IHaveaDream
馬丁·路德·金/MartinLutherKing
馬丁·路德·金（1929—1968），美國著名的黑人民權運動領袖，被譽為近百年來八大最具有說服力的演說家之一。他出身於亞特蘭大黑人牧師家庭，15歲時進入大學，先後獲得文學士、神學士及博士學位。金一生曾三次被捕，三次被行刺。1964年獲諾貝爾和平獎。1968年4月4日，金在田納西州孟菲斯被一白人青年雷伊槍殺身亡，年僅39歲。
PracficingforBeflerLearning
Listentothefollowingarticletwice,andfillintheblankswithappropriatewords.
1.Onehundredyearslater,theNegroisstilllanguishinginthecornersofAmericansocietyandfindshimselfanexileinhisownland.Sowehavecomeheretodaytodramatizean___________________.
2.ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomypeoplewhostandonthewarmthresholdwhich_____________________.Intheprocessofgainingourrightfulplacewemustnot________________________.Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecupofbitternessandhatred.
Iamhappytojoinwithyoutodayinwhatwillgodowninhistoryasthegreatestdemonstrationforfreedominthehistoryofournation.
Fivescoreyearsago,agreatAmerican,inwhosesymbolicshadowwestandtoday,signedtheEmancipationProclamation.ThismomentousdecreecameasagreatbeaconlightofhopetomillionsofNegroslaveswhohadbeensearedintheflamesofwitheringinjustice.Itcameasajoyousdaybreaktoendthelongnightofcaptivity.
Butonehundredyearslater,wemustfacethetragicfactthattheNegroisstillnotfree.Onehundredyearslater,thelifeoftheNegroisstillsadlycrippledbythemanaclesofsegregationandthechainsofdiscrimination.Onehundredyearslater,theNegrolivesonalonelyislandofpovertyinthemidstofavastoceanofmaterialprosperity.Onehundredyearslater,theNegroisstilllanguishinginthecornersofAmericansocietyandfindshimselfanexileinhisownland.Sowehavecomeheretodaytodramatizeanappallingcondition.
Inasense,wehavecometoournation』sCapitaltocashacheck.WhenthearchitectsofourrepublicwrotethemagnificentwordsoftheConstitutionandtheDeclarationofIndependence,theyweresigningapromissorynotetowhicheveryAmericanwastofallheir.ThisnotewasapromisethatallmenwouldbeguaranteedtheinalienablerightsofLife,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.
ItisobvioustodaythatAmericahasdefaultedonthispromissorynoteinsofarashercitizensofcolorareconcerned.Insteadofhonoringthissacredobligation,AmericahasgiventheNegropeopleabadcheck;acheckwhichhascomebackmarked「insufficientfunds」.Butwerefusetobelievethatthebankofjusticeisbankrupt.Werefusetobelievethatthereareinsufficientfundsinthegreatvaultsofopportunityofthisnation.Sowehavecometocashthischeck—acheckthatwillgiveusupondemandtherichesoffreedomandthesecurityofjustice.WehavealsocometothishallowedspottoremindAmericaofthefierceurgencyofnow.Thisisnotimetoengageintheluxuryofcoolingoffortotakethetranquilizingdrugofgradualism.NowisthetimetomakerealthepromisesofDemocracy.Nowisthetimetorisefromthedarkanddesolatevalleyofsegregationtothesunlitpathofracialjustice.NowisthetimetoopenthedoorsofopportunitytoallofGodschildren.Nowisthetimetoliftournationfromthequicksandsofracialinjusticetothesolidrockofbrotherhood.
ItwouldbefatalforthenationtooverlooktheurgencyofthemomentandtounderestimatethedeterminationoftheNegro.ThisswelteringsummeroftheNegro』slegitimatediscontentwillnotpassuntilthereisaninvigoratingautumnoffreedomandequality.1963isnotanend,butabeginning.ThosewhohopethattheNegroneededtoblowoffsteamandwillnowbecontentwillhavearudeawakeningifthenationreturnstobusinessasusual.TherewillbeneitherrestnortranquilityinAmericauntiltheNegroisgrantedhiscitizenshiprights.Thewhirlwindsofrevoltwillcontinuetoshakethefoundationsofournationuntilthebrightdayofjusticeemerges.
ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomypeoplewhostandonthewarmthresholdwhichleadsintothepalaceofjustice.Intheprocessofgainingourrightfulplacewemustnotbeguiltyofwrongfuldeeds.Letusnotseektosatisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecupofbitternessandhatred.