Monday, November 7, 2011

I Have a Dream

Post your "I Have a Dream" speeches here.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I Have a Dream
Hailey Estes

I have a dream that one day people with disabilities will not be judged for how they may appear or act. That people will realize that people with disabilities can’t help what they do. Some people look down on disabled people like they are “weird” or can’t do anything. I have a cousin in 6th grade who has cerebral palsy. That means when she was born, she was very sick, causing her to have brain damage. Now she isn’t able to walk or function as well as most people, but that doesn’t stop her from having many great talents. She sings for the public at some events and has a crazy sense of humor. When I was in fifth grade, a man named Jeffrey used to come in every few weeks to visit our class. He came from the UDS Center in Lyme, which is where disabled people can go if they have no where to live. Jeffrey had been living at UDS his whole life because his mother didn’t want him since he was disabled. Jeffrey can’t talk, walk, or communicate well, but he could understand us and laugh. No one was ever disappointed to see Jeffrey. The meaning of the term “mentally retarded” has hit new limits where it is now an offensive slang. I saw a person walking by me one time waving there arms funny and to their friend saying, “look at me, I’m retarded”. Or when people see something they don’t like or think is stupid they may call that retarded. I don’t think that people may understand what they are saying, or who it may be hurting when use the term “retard” in the offensive form. I just hope that people one day do see that people with disabilities can do much, much more that what they are taken for.

Anonymous said...

I have a dream that one day every child will have a meal. Statistics say that, “One in twelve people worldwide are malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5,” and that, “Every year 15 million children die of hunger.” No child should have to feel the pain of hunger or the sickness caused by it. Food is something that we take for granted everyday and we can’t imagine the suffering that hunger would bring to us.
No one should go through the things that William Kamkwamba did. While reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind I winced when hearing about the slow deterioration of people’s health, and the desperate measures that people would go to get something somewhat edible in their stomachs. William and his friend ate animal skin because nothing else could be found. Hunger not only leads to hopeless actions but also leads to horrific things like stunted growth, a greater risk of catching a disease, and more crime. The fact that there is enough food to feed every person everyday is a sad statement. The amount of grain produced today is enough to provide each person with two loaves of bread each day. The problem lies in distribution. Some places are getting way too much food leaving others with none causing hunger.
The world also doesn’t have its priorities straight. For the price of one missile a school full of hungry children could eat for five years. Why are some nations buying missiles that cost 569,000 dollars instead of feeding hungry people all over the world? Does this really make sense? We are launching missiles worth thousands of dollars that kill many people and at the same time not using the money to feed people. All in all starvation is an issue that needs to be addressed. This issue can be addressed with proper distribution of food, governments spending their money well and educating people to grow their own crops.

Des Martin said...

I have a dream that people will start using the resources of this town to their full, positive advantage. Two months and sixteen years ago, I was brought into this world. At the time, I did not know how privileged I really was– let alone the fact that I would continue to be that way presently. I thank my rough struggle from prepubescence to adolescence for my personality today. The main reason as to why I experienced such difficult times as a young child was that I was the one making things difficult for myself. I was the one who was being a drag. However, I had not truly realized those statements until after I had committed unjust acts incessantly for the time that I'd been alive; I was roughly 15 years old when that concept hit me, just as a massive sledgehammer would hit an old, rusty railroad spike. After realizing how awful I'd been to so many people in my life (including myself), I made several obvious conclusions based on my life's situation.
As an upper-middle class caucasian living in one of the most educated, resourceful, democratic, and opportunity-based towns in the United States of America, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I have stressful moments in my life because I am human, but my situation is excessively better than many other peoples' in this world. I sometimes complain, but I really shouldn't be doing so. In Hanover, New Hampshire, most of us are to be considered part of the "one percent", so the best I can do is not take that for granted and just be a nice person as much as possible.

Max said...

