Hindering Justice: Failure to Prioritize

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The dedication of the MLK memorial should today serve as a reminder to all of us that we have to fight for justice no matter how much money we're making or even if what we are fighting for doesn't necessarily have an effect on us. President Obama through his powerful speech stood behind the protesters on Wall Street and all over the globe because just like a few decades ago Martin Luther King, Jr. was doing the same. He led peaceful protests despite the brutality of the police officers towards the African American people fighting for their civil rights. Now in 2011, we are all fighting for our right to live as dignified human beings. It's time for equality once again, this time financial. 

Unfortunately, there is something hindering that justice that we all seek. That hindrance is the failure to properly prioritize our needs. With anything that we do, if we want to succeed, we have to prioritize appropriately. So the same should be when we want justice. However, in Washington, there seems to be other obligations that are getting in the way of that justice. Instead of asking why the people are protesting, they need to ask what can be done or how can we make this nation better so our people don't need to feel the need to protest. Instead of passing the jobs bill, the republicans would rather pass a bill which allows hospitals the right to perform abortions. They're making decisions on defunding women's health, their right to choose, and how to attack President Obama, but they don't seem to care about how those decisions are affecting us as a people.

Unfortunately we've made mistakes, especially when it came to properly assessing and prioritizing the needs of our country. We cannot continue to make those same mistakes.  Making sure you place the right issues where they need to be is the true key to success in any endeavor you embark on. Right now we are on the journey to justice. It won't be an easy battle because of the many nonbelievers who refuse to look our way and help. Like the popular civil rights song says, "We shall overcome someday". Let's all have a dream to see justice for everyone from sea to shining sea. By continuing to fight for our political leaders and opposition alike to see that they're priorities (money, media attention, political campaigns) are ahead of what is truly important (human rights, dignity, health) then we shall continue to embrace and honor the legacy left behind by Martin Luther King, Jr. As we continue to fight for justice, he lives on in all our hearts.