Every Voice Matters

As someone who loves to read and write, I've always been a sucker for good quotes.  I own no less than four quote books and I know this makes me a bit of a dork. But the fact is that so many wise and inspirational things have been said in the past that stil carry relevance today and that should be repeated often.  So, in light of my love of quotes I've decided to share them on occasion as I come across lines that strike me as particularly relevant to the discussions here.

I'm going to start today with a gem from Martin Luther King, Jr.  Monday is MLK Day so that in and of itself makes the selection fitting.  But I particularly like this quote because it's an election year and because lately the idea that we are all entitled to voice our own opinions has been threatened by those weilding power in DC.  In my book, civic duty is more than serving on a jury when called or voting the first Tuesday in November.  Civic duty means staying informed, being aware of what is going on, holding those we vote for accountable and, yes, speaking out on the issues that move us. The single greatest thing about being an American is the freedom to be an individual, to form and express our own creeds and to live the life that fulfills us.  This quote captures all of this and more:

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
                                                   -Martin Luther King, Jr.

-BG