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2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest
3rd Place Winner: Carlos Salazar '08
January 24, 2008
It is much easier to ask someone to change themselves because change can be dramatic,difficult and scary. No one wants to be the one to change, they simply chose to the pass the buck, or point their finger. When someone is different do you embrace them or challenge what they are with silence and disdain.
At a young age we were taught that when you point at someone, three fingers are always pointing right back at you. Where did that lesson go? We have all be witness to petty insults, racism, prejudice, discrimination, but we sit quiet. We let it happen subconsciously because we are afraid of what they might think of us. We ask ourselves,"What would they say about me?" We were not born to be brave, we are taught; we observe the heroes that we have had and follow their legacy. We are all here today to celebrate one man who lived and breathed strength and was killed for his beliefs— but his legacy will always live on in us. We take today to remember this American hero because of not only who he was, but what he was able to accomplish.
If he were here today, he would challenge us to be more. He would advocate we not be scared of those around us who suffer from ignorance and stupidity, but to teach them, to make them better people. We live in a world that suffers from unnecessary violence where thousands upon thousands die because of ignorance and lack of information. Those around this ungodly death sit, watch, or flee; but who speaks up and reminds them that we are all in this together? We are all a part of the same race: the human race. We are one, and no one should die through the hands of hate but be accepted for their diversity. It is easy to find excuses for what we do, or why you couldn't change what happened, or be the change that you wish to see— but, again, it is much easier to sit quietly.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was never scared of adversity. He confronted it, embraced it with his life. His strength should be our testament to what we can accomplish if we "Dare to be Different." But what does that mean—"be different?"
At the root of many of past, current, and future conflicts are always at least two sides. These sides oppose each other based on issues that can be handled peacefully: a "war of words," not a war of who has the biggest ego. As time goes by, stronger, tougher, and deadlier means of warfare are being developed. And we just wait. Plain and simple, if we do not stand up and speak up, we empower those who have already made devastating decisions that have caused us all to lose someone that we know or love. This is not only limited to the men and women in our armed forces, but our loved ones that died on 9/11, or by natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, or by stupid politicians that watch people suffer and die all over the country but do nothing to help— yet still help others across the world. As we speak, wars of hate, conflicts of interests, disputes over materialist gain, arguments between governments that result in the loss of our friends and loved ones, and yet we sit silently. Not doing anything is a decision that we make.
Ask yourself what would Martin Luther King Jr. do? What would Gandhi do? Would they let our government or the governments of those around us make decisions that affect us all? As many of you know, my generation has had severe apathy in regards to voting and getting involved. As a country, our participation is dismal, giving our elected representatives the power to make deadly decisions on our behalf.
I challenge you not to be scared, and dare you to be different then your peers who prefer others to make decisions for them. Different then your friends who choose to not get involved or claim that it is a waste of their time. I dare you to get involved in the decisions that affect all of us to make a difference; as Gandhi adequately put it, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I remind you that these two world heroes fought with their words not with their might. They were thousands of miles apart but they shared the same vision, which they believed could be achieved through peaceful conditions. MLK, Jr. said, "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." He challenged us to educate our peers and be more then what we are to arrive at our universal goal of happiness.
The word "different" has many meanings, but the one that we must be reminiscent of is "diversity." We are all different, coming from different cultural and adverse backgrounds. MLK, Jr. challenged those around him to embrace their individuality and let it shine. He dared those around him to be diverse and not be intimidated by what others thought.
Regardless of what religion you believe in, your individuality is a gift, and you should share it with the world. Be proud to be different because you can teach another about where you come from. Be fearless of what others might think of you because they simply don’t know or understand. And be unique because your individuality is what makes you "you"— and that is something you must share with the world.
The King's dream was to share and create a world where we are not challenged by our differences, but share those differences with others. All of us have been exposed to his dream because of the leading consequences that followed. But that dream of a better world of equality for all has yet to be achieved. We should be the ones to accomplish his dream because of what this world could be.
I leave you with this. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." I challenge you to follow the words of this hero, because if he didn't follow his own advice, where would we be today?
