MLK Day: Just an Excuse for Another Holiday?

Contrary to the tone the title may set, this is actually a piece in favor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration/holiday. Sure, we can look at bits and pieces from his storied past, picking controversial statements from his speeches such as...Oh, let us say his views on communism, that may decry the legitimacy of the claim for remembrance--keep in mind that as controversial as his statements were in the sixties, they are more suited to today's audience as most Democrats are Socialists and most Republicans are Moderates or Progressives--but the man did a lot of good, and should be recognized for his efforts in the Civil Rights Movement. I do promise this will not turn into a political paper: As stated earlier, I am in favor of the celebration, and it is upon this my paper shall focus.
It is extremely difficult at times to put oneself in another's head, yet at other times we have but to look around us, observing the behaviors of people to know what they are thinking. I feel this is true with the celebrators of MLK Day in that they have turned it into more of a non-holiday much like Hallowe'en, and the celebration is not very different, either: There are festivals, goody-bags for children, and activities for everyone, and in-between all this some message about Dr. King is liberally sprinkled to an audience who cares more for what is in the goody-bag than the man himself. The actual celebration of the day is not so much for the community but for community leaders to say, "Hey, look at the effort we put forth," and if, at the end of the day, all the goody-bags are gone, they view their efforts as a success.
Sadly, we live in a time when and where people are more focused on what benefits them right here, right now as an individual; sure, there are those among us who are old enough to remember the Civil Rights Movement, but has time jaded them to the responsibilities they have to educate others these fifty years later? Dr. King's significance as man and messenger is barely taught in our schools, and I dare say to no great degree in our homes. Todays youth--Nay! Anyone age 45 and under has no real grasp of how consequential this period in our nation's history was simply because we did not experience it first-hand. My generation did see the immediate after-effects of the movement, but every generation since has continuously lost touch, and I blame their parents for this, but not just the parents, but the individuals themselves. Everything today is my-my-my, me-me-me, I-I-I, and to hell with history and how it has given me the freedoms I enjoy today. People place more importance on Kobe's words of the week or Kanye's rant of the day or Tebow's pre-game rituals; they spend dollar after dollar making brand-name manufacturers rich when the reality is that, at the end of the day, they barely have two nickels to rub together, but that's okay because they have the latest phone, pad, app, clothes, rims...you get the point.
When thinking of the significance Dr. King should have in every person's life, I think of the Blues. Blues, at one time, was the ultimate expression of black culture, but now more whites are keeping the craft alive. The same applies to Dr. King. Blacks claim him because he is black, but do blacks really identify with him anymore? Are whites keeping the dream alive as blacks continue to say, "King ain't done a damn thing for me?"
The federal government has set aside this day to celebrate the life of an American who made a difference, who changed history, and whose life should be remembered and celebrated for those reasons. Dr. King invited everyone to join him on this journey, thus should everyone be like-minded in their response. Recognize that which is deserving of recognition; remark upon that which should be remarked upon. Sadly, even this may be too much to ask.
I suppose the bottom line is that we get a day off from work and school, and everyone seems to be content with that.