History can be a double-edged sword. Many of us get so mired in our own personal experiences from the past that we color our ability to see the future. Others ignore them so much they fail to make their path easier by the lack of knowledge from the past. However, there is much to learn from the history of human nature and behavior, the formation of values and principles and the ability to create change. There are clearly defined common threads throughout the history of great struggles for liberation that offer us great lessons for our journey for freedom today.

The most important lesson is that people with clearly defined values and principles are the best agents of change. Those who are willing to negotiate or compromise beyond those values and principles often find that they merely face more demands for them to compromise again. Individuals who know 'the line in the sand' and refuse to compromise are often instigators of great change. The tough part in looking back is knowing what is 'practical' and what is sheer stubbornness.

What the history of movements has taught us is that there is clearly no 'one way' or 'one person' that will enable the change. Even the most successful progressives have had deep failures and serious periods of doubt. In the end, sheer courage in the face of great opposition won the day.

The easiest place for us to look into the past is the epic struggle by African-Americans for their freedom. For two centuries, they threw off the yoke of slavery, fought separate but equal, overturned "Jim Crow" laws, won important battles in the 1960's and ended up today with an African-American President. Let's be clear that we do not view our journey as identical to that movement. None of us have had the physical horrors of slavery nor the brutality of a Klan-driven oppression. However, the greatest compliment that can be paid to that heroic struggle for freedom is for it to inspire the oppressed around the world - to honor it by seeking wisdom, knowledge and strength from it.

There are many lessons for us in that amazing journey. Among those lessons is that the tactics and principles used to achieve that success were not all original, just adapted to fit the times, people and places. In creating strategy, Martin Luther King, Jr often consulted the history of Gandhi or the great struggles for labor and women's rights that came before. He found strength, courage and wisdom from those movements.

First and foremost, there is no one way or one person that created the change. Yes, there was the richness of Dr. King's leadership but many had to participate for his extraordinary vision to come true. Also, let's not forget that at the height of his leadership, many opposed his tactics, timing and his inability - in their minds - to compromise on his principles and values for small legislative gains. Up until the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the struggle for freedom had been mostly in the courts and within the Beltway in legislation. Previously, there had been success in anti-lynching laws, a 1957 civil rights bill and of course the courts highlighted by "Brown vs. Board of Education". But the leadership was mostly Washington centric with a strong alliance of political circles within both parties.

When the Nashville 'sit-ins' and the Freedom Rides began, the opposition from the national leadership was strong and harsh. Many felt that these tactics of civil disobedience and in your face protests would seriously harm their ability to be effective both in the courts and in Congress. Initially, those more traditional leaders who had pioneered the movement to that point did everything they could to stop what they thought were out of control and harmful protests. Some of the national leaders deeply believed that King's Birmingham demonstrations, especially those resulting in young people going to jail, could even help elect Senator Barry Goldwater to the presidency in 1964. Often King was reminded by the Democratic establishment that if he went too far he would be responsible for any political failings in the future. In fact, many times, it seemed those prophets of caution were right as some demonstrations lacked a focus or resorted to violence yielding temporary set-backs. However, no one doubts today that the thousands and thousands who filled the jails, the hundreds who gave their lives, the many whose homes were bombed and those who lost their jobs because of their involvement in those demonstrations were a crucial, if not the crucial, element in the success of the civil rights movement.

Even the historic March on Washington in 1963 was filled with dissent that threatened its success. We have this image today of a mass gathering of black and white capped by Dr King's "I Have A Dream" speech. It was what we used to call back then a real "We Shall Overcome" moment. However, it almost didn't take place. National African-American leaders thought the march was a risky gamble - a waste of time and resources that distracted from legislative and legal priorities. Some were appalled that King refused to dump Bayard Rustin as the key organizer because he was a homosexual. Others threatened not to stand on the platform if 'radical' John Lewis was allowed to speak (yes, that's right, the current Congressman John Lewis!). Many predicted that no one would dare to attend and others thought it a colossal waste of time. Despite these barriers, and knowing the critics could have been right, the march was a historic milestone and inspired countless thousands, both black and white, to join those already involved. (Photograph of Marlon Bando and James Baldwin at March on Washington 1963)

Even the 'Black Power' movement which appalled Dr. King played an important role. Many wondered why in the world they would want to emulate the life journeys of their oppressors. They feared assimilation and the loss of history if they simply fought to be equal to those who sat quietly for so many years. This movement ingrained a deep sense of history, pride and joy at being black and enabled the community to embrace its history, roots and journey while integrating into a greater America. African-Americans had their history destroyed by slavery and 'Jim Crow' and those who unabashedly proclaimed their blackness stirred a yearning to come from something great. We only have to look to the LGBT community which has lost so much of it history to families burning papers so no one would know their son or sister was gay. Or losing a generation of our history makers and story tellers to HIV/AIDS. When I reflect on all the people I know who died of AIDS and the systematic destruction of all traces of their LGBT journey by relatives I still get chills.

So, what is there to learn from this short history lesson?

Some of it is so obvious as you read the similarities that if you don't get it you have a long way to go! Other lessons for us in the history of the labor movement, women's movement, the fight against Apartheid, Gandhi's teaching on non-violence and the African-American struggle for freedom are profound and we should pay attention to their lore.

First of all, there is room for all of us and our ways of creating change. Every person is urgently needed and the only crime would be to not to participate in some manner.

No one has ownership of 'truth' or 'righteousness' and we must not only accept differences in approaches and strategy, but coordinate them and embrace each other in the fight for our freedom.

That freedom can not come without risk taking, being bold and daring to be courageous.

Washington's legislative/legal approach is an effective strategy - but only one part of a broader plan. Without a powerful and self-starting grassroots movement the change via legislation and the courts could take years. Never will an empowered and vigorous grassroots movement delay the long term progress in Washington.

Indeed, it is not only right but essential to embrace the civil rights movements of the past with all their diversity of tactics - but we must adjust them to the technology and needs of today and our own unique struggle.

We must know ourselves. Who are we and what is our history? Look at the impact of the movie "Milk" on countless millions. There is an urgency to know we are a proud tribe that comes out of a noble history. That knowledge can only make us stronger, feel a part of a greater movement and overcome a history of taught low self-esteem. The arts have an especially crucial role to play with a need of art, literature, plays, films and other creative expressions to celebrate our history and culture!

The community should not waste time and resources attempting to stop those with whom we tactically disagree. Celebrate our differences! If you don't think someone is proceeding in the right fashion, stop attempting to bring them to a halt and create your own way if you feel it would be better.

Embrace and acknowledge that we are indeed in the midst of the greatest civil rights battle of this generation and we are not a fringe issue, a special interest group or on some politicians list of 'things to do'. Until we fully realize this, we can't expect our allies to do the same. ,p>Tomorrow is never soon enough. Every day justice, equality and freedom are denied is a day somebody dies in oppression and never knows the joy of liberation.

All of this is only relevant if it comes from a strong individual understanding of your own values, principles and vision. You will always make the wrong decisions and the wrong compromises if you don't know what you cherish within yourself. You will have no moral compass; that guidance can only can from inside of you.

With strong inner peace, the lessons of history and an understanding of our tribe, no one, absolutely no one, can stop us on the road to freedom.