6

Chapter 6: I Have a Dream

RADAR was up for re-election as sheriff in ITASCA COUNTY & the competition appeared to be rather heavy. However, with the ADDAMS family helping RADAR by going out & sandbagging the other candidates by all sorts of their tricks, including passing out their phony three-dollar-bills. But in the southeastern part of the UNITED STATES trouble was brewing in most places, and especially BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA where a former sports-writer turned public-safety commissioner named EUGENE "BULL" CONNOR was turning police dogs and fire hoses loose on civil rights demonstrators on live TV as our nation watched in horror!!! Also, NAACP leader MEDGAR EVERS was shot and killed on his door step in JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI on very same evening when PRESIDENT KENNEDY went on the air on TV & said "WHO AMONG US WOULD BE CONTENT TO HAVE THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN CHANGED & STAND IN HIS PLACE? WHO AMONG US WOULD THEN BE CONTENT WITH THE COUNSELS OF PATIENCE & DELAY?" RADAR was furious because of EVERS' death. MULCAHY was far madder inside, but he knew that kind of anger should be kept hidden as much as possible until absolutely needed! But there were more murders among civil rights leaders that year of 1963. MR. & MRS. HARRY T. MOORE whom headed up the NAACP in FLORIDA, The REVEREND GEORGE LEE of BELZONI, MISSISSIPPI, & WILLIAM MOORE in ALABAMA. AUGUST 1963, the march on WASHINGTON for civil rights was on. Now seeing as how RADAR had already wrapped up the ITASCA COUNTY primary in MAY & all. He was now being requested by GOMEZ ADDAMS (whom although an old college friend of KING'S) to be an unofficial bodyguard to DR. KING during the march on WASHINGTON at a special request from our own PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY & his brother the great U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL ROBERT F. KENNEDY.

RADAR said "Tell the President I accept the opportunity with great honor!" So that night GOMEZ ADDAMS phoned the WHITE HOUSE & said "It's official now! O'REILLY has accepted the honor as DR. KING'S unofficial bodyguard & we're in the clear!" PRESIDENT KENNEDY replied to his MINNESOTA cousin from his father's side of the family "Have O'REILLY'S friends from his old army outfit the 4077TH M*A*S*H join him there in WASHINGTON for the march. But I'll see to it that the former 2nd in command of that outfit namely, FRANK BURNS does not show up in WASHINGTON. Even if it means paying off every travel agency in FORT WAYNE, INDIANA where certain F.B.I. reports from the MUNCIE field office say that BURNS is the Ku Klux Klan leader in FORT WAYNE!" "That sounds serious! But what do you intend to do about BURNS?" "I'll send some SECRET SERVICE AGENTS from the TERRA HAUTE field office to watch BURNS' house in FORT WAYNE!" "Well, that should throw a small scare into BURNS, right!?"

"You bet your sweet BIPPY, GOMEZ!" Finally, the day of the march arrived. Celebrities from MINNESOTA'S own BOB DYLAN to JOAN BAEZ showed up to put support behind the civil rights movement. KLINGER was speaking to a few Lebonese-Americans whom joined the cause in order to get support for some Muslim students attending KENT STATE at the time.

