I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day SDN will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all premeds are created equal."
I have a dream that one day, premeds and premeds will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of California, a state sweltering with the heat of premeds, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of premeds holding hands with other premeds.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by other premeds because they might have a lower GPA and MCAT.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Boston, with its vicious competition, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "Oh man I could not get into Harvard medical school" -- one day right there in Boston, Harvard Medical school students will be able to join hands with premed students who have a 2.5 GPA.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go on SDN with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to drink together, to struggle together, to get a low GPA or MCAT, to stand up for stupid ECs, knowing that we will be accepted one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.