On this holiday, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would not want us to celebrate too long. Instead, he would want us to seek new moral challenges.

As we observe King's birthday, we quickly find that this is no ordinary holiday. The emphasis has shifted from celebrating to defining the dream that King so passionately spoke of.

On this day, everyone must remember to pause and honor the memory of their beloved brother, regardless of race or color. However, the pause should be brief, as much work remains.

Twenty-two years after his death, King's dream is still unrealized. It would break his heart to see people killing each other over drugs. Homeless people sleeping in cardboard boxes in public parks. Children and other victims dying of AIDS while the government devotes more money to defense programs.

Underrepresented groups continue to be denied equal opportunities in jobs, education and housing. Increasing occurrence of racial violence perpetrated against people of color, particularly black people.

If King were alive today, he would cringe at this absence of brotherhood and love. His heart would be heavy with sorrow as he saw his vision crumbling around him.

But King would have hope. With the arrival of a new decade, King would renew hope and perseverance more vigorously than ever.

He would implore us to accept this new moral challenge of returning peace, love and brotherhood to the planet. He would challenge each of us to look within ourselves -- to see what we could give to make the world a better place for ourselves, if not for others.

If King were alive, he would ask why, in 1990 black people and other oppressed people still live in the same deplorable conditions. He would call us into action, organizing protests, rallies and marches to political arenas around the country.

King said injustice anywhere was a threat to justice everywhere. With that in mind he would demand that we pressure the government into taking more concrete, long-range action against South Africa.

Now is the time to learn about King's legacy. Without knowledge of the man that spoke of the dream, people cannot truly understand or work toward that dream. Find out who King was, what he believed in, his principles, morals, values and philosophy of life.

This week offers the entire University community a rare opportunity to honor its martyred brother. The 1990 Dr. Martin Luther King Convocation will feature Eleanor Holmes Norton as the keynote speaker at 4 this afternoon in Eisenhower Auditorium. The film The Meeting: Malcolm X meets Dr. Martin Luther King will be shown at 7 tomorrow night in Schwab Auditorium.

Find out about King, then find out about the dream.