The Family Of Man
Posted: Friday, November 16, 2007
by David Tanguay
“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." Gloria Steine
Over two hundred years ago, men of vision, wisdom, and daring, with a dream to make a more perfect world to live in, conceived into reality a newborn child. (nation) A child spanked on the bottom with the hand of God to give it life. Born free and independent from any foreign rule, or decree.
A people, whose blood, sweat, and tears, consecrated the very ground we walk on. A land where one could dare to dream and see their dreams come true and flourish, a nation of immigrants united by a common belief in freedom
Her constitution: A doctrin set forth as a result of bold new ideas from men with a profound belief that all men were created equal, has served her people with a just cause.
For her laws insured to every one of her citizens the freedom to live the life they choose with the only provision being to live within her laws. Unconsciously all previous generations were a part of a dream concealed within us all. The dream within all human beings, to live in true emancipation, where peace, love, and unity will prevail, and the uniting of the world will become a reality.
Unfolding before our very eyes is the beginning of the impossible dream within us all. The dream where so many have worked, struggled, sacrificed, and died for its fulfillment. This dream will become a reality when the divine interaction, which gave it life, and has been living in all of us since the beginning of time, is complete.
“I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man's skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer for the barest necessities of life. We were taught under the old ethic that man's business on this earth was to look out for himself. That was the ethic of the jungle; the ethic of the wild beast. Take care of yourself, no matter what may become of your fellow man. Thousands of years ago the question was asked; ''Am I my brother's keeper?'' That question has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory to civilized society.
Yes, I am my brother's keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the higher duty I owe myself. What would you think me if I were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death." Eugene V. Debs
Migrant Mother (1936)The Family of Man was a photography exhibit curated by Edward Steichen first shown in 1955 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." John Lennon
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Yes, David all dreamers and all seeking the brotherhood of man. However, until we realize and actually acknowledge the evil of all men we and no one man, group, nation or people, can solve this worlds problems nor reach that level of love necessary. That means that all men not just men of goodwill need to understand this and accept it. Best Wishes and a safe and happy holiday RTMPlease log in to respond to this comment.
hi david, nicely put. when people stop worrying about how much the next person has, and stop fearing someone because of their skintone, and understand that our young can be the most intelligent of us all, with their tattoos and piercings, and we can listen to the ideas they have that will lead to their government oneday, our dreams just may come true. best regards, sue thomPlease log in to respond to this comment.Yes Susan sometimes all the signs of rebellion in our youth are ways they are trying to tell someone they care. thanks for commentingPlease log in to respond to this comment.
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