"Who's your opponent?
He doesn't exist!Why does he not exist?
Because he is merely a dissenting voice to the truth I speak!"
I love that quote from the movie GREAT DEBATERS. Always have. One of these days, I'll be able to harness the strength within those words. Words that not only challenge the authority of an opponent (hater?) but also calls their mere existence into question. Not only do they not have any power against me, but I'm on a level that my opponent can't see me at. Wow. Yeah...I gotta get to that point.
And this is coming from me at a still controversial holiday that has yet to reach its potential. I do not intend to idolize Martin Luther King, Jr. but I definitely appreciate him for his dream and his wisdom. He was definitely beyond his time with his approach. I cannot rival Dr. King's ability to appeal to one's character in order to bring about change in the world, in the community, in our individual selves. His dream also covered his opposition, even in spite of them. Call him crazy, call him hopeless, call him meek/weak for that. They did. It was bold to me.
On that note, I say continue to dream. I recall on Senior Yearbook Day back in '05, a classmate wrote rather clever if not biting remarks to me. He said, "I look forward to your return home next semester (from Yale)...after you flunk out." Dude had some big balls saying that. At the time, it didn't affect me all too much. I had come to expect such from him, so I laughed it off, but it stuck with me, no lie. I had no intention/desire whatsoever of failing in anything that I did, ESPECIALLY not something school-related; that's my sweet spot. But then...I failed. Not that following semester, but halfway through my junior year at the end of 2007, I was indeed back home. And indeed, those demeaning words tormented me, echoing in my head. But what he said to me was foolish. So I'd be a fool to let his words cripple me right?
This week, I'll be back in school again after a two-year hiatus. My classmates have already graduated. You could say that my moment of opportunity has passed. That would make you my opponent. And if you recall, you don't exist.
