Speech concerning on how the new administration has brought our long national nightmare to an end and a review of the recent era of American politics, 1993 (1 of 2)

the promise of the founding fathers come true -- one nation, with liberty and justice for us all.

When I entered the labor force more than 30 years ago, 5 workers paid into the Social Security system to support every retiree.

Their names were probably Carl, Ralph, Bob, Steve and Bill. When I retire, there will only be 3 workers for every retiree - their names will probably be Kwanza, Maria, and Jose. I want them to have the best future they possibly can.

Again, DuBois speaks to us from the past. He said, at the turn of the Twentieth Century: "I believe in God who made of one blood all the nations that dwell on the earth. I believe that all men -- Black, brown and white -- are brothers, varying through time and opportunity, in form and gift and feature, but differing in no essential particular, and alike in soul and in the possibility of infinite development."

"Especially do I believe in the Negro race; in the beauty of its genius, the sweetness of its soul, and its strength in that meekness which shall inherit this turbulent earth."

"I believe in pride of race and lineage itself; in pride of self so deep as to scorn injustice to other selves; in pride of lineage so great as to despise no man's father; in pride of race so chivalrous as neither to offer bastardy to the weak nor beg wedlock of the strong, knowing that men may be brothers in Christ even though they be not brothers-in-law."

"I believe in service -- humble, reverent service, from the blackening of boots to the whitening of souls, for work is

heaven, idleness hell, and wages the 'well done' of the master who summoned all them that labor and are heavy-laden, making no distinction between the Black sweating cotton hands of Georgia, and the first families of Virginia, since all distinction not based on deed is devilish and not divine."

"I believe in the devil and his angels, who wantonly work to narrow the opportunity of all human beings, especially if they be Black; who spit in the faces of the fallen, strike them that cannot strike again, believe the worst and work to prove it, hating the image which their maker stamped on a brother's soul."

"I believe in the Prince of Peace. I believe that war is murder. I believe that armies and navies are at bottom the tinsel and braggadocio of oppression and wrong, and I believe that the wicked conquest of weaker and darker nations by nations white and stronger but foreshadows the death of their strength."

"I believe in liberty for all men; the space to stretch their arms and their souls; the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color, thinking, dreaming, working as they will in a kingdom of god and love."

"I believe in the training of children Black even as white, the leading of little souls into the green pastures and beside the still waters, not for self or peace, but for life lit by some large vision of beauty and goodness and truth; lest we forget, and the sons of the fathers, like Esau, for mere meat barter their birthright in a mighty nation."

"Finally, I believe in patience -- patience with the

weakness of the weak and the strength of the strong, the prejudice of the ignorant and the ignorance of the blind, patience with the tardy triumph of joy and the mad chastening of sorrow -- patience with God."

1. W.E.B. DuBois, The Independent, (N. Y.) October 6, 1904.