Today We Celebrate a Dream

Martin Luther King once spoke of his dream. It was a beautiful dream. One that sadly may never become a reality. It didn’t in his lifetime. And in mine, it seems even further away. His dream? That we reach the true meaning of equality.

“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.” What happened to that dream? How did we get so far off track?

Dr. King’s speech wasn’t about lowering the standards, but raising the bar. It wasn’t about oppressor and oppressed. It was about walking side by side, in a colored blind world. Should I give a black man a job simply because he is black? No. Nor should he be denied the opportunity based on the color of his skin. The best person for a position, man or woman, black, white or purple should be given the same consideration, based only on knowledge, ability and experience. I’d even be willing to give someone a shot if they had the education and ability, but not necessarily the experience. I don’t want to be flying in an airplane that has a pilot at the controls who was placed there simply because of skin color or sexual orentation or religious preferences. I want to be in an airplane with the top graduates in flight school thank you very much.

The biggest mistake this country made at the end of the Civil War was the way in which slaves were set free. Carpetbaggers from up north snatched up the lands and businesses of the south for pennies. If we were gutting the south anyway, then those who had worked that land or business as a slave should have been given a piece of it, or all of it, depending. Something to build on. Instead, slaves were simply turned out – go, have a nice life. It didn’t matter that many were uneducated, unable to read or write in many cases and all were beyond penniless. That was the time to equal the playing field. When the Japanese were given compensation at the end of World War II for what American had done, it wasn’t paid to their decedents 200 years later. It was paid to those who had been directly harmed. I suppose it could be argued that the Black community of today was directly harmed. But then how do you explain the Irish, the Asian, the Jews fleeing persecution? Not everyone who came to this country did so with money in their pockets. Many were poor and uneducated. And there were prejudices they had to overcome – there still are in many ways. If we are every going to be fair, we need to stop looking at the outside and start taking a good look at the inside. Let who we are, not what we are, be what we are judged for.

People look at me and say I don’t understand what it’s like to be a person of color. Guess what? I’m not white. My mother was Filipino. Our house smelled funny from stinky foods. I’m short, and I’m a female who came of age when women were burning their bras while demanding equal pay. And I’m Catholic. There’s a whole different ignorance displayed when it comes to faith. So yeah, I get it. I just don’t let it define who I am.

My hope is that one day Martin Luther King’s dream will be a reality.

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Today also happens to be Strawberry Ice Cream Day. Let’s begin with the best Strawberry Ice Cream on any store shelf has to be Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream. Just scoop some into a bowl, maybe give a squire to whipped cream, and enjoy. What’s that” you want more than just a bowl of ice cream? Fine, how about a Strawberry Milkshake.

Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Shake
2 cups (15 scoops) Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream
Chilled Milkshake Glasses
Fresh Strawberries for garnish
3/4 cup Milk
3/4 cup Heavy Cream
Extra Creamy Whipped Cream

Let ice cream soften slightly at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Chill milkshake glasses in the freezer until ready to fill. Slice strawberries for garnish, set aside.

Place milk, heavy cream and ice cream in a high-speed blender. Begin blending on low, gradually working up to a medium speed, until the shake is smooth and drinkable through a straw. If too thin, add more ice cream a scoop at a time. If to thick, add more milk or heavy cream a little at a time.

Pour the strawberry milkshakes into the prepared glasses, top with whipped cream and garnish with sliced berries. Enjoy!

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To the upright I will show the saving power of God.