The American dream is a popular and thought-provoking topic. The dream can mean different things to different people. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. His American dream can be a lesson to us all. In his monumental "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King made this statement: "I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream."

This statement has great historical relevance. In 1963, America was in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. Alabama governor George Wallace was causing grief and fear among the activists with his idea of "segregation today, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever." There were riots and nearly daily protests. The mood of the era was grim and dark. Yet through all his despair, Dr. King found the courage to speak up...