Monday our nation celebrates the memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

King epitomized the American Civil Rights movement through his determined, but peaceful approach to demanding equal rights for all Americans.

Sadly, a hate-filled assassin cut his life short in 1968. Fortunately, by the time he was killed, the wheels were already set into motion for significant change in America.

Today, on the eve of the federal holiday to commemorate King’s work, our nation remains among the best in the world, but also deeply flawed and divided as well.

Perhaps not since the Civil Rights Movement or perhaps the Civil War has America been as divided politically as it is now.

King’s non-violent approach to differences of opinions and beliefs is a wise model for us all to take as our nation works to heal wounds from the nasty presidential election and find common ground on which to rebuild America.

King’s dream is America’s dream — that we all be treated equally.

Monday we hope, for a moment at least, all of us should pause for a few minutes to remember King’s legacy and to reflect on how we might modify our own outlook to more reflect the peaceful approach King took to his causes.

King knew that the way to gain change was to work inside the laws, not outside the laws.

Peaceful determination will outweigh hatred and violence every single time.

That’s difficult to remember in our current society when thugs ambush police and the respect for human life sometimes seems almost non-existent.