Dr. King's Day

Today we take time away from our busy lives and our busy schedules to remember a man who has a legacy of service. A legacy of hope. A legacy of tolerance and acceptance. Today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day, we remember that we as a nation are not perfect. We remember that not so long ago we were not even working toward acceptance and tolerance. America was headed in the wrong direction and today we celebrate the life of someone who strove to bring equality and acceptance to to the nation. We celebrate a man who through his actions and leadership began the journey to righting the wrongs of an intollerant nation. Today it is imparative that we "Remember, Celebrate, and Act." Today should be "a day on...not a day off."
(http://www.thekingcenter.org)

Unfortunately today, although it is a day off, it seems as though many of Dr. King's efforts and those of the Civil Rights' movement have fallen to the wayside. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16628076/) It seems as though in the quest by the "No Child Left Behind" legislation that the focus on math and english has won out and that history and the fine arts are being driven out of the schools. My fear is that history will repeat itself and the nation will slip back into ignorance and intollerance. Yes the community persecuted may change however, the inability for the nation to learn from its past scares me. The country's intolerance and ignorance towards; minorities http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6788272, gays, no same sex marriages and road blocks to foster child care, http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/parenting/21258prs20051103.html and the poor and uninsured, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_warfare. If we are to truly be a progressive and accepting society then we must learn the lessons that Dr. King taught and be accepting of individuals not on the basis of their skin but "the content of their character." I hope that you use today, and everyday to work for the fulfillment of Dr. King's dream.