GONGO LA MBOTO VS GOOD LEADERSHIP;

WHO IS A GOOD LEADER?

As we stand together in mourning the death of approximately 20 people killed on Wednesday night following explosions at a munitions dump in Dar es Salaam – Gongo la Mboto military barracks; and the loss of property, it is a good time to examine the role of good leadership in our country.

                               

Here is a question that we ask ourselves nowadays most of the times. What is a good leader like? How can you tell someone is a good leader? To understand this we must first understand the meaning of a good leader. Who is a good leader? A good leader is the person with the qualifications and who knows what he is doing, not only for one’s benefit but for many. Here are some qualifications of a good leader.

                                  A good leader is a person who keeps promises and honors commitments. A person who knows how to keep his word. A person who means what he says and who honors whatever he has to accomplish. Most of the leaders we choose nowadays might not have that qualification. They lie to us most of the time saying they will do this and that, but sometimes they never accomplish that. When we elect people, we sometimes do not think of the possibilities of what the person is saying to be a lie. A good leader holds this qualification.

                                   A good leader shares positive and negative information freely. A good leader does not lie about anything if the times are tough because no one is perfect in this world. Nobody can live his or her life without mistakes. A good leader shares things freely to people even if they are not good because we are not perfect. A good leader is always ready to get it out there whether it’s positive (good) or it does not please the people or himself.

                                   A good leader should be sincerely interested in others personal and professional life. He should be interested in his people in order to know what they really need. Being a president doesn’t mean taking care of yourself only but taking care of the nation too. It’s your first priority to provide for your nation. As a good leader, you have to get out of your office and go face the people in order to get the inside of them. To get to know what they really need and not just hear it from other people. As a leader you should be able to meet people’s need and wait for the needs to come to you because who knows they may not be what you think they are.  And you might not work on them as good as you could have if you could have approached them yourself.

                                   A good leader motivates others greatness. He or she must be a motivation to other people encouraging them to good things. Some people need a little bit of pushing in order for them to know how great a thing is to be, and as a leader you ought to lead people to the right directions and this is one of the things that you have to have qualification of being able to motivate people to great things or to actually do great things.

                                   A good leader should be a role model to people. As a leader, people must be inspired by you. You should apply as a good role model to the people. From the things you do to how you handle things. You should be a person that people can look up to, and follow your lead. A kind of person who knows what the term leading means and a person who cares about people enough to take the lead or the position as their role model.

                                     A good leader should be the one who accepts both criticisms and pride during work. As I said before, we all are not perfect which mean we do make mistakes sometimes. As a leader not everyone will accept or appreciate what you do. Not everybody will like what you do, which means you will have both good people and bad people after you and both good times and bad times.  But that is up to you to change or try to change the people around you by being a good role model to them and by trying to show them what is good or at least acceptable.

                                      I guess what I am trying to say is that we all have different views on the leaders we want to choose, but we should ask ourselves before doing this, is this the leader that should  lead me? Can this person be my role model? And for those who want to take the position of leaders, do you have the qualities of being one? Can you make promises and fulfill them? Will you be able to take all the criticism and the negative things from people? Well if you think you can, then don’t hesitate and if you think you can’t, then don’t go up there and hurt innocent people in the end. And for the rest of you choose the person that can really lead, and not someone who doesn’t qualify at all, without wise leadership, a nation falls; with many counselors, there is safety. Therefore we also wish all citizens who were injured and or maimed during the unfortunate blasts a speedy recovery. 

By ROSE TURUKA                      KCHS 2011

NINI CHANZO CHA UBOVU WA ELIMU TANZANIA?

ELIMU NI HAKI YA MSINGI KWA WANAFUNZI WETU.

Jedwali hapo chini linaonyesha matokeo ya hivi karibuni ya kidato cha nne, matokeo haya yameleta simanzi kwa wananchi wengi ambao wameyaita ni janga la taifa letu kutokana na ukweli kuwa kiwango cha kufeli kimekuwa ni kikubwa mno katika matokeo haya ya kidato cha nne ya  mwaka 2010-2011;

Maswali mengi yameulizwa kwa nini taifa limefikia katika hali kama hii; je lawawama ziende kwa serikali kwa kushindwa kutoa kipaumbele katika mfumo mzima wa elimu ya watoto wetu? Au ni tatizo la wanafunzi wetu (watoto wetu) kuto kuwa makini katika masomo yao (lack of seriousness)? Lakini tatizo hasa nini wakati taifa linafahamu wazi kuwa ELIMU NI HAKI YA MSINGI?

