My son's 8th grade history class - and many other history classes - - was required to write a letter to Dr. King regarding the current State of the Nation.
There were over 400 entries city-wide; his essay was one of ten selected to be read on the air of our community radio station this evening and at an event earlier today.
I cried, you know? What kind of world are we leaving these kids? Will they have the tools to deal with it?
His essay - unedited for grammar, etc - is on the flip.
Dear Dr. King,
What I see in America is the painful sight of ignorance and refusal to see the meaning of what America really is. From poor people living on the curb to rich folks lounging about in the country club, these people are all Americans. I think no one is really rich until everyone has a bed to sleep in, until everyone gets to eat fresh food, until everyone has healthcare. Until this happens, we will still turn our backs on the poor from generation to generation.
I grew up in Chicago until I was four. My mom was a single mom, and I know now my mom was being stereotyped. She did what she had to do - get food stamps and other assistance until she could find work. She knew things would get better. I still wasn't in public school, so I couldn't get my first real taste of seeing other peoples' lives. That came later.
My mom got a good job though. We were lucky, per se. I am in school, I have friends. I know, though as I am writing this right now, there is a kid in Chicago scavenging for food in a dumpster. In our country. In our country, the most "prosperous" country in the world, the richest and most powerful country on earth, and yet we still don't have a working healthcare system. The more capitalist our country is, the richer the wealthy companies will get. If we had a more equal system, things would be much more different. Only then could we be this "prosperous" nation our founding fathers set to achieve.
By raising taxes on the rich and corporations we would overrule the greed that has spread not only in our country but around the world. By really taxing the wealthiest private citizens, the playing field would be leveled and everyone would have a better shot at life. The super rich must stop stalling and start giving back because no one needs that much money. I think the American people should also stop investing in large companies, because their CEO's will just pay themselves higher salaries.
To me, it is an endless hamster wheel that just goes around and around and around, the same, the same, and the same. It is the duty of the citizens of the United States of America to go to their leader, and say no more tyranny, no more corporate fascism, no more greed. Our president needs to take action.
I see other nations, such as nations in Western Europe, who actually have a fair economy and a fair taxing system. That leads me to believe that we aren't a succeeding nation but a failing nation.
My conclusion is that there is a class gap in our country, which is not only terrible but frightening as well. Why? We need to stop obsessing over jewelry and start obsessing over feeding the hungry. Let's not wait for American Idol on TV to start, but instead go to our local shelters and help out. Only by doing those things will we help America get back on its feet. We should not let the higher classes stop us - let's ignore them!
Let every man and woman achieve their goals without someone else stopping them.
Let America strive again.