I am somewhat pessimist about the future because I believe people have been lulled to sleep in this century. They believe that progress is automatic, that God is in his heaven and all is well; and that everything will turn out for the best. I concur with William James when he said, "In times like these, God has no business hanging around heaven."

We have no guarantees whatsoever, and there are no guarantees that history is on our side. History is what we make of it. We have the freedom to choose one way or another. It is an open-ended affair, and no supernatural power says things are going to turn out fine. There is a necessity for us to believe that we must depend on ourselves. It will take our independence, our interdependence, our struggle and our wisdom to fight for the right.

In the long run we stand a chance of winning if we don't just coast along, but take the attitude that we must fight the good fight, and make wise choices. The future is as free as we make it.

Sterlink McMurrin, Ph.D.
Memorial Luncheon Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 20, 1992, Salt Lake City, UT