DARAJA	WANAFUNZI
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Ni ukweli ambao haufichiki kuwa Tanzania haitaweza kuendelea na kustawi bila kuwa na elimu nzuri kwa watoto wetu ambao ndio msingi wa kesho wa mustakabli wa taifa letu. Hata kama tutakataa kwa msingi wowote ule ukweli utabaki pale pale kuwa  elimu yetu tukilinganisha na mifumo ya elimu ya nchi nyingine hasa zile ambazo zimeendelea na hata pengine zinazo endelea kama Tanzaania au zinazotuzunguku mfumo wetu wa elimu sio mzuri

Serikali inanadi vipi sera za elimu bora?

Serikali inatueleza kuwa katika miaka 49 ya uhuru imefanikiwa kupanua fursa za watoto na vijana wetu wengi sana kupata elimu ya awali, msingi, sekondari, ufundi na elimu ya juu.

  

Na kwa kutambua mafanikio haya yote  serikali bado inaendelea kutoa kipaumbele cha kwanza kwa bajeti ya elimu ili iweze kuajiri walimu wengi zaidi, kuongeza vitabu na vifaa vya kujifunzia na kufundishia. 

kuongeza matumizi ya teknohama katika utoaji wa mafunzo pamoja na kujenga uwezo wa wanafunzi na waalimu kiteknolojia ili kwenda sambamba na karne hii ya utandawazi.  

Aidha, inaendelea na mpango wake wa kujenga maabara za sayansi katika sekondari zetu zote. 

Serikali imesisitiza adhima ya kuchuakua hatua thabiti za kuboresha maslahi na mazingira ya kufanyia kazi ya walimu na watumishi wa sekta ya elimu.  

Serikali imekusudia kutenga pesa za kutosha katika kufikia malengo haya.

Tatizo liko wapi?

·        Msongamano wa wanafunzi katika shule zetu ambao hauendani na bajeti inayotolewa, vifaa vya kufundishia; vyumba vya kusomea ambavyo vitaweza kuwagawanya wanafunzi katika idadi ambayo ni rahisi kufundishika na kuelewa na kusaidiwa; Hivyo hushusha kiwango bora cha elimu;    

·        Ubovu wa huduma za jamii kama barabara, hospitali, maji safi na salama; ukosefu wa mishahara mizuri ya kuwamotivate walimu zaidi  kuingia katika taaluma hii; ni kweli kuwa  elimu ni silaha pekee ambayo inaweza kutusaidia kubadilisha dunia na maisha yetu, kwa msingi huu wale ambao wana elimu  sio tu elimu bali elimu bora  wananafasi kubwa ya kufanikiwa;

Je sisi tunataka nini?

Taifa linahitaji utekelezwaji wa haki hii ya msingi kwa vijama wetu yaani:

Elimu bora ambayo inatokana na walimu bora ambao wameshiba na wameridhika ma maisha yao kwa kupata haki zote wanazostahili kupata na wanawajibika kwa moyo bila mashaka

Mitaara ya elimu itayarishwe iendane na masomo yanayolingana na hali halisi ya maendeleo ya dunia ya sasa pamoja na masomo ambayo yanawavutia wanafunzi kujitafutia zaidi jitihada za kusoma?

Sababu nyingine zinazowafanya watoto wetu wasifanye vizuri shuleni ni pamoja na wanafunzi kuchukia shule kutokana na sababu za kitaaluma na kimazingira, shule zetu nyingi zina kosa vifaa muhimu ya kufundishia na kujifunza shule kama inakosa vitabu vya kiaada vifaa vya mahabara je unategeme kuwa kutakuwa na ubora wa elimu hapo? Mimi nasema hapana na tusitegemee miujiza kutoka katika shule zetu za serikali ambazo watoto wetu wengi ndiko wanakosoma.

Pale tutakapo amua kuacha maneno na kuanza kutekeleza maneno yetu kwa vitendo ndipo tutegemee kuona: watoto wetu wakifikia malengo yao ya elimu kupitia elimu bora na kufanikiwa kuondoa umasikini kwa kiwango kikubwa sana.

Pengine kwa akili tu ya kawaida tunaweza kusema kuwa serikali yetu inahusika katika kuharibu mfumo mzima wa elimu, kwa nini nasema hivi kwa msingi huu mmoja mkubwa elimu inapasa iwaguse na kuwahusu moja kwa moja watoto wetu; mahitaji yao yanatakiwa yatiliwe mkazo kwanza kabla ya mambo mengi ya serikali,

Inatakiwa mtoto wa kitanzania kwenda katika shule nzuri inatakiwa iwe ni haki yake ya kikatiba, watoto wafundishwe na walimu ambao ni wazuri ambao wanapokea mishahara mizuri na wanavifaa vizuri vya kufundishia

KWA NINI SHULE BINAFSI ZINAFANYA VIZURI?

