"I Have a Dream"

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I Have a Dream"

delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.



[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio. (2)]

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!3

Dare to Dream

Last Saturday - 9th July 2011, as Malaysian, I witnessed the "so-called illegal" assembly of Bersih 2.0 with a lot of feelings and opinion. One point, I felt sadden that, the police reacted as if the People are their worst enemy. Just because, they want to be right?

I have the awareness of what is "Bersih" are all about however, at first, I'm thinking, "Are these people serious in what are they demand of from the government?" So, I follow their development plus support them by understanding and I get their point of view. Eventually, their vision become my vision.

Basic idea, the Organizer intended to send the message to the People, the current Government (BN or PR) and the Agong that they want, to have clean and fair election. The Rally is one of the mechanism to send the message out.

One of my friend suggested, Malaysian can wear yellow shirt for a week as to support what they stand for Bersih. Or, the Organiser may distribute a yellow balloon to the Public for their support for Bersih. Better yet, why don't all of us, bring our yellow plastic bag and start to clean the city while singing our National anthem. Many ways my friend, one single act may make a different and impact by sending the message to all.

I think that is brilliant idea. And perhaps, during our Merdeka celebration, all Malaysia, wear yellow and we have our beautiful gathering. That is much more patriotic ways to celebrate our Merdeka this year, right? Is the police gonna say or do something about it? It may be a meaningful assembly to the Rakyat. To have freedom from fear and stand for what we dream of; a better unity Malaysia without labeling others.

I love being a Malaysian. I love Malaysia. I have a dream for Malaysia. My vision for Malaysia is for us to stand tall together, united regardless of our race, language, cultural, religion. I love our difference. It's unique. Beautiful. Being right is not going to make us win, but by being together. Every citizen of Malaysia, have a right to exercise under Federal Constitution.
Take initiative to get to know your right and exercise it. Show that you care about Malaysia and what you want to create for better Malaysia.

http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/constitutional_law_committee/myconstitution/perlembagaanku.html

Bersih 2.0 campaign is another cause that was initiated by the Rakyat. There are many more cause are initiated by other loving, responsible Malaysian who would love to share their ideas to the public. Everybody have their vision of what they want for their country. And I would love to share one video from youtube on one man dream. Martin Luther King Jr. He make a stand for his people. He share his dream to all. And his dream DO come true.



Love,
Sufi.

Beyond the Sea

Somewhere beyond the sea
somewhere waiting for me
my lover stands on golden sands
and watches the ships that go sailin'

Somewhere beyond the sea
she's there watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
then straight to her arms
I'd go sailin'

It's far beyond the stars
it's near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon

We'll meet beyond the shore
we'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again I'll go sailin'

I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet (I know we'll meet) beyond the shore
We'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea
and never again I'll go sailin'

no more sailin'
so long sailin'
bye bye sailin'...
move on out captain

When I heard this song and read the lyrics, it's more than just a love song between two human being. It's beyond that.

I sense hope and destination. What do I see beyond the sea. My Goal. My Vision. My Dream. One that I want. And I put all my intention to achieve it.

Do you still remember when you were little, what would you want to be when you grow up? I remember that. I want to be a teacher because I love my teacher so much until I decided that being a teacher is the best career ever. I was 10 back then. I also remember my fellow friend want to be policeman, nurse, doctor, businessman and many more.

And when I turned up to be a teenager, when I start to dream bigger, I change it to be a writer. I love to write. I remember I have written a teenage novel called, "Be My Valentine". Funny! I never had a guy friend at that time, still studying in girl school. I challenge my imagination to have love, friendship among boys and girls and race, I see multirace community when I wrote it and back then, I was 16 years old.

As I learned more about creating my own future without others tell me what I should be, I challenge myself to dream even bigger. To be a lawyer or activist.

As I live mylife, I learned how to be a lover, a friend, and my dream getting bigger, I want to be a wife, a mother. And I should not stop there.

As I walk along my journey, I feel like I want to walk further, I want to live in overseas, I want to further my studies, perhaps in Australia, in London, Europe and maybe just next door, Indonesia or Thailand.

I felt my heartbeat pumping. I have found my passion of life. I have found love and honesty. The way I see things become bigger and bigger and my heart felt so wide and wider. The possibility is beyond and all I need to do to achieve is just a little inspiration.

:)

Open up. Listen to your heart. Search deep inside and look around. What else? What's next? No day BUT today!! Step up. And dance. Live your life.

Love,
Sufi.

Death & Obituary

The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.

-- William James

Yesterday, I got news about the departed of our beloved friend, Olin. I never knew that she was having her cancer. I remember her. She was a warm woman, cheerful and always smile. She has a sweet soft voice and I am please everytime I'm with her.

Olin is the one the wearing flowery baju kurung.