Max Schwarz
Ms. Piro
11/7/11

I Have A Dream


I have a dream that I will be happy and successful in the future. I hope that I will be able to grow up feeling content and safe. I hope that I will be able to go through life without having to fear for my security. I hope that I will be able to retire in peace and serenity. I hope that I will die from old age and not from disease or mishap.
I have a dream that my family will be a happy family, filled with love and joy. I have a dream that my children will be healthy, safe, and happy. I have a dream that we will live a long life together and share many fond moments together. I have a dream that I will have a house that can hold my family for however long we need it to. I hope that this house will be a house that my children and my wife will be able to feel safe in. I hope that I will be able to come home and see my welcoming house, and be proud and satisfied. I hope that this house will be able to successfully raise my children along side their parents.
I have a dream that I will grow up as a man. I hope that I will be able to get through my schools with good grades and graduate proudly. I have a dream that I will find something I love to do and be able to pursue it. I hope that this job will bring sufficient money in order to keep my family going. I have a dream that I will be skilled at this job and make my boss proud. I hope that I will be able to look back at my job once I’m retired and be able to smile.
I have a dream that I will live a full life. I hope that I won’t pass away from disease or an accident. I hope that I will be able to life to ninety or higher. I hope that I will be able to fulfill my time here and then go peacefully. I hope that this will also be the case with the rest of my family.

Eileen said...

I have a dream that someday people will give life the value and importance it deserves. I have a dream that people won’t kill others to increase their power and that the life of others is more valuable to them. People ofter get caught up in their own ambitions and all they can think about is power and what they will be able to do with it. They forget to consider what the effect of killing a person has but it devastates families and sometimes communities. Gaddafi was so paranoid about losing his power that he shot and killed many of his own people. Power should never be a priority. I have a dream that lives won’t be wasted at the hands of the power-hungry.
I have a dream that all lives are valued equally and that race, religion and gender don’t have any influence on it. I have a dream that no one will have to suffer through another genocide because one group of people believes that they are superior and have the right to take someone’s live because of it. The Holocaust left lasting effects on the world, but people are still suffering and dying because of less extreme but similar situations.
I have a dream that the people who are in positions of great power never abuse it. They have the ability to influence others in any way and I hope they choose to use their power to help others and impact others positively. People have put their trust in these leaders and expect them to do what truly benefits them. Using power for personal gain rather that fulfilling their duty to the people will make the people who trust them suffer. Betraying the people’s trust and abusing their power may lead to short term gains but it will only cause problems. They have a responsibility and an obligation to stay true to their promises.

Araya Lacy said...

I have a dream to make the world a better place.
I have a dream, where one day, all people will get along. All wars, fighting, and acts of terrorism will end. People won’t commit crimes. People will not steal from or hurt others. Our world will be a safer place.
I have a dream where all people will have roofs over their heads and food on their plates. No one will every go hungry and everyone will have a place to sleep.
I have a dream that we will find cures for all diseases. Diseases, such as cancer, will no longer claim people’s lives. Everyone will be forever healthy and live full life.
I have a dream that all people will be treated equally and fairly. There will be no more racism or prejudices. All people will have equal opportunities, no matter the country in which they live.
I have a dream that one day, every child born on this earth will know they can achieve whatever their talents and hard work allow them to achieve, without being locked into the economic circumstances and social class of their parents.
I have a dream to make people smile, laugh, and live happy lives.

Anonymous said...

Aditya Natarajan
Piro
November 3, 2011
“I Have a Dream”
I have a dream that one day this great nation of ours will be able to live up to its full potential, climb out of the relentless quicksand of debt, and reclaim the title of “the most powerful nation in the world”. But just that won’t satisfy me. Like many things in the world, these wishes only depend on money and brainpower. In America, we have abundant resources and some of the brightest minds in the world; thus, I have no doubt that we will come out of this economic slump. But a timeless and ubiquitous issue still remains: prejudice.

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered an incredibly moving and inspiring speech at our nation’s capitol in front an enormous crowd of men and women of all different ethnicities. Dr. King addressed segregation and prejudice in America primarily towards to the African American population, but towards all other creeds as well. This speech played a huge role in the eradication of segregation in America, and we cannot deny that it certainly decreased racist views throughout the country. Unfortunately, I cannot say that prejudice is a thing of the past in America. And as racism towards blacks has lessened, prejudice towards gays, lesbians, and transgender has only risen.

I have a dream that the word “gay” will one day reclaim its meanings of “happy” or “joyous”, and break free of its present day connotations of “stupid” or “dumb”. This is one topic that Dr. King neglected to mention in his speech, but how could he? People of varied sexual orientations were very rare back then. As racism slowly started to decrease, they decided to come out of the closet, in hopes that they too will now be accepted by society. But they were not greeted with open arms, but by a cold shoulder and a barrage of insults and slurs. Since then, many people have become more accepting of them and many states have even legalized gay marriage. But only a handful of states are not enough. I have a dream that all states will legalize gay marriage and no race or sexual orientation will be discriminated against.

