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I anxiously tossed and turned in my bed Monday morning. I do not have children but have the responsibility at the Chronicle to report when schools are closed due to not so great weather. I had noticed a few had closed when I went to bed Sunday night, but none were in Iowa County or surrounding communities.
When I finally saw the list at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning, I was a little alarmed with its length. Not because all of the schools had been called off but because they all had school on Monday in the first place - as Monday was Martin Luther King Day.
When we were in school, sometimes we griped about how we had to be there on Martin Luther King Day, a holiday that others got the day off for. Sure, we all learned about and knew the importance of the actions and ideas that Martin Luther King advocated for, but they were never really something we thought about that often.
But I believe, now, more than ever, it is even more important to acknowledge Martin Luther King and all that he advocated for in our society. King was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement, and stood up for what he believed in. He helped organize peaceful protests that showed lawmakers and citizens alike that racial inequality could be combatted, and encouraged others to step up and let their voices be heard too. He received a Nobel Peace Prize for his accomplishments, and continued to focus on civil rights work up until his death.
We are a divided country at this moment - and it's no secret. I think the following excerpt from King's most famous speech, "I Have a Dream," could lend some powerful advice.
"...We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back...
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream..."
We must not let the roadblocks our country is currently facing keep us from having our dream. We must stand together and let our own voices be heard if we feel we have been wronged. We must always march ahead and look ahead. And although there could be tough times ahead, these tough times often incubate change, growth and forward movement.
Don't give up - always march ahead. And keep your dream alive.