Nini kinatokea katika shule za binafsi wana walimu wazuri ambao wanlipwa vizuri na wanavifaa vya kutosha sasa nini tutegemee kutoka kwao ni daraja la kwanza na watoto wakifeli ni daraja la pili;    

Wazazi nao wanamchanga mzuri sana  katika maendeleo ya watoto wao, wazazi wahusishwe katika maswala ya watoto wao mzazi ajue ratiba ya maendeleo ya motto wake na ahusike katika maisha ya kawaida ya watoto wao; tukifanikiwa kufanya kama wenzetu wan chi zilizoendelea tutasonga mbele, ni kitu kizuri kuona wazazi wakishiriki moja kwa moja katika maisha ya kawaida ya watoto wao na motto sipomwona mzazi wake katika maswala mbalimbali ya shule anasikitika na mzazi nina muuma pia.

Shule zetu zisijikite sana katika maandalizi ya mitihani tu zijikite vile vile katika kuwasaidia watoto wetu katika kujiandaa na maisha yao.

JE WANAFUNZI WANAOSOMA SHULE ZA KATA WANA HAKI SAWA NA WALE WA MIJINI? JE TUNAJADILI PIA MATOKEO YA SHULE ZA KATA/VIJIJINI?

Je shule zetu za vijijini zinafikiwa vipi katika maendeleo ya elimu?

Tunafahamu kuwa wazazi wetu wengi ambao wako vijijini hawawezi kuwasaidia watoto wao kwa vile hata wenyewe wahajeelimika vyakutosha na hata wakati mwingine wanaona aibu kujadili mambo ya shule kwa vile hawajui;

Matokeo yake wanafunzi wengi wanajikuta wakishiriki zaidi katika shughuli za kilimo ( Elimu ya Kujitegemea na kuwafanyia walimu wao kazi majumbani);

NINI KINAWAFUKUZA WALIMU WAZURI KAMA WAKO KATIKA SHULE ZA KATA/VIJIJI?

Kutokana ubovu na huduma duni za jamii si rahisi kuwapata walimu bora kwenda kufundisha vijijini wengi watapendelea kubaki mijini;

Hata serikali inajikuta katika wakati mgumu wa kupeleka huduma kama vitabu, nafasi nyingi ambazo zimezcha wazi kutojaza mara moja, hata pale zinapojazwa zinakuwa na walimu ambao sio wazoefu na wazuri kitaaluma.

Ni mara nyingi sana walimu ambao wanfundisha katika shule za vijijini wanaweza wakawa wanafundisha muda mfupi ukilinganisha na wenzao wa mijini kutoka na sababu kama vile wanatakiwa kutembea umbali mkubwa kwa ajili ya kwenda kutibiwa, kuchukua mishahara, kwa ajili pengine ya kwenda kwa ajili ya mafunzo ya  au kutembelea familia zao;

Wlimu wengi wanakuwa hawana nyumba za karibu na shule pengine na wakati mwingine inawapasa kutembea kwa miguu umbali mkubwa kwenda kufundisha asubuhi hali hii inaweza kusababisha kuanza vipindi kwa kuchelewa;

Swala la ukaguzi na utendaji wa walimu ni tatizo pia kutoka na tatizo sugu la usafiri hata wakaguzi hawatembelei shule hizo kuona maendeleo yake mara kwa mara;

HITIMISHO

Lazima tukubali kuwa kuwa na walimu bora ambao wanavifaa vinavyotakiwa kwa ajili ya elimu bora huleta tofauti kubwa sana kwa wanafunzi wetu na sifa kubwa kwa taifa letu; taifa lisipokuwa tayari kubadilika tutaendelea kunyosheana vidole kuhusu matokeo ya wanafunzi wetu kila mwaka kama jedwali la hapo chini linavyoonyesha, kwa ujumla ni aibu kubwa kuona watoto wetu wanafeli kwa kiasi kikubwa namna hii, na kubaliana na wengi ambao wamediriki kusema kuwa hili ni janga la kitaifa ni vyema kama tulitafutia ufumbuzi wa haraka; washauri wa serika li yetu mnashauri nini?