Anonymous said...

Ethan Shipulski
Ms. Piro
Period 5
11/5/11
I Have a Dream

I have a dream. This dream may seem far off to some, but it can be very easily accomplished. My dream is about resources, specifically one resource that we can stop using. Most of the people in the world uses this resource. As the population grows, so does the need for it. Here’s the catch: the amount of it the world has for the taking does not increase with the population. No, in fact, it starts decreasing at an even faster rate. Although we need to take great measures to stop using certain resources such as water and metal, the resource we have the power to completely stop using is a compound we’re all familiar with — Petroleum. Petroleum is used in all sorts of things, such as antiseptics and epoxies, but most heavily in gasoline and plastic. Gasoline prices are on the rise and more and more people are consuming gasoline each day. If we keep this up, our carbon footprint will grow immensely, and we will eventually run out anyway.
I have a dream that people of America will realize that the money they are missing out of their pocket because of gasoline is a wake up call. I have a dream that people will realize that we have a giant ball of pure nuclear fusion energy above our heads for 8-14 hours a day just waiting for its energy to be harnessed instead of spending the excess money needed to refine and distribute gasoline. We have the technology to put my dream in action. We have solar panels, high capacity batteries, and high-efficiency electric motors. If everyone had initiative and a can-do attitude, this would happen.
I have a dream that all the energy in our entire power grid will be energy obtained from the sun. I have a dream that all the energy we use for our to-be electric cars can be taken from the power grid, and whatever we don’t use will be given back. Creating a nearly self-sufficient power grid can solve our energy crisis. I see the solution to this problem lying right above our heads, and it’s been there all along.

Anonymous said...

I have a dream. I have a dream that one day, people will care. I hope eyes are opened to struggles we are facing, and that those problems will be addressed, I have a dream that our society will learn how to forgive and how to understand. Our hearts must influence the direction of our words and actions. Our children must be taught not by opinion, but fact.
I have a dream that I will stand on solid ground in a proud country, That I will know my children are safe when they leave my side. That my daughter will be seen in the same light as my son.

I have a dream for my children, for their future and well being. As much as they deserve their right, so does their mother. That is why I must make my dreams come true. We, as a country must take out ideas and hopes for the future and turn them into present day accomplishments. We must take them off paper and shove them in the face of those who remain doubtful.
I have a dream of glaciers and an over population of Polar bears. In my dream, pollution is something of the past. Our cars are running on water and city sidewalks are replaced with green gardens. I have a dream that those cars will be constructed of one hundred percent recycled material. I see a clean planet in my dream. I see a planet in which new life is given a healthy habitat. We cannot ignore what we cannot see.
I have a dream that we will adopt methods of our past. We will learn how to live a life of simplicity. Our addiction to the words “new” and “modern” will fade. Our advances in technology is what is killing us.
I have a dream that our troops will march only in our fifty states. They will not be familiar with warfare, but with protection. The United States will be known only as a role model. I have a dream that the money we spend overseas will be converted to bills that will lend a helping hand to those in need.
I have a dream that prison cells will be empty. That the need to cause violence will vanish, and criminals will find a new way to speak out. Those words of disagreement will be heard and acted upon, in hope to equalize rights in our society.

In the my dream I see light in a new form. I see light in an alternative form that does not harm our planet. I have a dream that we will discover an everlasting energy method. The life we were given should be appreciated, not abused. I dream for thriving centuries ahead.

Anonymous said...

I have a dream that the ease of finding a job will once again return to our nation, that people around the world will see this nation as a sanctuary for the unfortunate, a place to recuperate and then move forward.
I have a dream that leaders chosen by the people will take actions that are truly right for the country, that they will decide based upon their people's choices rather than basing it upon their political party. Campaigning should be filled with truths and support instead of lies and the impossible.
I have a dream that the nation's people will be compassionate and understand many of America's situations, that they will understand how hard the government is working to stabilize the economic hardships we have encountered, how hard scientists around the world are doing all they can to help renewable resources be more accessible, how hard the soldiers of America are fighting to keep the United States safe and defending others for their safety.
I have a dream, that one day, people of different languages will be able to work and cooperate without doubt, lies, secrets, or manipulations, that everyone will care and understand each others' feelings, that trouble and miscommunication will be wiped away from the face of our planet.