Now as DR. KING made his way to the speaking platform escorted by RADAR & others whom were supporting the cause. Then came the great speech as DR. KING said "I AM HAPPY TO JOIN WITH YOU TODAY IN WHAT WILL GO DOWN IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION. FIVE SCORE YEARS AGO, A GREAT AMERICAN IN WHOSE SYMBOLIC SHADOW WE STAND TODAY, SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. THIS MOMENTOUS DECREE CAME AS A GREAT BEACON LIGHT OF HOPE TO MILLIONS OF NEGRO SLAVES WHO HAD BEEN SEARED IN THE FLAMES OF WITHERING INJUSTICE. IT CAME AS A JOYOUS DAYBREAK TO END THE LONG NIGHT OF CAPTIVITY. BUT ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THE LIFE OF THE NEGRO IS STILL NOT FREE; ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THE LIFE OF THE NEGRO IS STILL SADLY CRIPPLED BY THE MANACLES OF SEGREGATION AND CHAINS OF DISCRIMINATION; ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, THE NEGRO STILL LANGUISHES IN THE CORNERS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY AND HIMSELF IN EXILE IN HIS OWN LAND. SO WE'VE COME HERE TODAY TO DRAMATIZE A SHAMEFUL CONDITION. IN A SENSE WE'VE TO OUR NATION'S CAPITOL TO CASH A CHECK. WHEN THE ARCHITECTS OF OUR REPUBLIC WROTE THE MAGNIFICENT WORDS OF THE CONSTITUTION & THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THEY WERE SIGNING A PROMISSORY NOTE TO WHICH EVERY AMERICAN WAS TO FALL HEIR. THIS NOTE WAS THE PROMISE THAT ALL MEN, YES, BLACK MEN AS WELL AS WHITE MEN, WOULD BE GUARANTEED THE UNALIENABLE RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY, & THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. IT IS OBVIOUS TODAY THAT AMERICA HAS DEFAULTED ON THIS PROMISSORY NOTE IN SO FAR AS HER CITIZENS OF COLOR ARE CONCERNED. INSTEAD OF HONORING THIS SACRED OBLIGATION, AMERICA HAS GIVEN THE NEGRO PEOPLE A BAD CHECK; A CHECK WHICH HAS COME BACK MARKED "INSUFFICIENT FUNDS". WE REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THE GREAT VAULTS OF OPPORTUNITY OF THIS NATION. & SO WE'VE COME TO CASH THIS CHECK, A CHECK THAT WILL GIVE US UPON DEMAND THE RICHES OF FREEDOM & THE SECURITY OF JUSTICE. WE HAVE ALSO COME TO THIS HALLOWED SPOT TO REMIND AMERICA OF THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW. THIS IS NO TIME TO ENGAGE IN THE LUXURY OF COOLING OFF OR TO TAKE THE TRANQUILIZING DRUG OF GRADUALISM. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE REAL THE PROMISES OF DEMOCRACY; NOW IS THE TIME TO RISE FROM THE DARK AND DESOLATE VALLEY OF SEGREGATION TO THE SUNLIT PATH OF RACIAL JUSTICE; NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE JUSTICE A REALITY FOR ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. IT WOULD BE FATAL FOR THE NATION TO OVERLOOK THE URGENCY OF THE MOMENT. THIS SWELTERING SUMMER OF THE NEGRO'S LEGITIMATE DISCONTENT WILL NOT PASS UNTIL THERE IS AN INVIGORATING AUTUMN OF FREEDOM & EQUALITY. 1963 IS NOT AN END, IT IS A BEGINNING. & THOSE WHO HOPE THAT THE NEGRO NEEDED TO BLOW OFF STEAM & WILL NOW BE CONTENT, WILL HAVE A RUDE AWAKENING IF THE NATION RETURNS TO BUSINESS AS USUAL. THERE WILL BE NEITHER REST NOR TRANQUILITY IN AMERICA UNTIL THE NEGRO IS GRANTED HIS CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS. THE WHIRLWINDS OF REVOLT WILL CONTINUE TO SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR NATION UNTIL THE BRIGHT DAY OF JUSTICE EMERGES. