were sorry, and as I matured into my teens, they didn’t object to my involvement with SNCC and CORE, and later with SPIV and being a local organizer for the Poor People’s Campaign. They even allowed my friends to gather at the house and make signs and banners for a local march against the Vietnam War.

    My parents never did get politically involved; maybe they thought just being an interracial couple was enough action: by example, and maybe they were right about that, because their daily lives were a constant fight against prejudice and discrimination.

    In 1968, the April night MLK Jr. was assassinated, a lovely and amazing thing happened. A local church led by a progressive minister held a memorial service. Not only did my parents want the three of us to attend, my maternal grandmother – an elderly Jewish woman who had never been in a church in her life – wanted to come with us because, she said, “he was a good man and this is a terrible thing.” So the four of us joined many others that night, and my father said he never forgot the remarkable sight of my grandmother linking arms with others singing “We Shall Overcome.”

    Today, at 61, I’m about 15 years younger than my grandmother was back then. I’ll be standing in front of my open window at 3pm ringing a long strand of bells I’ve had since the 70s. And this anniversary has inspired me to rejoin the struggle, a struggle that, like many boomers, I abandoned in the 1980s in the name of career, in the indulgence in drugs, in the preoccupation with romance.

    I tell you all this story to say it is never too early and never too late to make a contribution to a renewed struggle for civil/human rights, against poverty, and for social justice for all disenfranchised people. And as my grandmother understood, it is truly everyone’s fight.

    Not everybody can march or sit-in. But anyone can make a phone call; write a letter or send an email to a legislator or media outlet; stay informed and concerned; communicate their values to others; volunteer in whatever way they can; and whenever possible, even in tiny amounts, contribute financially to legitimate proactive organizations.

    Nadine, I commend, respect and love you for being one of those few who never forgot, never stopped working, and has become a true leader in several areas, both through your business and through your heart.

    May the bells ring out, may the voices rise, may the struggle continue.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 29, 2013, 12:46 pm

      Jeanne – thank you for this deeply personal and extremely evocative reflection. I know the many challenges you faced growing up bi-racial in the 1950s and I admire the equanimity with which you’ve handled life. Thanks also for reminding everyone that they can – in their own ways – take action for positive change!

      Reply
  • Claire August 28, 2013, 9:11 pm

    What a perfect example to prove that wisdom stands the test of time. It’s amazing how Dr King’s words still seem so relevant across countries and decades. Technology may have hit exponential growth rates but our development in empathy and human compassion are langing behind and it is great people like him who made us leap forward. Unfortunately there are not as many such leaders as we need. Let us remember everything he stood for and each of us do our part. Thank you Nadine for reminding us.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 29, 2013, 12:48 pm

      Claire – indeed, certain messages are timeless: no matter how many times I hear that 1963 speech, I am inspired anew! And, yes, unless we engage our humanity, then all our technological achievements will not advance a more just society,

      Reply
  • Jonny Eaglefeather August 28, 2013, 10:21 pm

    The world needs more men like the late Dr King, he challenged the status quo for a better world. That legacy continues through our actions, our choices, our faith in our fellow men and women.

    It is time that we acknowledge that our problems no longer conform to national boundaries. We are one people that must stand together to change the status quo forever. It starts with personal change, to change from the ‘me’ to the ‘we’ generation. It is time to inspire, to educate and show all mankind that that there is a better way.

    Wishing many blessings on us all on this historic day, the torch has passed to us. The question is what will we do in this now?

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 29, 2013, 12:51 pm

      Jonny – truly we must move beyond narrow interests as we live in a truly inter-connected world. What we can do is reach out to others and engage ourselves in improving the quality of life for people everywhere.

      Reply
  • shirley williams August 28, 2013, 10:31 pm

    Listen to his speech a few times today. Shared on my social channels. Had a mission going. What a wonderful day to reflect and give thanks.

    Reply
  • Amid Yousef August 29, 2013, 12:05 am

    Hi @NadineHack may #PEACE be with his soul!

    Could you work some #PEACE magic for my homeland #SYRIA PLEASE
    PLEASE PLEASE!

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 29, 2013, 12:53 pm

      Amid – I am praying fervently that international leaders find an alternative to war in your beloved nation of Syria so peace can come. Insha’ Allah!

      Reply
  • Natasha Eldridge August 29, 2013, 5:17 pm

    Nadine – I am adding the link of John Hope Bryant and Ambassador Young on the Martin Bashir Show that is guest hosted by Joy-Ann Reid of the Grio. The interview includes expectations of President Obama and his speech in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” speech, and the importance of jobs and class with the new racism being poverty. I encourage your readers to please watch this video. http://video.msnbc.msn.com/martin-bashir/52858722#52858722

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 29, 2013, 5:59 pm

      Natasha – I loved watching this show when it aired and I posted links to it on all my social network platforms so more people would be exposed to the critical insights shared. I’m so glad you’ve shared the link here so that readers of my blog will have an opportunity to hear these two great thought leaders convey what we need to do now to make the dream real.

