In Remembrance

I suppose every new reader is entitled to a brief biography of the person they are reading, so here it goes. My name is Tess Burns, I live in Indianapolis, a town no one considers as that politically active. Lately it’s been getting a lot of press due to Andre Carson, grandson of Julia Carson running for congress and the Democratic candidates speaking all around our state. Even before this however, Indiana was just as active as any other state even if it did it quietly, unlike our neighbors in Chicago. Other than that, I am 17 years old and hating the fact that I cannot vote in what to me seems like is the most important election since the Kennedy’s (yes, both) have ran. But I refuse to let that keep me grounded. I’m as active as it gets, I’m out campaigning for local politics and trying my hand at the presidential election, but also having fun at polling places. So besides all of that which I hope enlightens you, I am on to talk about more important things.

Firstly, the hopes and future of this blog. I started this out to try and get my opinions out there to as many people who want to read them, and I want to hear back from the people regarding everything. I want people to understand and realize that our nation’s politics, messed up or not are important. That voting is important whether your candidate loses or wins you still can say you tried. Sometimes posts will be directed towards Indiana politics and then again towards more international items. But it will always be updated when something happens. Let’s get on with the post then shall we?

Tonight, or since this is late.. last night, I was attending a speech that was in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr but also Robert Kennedy and it enlightened me on all levels. Speakers of the evening included Maxwell Kennedy, son of Robert, Ethel Kennedy his wife, Andre Carson, and many others. They talked about that tragic night on April 4, 1968 40 years ago, when King died and Kennedy, who was in Indiana was the one to announce it to all the people who awaited him on 17th and Broadway. Robert stood up on that truck bed knowing that there could be violence, knowing people had come armed and full of hatred and said his speech with nothing but sadness and courage in his voice.

“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.”

Then, he told them to return home and say a prayer for the King family and for the nation..and they did. No violence happened. Had Robert not been there to calm them down, Indianapolis would have been one more on the list of cities who had rioted

Questions were asked throughout the night from both the speakers and from a movie called Ripple of Hope which was in memoriam of these two wise men but the question that stood out the most was “What might have happened?” Robert was shot shortly after King, two bright lights of hope were gone just as soon as they had been able to shine. If they were to look back on our country now what do you think they would see? Racism still existing but the sense of division between races physically not there. Would they be proud though? That’s the true question. Kennedy was told not to make his speech but he did it anyway, he knew they wanted the truth especially from him being a close friend of King and a respected man. There stands a statue now on the very place that Kennedy stood always honoring both these men. We must not forget our past, and heroes like these because if we do nothing can move forward.

Not only Indiana remembered these two, it wasn’t just local but all the Presidential candidates stopped for a moment in their campaigning to honor what could have been. Barack Obama was in Fort Wayne, Hilary Clinton and John McCain were in Memphis, but it wouldn’t have mattered where they were it matters that they realized what everyone should realize and not to forget the greatness of these men, of their dreams that have now become realities.

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8117203

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8121178

Tags: martin luther king, politics, remembrance, robert kennedy