I know her when I was working with Sisters In Islam and she is a part-timer clerk in Musawah(Equality) Department. I remember that she has 2 children, 1 teenage daughter and 1 teenage son. Both of them are very bright and smart and her pride and joy.

I loss my love one and remember the good times I had with them. Sometimes, I wish I could do something bigger than what I all ready gives. What if, I go first. Death is the closest thing to us and yet, are we prepared to leave this world?

Sudden death is shocking. Not prepared mentally and emotional. Last 5 minutes, we still laugh and chat with him or her, and then we received a phonecall saying that, him or her is no longer with us. No last minutes goodbye, just say.. "See you around.."

I still remember the last time I'm with my late grandma. She was the most lovely woman in the family. She was cheerful and always smile. She left us last year. We all know that she was sick, stomach problem. I had one last meal with her before she's gone and I still remember how appetide she was.
I thought, we could celebrate hari raya together again but, one week later, she no more.

I miss her.

And, I asked myself today, "How would I want to be remembered when I'm gone?"

...

The Greatest Love Of All

by Sufi.

A tribute to all my bestfriend.



I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone to fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me

[Chorus:]
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me

The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

[Chorus]

And if by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love

The Power Within You

9th July 2011 is the day that we, Malaysian shall witness the changes that most of us would hope to achieve.

This morning while getting ready to work, I have to "samak" my ears for listening to RTM news on TV (I blame it to my parents for listening to those crap) describe to the people how bad it is to assemble this Saturday for the BERSIH 2.0 campaign. The King has ordered not to have the assembly. Yes, your Majesty. We get it! And I quote from the news broadcaster "Perhimpunan Haram". What do these mean by that? What are we creating here? A riot? Distability in the country? Why are they misintereprete the purpose of Bersih Campaign?

What is the main purpose of BERSIH?
In recent weeks there has been much public discussion about the proposed Bersih 2.0 rally for clean, free and fair elections for the parliament and state assemblies.

That's it. Why are you guys making fuss about it as if we are going to do something so bad like riot or anarchy and such matter. I, myself clearly support the campaign and intended to walk with them and would want to exercise my right under Article 21, Malaysia Federal Constitution; Right to peaceful assembly.

Peaceful Assembly
Again, do you read your Federal Constitution??!! Do you know that our Federal Constitution allowed the Rakyat to exercise their fundamental right to peaceful assembly. And the Police are supposed to accomodate the Rakyat to have the peaceful assembly, it's their duty to ensure the safety of the Rakyat and not to the current government.

The organiser have a vision for our beloved Country to have a clean, free and fair elections for the parliament and state assemblies. The only power that the Rakyat have is to vote during General Election and what we can do is to registre our name and vote the qualified candidates that are playing fair, no monkey business around. As Rakyat, I am serious in developing a better Malaysia for each and every citizen of Malaysian.

The Changes
We know what is not working in this country. Bribe. It's everywhere. We know about it but, we are still allowing it to happen. What kind of Malaysian you are and what vision you have for this country? Let's imagine this: If there is no bribe. The qualified candidates are smart and a visionary women or men, they shall have a fair and better chances to address their menifesto and what would they could create and lead to Rakyat to have a better Malaysia.

The Rakyat reviewed them without expecting some "interest" from them because both parties have same intention, is to have and to create a better values for Malaysia. And to achieve this vision, both Parties must do the necessary, do the changes and it's all started by their being and the power of changes always starts from within. Be the Changes. Do the Changes. And we shall have the Changes.

This is simple. If everybody play the role and be responsible for themselves, for their family and loves one, for the people around, for the country and for the nation. What values do we want to create for our next generation?

STOP. LOOK. CHOOSE. VOTE
Malaysian, let us STOP. Stop doing bad habits. Stop having bad intention. Stop being bad. LOOK. Reviewed our weaknesses and look deep what is possible for us to have positive and better vision for Malaysia. CHOOSE. Choose what is best for you, you family and for Malaysia. And VOTE.

Be sincere. Be fair & just. Be honest. Be brave. Be responsible. Be Love & Care. Be kind. Be sensible. Be happy. Be together. Be thankful.

Make A Stand

Life, is an enrollment game. I enrol people into my life, my vision everyday. I invite them to come in to my life and I got the opportunity to get to know and to love them. Sometimes, things goes according to what I have hope and plan for. Sometimes, things just get to complicated for us to move forward together. At some point, when I were at the crossroad and need to make a choice and decided to make a stand for myself and the people that I enroll.

Sisters In Islam
As I live my life and experienced it, I become aware of the surrounding and the issues arise. And the most closest issues that has impact to me is the Women's Right. I learned to make a stand for the Women in Malaysia.

It's started when I was working with Sisters In Islam (SIS) in November 2008 after I completed my pupilage at one of the Legal Firms in Kuala Lumpur. Later, from the knowledge and exposed to the issues, I opened up the possiblity of assisting any muslim women that enroll me into their life.

