Andrew Young Speech Response

After listening to a powerful speech, I paused for reflection and during my attempt to sort through the many valid and gripping points that he made, one image captivated my mind. Mr. Young spoke of a visit to Latin America. He and some colleagues were eating dinner in a cafe when several native children came with buckets to beg scraps from their table. After getting what they could, they took the food across the street and ate as they watched a TV through a department store window. On that TV, it showed an American family eating dinner with plenty for everyone. His point: the unequal will strive to be equal. Going on to list several other examples Mr. Young illustrated the feeling of the unequal and how they will not be content to stay that way; instead, they will strive to attain what they can't have. The poor will always strive to be richer. One last point that really struck me was made by the young speaker prior to Mr. Young. He talked of his youth when his mom would buy one drink and make him share with his brother. Somehow, he said, the pourer always made sure his own glass had more. Then the other would want to even the glasses, usually taking more for himself. A point beautifully made: we always want more for ourselves. I really engaged with the speaker here b/c I feel that its vitally important to ensure equality, but not for one side to take more than the other. If we indeed worked for honest equality, the possibilities are endless.