Yarbrough speaks on MLK Day

Rep. Karen Yarbrough spoke at the Hillside Human Relations Commission Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration breakfast.

Cook County Recorder of Deeds Eugene Moore--whom Yarbrough has run against multiple times, including when she defeated him for Proviso Township Democratic Committeeman--joined the crowd in a standing ovation after the speech and I overheard comments praising Yarbrough and the speech.

At the best part, I felt Yarbrough was channeling Robert F. Kennedy's speech at Iowa State University, March 18, 1968.

Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our courage, nor our wisdom, nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile, and it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.

Today Yarbrough said the following:

[UPDATE2: Yarbrough's speech borrow's from The Paradox of Our Age by Dr. Bob Moorehead. Thanks to a reader for making the connection.]

A lot has happened since Martin left us. I wonder what he would think if he could see what we have accomplished and yet what is still left to be done.

Here is life’s paradox:

Since Martin left, we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrower viewpoints

We spend more but have less; we buy more but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less common sense, more knowledge, but less judgment;

We have more experts but more problems; more medicine but we’re still sick.

Since Martin left, we stay up too late, get too tired, read too little, watch TV too much and pray to seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values; we talk too much, love too little and lie too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life but not life to years.

We’ve become long on quantity and short on quality. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We’ve conquered outer space; but not inner space. We’ve done the larger things, but not the better things; we’ve cleaned up the air but polluted our souls.

Since Martin left, we have higher incomes, but lower morals---more acquaintances and fewer friends.

These are the times of tall men and short character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are the days of disposable diapers, and throwaway morality.

We are plagued with overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and little in the stockroom.

This part of the speech spoke to a hunger people feel. I believe it is driven by our anxieties about the modern world.

And the rhythm of the speech possessed an eloquence and style that made the words appealing.

[UPDATE: Post-Tribune (Jon Seidel) covers how some Walther Lutheran students participated in MLK Day at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

The dance ministry and combined choirs from the First Lutheran Church in Harvey, Ill., as well as the gospel choir from Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park, Ill., made the trip to the Valparaiso campus to participate in the service.

Two students from Walther Lutheran recited a speech once given by Coretta Scott King about the meaning of Martin Luther King Day.

[end update]