The Dream Lives On

I walked down to the docks at lunchtime to listen to a recording of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech which was being played in its entirety throughout the day on a loop, outside the International Slavery Museum.

I stood and listened to the speech twice and marvelled anew at King's power as an orator, his passion and his thirst for justice.

Too many politicians, religious leaders and other public figures these days spout mindless rhetoric, string focus-grouped inanities together and desperately work to stay 'on message' - whatever the 'message' happens to be this week... Was it always like this?

We've come a long way in 50 years and it's right that we should stop to celebrate MLK and the massive contribution he made. We need more like him - people who can inspire future generations to continue standing up against what is wrong and working for all our freedoms.

Inside the Museum I spotted this message from a young visitor. Will David Cameron ever inspire a child to write something like this? Will Ed Miliband? Those of you elsewhere in the world will have your own examples!

If you haven't already, and you're able to, do have a listen to this programme - broadcast on Radio 4 this morning.