A recent story on “60 Minutes” addressed the controversy surrounding the use of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s image for profit. The discussion focused on a communications company that used excerpts from King’s “I have a dream” speech in a television ad.

According to “60 Minutes,” King copyrighted most of his work before his assassination. This provided his family with the opportunity to collect royalties from companies, media organizations and scholars who want to use King’s words or image for publication or broadcast.

Some, like the NAACP, criticize the King family for their alleged opportunistic attitude on this matter. In addition, others claim that the great civil rights leader would have turned around in his grave over the misuse of his ideas for commercial purposes.

Perhaps it is helpful to reflect on the purpose of holidays. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on January 21, celebrates and honors King. Yet the recent controversy obscures how we should perceive and honor him.

Should we remember him as a courageous educator and outstanding champion of equality and justice for all? Or should we, as some fear, remember him as the spokesperson for a certain communications company?

Most of those who saw that ad would probably be hard pressed to recall the company’s name, let alone its slogan. It is more likely that viewers will remember the digitally re-mastered image of King standing above the empty steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. The ad is deceiving. In reality, thousands and thousands of people had gathered to listen to King’s speech.

It is also more likely that those who saw the ad will remember King’s famous dream that the day will come when America’s children will “live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

What a marvelous vision. What a wonderful dream.

The purpose of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is to honor this very dream and to remember it.

Does it matter how the memory of future generations will be triggered into recognizing King’s dream?

The utilization of King’s image and words to promote any given product clearly wasn’t the original intent. On the other hand, the broader exposure carries King’s words and image through modern media outlets into the consciousness of thousands and thousands of people and helps sustain his dream.

It doesn’t matter how and where we remember. What matters is that we remember the dream that King believed in, fought and died for.