Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ideals he stood and fought for – justice and equality. He was a man who taught us how to stand up for what we believe in and lay down our life for it if necessary. He was a man who taught us to judge people based on the "content of their character" and not the color of their skin. He was a man who taught us that there is more to who we are than the demographics we seem to always be categorized in. He taught us that above all we are human beings – not just Democrats and Republicans or black and white.

While political debates help strengthen our country in many ways, it is important we remember that at the end of each day we all desire the best for this great nation, we all desire to see each other succeed, and we all desire to walk through life learning from our mistakes and becoming better individuals. Our country has come a long way since that fateful 1968 day in Memphis, and Dr. King would most certainly be proud of where we are today, but let us not rest in striving for equality and justice. Whether it is on matters of race or not, may we continue to judge people on the content of their character – not who they are on the outside.

Later today I will be attending the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial March and Parade in Chattanooga. I encourage all of you to attend as well, but if you cannot, please take time to reflect on Dr. King’s message that he fought so hard for.