Change the world…

Today was Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 78th birthday. Seventy-eight. Not 100. Not 200. While he died over thirty years ago, Dr. King could easily be alive today. Could be, but isn’t. He stated – the day before he died:

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place, but I’m not concerned about that now… I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”

King’s messages have lived longer than he did as a public figure. I normally try to relate things like this to the business world. It shouldn’t be much of a stretch today. But I can’t. Dr. King stood for so much more than trivial issues of “did I make more money for me/my company today?”

It’s a shame we need a day to remind us of what Dr. King tried to accomplish and of how far still remains to go. A man his age should still be here to remind us what needs to be done. The only way anyone will get to the Promised Land is if we think about Dr. King and his legacy more than once a year. And do something about it.