Dreams To Remember

Who says they don't like Mondays? I'm certainly looking forward to tomorrow! 

First off, it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time to honor the memory of the influential civil rights leader. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his historic "I have a dream" speech, and in a world torn by violence and strife, the words continue to find relevance:

"In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."

A-ha performing at the Nobel Peace Concert, December 11, 1998,
Oslo, Norway. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Listening to the speech again, I'm struck by its power and poetry. How pleased would Dr. King be to know that this year, on the holiday celebrating his birth, we would also be ushering in the second term of President Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States? Progress may be painfully slow coming at times, but it's nice to have such moments to offer perspective.

Continuing on the theme of achievements, I will be returning to the radio airwaves tomorrow night starting at 6 p.m. ET to host a two-hour retrospective of the musical career of the band A-ha. Airing on Albany, New York radio station WEXT, Chrysalis Dreams: 30 Years of A-ha looks at three talented musicians from Norway, who grew up during a time when the small Scandinavian country basically discouraged its artists from thinking they could make it abroad. Moving to London in 1983, A-ha would go on to top the worldwide charts, sell over 35 million albums, and achieve numerous world records and awards, including a knighthood late last year in Norway! The band certainly was pivotal during my transition from childhood to adulthood... you could say I had a chrysalis dream! I truly look forward to catching listeners up on their fascinating musical career:



And yet for all the achievements, the struggle continues for us... whether it be for personal freedoms, artistic expression, or making your own way in life. Thank God we have no shortage of inspired leaders and artists to remind us of what is possible.

Related Links:

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change 

"Inside Obama's Presidency," Frontline, PBS

Chrysalis Dreams: 30 Years of A-ha, Exit 97.7 WEXT

"Obama sworn in to second term, faces new challenges," CNN, January 20, 2013

Poetic License Festival, featuring "Obamatry"