The history: It's critical that children know of battles, triumphs

As the years go by, the number of people who actually heard the famous speech on the National Mall is dwindling. And even fewer actually have met or demonstrated with the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

And the same is true for those who lived during the time civil rights was truly just a dream -- and who suffered the consequences of bigotry and hatred.

Now more than ever it is critical that we share with our children the stories not only of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but that we remind them of how different the world was.

We should tell the stories of courage -- black and white -- and of the people who took their lives in their hands to stand up and call for what was right, no matter what the risk.

We need to share the words of Dr. King and others like him who sought more for their nation and its people, who preached equality for all and saw a future where the races lived in harmony.

We would not be here without them.

So today, on Martin Luther King Day, we should pause to share the "I Have a Dream" speech with our children and discuss what it meant then and what it means today.

We should make sure those stories of heroes and brothers and sisters of all races joining hands to fight for what was right are passed on to the next generation.

We need to talk as a nation about where we are, where we could be and what we need to get there.

The legacy of Dr. King is not just found in a speech. It rests in the hearts of those who know that much has been accomplished, but that there is still work to be done.

Published in Editorials on January 20, 2014 10:58 AM