Na lazima tukubali kuwa elimu bora kuanzia chekechea mpaka chuo kikuu ni haki ya kila mwanafunzi katika jamii hii ya kitanzania; viongozi wetu wanapaswa kulijua hilo na kulielewa hilo na kulitekeleza kwa moyo woto na kwa faida ya wote;

Swali la kujiuliza ni hili pamoja na faidia zote zitokanzao na elimu, kwa nini serikali yetu bado haioni faida ya kuwekeza zaidi katika elimu? “Imesahau kuwa Elimu ni mtaji wa msingi kwa jamii?” Je serikali inaogopa kuwekeza kwenye elimu kwa sababu ya ushindani kutoka kwa wananchi katika kuwaongoza? Ni ukweli kuwa jamii ikiwezesha kwa elimu bora matokeo yake ni kuwa hawatakuwa tayari kukubali kuburuzwa na kudanganywa danganya pengine na sera ambazo hazieleweki;

Emmanuel A Turuka

Kzoo MI

TAFAKARI YA MIAKA 49 YA UHURU KATIKA PICHA

Je tunapata tafakari gani kutokana na picha hizi hapa juu? nini tunaweza kujifunza mwenendo wa taif aletu tuko wapi na tunatoka wapi na tunaelekea wapi? je nini kifanyike katika kuleta hali tofauti kutokana na picha hizi kwa taifa letu?

Nyerere on Peace

Violence is unnecessary and costly.

 Peace is the only way.

Julius K. Nyerere 

VIONGOZI WETU WANA SIFA HIZI?

SWALI AMBALO MIMI NAJIULIZA NI HILI:

• VIONGOZI WETU WAKUU WA NCHI NA VYAMA VYA SIASA WANATAKIWA WAWE NI WATU WA NAMNA GANI?

Nionavyo mimi kiongozi ni mtu yeyote ambaye anasifa za kuongoza, kusaidia, kupuuza mambo yasiyo na msingi na kuwasaidia wananchi walio mchagua yeye kuwa kiongozi; Je sasa viongozi wetu amabo tumewapa dhamana ya kuongoza nchi na vyama vyao vya siasa waweje?

Nafikiri wakiwa na sifa hizi watavisaidia sana  vyama vyao na wale wanaoongoza nchi wataharakisha kuwaletea maendeleao, amani na utulivu wananchi wao;

·       Awe ni mtu mzuri wa mfano wa kuigwa kiutendaji na kwa maisha yake katika matendo yake binafsi; Awe ni mtu wa mifano mizuri kwa kila mtu

·       Awe ni mtu ambaye anaweza kutofautisha kati ya baya na njema na yeye anafanya mambo ambayo ni mazuri kulingana na taratibu za nchi na kulingana na imani yake na namna anavyomwogopa Mungu wake.

·       Awe ni mtu ambaye ataifanya  nchi anayoiongoza na chama chake kuwa kimbilio la wanyonge wanaodhulumiwa haki zao;

·       Awe anaishi kwa misingi ya maadili yafuatayo;

1. “Trustworthiness” inayojumisha ; integrity – kuwa na msimamo kuhusu kile ambacho anatakiwa kusimamia hata kama hakitawafurahisha wengine hata kama wanatoka ndani ya chama au serikali anayoingoza, kwa kufanya hivyo utakijengea sifa chama chake na serikali anayoiongoza.

2. Awe mwaminifu (honesty) msema kweli na kuwa mwaminifu na sio kiongozi ambaye anaropoka ropoka kwa faida ya wachache, ndani ya serikali na chama chake matokeo yake atakuwa anakimaliza chama chake kwa kujenga hatari ya kukigawa chama chake.

3. Awe “Reliable na Responsible”  katika matendo na kufanya kile ambacho anatakiwa kufanya kulingana na kanuni zilizokuweka katika nafasi aliyonayo na sio kufanya kwa kumfurahisha mtu au kikundi cha watu wachache.

4. Respect  awe anaishi kwa misingi ya sheria ya Dhahabu “ mfanyie mwenzako vile ambavyo wewe unataka kufanyiwa” awe mtu anayeheshimu watu lakini asiwe Yule ambaye anabadilika badilika kama kinyonga;

5. Awe Mvumilivu na anayekubali ukweli na  sio mwepesi wa kuhukumu matendo ya wengine bila kuyapima kwanza, awe mwenye heshima na msikifu kwa hoja za wengine na yuko tayari kujadiliana ili kuondoa tofauti miongoni mwao.

