Gettysburg address

Eighty-seven years ago, our forefathers founded a new country on this continent, which was conceived in freedom and pursued the principle that all men are created equal. Now, we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether this country, or any country that was born here and pursues this road, can exist for a long time. We met on a great battlefield of that war. We are here to dedicate a part of this battlefield to those who gave their lives for the survival of the country as their final resting place. It is entirely appropriate for us to do so.

However, in a broader sense, we cannot dedicate, sanctify or deify this land. The brave men who fought here, living and dead, have consecrated this land, which we can't add or subtract. The world will not pay attention to or remember what we said here for a long time, but it will never forget what they did here. We living people should devote ourselves to the great task before us; From these glorious dead, we are more loyal to the cause for which they gave their last full strength; This country, with the blessing of God, will get a new life of freedom; This government of the people, by the people and for the people will never disappear from the earth. "

Abraham lincoln

Eighty-seven years ago, our ancestors established a new country on this continent, which was conceived in freedom and pursued the idea that all men were created equal.

At present, we are engaged in a great civil war, and we are testing whether this country, or any country with such thoughts and beliefs, can exist for a long time. We gathered in a big field of that war. We came here to dedicate part of the land on that battlefield to those who sacrificed their lives here for the survival of that country as their permanent resting place. It is very reasonable for us to do so.

However, in a deeper sense, we can't dedicate this land-we can't make it a holy place-we can't turn it into a place that people admire. Those brave men who fought here, living and dead, have consecrated this land, which is far beyond our humble ability. The world will pay little attention to, let alone remember, what we have said here for a long time, but they will never forget what these people have done here. On the contrary, we living people should devote ourselves to the unfinished business bravely advanced by those who fought here. We should devote ourselves to the great cause left before us here-because of their glorious sacrifice, we should be more determined to devote ourselves to the cause for which they made the final contribution-we are determined to swear here that they will not sacrifice in vain-this country will gain new freedom under the protection of God-this government of the people, by the people and for the people will last forever.

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King.

I have a dream.

Today, I am very happy to join you in this activity that will go down in history as the greatest freedom demonstration in the history of our country.

One hundred years ago, a great American signed the Emancipation Declaration, and today we stand under his symbolic figure. This great decree is like a huge beacon, bringing hope to millions of black slaves who are suffering in the flames of devastating injustice. It came like a happy dawn, ending their long night in captivity.

But a hundred years later, black people are still not free. One hundred years later, the life of black people is still hampered by the chains of apartheid and discrimination. One hundred years later, black people live on an island of poverty in the sea of Wang Yang, where the material is prosperous. One hundred years later, black people are still suffering in the corner of American society and find themselves exiles in their own land. Therefore, we are here today to make this shameful situation public.

In a sense, we came to the capital of our country to cash a check. When the founders of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they signed a promissory note that every American would inherit. This note is a promise that all people, yes, blacks and whites, will be guaranteed "inalienable rights" of "life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness." It is obvious today that the United States has defaulted on this promissory note as far as its colored citizens are concerned. Instead of fulfilling this sacred obligation, the United States gave the black people a bad check, which was returned with the words "insufficient funds".

But we refuse to believe that Justice Bank has gone bankrupt. We don't believe that this country's huge treasure trove of opportunities will be underfunded. Therefore, let's cash this check, which will give us the wealth of freedom and the guarantee of justice when we demand it.

We have come to this sacred place to remind America that this is a very urgent moment. Now is not the time to enjoy calmness or take progressive sedatives. Now is the time to honor the promise of democracy. Now it's time to move from the dark and desolate valley of apartheid to a racially just sunshine avenue. It is time to lift our country from the quicksand of racial injustice to the rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to achieve justice for all God's children.

Ignoring the urgency of this moment will be fatal to the country. This sultry summer of black people's legal dissatisfaction will not pass until the exciting autumn of freedom and equality comes. 1963 is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that black people need to vent and will be satisfied now will suddenly wake up if the country returns to business as usual. There will be neither peace nor peace in the United States until the black people are granted civil rights. Reverend Oort's whirlwind will continue to shake the foundation of our country until the glorious day of justice comes.

