This article, was written shortly after the death of Rosa Parks, as her body was lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC. It discusses the significance of her legacy as the first woman, among the 29 Americans to be so honored. Although Parks was an ordinary citizen, she helped bring about the civil rights movement in the U.S. after she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Many believe that her arrest may have been the flash point that led to the famous Montgomery bus boycott. Through a single, small act of civil disobedience, Parks became a catalyst for a campaign that would change the nation for the better. On January 15th of this year, Scott Simon read his essay, "Sharing the Stage with Dr. King," on NPR's "Weekend Edition" to honor King's birthday. In this piece Simon reminded listeners that many who were important to the civil rights movement were--like Parks in 1955-not famous. Many are people whose names we never even knew. "The children who filled Birmingham's jails to help bring down school desegregation in 1963, are in their 50's and 60's now. Relatively few of their names are enshrined on plaques, but they are all members of another of America's greatest generation: men and women who were beaten, bled, and alongside Dr. King, got up to struggle for their country's freedom. His national holiday is theirs, too," said Simon. The author cites other examples of individuals who stood up to struggle for freedom in the face of unjust laws and reminds Americans that such stories serve as reminders of what individual acts of conscience and courage can do to change the conscience of a nation. This article reminds one that in the face of events or conditions that seem unjust, it is easy to feel powerless. The author concludes by suggesting that perhaps the lesson here is Parks, Dr. King, Thoreau, and thousands of other ordinary Americans, through example all showed Americans a better way to stand up and make a difference.