6.Awe ni kiongozi ambaye anahubiri amani kwa vitendo/matendo (nonviolence) kwa kuondoa hoja zilizojaa vitisho na matusi na anayeweza kumaliza hasira zitokanazo na utashi wa kisiasa kwa amani na sio kwa nguvu na ushawishi wa kuvurugu amani ambayo iko;

7. “Courtesy”  mwenye hekima, sio mropokaji, mtusi, awe mpole kulingana na sheria(haki) yaani myenyekevu na sio mtumwa wa mawazo ya  wengine awe na msimamo binafsi ambao unamlinda kisheria na kimaadili ya uongozi  kulingana na nafasi ambayo anayo;

8. Awe tayari kuwajibika (accountability) anayekubali kuwajibika kwa utendaji wake mzuri au utendaji wake mbaya; asiwe mtu wa kushinikizwa kukubali jambo lolote;

9. “Self control” awe ni kiongozi ambaye anaweza kutawala hisia zake na maisha yake ambaye ananidhamu ya uwajinikaji; anayejua mipaka yake ya utendaji wa kazi na daima kwa kiasi kikubwa anaweza kufanya maamuzi yeye mwenyewe ambayo yakakubalika na wengi na sio kutegemea mtu au kikundi Fulani.

Kwa kifupi kiongozi tunayemtaka "tunaomba" awe, mwadilifu,  ambaye anayoyasema ndio anayotenda, na ni mpatanishi; kwa maneno mengine awe KIONGOZI ambaye hapendezwi na  rushwa  "Fisadi"; anayeweza kubadili mwelekeo wa kiuchumi kuwa endelevu kwa manufaa ya wote ( taifa) na sio kikundi kidogo cha watu.

THE LEGACY OF Martin Luther King, Jr; WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Today January 21 2013 we remember world peace maker Martin Luther King, Jr; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) was a principal leader of the non-violent Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. He not only began the Civil Rights Movement with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, he himself became an icon for the entire movement. Since King was, in part, famous for his oratory abilities;

Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that "all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That is, Jefferson declared that all citizens have the rights to be free from oppression and have equal opportunities in pursuing their goals. These ideals have been called the American Dream.

Between 1955 and 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. helped change America. He brought to the world's attention how unfairly blacks were treated. He had the help of millions of Americans, but his strong leadership and unprecedented power of speech gave people the faith and courage to keep working peacefully even when others did not. This led to new laws that ended the practice of keeping people of different backgrounds apart, making life fair for everyone.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.

Why Martin Luther King is honored throughout the world especially in America?

• He brought to the world's attention how unfairly blacks were treated. He had the help of millions of Americans, but his strong leadership and unprecedented power of speech gave people the faith and courage to keep working peacefully even when others did not. This led to new laws that ended the practice of keeping people of different backgrounds apart, making life fairer for everyone.

• He was a person who believed in peace and justice, to win more freedom for black Americans Martin Luther King, Jr. was that man.

• He believed that darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

• He was taught that one day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. 

What a legacy to other nations

• What we learn from him for our nation Tanzania is that happiness in life, as many a disaster, can be due to chance, but the peace within us can never be governed by chance. Peace must be cultivated, protected and honored. It is due to top leaders to make sure that citizens enjoy this peace according to rules as established in the Constitution;

• If our leaders will do that always God blesses the peacemakers for bringing joyful environment; they will make people to live in harmony with one another.

• Martin Luther King Jr legacy is for leaders to be honest in their t responsibilities,  hey need to remember that they have been honored by citizens to bring peace to the nation, 

• Leaders they are required to come up with policies and rules which promotes peace and not promoting killings or riots which at the ends destroy the peaceful atmosphere of a given nation;

Famous quotations from Martin Luther King

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," 16 April 1963

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
-- Speech in St. Louis, Missouri, March 22, 1964

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. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.
-- Strength to Love (1963)

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
-- "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963

Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
-- Strength to Love (1963)

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land . . . So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man.
-- "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, April 3, 1968 (the day before his assassination)

If a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live.
-- Speech in Detroit, Michigan on June 23, 1963

The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
-- Strength to Love (1963), Ch. 7

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

I have a dream that 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" speech, August 28, 1963

I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty by staying in jail in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the very highest respect for the law.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.
-- Quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 13, 1962

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan.
-- Strength to Love (1963)

We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.
-- Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, December 10, 1964

Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

We were here before the mighty words of the Declaration of Independence were etched across the pages of history. Our forebears labored without wages. They made cotton 'king'. And yet out of a bottomless vitality, they continued to thrive and develop. If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. . . . Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho' we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny.
-- "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963

Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.
-- "Where do we go from here?" speech, August 16, 1967

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."
-- "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963

Martin Luther King, Jr legacy was promoting peace and equal rights and opportunities to all despite our differences;