Local Moderators : I am sorry if someone has beat me to this already, but I did not see any new threads pertaining to this subject, so I saw fit to start one. If there is, close this thread as you see fit.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day; a day to give thanks to a great man who gave his life in the name of freedom and righteousness. Each and every day, I see society as a whole lower the standard on tolerance and human decency, and each and every day, I try to do my part in helping to raise that standard. I know one person can't change the entire world, but if we keep the dream of freedom and peace alive, that idealism will spread. People all around the world give in to corruption and greed, and no one steps forward to initiate change. People seem too afraid to speak up, and maybe there are many times when they just don't care anymore. But it is when we let our minds be subjected to violence and hatred, and accept it as the common way of life, that we truly lose what separates us from any other species on the planet; that is when we lose our humanity. Today I ask everyone out there to do something positive for someone else, no matter how big or small that something may be. Hate is a disease that is easily spread, but thankfully, the cure for that disease is just as easily administered; that cure is love, and even the smallest of sincerities can have the largest influence on others. We are each separate individuals, but when we spread the word of peace and indifference, we in turn become bound by one common goal- to live in harmony. Martin Luther King Jr. may have only been one man, but he stepped forward when no one else had the courage. He knew the value of respect, and defended it until his last breath, ultimately paying for it with his life. He didn't change the entire world with his views, but he made a difference in the countless lives of many others, who went on to do the same. He initiated a revolution, and sometimes, that is all it really takes. When one makes a step toward a new beginning, others follow, and continue to make footprints for a brighter tomorrow.

I will say it once more, as so many continue to use as an excuse for doing nothing to benefit mankind; one person can't change the world. But the changes you make today, will inspire those who will make changes tomorrow. When we all unite as one, the impact is phenomenal- and that, my friends, can change the world.