The Dreams I Have

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and indeed every day of the year, we should reflect on our progress and lack thereof with regard to human rights. How can we improve, and what can we as individuals do to bring about these improvements?

King had a dream. We should all have a dream. In fact, we should all dream big. So what follows are some of my dreams for humanity.

• One man, one vote. No more of this outdated electoral college foolishness. And each person should be able to vote on each issue and feel confident that each vote will hold equal weight.
• No more gerrymandered districts. Enough, already. Each voting district should only be allowed to have a maximum of four angles. If you can’t figure it out in the shape of a rectangle, a square, a triangle or a circle, then you are just being manipulative to a criminal degree.
• An end to human trafficking.
• Free education for all.
• Free access to information for all.
• Universal health care.
• That the world finally accepts the overwhelming science of Global Climate Change and actually does something about it.
• That all cars manufactured from now on must be hybrids.
• Tax breaks for everyone who offsets their carbon footprint.
• A ban on all automatic weapons, and strict tracking of all ammunition.
• Unions should be encouraged, not demonized.
• The scientific method should be stressed, comprehended, and taken seriously.
• Children should be strongly encouraged to read more and play more and exercise more.
• Clearly label all genetically modified foods.
• Tax tobacco growers out of existence.
• A dramatic increase in public transportation.
• A part of every primary school education should include an element of giving back to the community. Children should learn to clean up their own playgrounds.
• Television, movies and advertising should depict people with normal sized bodies.
• There are enough humans on the planet. Give tax breaks and incentives to people who choose not to have children, instead of to those who have them.
• Every adult should be allowed to marry whomever they choose, but the marriage process should be harder and divorce should be easier.
• No more lobbyists.
• A cap on campaign spending.
• A ban on pharmaceutical advertising.
• Reduce product packaging by 75 percent, do away with junk mail, and make recycling mandatory.
• Equal pay for equal work.
• More mental health facilities, fewer prisons.
• Stricter penalties for polluters.
• All students should have the opportunity to study abroad. Being immersed in another culture increases awareness and reduces fear.
• Ban animal testing of cosmetics.

How could all these things be achieved? I haven’t a clue. That’s the nice thing about dreams. They don’t have to be realistic they just have to be idealistic. If your imagination can’t roam free, you can’t ever expect to be free.

Happy MLK Day. Dream big today and every day.

[Image credit: louisalloro.com]

Author: The View from a Drawbridge

I have been a bridgetender since 2001, and gives me plenty of time to think and observe the world. View all posts by The View from a Drawbridge