mperry's Blog

Most of my life I have heard the term"The American Dream" Just what is this dream" Is it a mansion on earth? Does it mean "all for me and none for you?" Can it be "I'm in charge?" For whites does it mean "White Power?" For blacks could it mean "Black Power?" Do the Mexicans, Jews, or Irish have any claim to power in America? If you are counting any of these you have failed the test of the "American Dream" and you are doomed not only to failure, but great dissapointment in your life in the United States.

The "American Dream" is basically the freedom to think, speak, debate, disagree, challenge, choose and expect fairness in all decisions affecting your life. So when you're assessing your life in America ask yourself if you have all these basics of life.

When you attended a caucus in the Democrat primary were you forced to leave without voting due to threatening remarks and fear of harm as many were in the black ridden south Dallas caucuses? When you mortgaged your home were you taken advantage of by a predator lender? Were you allowed to challenge the decision to start a premptive war in Iraq?

I remember in1945 riding my bicyle down the streets along the Arkansas River where hundreds of huge mansions were located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was told these mansions were owned by the rich oil people and I should not be riding in that area of town or they would call the police. I also remember being told not to ride on the streets of North Tulsa as those shacks were owned by the dangerous black people. I challenged this thinking and did it anyway. The police were never called and I'm still alive to tell the story.

I also remember that outside the city limits of my hometown Henryetta, Oklahoma in the 20's and 30's there once was a sign that said "Blacks not allowed after sundown." Across the prairie to the west some 20 miles was an all black town called Boley, Oklahoma that posted a similar sign that read "Whites not allowed after sundown." In both these examples the freedom to choose and challenge was taken away. In addition, I also remember picking cotton in the same fields with the black kids and my father threatening me within an inch of my life if I ever made a inappropriate remark about their color.

In 1974 I remember coaching an all black female softball team in Waco, Texas. I was the Mayor of a bedroom city called Woodway, Texas at the time. Many times we would practice at night on the Paul Quinn College campus. You can't imagine how many expressions of concern for my safety were made in the white community.

The greatest threats to "The American Dream" are extreme, radical idiologies. "Black Power, White Power, Black Panthers, Ku Klux Klan, Black Liberation Theologies, and Bully Ignorance." Unless these kinds of thinking are stopped this dream will become "The Great American Tragedy," as we reduce our nation to a third world status.

Thanks

TR

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