A Dream and its Influence

During August of 1963, I was enjoying the summer before my senior year of high school. Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech that month at the March on Washington. It was responsible for my becoming aware of the fact that I had grown up in an "all white community." For most of my life I had had the feeling of being different, but, three years earlier, I had found out that I was Jewish. My parents had hid this fact in order to blend in. Why, we even had Christmas lights on our house every year.

The above incidents were strong forces in building a desire to explore both spiritual and political issues. My parents had taught me that the three things one should never discuss were: POLITICS, RELIGION & OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN. I was now disregarding the first two items in this advice.

After my senior year, I went to a local community college and became more and more involved in the political realm. With the draft registration, I became aware of the "Police Action in Viet Nam." I began to protest not only of Viet Nam, but the racial conditions that existed in this country. It was not until college that I made my first black friend. It was also at this point in time that I came in contact with various religious and spiritual points of view. These helped to develop my growing awareness of the racial issues.

My disgust for prejudice continued to grow during my time in the Army. I met people that would not accept a blood transfusion from any but a white person, even if the alternative to this was death. My circle of friends from diverse backgrounds and races grew, and so did my awareness of the spiritual, political and social implications of discrimination. This awareness has continued to expand.

One dramatic change was moving from California to Georgia. I came face to face with many preconceived notions that I had held for many years. My vision of the South was formed by the movie "Easy Rider." The reality was quite a bit different. It was in Georgia that I began to learn of The Baha'i Faith. My girl friend, latter to become my wife, was a Baha'i. After over a year of study and, more importantly, personal interaction, I became a member of the Baha'i Community. I have now been a member for over 20 years and have come to believe that the solution to the racial issue is a spiritual solution, not a political one. Yes, changing laws will help, but, I truly believe that it is only through the change of one's heart that will allow prejudice to disolve and a true understanding of Dr. Kings words,

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