Dr. Martin Luther King would have turned 86 years old last week. He was passionate, he was peaceful and he devoted his life to making this world a better place. His life ended prematurely with his assassination on April 4, 1968. It was a cowardly and violent act that stemmed from hatred and fear of change – all of the things Dr. King wanted so badly to transform in all of us.
As a very young child, growing up in an insulated, suburban community where everyone looked the same, it seems like it was a much simpler time. I had little idea what was going on outside my own little world. As a pre-teen in April, 1968 I did not realize the full meaning of what was happening, but I knew the world was changing.
I remember a time where our country was mired in a war no one wanted, where TV shows were being censored for being critical of our government. I remember peace signs and protest songs and Haight-Ashbury and Flower Power. I remember but I did not fully understand. Now I think I do.
As a very young child, growing up in an insulated, suburban community where everyone looked the same, it seems like it was a much simpler time. I had little idea what was going on outside my own little world. As a pre-teen in April, 1968 I did not realize the full meaning of what was happening, but I knew the world was changing.
I remember a time where our country was mired in a war no one wanted, where TV shows were being censored for being critical of our government. I remember peace signs and protest songs and Haight-Ashbury and Flower Power. I remember but I did not fully understand. Now I think I do.
In today’s world where everything is so transparent and rapidly changing, I wonder where Dr. King would have fit in or if his methods of peaceful protest and message of non-violence would have made such an impact.
While we will never know, I do know that Dr. King had courage and conviction and he died for what he believed was right. I do know that Dr. King made a difference – that he changed our world. In today’s culture, where we want and expect everything now, we must remember that change takes time. The things we seek to change did not develop overnight and will not be fixed overnight. Sometimes change occurs one person at a time.
While we will never know, I do know that Dr. King had courage and conviction and he died for what he believed was right. I do know that Dr. King made a difference – that he changed our world. In today’s culture, where we want and expect everything now, we must remember that change takes time. The things we seek to change did not develop overnight and will not be fixed overnight. Sometimes change occurs one person at a time.
If we take nothing else form the life of Dr. King, I hope it is that we can all make a difference. We can all persevere in the face of challenge. We can all do our part to make this world a better place. Together, “we shall overcome.”
Peace and love to all,
Sue and Mickey
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