We need another Moon Shot this Juneteenth

On this day, Juneteenth we need to commit to another Moon Shot… dedicating ourselves and our country to ending what we started in 1863; to end the institutionalization of racism. To repeal the laws, replace the policies, and end the enforcement of discrimination by this nation.

Remember Our Pledge

" We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. "

The Challenge

To paraphrase Kennedy’s challenge to us 50 years ago just last May: I believe this nation needs to commit itself to achieve the goal, before this decade is out, of ridding this country of the framework of discrimination--- No single Social Initiative will be more impressive to humankind, or more important for the longevity of this nation or any nation... and none will be so difficult, or expensive to accomplish.

If we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny, the dramatic gesture in favor of Human Rights which occurred in recent weeks should have made clear to us all, as Nazism of the 1940s, the impact of this adventure on the minds of all people everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take. We have examined where we are strong and where we are not, where we may succeed, and where we may not. Now it is time to take longer strides--time for a great new American enterprise--time for this nation to take a clearly leading role in Equality & Social Good, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.

I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the facts of the matter are that we have never made the national decisions or marshaled the national resources required for such leadership. We have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule or managed our resources and our time so as to ensure their fulfillment.

Recognizing the head start obtained by those who sow Hate and Discrimination, which gives them many centuries of lead-time, and recognizing the likelihood that they will exploit this lead for some time to come in still more entranced power, we nevertheless are required to make new efforts on our own. For while we cannot guarantee that we shall one day be first, we can guarantee that any failure to make this effort will make us last. We take an additional risk by making it in full view of the World, but as shown by leaders like Martian Luther King, this very risk enhances our stature when we are successful. But this is not merely a destination. The opportunity of Hope is open to us now; and our eagerness to share its meaning is not governed by the efforts of others. We go towards Equality because whatever humankind must undertake, free people must fully share.

It is the most important decision that we make as a nation.

We propose to create equality in the standard of living for ALL Americans, in healthcare, in education, and in the opportunity to, through their hard work and determination, the success, justice, and the blessing of liberty which is afforded us all.

If we are to go only halfway, or reduce our sights in the face of difficulty, in my judgment it would be better not to go at all.

Unless we are prepared to do the work and bear the burdens to make it successful. If we are not, we should decide today and this year. This decision demands a major national commitment of its people, its will and institutions, and the possibility of their diversion from other important activities where they are already thinly spread. It means a degree of dedication, organization, and discipline which have not always characterized our leadership and development efforts. It means we cannot afford undue work stoppages, inflated costs of material or talent, wasteful interagency rivalries, or a high turnover of key personnel.

New objectives and new money cannot solve these problems. They could in fact, aggravate them further--unless every man, every woman, every child, every leader, clergy, and civil servant gives their personal pledge to our Preamble, that this nation will move forward, with the full speed of freedom, in delivering our promise.

To acknowledge the foundation of this country is built on the backs of native people and immigrants from around the World; we must work to institutionalize Equality, Civility, and dedication of Service to that cause. To finally live up the ideals of our nation… to lift ourselves up by lifting others, for failure breeds failure. A nation where everyone succeeds s will never die. 

We won a Revolution, created the BillOfRights, Ended diseases and dysentery, we won WorldWarII, built the worlds strongest Economy and Military, we ushered the Nuclear age, the Computer Age, we landed a man on the moon, we lead in popular culture and was once respected and the envy of the World. But we rested on our laurels and given in to our weakness.

Are we all satisfied with our station in life and that of our neighbors? Are we content with our government and its policies? Are we so happy with the statuesque, we are unable to imagine a better nation? This country was built on faith and strengthened by diversity. Why can’t a woman or a man be safe on the street or in their own home, or paid for their worth? Why do we demand respect, yet dole it out so thinly? Why is education determined by zipcodes and not foresight? Why do we weigh appearance over deeds? Why do we work to hold others back then help everyone to move forward?

In every action you make, why do YOU put as much, if not more effort, in denying others their rights and why do you invite that from them? No one can ever be too kind, too smart, too healthy, or too wise... but you most certainly can be too selfish, too indifferent, and too foolish.

We need to free the American people of the stains of slavery, the stains of bigotry, the stains of oppression, and the indefensible malevolence done in their service... by our leaders, by our corporations, or by the worst that resides within each one of us.

Are we so cowardness, to win by rigging the playing field, then lose by the integrity of our fairness?

America is better than that… We the people are better than that! And together we can prove it.