I never knew that I have the passion of want to create a difference to these women until I committed to do it.

Taking Risk and Raising The Bar
I would love to share my experience with a group of women at one of the seminar that SIS conducted, especially for the Telenisa's Client. For me to be around these women is remarkable awesome. They have faced the difficulty in life and things get complecated and they still going on strong wanted to fight and win for them and their children's right. Their hearts is purely beautiful and worth knowing them.

And as one SIS former staff, I do admit that I missed the feeling of contributing to the public. I am still volunteering for SIS as long as they need me and 100% support. Frankly said, my knowledge is not that deep on Syariah Family Law in Malaysia. Only on the surface and I need to do a lot of research and understanding, (trust me, it can be complicated when we studied Malaysian Law). But, I am willing to take the risk by raising my bar in giving them free service of legal advise. Lawyer may use this terms, "Pro Bono" Case.

Mother's Love.
So, I choose Puan Nora (not her real name) to be my first Community Service. Puan Nora is a single mother aged 31 years old and just declared divorcee last May 2011. After living as a wife for more than 3 years and things don't seem to work out between them, Puan Nora request to be divorced and it has definately break the ex-husband's ego and he treaten to take their only son away from her. He is 5 month old now. Therefore, she insist to fight for her right to get the custody of the child at Syariah High Court.

As she explained to me her situation, I experience her courages and her strong will in protecting the son. I can felt the love that she possess and hope that she carry for her son. I stood up and committed to be for her all the way. I explained to her what is possible to happen and what step that she may take in order to accomplish.

Obstacles.
Based on my zero experience in preparing the Litigation work, I seek help with my fellow learned friend, Mr. Loi in advising what should I do in helping this woman. The respect that I have for this man is so high. We studied together in University Malaya and his passion to seek for just and fairness inspired me all the way.

It's not like I don't seek help from other experience Syarie Lawyer out there, but at that particular time, there is none of them has time to help me. So, I never give up. I gave all I can to assist Puan Nora. She did it all, she did her part by typing her affidavit, she's the one that come out the argument that she want to put on her affidavit. She did it all.

At one point she called me and told me her husband coma to disturb their family and treaten her family and she got scared what will happen. And I want her to be brave and it strike me to be even brave and encourage her not to be scare and be clear why she did this in the first place. I treat her as if she is my friend and I ask her never show her fear to her ex-husband.

And when finally she filed the application of custody, she finally got the "Sulh" date. Sulh is a mediation process where the parties, Plaintif and Defenden have a chance to discuss and decide what is the best option, and to take the nessary step for both parties win. It was 28th June 2011. I called her before the "sulh" and discuss on what is possible to happen and encourage her to be whatever it needs to be in order for her to do whatever she needs to do so that she can get what she want to.

Victory
And so, later that evening she text me, "Salam Sufi. Alhamdullilah, akak dapat hadanah. Panjang cerita. Nanti malam kita bual." (Salam Sufi. Praise to God, I got the Custody (of the child). Long story. Shall tell you about it tonight.)

I'm cheering for her and I am so happy to have this win. Wow. This feeling is so overwhelm. I feel like I want to meet her that night and hug her and tell her how proud I am with her. She did it by herself. She gather her strengh and she make stand for her right and her son's right.

what's next?
Another "Pro Bono" case suddenly came. I received a phone call from one of (single mother) participant from the Seminar, last weekend. Requested me to support her. As I listened to her, I found out that this single mother, I called Puan Masyitah (not her real name) has been divorce since last 16 years and living in the house under her ex-husband name. She's been taking care of her four (4) children all this while with not even a single sen from their father.

So sudden, last week she informed that there is a lawyer come to her house to take photo and the Lawyer explained that her ex-husband is going to sell the house and they have a buyer to bought the house and she is preparing the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) to this property. Puan Masyitah are required to leave the house within three (3) months from the date of the SPA.

Black & White, bind!
She inform me as well that the husband shall pay RM60,000-00 out of RM140,000-00 from the price. I asked her to clarify, "Is there any black and white paper to confirm this?" and she said no. I begin to dig for more information and make a conclusion, the words from her ex-husband cannot be rely on based on none a single sen to be given to the family before this.

She came to me a person who seek advise. At that particular of time, I also clueless, don't know how to overcome this situation. But, I never want to just let it be as it is. And so, I asked around. What's possible for Puan Masyitah to do now is to apply for Harta Sepencarian (Matrimonial Property)at Syariah Court and later, she can enter caveat at the relevant Land Office to protect her interest on the abovesaid property until she finally get her RM60,000-00 as what her husband has promise verbally.

What's possible for her now? With that money she can start a new life with the children. However, it may be larger than that and I stand for this family to live together and love each other for the rest of their live.



And I stand for Women's Rights.