Celebrating Our Social Progress on MLK day

30 day blog challenge - day 7



On this day we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and I thought it would be appropriate to write about gratitude for how far we have come.

There are so many activists who focus mainly on the problems of racism, sexism, homophobia, social injustice, etc. that still exist in this country. I definitely think we still have a ways to go to be an equalist society, and we need to stand up and fight for these issues. However, in focusing so much on the injustice in the world, we often forget how far we have come.

I look at our country and I see a nation that is wonderfully diverse, arguably the most diverse nation in the world. I look around and I see the freedom to have political arguments on Facebook. I see many states finally taking a stand for marriage equality. 

I am grateful to live in a country where I can work and write and have tattoos and drive and vote and I don't have to cover myself or have a male chaperone at all times. I am grateful to live in a country of abundance. I am grateful to attend a church that focuses on the unity of all people of all different religions, races, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, etc. etc. 

Yes, there is still a long way to go, and there is still much work to be done, especially in other parts of the world that haven't come as far as we have. But I think as we are fighting for equality, we should also stop and be grateful for the changes we have made, the success we have seen, the difference we have made. Just as we celebrate the life of a remarkable man who made such a difference in the fight for equality, we should also take a moment to celebrate the positive changes we have made as a society.

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