Tenth Grade Second Place Essay
NINA LISPI
Bishop McDevitt High School

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Martin Luther King Jr. sought to create a better nation. He looked to break down barriers and build instead a strong foundation of compassion and understanding. He saw the brotherhood of man not merely as a poet’s dream, but as a feasible and reachable goal. He saw a future in which America could be as one, despite superficial boundaries of race, ethnicity, creed, or economic standing. A nation is only as good as those who live in it; thus, in order to improve this country we must first improve ourselves.
Dr. King taught selflessness and understanding. In his final public appearance before his tragic and untimely death in 1968, he encouraged those in the crowd to place others’ needs before their own. Helping countrymen and women to achieve the goal of equality is a noble and worth cause, which ultimately leads to personal betterment. To better oneself is a stepping-stone on the path to a better nation, the nation Dr. King envisioned.
To say that Dr. King advocated tolerances is not enough. He longed for a nation where citizens would not only tolerate one another, but also show compassion toward all mankind. He wanted us to see ourselves in every other person in this nation. We are to help our countrymen, regardless of our differences, which should be celebrated, not condemned. No one deserves to be treated as less than any other person, because, in the final analysis, we are the same and have the same vision: compassion and equality.
Martin Luther King Jr. asked America to look inside itself. Each of us, as individuals and citizens of this country, is expected to examine our thoughts, practices, and attitude for signs of inequality or prejudice. We must work to change any negative attitudes before they become toxic and limiting; prove to ourselves that the work of Dr. King was not in vain.
Every time we choose to act with compassion and respect toward our fellow citizens, America becomes a stronger, better place to live. Don’t let the boundaries fool you. This nation really can be as one, if only we have the strength as individuals to fight for Dr. King’s dream.