Keep Dreaming, Dr. King!

As a fiction author, I’ve learned that drama is built by character flaws. A story involving a hero that is fearless makes for a dull tale. The bad guy runs to the top of a building? Who cares? The hero is fearless. He smirks and makes a move. Big deal. But make that hero afraid of heights and now you’ve got some drama. Can he conquer the fear while taking on the bad guy?

Similarly, the legend of Jesus doesn’t excite me, because according to the myth, the guy was the son of god, so of course he’s going to do great things. The fact that his greatest feats were conquering death a couple times might even qualify him as a slacker. All you did was raise yourself, Lazarus and heal lots of people? Shucks, your dad created the universe, buddy! Billions of planets. You didn’t even create one. You’re not half the man your dad was.

It is for these reasons Martin Luther King inspires me: because the guy was 100% human. Yet he gave his life for peace and non-violence. Some charge him with infidelity, claim that this religious man had mistress(es.) My response? I shrug. It’s entirely possible. But does it matter to anyone except his immediate family? In fact, if it were truly confirmed, yes, that would be bad, but it would take nothing away from his peaceful actions and bravery. It would make him a less than ideal husband, but then again, I’m not married to him, I’m not his son or brother and neither are you. We both only know him as a historical figure, an activist for peace. And in that sense, he is nothing short of inspiring.

So what would he say and do today? I’m especially curious as to how he would take on the Right Wing Noise Machine. Anyone who speaks in favor of peace, even if they never commit any violent act, is verbally assaulted by Faux News and their drone army, slandered and labeled in the most heinous fashion.

Look at the pounding Cindy Sheehan takes (referred to as “prostitute” and “tragedy pimp” in the smear media) and what has she done? Speak out non-violently against a war. That’s all. Agree or disagree, fine, but do you need to call someone who has - 1.) lost a son to war and 2.) never physically harmed anyone - such vile things? Look at the verbal cruelness unleashed on Kristen Breitweiser (who lost her husband in 9-11, and also – never physically harmed anyone.) This was said about her: “I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much.”

And so, today, without Dr. King, in the presence of such organized cruelty, such willful close-mindedness, what are we to do?

“Keep dreaming!” It’s a sarcastic idiom, a comment that says, “Your wish will never come true.” Maybe so, maybe so. I guess the way to look at it is, dreams you abandon never come true. Dreams you hang on to, at least they’ve got a fighting chance.

A fighting chance: a non-sarcastic idiom for the dream of an America where opportunity is equal. Thanks for the inspiration, Dr. King. Rest in peace.

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Larry Nocella is the award-winning author of the novel Where Did This Come From? available at Amazon and Xlibris and other fine online book stores. Also, for a limited time, Where Did This Come From? is available as an eBook for only ONE DOLLAR. Visit Larry Nocella's website at http://www.larrynocella.com/.