Martin Luther King, Jr.

As our country stops today and remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have to stop and think about that day. I was in the 4th grade. My school was only 3 blocks from interstate 85. We all walked up to the bridge that his body would pass under when it was brought back from Tenn. I was only 10 and did not understand what was happening or what it meant. I grew up in an all white neighborhood, went to an all white school. The only black person I ever came in contact with was our beloved maid "Ida". She was as much a part of my life as my parents. She was there when I came home from school. As a child, I did not understand MLK's message. As an adult today I looked at it with different eyes. I believe that MLK's message was for all people of all color. He believed one nation under God. I think he believed that everyone should work to achieve respectability. He was a peaceful man and wanted people to live in peace. His views were God driven. I feel that he would be disappointed in the interruption of his dreams today. Is any one person owned anything? Should things be handed to you because of your race. As a women I do not believe that. This day makes me think of God's simple commandment. "Love thy neighbor as you would love yourself." I do believe that was Martin Luther Kings, Jr message.
It gives me chills to hear his speech the night before he was murdered. He had seen the promise land. MLK was not afraid. He knew his destiny. Did he know? Had God given him a message? One day in heaven we may have a chance to ask him. He had a "Dream". We all have dreams.

As you meet people today smile, say hello. Wave to your neighbor. Tell the cashier in the store to have a good week-end. To me as an adult that was Dr. Martin Luther Kings message and dream. "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS YOU WOULD LOVE THYSELF."