As the world moves forward and new generations of people enter the world without having known Martin Luther King Jr or his dream, it is important we all remember the role he had in shaping the future of our country and humankind.  Although he is most revered as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, he also stood as a leader for moral justice and opportunity for all Americans.  

As King proclaimed many years ago, in a somewhat different America:

"Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation."

We've come a long way since then, but as many Americans and Minnesotans know, hard work remains.  As the rusted iron jaws of poverty clamp tightly around the new victims of the Great Recession, we cannot abandon King's creed.

We must continue to dream the dream, and make America a better nation and Minnesota a better state.