Opinions
4
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Tuesday, August 27, 2013
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‘I Have a Dream’ speech reminds us of inequality today Tomorrow will mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Heard by nearly a quartermillion people in Washington, D.C., King’s speech was one of the most important events in civil rights and American history. In his speech, ur iew King spoke of a U.S. that had treated blacks as less than equal. “The life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination,” King said. “The Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” As many know, King’s speech spoke of the racial inequalities present in 1963 and his dream for the future. While we acknowledge that the U.S. has come a long way since 1963, we still think there’s a lot of progress to be made. Considering the inequalities that the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual (LGBT) community faces, our country needs to fight for full equality for all Americans, regardless of race or sexual preference. In 1963, the U.S. was a radically different country from what it is today. At the time of King’s speech, then-President John F. Kennedy watched over what was arguably the nation’s largest series of civil rights protests. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 had not yet passed and many blacks in the South still had to complete literacy tests before voting. Looking back at the past 50 years, it’s clear that the U.S. has made many positive changes.
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Literacy tests and poll taxes are a thing of the past. But although King’s speech was largely about the struggles that many blacks faced at the time, his message can be applied to other minorities in the U.S. When the Supreme Court repealed key aspects of the Defense of Marriage Act in June, many LGBT couples were elated. The court’s verdict on United States v. Windsor ruled that samesex couples can receive federal benefits in states where same-sex marriage is legal. But still, even though this was a victory for some, it did nothing
for same-sex couples who live in states where same-sex marriage is illegal. We think the U.S. needs to promote equality for same-sex couples if King’s vision is to be fully realized. While we should be proud of the advances we’ve made, we should not be complacent. Further reforms can be achieved if we continue to make our voices heard. As King said, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability but comes through continuous struggle.”
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s alleged failings have hurt his career Following allegations of sexual misconduct, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner will resign from his post on Friday. While it’s good that Filner decided to step down, his alleged indiscretions have clearly disgraced the mayor’s office of San Diego. His alleged failings have effectively undermined the authority and influence of the job. To really understand the nature of how surprising the allegations against Filner are, one must look at Filner’s political career. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Filner served as a board member for the San Diego Unified School District. Later, Filner was elected to California’s 50th District, just south of San Diego. He remained a congressman until deciding to run for mayor of San Diego in 2012.
Daily 49er Kristine McGowan Editor in Chief eicd49er@gmail.com (562) 985-7998 Courtney Tompkins Managing Editor Rabiya Hussain News Editor Daniel Serrano City Editor Donn Gruta Asst. City Editor Andrew Spencer Asst. City Editor Shane Newell Opinions Editor Asst. Opinions Editor Jovanna Madrigal Asst. Opinions Editor Nicolas Rodriguez
Given Filner’s background and experience, one would expect that the choice to sexually harass one’s co-workers or constituents would be seen in a negative light. Unfortunately, this was not the case. So far, a total of 18 women have come forward claiming that Filner had sexually harassed them in some way or form. icolas Some of the accusers in the case against Filner include Emily Gilbert, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator. “He grabbed me a little too tight, then proceeded to slide his hand down my arm and then did a little grab on my derriere,” Gilbert said. “I didn’t want to make a scene. There were
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kids around,” she added. Another accuser was 67-year-old Peggy Shannon, who claimed that Filner would hug and kiss her repeatedly. A third woman who works as a nurse said that Filner demanded she go out on dates with him in exchange for helping a U.S. Marine. nurse said that helpodriguez ingThe the Marine depended on her willingness to be seen in public alongside Filner. Before his announcement that he would resign this week, Filner uploaded a YouTube video on July 11 that responded to the sexual harassment allegations. “You have every right to be disappointed in me,” Filner said. “I only ask that you give
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me an opportunity to prove I am capable of change.” Even though Filner entered therapy, evidence would show that he was not capable of changing his ways. He left therapy a week early. As more women come forward and accuse him of misdeeds, Filner’s credibility will continue to crumble in a way far more detrimental in comparison to the Anthony Weiner scandal. At least Weiner had the decency to resign three weeks into the accusations made against him. Unlike Weiner, Filner will hopefully not be inspired to run for office again. With his credibility in the tubes, it’s highly unlikely that he will return to politics. Nicolas Rodriguez is a senior political science major and an assistant opinions editor at the Daily 49er.
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