The Daily Stoic We Are Falling Short | How George Raveling Was Given the “I Have a Dream” Speech
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Jan 19, 2026 
George Raveling, a former college basketball coach and author, shares his extraordinary experience at the 1963 March on Washington, where he secured Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech. He reveals how King's ad-libbed passage was inspired by Mahalia Jackson's nudge. Raveling also recounts the secrecy surrounding the original speech, which he hid for decades, and discusses the public's reaction after its unveiling. His plans to display the speech at the National Museum are also highlighted.
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Appeal To A Higher National Ideal
- Martin Luther King framed civil rights by appealing to America's founding ideals rather than just condemning its failures.
- That affirmative tactic made the demand for justice both morally compelling and broadly persuasive.
Critique As A Call To Better Action
- The Stoics used critique to motivate people toward their better selves rather than to make life seem meaningless.
- Marcus Aurelius reminded himself to live up to studied principles once given power and responsibility.
Persist Despite Falling Short
- Accept that you will fall short of lofty ideals because human nature and difficulty make perfection unreachable.
- Keep trying daily to make headway in the internal struggle and honor those ideals through consistent action.