Today is Martin Luther King’s Birthday. I think we may have forgotten what the man stood for. We have turned the celebration of his ideas into a one day event just like the presidents birthdays and Independence Day. We are so focused on the parade or just the fact that we get the day off that we don’t reflect on what we should be doing on these days.
Did you think about the difference in the world we live in now compared to the times of Dr. King? It’s not as different as he would have liked us to be by now. How many times have you said or thought an off-handed comment about someone of another race? Do you openly accept all people? No matter, race, color, creed or religion? In truth the answer is no. We may be further along than our grandparents were but is it because we want to or because we have been so beaten with the term “Politically Correct” that we have just learned to hide our true feelings.
My best friend is of another race and I embrace her culture with all of what that means and yes all our cultures have our stereo types but that is what makes us great and different. Our challenge is to accept that they are different and learn from that. NOT, close our minds to the new experience because they are “weird”, different or just not the right color.
I challenge you to look inside and then see what you really believe. Step outside of your comfort zone and learn something new about a culture you don’t know anything about. Meet someone and ask about their family traditions. Eat something different and experience it for yourself.
Open your mind to the ideas that Dr. King wanted us to truly embrace and let’s make a real change in our worlds!
