Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the one time out of the year where schools, communities, and churches from all around the country stop not only to remember the great leader that MLK Jr. was, but to remember the famous words that struck our nation today.
However, it seems that for the condition our country is in today, full of violence, discrimination, and no peace whatsoever, there is no frequent recognition of MLK Jr.’s heartfelt and touching words. American citizens should not be a community who reflects on these words once a year, but a community that is reminded and set upon living out these notions all year long.
One major theme in MLK Jr.’s speech is the freedom from brutality. “We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.” It seems that now in this day and age, there are too many instances were violence becomes the key to ending a dispute dealt with segregation, instead of a peaceful understanding of a compromise. This country has been missing the opportunity to put an end to this violence and such hatred. Instead of advertising materialistic values, reciting nonsense movies, or promoting the teaching of humanistic worth, people should bring forth the concepts and meaningful words found in MLK Jr.’s speech.
For the springtime, we celebrate MLK Jr. day in January and National Black History month in February, and Easter in March or April. What more perfect times to remember that we are all God’s people, created equally in his image, and that as MLK Jr. says, “the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.” As our society is reminded of these virtues during this time, let it not stop there.
During the summer our country celebrates June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day, or also known as Juneteenth, where the United States claimed the end of slavery. Our country also celebrates Memorial Day. This nation should advocate the hopeful words of, “all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” throughout the season. These words also remind us to “be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice”¦ to where are every American citizen can, live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” When people celebrate Juneteenth and Memorial Day, they should remember and reflect upon these words throughout that time period, and not just on that particular day.
In the fall, when parents send their kids back to school where they will be reunited with friends and surrounded by new people, parents can remind their children of MLK Jr.’s speech and teach them more of equality. For the younger generations, these words should be implemented throughout the year so that they can learn to grow in a nation that sees no division.
During the late fall season and early winter, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are celebrated, what more of a perfect time to give thanks for MLK Jr.’s stand for freedom and equality and share these words as families gather from all over the country.
In order to pursue a country of complete freedom and equality, let us not forget these words that once touched many lives. Let it be known that these words should reign in many hearts any time, any day, any month, and certainly every year.