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I MUST SAY TO MY PEOPLE WHO STAND ON THE THRESHOLD WHICH LEADS INTO THE PALACE OF JUSTICE. IN THE PROCESS OF GAINING OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE WE MUST NOT BE GUILTY OF WRONGFUL DEEDS. LET US NOT SEEK TO JUSTIFY OUR THIRST FOR FREEDOM BY DRINKING FROM THE CUP OF BITTERNESS AND HATRED. WE MUST FOREVER CONDUCT OUR STRUGGLE ON THE HIGH PLANE OF DIGNITY & DISCIPLINE. WE MUST NOT ALLOW OUR CREATIVE PROTEST TO DEGENERATE INTO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. AGAIN & AGAIN WE MUST RISE TO THE MAJESTIC HEIGHTS OF MEETING PHYSICAL FORCE WITH SOUL FORCE. THE MARVELOUS NEW MILITANCY WHICH HAS ENGULFED THE NEGRO COMMUNITY MUST NOT LEAD US TO A DISTRUST OF ALL WHITE PEOPLE. FOR MANY OF OUR WHITE BROTHERS, AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR PRESENCE HERE TODAY, HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT THEIR DESTINY IS TIED UP WITH OUR DESTINY & THEY HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT THEIR FREEDOM IS IN EXTRICABLY BOUND TO OUR FREEDOM. THIS OFFENSE WE SHARE MOUNTED TO STORM THE BATTLEMENTS OF INJUSTICE MUST BE CARRIED FORTH BY A BIRACIAL ARMY. WE CANNOT WALK ALONE. & AS WE WALK, WE MUST MAKE THE PLEDGE THAT WE SHALL ALWAYS MARCH AHEAD. WE CANNOT TURN BACK. THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE ASKING THE DEVOTEES OF CIVIL RIGHTS, "WHEN WILL YOU BE SATISFIED?" WE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED AS LONG AS THE NEGRO IS THE VICTIM OF THE UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS OF POLICE BRUTALITY. WE CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED AS LONG AS OUR BODIES, HEAVY WITH FATIGUE OF TRAVEL, CANNOT GAIN LODGING IN THE MOTELS OF THE HIGHWAYS & THE HOTELS OF THE CITIES. WE CANNOT BE SATISFIED AS LONG AS THE NEGRO'S BASIC MOBILITY IS FROM A SMALLER GHETTO TO A LARGER ONE. WE CANNOT BE SATISFIED AS LONG AS OUR CHILDREN ARE STRIPPED OF THEIR SELFHOOD & ROBBED OF THEIR DIGNITY BY SIGNS STATING "FOR WHITES ONLY". WE CANNOT BE SATISFIED AS LONG AS A NEGRO IN MISSISSIPPI CANNOT VOTE VOTE & A NEGRO IN NEW YORK BELIEVES HE HAS NOTHING FOR WHICH TO VOTE. NO, WE ARE NOT SATISFIED, & WE WILL NOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL JUSTICE ROLLS DOWN LIKE WATERS & RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREAM. I AM NOT UNMINDFUL THAT SOME OF YOU COME HERE OUT OF EXCESSIVE TRIALS & TRIBULATION. SOME OF YOU HAVE COME FRESH FROM NARROW JAIL CELLS. SOME OF YOU HAVE COME FROM AREAS WHERE YOUR QUEST FOR FREEDOM LEFT YOU BATTERED BY THE STORMS OF PERSECUTION AND THE WINDS OF POLICE BRUTALITY. YOU HAVE BEN THE VETERANS OF CREATIVE SUFFERING. CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FAITH THAT UNEARNED SUFFERING IS REDEMPTIVE. 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 GHETTOS OF THE NORTHERN CITIES, KNOWING THAT SOMEHOW THIS SITUATION CAN, & WILL BE CHANGED. LET US NOT WALLOW IN THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR. SO I SAY TO YOU, MY FRIENDS, THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MUST FACE THE DIFFICULTIES OF TODAY & TOMORROW, I STILL HAVE A DREAM. IT IS A DREAM DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE AMERICAN DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS NATION WILL RISE UP & LIVE OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF IT'S CREED-WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY ON THE RED HILLS OF GEORGIA, SONS OF FORMER SLAVES & THE SONS OF FORMER SLAVE-OWNERS WILL BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AT THE TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD. I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY, EVEN IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A STATE SWELTERING WITH HEAT OF INJUSTICE, SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT OF OPPRESSION, WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN OASIS OF FREEDOM & JUSTICE. I HAVE A DREAM 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. I HAVE A DREAM TODAY! I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY, IN ALABAMA, WITH IT'S VICIOUS RACISTS, WITH IT'S GOVERNOR HAVING HIS LIPS DRIPPING WITH THE WORDS OF INTERPOSITION AND NULLIFICATION, THAT ONE DAY, RIGHT THERE IN ALABAMA, LITTLE BLACK BOYS & LITTLE BLACK GIRLS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS WITH LITTLE WHITE BOYS & LITTLE WHITE GIRLS AS SISTERS & BROTHERS. I HAVE A DREAM TODAY! I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED, EVERY