Remembering the Dream

As we take this time to celebrate the life of the great public servant, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I would like to take a moment to share with you the impact his message continues to make on me and how it guides every aspect of my life.

As a Christian, I believe that King's Dream is built upon the notion that in all things we do, our love for our fellow man/woman must be demonstrative and should guide our thoughts, words and deeds. This concept inspires me to smile and speak kindly to others, to give freely where I can, and to place the well-being of my city above my own as a public servant.

As an American, King's Dream serves as reminder to me, as I hope it does for others, that the time-honored, heartfelt and constitutionally rooted principles of freedom and liberty must and should apply to all people regardless of their background, race, gender, culture or sexual orientation. Even though our country has not always indiscriminately reserved and preserved these awesome principles for all of her people, King's Dream calls us to resist the hypocrisy of creating exceptions for and carving out people from these inalienable rights.

As someone who earnestly believes in the immovable universal principles of karma and respect, Dr. King's Dream also reminds me that we are "trapped in an inextricable web of mutuality," and that our actions vibrate, reverberate and even recoil. If we disrespect others, disrespect for us will follow - even if ultimately visited upon our descendants. If we do not respect ourselves, we grant others permission to be a reflection of our worst self. As a public servant, the principles of karma and respect have helped me to develop empathy and humility in my daily dealings with people of diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

In closing, I want to remind you that because of his love for us, we too are afforded the opportunity to make an impact on our world. We do not have to stand in his shadow, but rather can stand on his shoulders as we endeavor to achieve the Dream.

Listen: Ceasar's interview on Reflections of a King and His Dream on WCLK Jazz 91.9 FM