However, I must say something to the people standing on the warm threshold leading to the hall of justice: we must not make mistakes in the process of striving for our due position. Let's not try to satisfy our desire for freedom by drinking the cup of pain and hatred. We must always struggle at the height of dignity and discipline. We must not let our creative protests turn into violence. Time and time again, we must rise to the lofty height of fighting against physical strength with soul strength.

The new extraordinary fighting spirit sweeping across the black society should not lead us to distrust all white people, because many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their attendance at the meeting today, have realized that their fate is closely related to ours. They gradually realized that their freedom is inseparable from ours.

We can't go alone.

When we walk, we must ensure that we will move forward forever.

We can't turn back.

Someone is asking the supporters of the civil rights movement: "When will you be satisfied?" We will never be satisfied as long as black people are victims of unspeakable horror of police brutality. We will never be satisfied as long as our tired bodies can't find accommodation in motels beside the highway and hotels in the city. As long as a black man in Mississippi can't vote, and as long as a black man in new york thinks he has nothing to vote for, we will not be satisfied. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like water, and justice is like a powerful river."

It's not that I haven't noticed that some of you have come here after great trials and tribulations. Some of you have just come out of narrow cells. Some of you come from areas that have been hit by persecution storms and police brutality in pursuit of freedom. You are an old hand at creative pain. Continue to work with the belief that unearned suffering is salvation. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ethnic minority areas of our northern cities, knowing that this situation can and will change.

My friends, today I want to tell you, let's not wallow in the valley of despair.

Therefore, even though we are facing difficulties today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. This is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day, this country will rise up and realize the true meaning of its founding creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, and all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hill in Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together and share brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day, even Mississippi, a state with a heat wave of injustice and oppression, will become an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that one day my four children will live in a country where they will be judged not by the color of their skin but by their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day in Alabama, despite the vicious racists and the governor's words of "no" and "abolish", one day in Alabama, black boys and girls will be able to join hands with white boys and girls as brothers and sisters.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, every valley will be leveled, every hill and mountain will be leveled, and rugged places will be straightened; "The glory of the Lord will be revealed and all people will see it together."?

This is our hope and the belief that I brought back to the south.

With this belief, we will be able to extract a stone of hope from the mountain of despair. With this belief, we will be able to turn the harsh discordant voice of our country into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this belief, we will be able to work together, pray together, struggle together, go to jail together and defend freedom together, because we know that one day we will be free.

This day will come-this day, all children of God will be able to sing in a new meaning:

My motherland, lovely king of thailand, I am song for you.

Where my father died, where pilgrims are proud,

Let freedom ring from every hillside!

If America is to be a great country, it must become a reality.

So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mountains of new york.

Let freedom ring from the sky.

Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-covered Rockies in Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the graceful slopes of California.

Not only that:

Let freedom ring from stone mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from lookout mountain in Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi

Let freedom ring from every mountainside.

When all this happens, when we let freedom ring from every village, every state and every city, we will be able to speed up the arrival of this day. At that time, all the children of God, blacks and whites, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to hold hands and sing the old black soul songs:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

I have a dream.

Author: Martin Luther King

Today, I am very happy to join you in the largest free demonstration and assembly in the history of our country.

100 years ago, a great American signed the Emancipation Declaration, and today we stand under his symbolic figure. The promulgation of this important law, like a huge lighthouse, brought hope to millions of slaves burnt in the flames of injustice, just like the happy dawn that ended the long night of imprisonment.

However, after 100 years, blacks are still not free. 100 years later, blacks are still tragically hobbled under the shackles of apartheid and racial discrimination. 100 years later, black people still live on an island of poverty in the sea of Wang Yang, where material prosperity exists. 100 years later, blacks are still languishing in the corner of American society and still feel that they are drifting in their native land. Therefore, we are here today to make this appalling situation public.

In a sense, we came to the national capital to cash a check. When the founders of our country drafted the glorious chapter of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they signed a promissory note that every American could inherit. This promissory note promises everyone, whether white or black, the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Today, however, the United States obviously owes its colored citizens this promissory note. Instead of honoring this sacred debt, the United States began to give black people a bad check-a check that was returned with the seal of "insufficient funds". However, we never believe that a just bank will go bankrupt. We never thought that this country's huge treasure trove of opportunities would be underfunded.

Then, let's cash this check. This check will give us precious freedom and justice.