HILL & MOUNTAIN SHALL BE MADE LOW, THE ROUGH PLACES SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT & THE GLORY OF THE LORD WILL BE REVEALED & ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER. THIS IS OUR HOPE. THIS IS THE FAITH THAT I SHALL GO TO THE SOUTH WITH. WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSFORM THE JANGLING DISCORDS OF OUR NATION INTO A BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF BROTHERHOOD. WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, TO GO TO JAIL TOGETHER, TO STAND UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER, KNOWING THAT WE WILL BE FREE ONE DAY. THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SING WITH NEW MEANING-"MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE, SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY; OF THEE I SING; LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED, LAND OF THE PILGRIM'S PRIDE; FROM EVERY MOUNTAIN SIDE, LET FREEDOM RING"-& IF AMERICA IS TO BE A GREAT NATION, THIS MUST BECOME TRUE. SO LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE PRODIGIOUS HILLTOPS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK. LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE HEIGHTENING ALLEGHENIES OF PENNSYLVANIA. LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE SNOW-CAPPED ROCKIES OF COLORADO. LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE CURVACEOUS SLOPES OF CALIFORNIA. BUT NOT ONLY THAT. LET FREEDOM RING FROM STONE MOUNTAIN IN GEORGIA. LET FREEDOM RING FROM LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN IN TENNESSEE. LET FREEDOM RING FROM EVERY HILL & MOLEHILL OF MISSISSIPPI, FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE LET FREEDOM RING. & WHEN WE ALLOW FREEDOM TO RING, WHEN WE LET IT RING FROM EVERY VILLAGE & HAMLET, FROM EVERY STATE & CITY, WE WILL ABLE TO SPEED UP THAT DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN-BLACK MEN & WHITE MEN, JEWS & GENTILES, CATHOLICS & PROTESTANTS-WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS & TO SING IN THE WORDS OF THE OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL, "FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST; THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, WE ARE FREE AT LAST".

As the crowd cheered the great speech RADAR shook hands with DR. KING & said "That speech was filled with wonderful words to live by with all my heart, SIR!" DR. KING replied "MR. O'REILLY it is truly a great for my people & yours too for that matter it is a great day all people everywhere, including here in AMERICA!" SHERMAN POTTER was next to congratulate DR. KING, by saying "I truly liked those words you used my good man. If you ever get some time out from this movement how's about some fly-fishing in the WHITE RIVER of ARKANSAS?" DR. KING said "I'll keep that in mind, DR. POTTER". The congratulating continued. KLINGER was next together with CHARLES, B.J., TRAPPER, HAWKEYE, & finally MULCAHY, whom said "Kinder words were never more truly spoken since the GETTYSBURG address!" DR. KING just smiled & replied "Well, now PARSON MULCAHY. I gotta admit that although you have a good point, I'd have to say they're both on the same level when it comes to seeking freedom!" Later that evening there was a V.I.P. dinner at THE WHITE HOUSE for the KINGS & specials guests ranging from THE ADDAMS FAMILY to RADAR O'REILLY. In SEPTEMBER of 1963 a small group of Ku Klux Klan members planted a bomb in the ladies restroom of the 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH in BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, only about 3 weeks after the historic march on WASHINGTON. The bombing resulted in the deaths four young elementary aged school girls named CAROLE ROBERTSON, CYNTHIA WESLEY, DENISE McNAIR, & ADDIE MAE COLLINS. Their families were members of the congregation of the church & were saddened as a result.