As we take time to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are all reminded about the value of hard work and strong convictions. This tremendously brave human being articulated the challenges and difficulties that face humanity, and never ceased his tireless efforts in pursuit of his goal: equality.

Being the great orator that Dr. King was, many people today have memorized famous quotes of his that help shape their outlook in life and provide them with daily strength. Here is one quote in particular that I have always found to be profoundly inspiring:

“We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood — it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, ‘Too late’.”

These words would merely be empty and lost to history without the simple hard work that Dr. King practiced on a daily basis. As a result of his dedication, our nation is a better place to live. Through him, we can learn that anything is possible through hard work.

Today, we must purpose in our minds to make our great country a better place for our children. For just as MLK helped snuff out the flames of racism and hatred in his time, we must work diligently for equality and freedom in ours.

– Karen Floyd, SCGOP Chairman