The Time is Always Right
Every year, the Breakthrough Project sponsors an essay contest for fifthand sixth-grade students centered around the theme for the Celebration of Unity. This year, students were asked to write about Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote, “The time is always right to do what is right” in the context of 1960 and today. Have they even been in a situation where doing the right thing was difficult and ignoring the problem was easier? Following is the winning sixth-grade entry, written by Lawrence Elementary student Simon Kolber and titled “The Time is Always Right.”
“The time is always right to do what is right,” stated Martin Luther King Jr. in a speech in 1960. I think he wanted to encourage people to follow their beliefs in the right way, even if you feel powerless and alone. You can make a difference. People can’t wait around for what they think is the right time to stand up for something right. They have to do it now, because now is the right time.
While MLK Jr. had said this in 1960, I believe this quote still holds true today. At the time MLK Jr. had directed this quote towards black people to be strong with their beliefs who were demanding equal rights. Back then black people were unrespected and sometimes ignored. They had to use different water fountains and bathrooms. They sat in the back of the bus. They sometimes had to eat at different restaurants. Even during 2019 protesters are still standing up for what they think is right. In Hong Kong thousands of young people are protesting for more rights in their country. They are flooding the streets and risking their lives. Protesters in Hong Kong wake up early and walk around in all black. Police throw tear gas and even use facial recognition to find information about them. Protesters and even whole families are being killed or “disappear.” The protesters know this and are risking their lives for their and future generations’ rights. Even though MLK Jr. and the Hong Kong protesters are protesting about different things and in different times, there are still reasons to protest even though it never seems like a good time to do it.
At 12 years old I haven’t come across my big challenge yet. One person I admire is a 16-year-old from Sweden name Greta Thunberg. Greta perfectly displays how doing nothing is easier and doing the right thing was difficult. For days Greta said outside the Swedish Parliament by herself with a sign protesting to do something about climate change. Now Greta, a 16year-old girl, has over 11 million people protesting about climate change alongside her. To refrain from damaging the world through climate change, she has become vegan, stopped flying because of the carbon footprint, started Shop Stop — she only buys items when absolutely necessary, and she is going around the world by boat and train to talk in speeches and put pressure on big leaders in the world, including Donald Trump. Greta could have stayed home and never gone out to protest but she did. Greta did this because she knew it is always the right time to do what is right. I really admire her efforts to do the right thing even though it was hard.
Just this week I heard a relevant story. Beach storm waves stranded thousands of poor starfish on the sand. One little girl went from one starfish to the next throwing the starfish back. An old man came up and asked the girl, “Why are you doing this? There are thousands of starfish along this beach. You, little girl, couldn’t possibly make a difference.” The girl heard the old man and picked up another starfish and threw it back into the ocean. The little girl replied, “I just made a difference to that one.” This is a great example of how one person’s actions can make a difference even if it is only for one person.
Whether it was Greta Thunberg, the Hong Kong protesters, or MLK Jr. they have all taught me there might never be a perfect time to stand up for what you believe. You just have to take a stand, have courage, and take action. No one person is too small to make a difference.