We have also come to this holy place to remind the United States that this is an extremely urgent moment. Now is not the time to take your time or take gradualist sedatives. Now is the time to realize the promise of democracy. It's time for out of the dark's desolate apartheid valley to embark on a racial equality sunshine avenue. It is time for our country to walk out of the quicksand of racial inequality and step on the rock full of brotherhood. Now is the time for all God's children to truly enjoy justice.

Ignoring the urgency of this moment will be fatal to this country. Until the autumn of freedom and equality comes, the heat of black reasonable grievances will not pass. 1963 is not the end, but the beginning.

If this country continues to go its own way, those who want black people to be satisfied just by venting their anger will be disappointed. There will be neither peace nor tranquility in the United States until the black people obtain civil rights. The whirlwind of resistance will continue to shake the cornerstone of our country until the glorious day of justice comes.

However, I have something to say to those who stand on the dangerous threshold leading to the hall of justice. In the process of striving for legal status, there must be no wrong actions that lead to crimes. We must never swallow the bitter wine of hatred to relieve our desire for freedom.

We should always fight properly and strictly. We can't let our creative protests turn into violence. We should constantly sublimate to the lofty realm of dealing with physical strength with soul strength.

The new miraculous fighting spirit sweeping across the black society should not lead us to distrust all white people-because many white brothers have realized that their destiny is closely related to ours and their freedom is closely related to ours. Their coming here to attend the rally today is proof of this.

We can't act alone. When we act, we must make sure to go forward bravely. We cannot retreat. Enthusiasts of the civil rights movement were asked, "When will you be satisfied?" We will never be satisfied as long as black people are still victims of unspeakable police brutality and terror. We will never be satisfied as long as we are shut out of motels and city hotels beside the highway after a tiring journey. As long as the basic activities of black people are confined to a narrow black residential area to a larger black residential area, we will never be satisfied. As long as our children are deprived of their personality and dignity by the "white only" sign, we will never be satisfied. As long as the blacks in Mississippi can't participate in the election, and as long as the blacks in new york think that they have nothing to do with the election, we will never be satisfied. No, no, we won't be satisfied until justice flows like water and gushes out like a spring.

It's not that I haven't noticed that some of you have gone through a lot of hardships to come here. Some of you just walked out of your cell. Some people come from areas where the pursuit of freedom has been hit by persecution storms and ravaged by police brutality. You've been through a lot. Keep working hard and believe that innocent suffering will eventually be saved.

Go back to Mississippi; Back to Alabama; Back to South Carolina; Go back to Georgia; Back to Louisiana; Back to the slums and black communities of our northern cities. You know, this situation can and will change. We cannot fall into the abyss of despair.

My friends, today I want to tell you that despite the difficulties at present, I still have a dream. This dream is deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day, this country will rise up and realize the true meaning of its founding creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hill in Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together and share brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day, even Mississippi, a desert state with a heat wave of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that one day, my four little daughters will live in a country where they will be judged not by their skin color but by their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, Alabama will change-although the governor of Alabama still talks about challenging and refusing to enforce federal laws-where black children can join hands with white children like brothers and sisters.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, the deep valleys will be closed, the mountains will be leveled, the roads will be smooth, the winding paths will become thoroughfares, the glory of God will reappear, and all living things in the world will be admired.

This is our hope. This is the belief that I will bring back to the south. With this belief, we can mine the stone of hope from the mountain of despair. With this belief, we can turn the noisy and harsh quarrel in this country into a musical symphony full of brotherhood. With this belief, we can work together, pray together, fight together, go to jail together, and safeguard freedom together, because we know that we will be free one day.

On this day, all children of God can sing this song with a new meaning:

My motherland, lovely king of thailand, I am song for you. This is the place where my ancestors died, which is the pride of early immigrants. Let freedom ring from every mountainside.

If America is to be a great country, this must be realized. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire!

Let freedom ring from the mountains of new york!

Let freedom ring from Allegheny Peak in Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Loki Mountains of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the beautiful peaks of California!

No, not only that; Let freedom ring from stone mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from lookout mountain in Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every mountainside of Mississippi!

Let freedom ring from every hillside!

When we let freedom ring, when we let freedom ring from every village and town, we can speed up this day. At that time, all the children of God, black and white, Jew and gentile, Jesus and Catholic, will be able to join hands and sing the old song of black soul: "Free at last! Free at last! Thanks to Almighty God, we are finally free! "