      Reply
  • Natasha Eldridge August 29, 2013, 5:21 pm

    Nadine – I am adding the link of John Hope Bryant and Ambassador Young on the Martin Bashir Show that is guest hosted by Joy-Ann Reid of the Grio. The interview includes expectations of President Obama and his speech in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” speech, and the importance of jobs and class with the new racism being poverty. I encourage your readers to please watch this video.http://www.johnhopebryant.com/john_hope_bryant_/2013/08/msnbc-today-ambassador-andrew-young-and-john-hope-bryant-on-dr-kings-50th-anniversary.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fjohnhopebryant%2Fjohn_hope_bryant_+(John+Hope+Bryant+%3A+Leading+a+Silver+Rights+Movement)

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 29, 2013, 6:03 pm

      Natasha – I really appreciate that you’ve now also added a link directly to John Hope Bryant’s website (that also includes a link to the TV interview). John’s work is profoundly inspiring as are his books. I hope my readers will check out both.

      Reply
  • John Legieza August 30, 2013, 5:25 am

    Dear Nadine
    Apologize for the late comment. Being a Washington metro area resident, unfortunately I was not in the district yesterday. Therefore unable to share in the experience of yesterday’s activities. Your email alerted me to the occasion. I thank you for your effort. In my humble opinion we(as a global community) need more Dr. King’s, the visionaries.
    John

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack August 30, 2013, 9:29 am

      John – Dr King’s message has global implications so wherever each of us happens to be in the world, we are called to act in his spirit of the “The Beloved Community” to recognize our profound interconnection with all people and make whole that which is broken anywhere and everywhere. This is true not only on 50th anniversary of his “I Have A Dream” speech but always. We can each follow in his visionary spirit.

      Reply
  • Mithu Hassan August 31, 2013, 8:57 pm

    Salute for Dr. King !! Great job !! Wishing you all the best !

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack September 2, 2013, 2:25 pm

      Mithu – so glad to know MLK vision resonates with you in Bangladesh!

      Reply
  • Shaun Lindbergh September 2, 2013, 10:18 am

    Nadine, thanks for the invitation on LinkedIn “Social Contract” group. Dr King was my first hero and his life inspired me to be a political and social activist in South Africa. Here is my dream.

    I have a dream to build a kind and caring community of people committed to making a positive difference in the world.

    Nelson Mandela said “Action without vision is only passing time. Vision without action is daydreaming. But vision with action can change the world.” With that in mind our dreams need to powered by action aligned to clear and inspiring vision, values and strategy.

    My vision: To create a network of champions committed to making a positive difference on a global scale.

    My Values (encapsulated in my philosophy): Enterprise with a social agenda, a mind for profit and a heart for community.

    My strategy: To create city-wide networks that leverage a city’s wealth of resources for the greater good. Creating inspired solutions for global problems through intelligent design and simple application.

    Last year I ran a pilot called Motivate Cape Town. It is currently offline as I sort out a few things but later this year I will launch the global plan. Who wants to play?

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack September 2, 2013, 2:24 pm

      Shaun – as you probably know, leaders of the American civil rights movement and the South African anti-apartheid movement inspired each other greatly. I was involved with both and agree with Madiba that “action with vision can change the world”. I will continue that effort with people like you!

      Reply
  • Ali Asif September 11, 2013, 3:34 pm

    Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
    The flying cloud, the frosty light;
    The year is dying in the night;
    Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

    Ring out the old, ring in the new,
    Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
    The year is going, let him go;
    Ring out the false, ring in the true.

    Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
    For those that here we see no more,
    Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
    Ring in redress to all mankind.

    Ring out a slowly dying cause,
    And ancient forms of party strife;
    Ring in the nobler modes of life,
    With sweeter manners, purer laws.

    Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
    The faithless coldness of the times;
    Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,
    But ring the fuller minstrel in.

    Ring out false pride in place and blood,
    The civic slander and the spite;
    Ring in the love of truth and right,
    Ring in the common love of good.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack September 11, 2013, 3:37 pm

      Ali – thank you for sharing this beautiful poem that Alfred Lord Tennyson published in 1850, the year he was named Poet Laureate. It shows us, just as Dr King’s speech does, how certain messages truly are timeless. Thank you also for the wonderful work you do at Social Elevation Network, Pakistan’s first formal Social Incubator http://senpak.org/.

      Reply
  • Michael T. Fiur September 18, 2013, 5:59 pm

    As executive producer of entertainment for the US Open I integrated a clip of “I have a dream” into our nightly performance of “America the Beautiful” in this instance by an 11 year old girl from Queens, which brought the stadium of 23,000 people to its feet.

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack September 18, 2013, 6:00 pm

      Michael – what a magnificent and touching way to commemorate!

      Reply
  • Zekeriya Zengin February 25, 2014, 2:28 pm

    Freedom is the most valuable thing in humans life. Without freedom we are nothing then vegetating animals. The time we are living in, has placed a system to give us the feeling that we are free but hiding the fact that we are living in slavery.

    This system is close to breakdown and the implications for all of us will be horrendous. I hope that I am wrong.

    What I can tell you is I prefer to loose my life then loosing my freedom. My freedom to move and think how I want to.

    Take care and thanks that you remind people of the importance of the freedom!

    Reply
    • Nadine B Hack February 25, 2014, 2:30 pm

      Zekeriya – Even though there are many external forces that try to enslave people, it is in our hands to stand for freedom, whether our own or that of others. Indeed, as you write, nothing is more important.

      Reply

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