Do Something.
Think back to when you first learned about the Civil Rights Era of the 1960s. Imagine the pictures you had seen in your textbooks in the pre-internet era of the supremely angry white people. Are you able to recall your feelings? Did you say to yourself “oh well, that wouldn’t be me!”
Oh, but it is you. It’s all of us. Because we’re STILL there.
Yes, there has been some progress but not nearly enough in the 60 years or so that have transpired. I mean shit, our government is under siege figuratively and literally. And we still have so much more progress to go.
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
-Martin Niemoller, 1946
What’s “funny” is that I started to write this post last week. And my notes say to mention the forementioned quote. And then, without speaking to one another about this, my friend Heather Fleming updated it for the modern times when she spoke at a July 4th protest march.
It’s no longer (and never really was, to be frank with you) okay to sit by and do nothing. Here’s some other quotes for you; allow them to take you on a journey.
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost, almost all of the time.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
“The truth will set you free, but first it’ll piss you off.”
“The very heartbeat of racism is denial.”
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."
- Maya Angelou.
“Join me, or get out of my way.”
So, I repeat. It is you. It’s all of us. Because we’re STILL there. And if you’re not fighting for progress, or you’re complacent, you’re not voting, staying aware, educating yourself, spending your money wisely, actively TRYING to improve the world… then yes, you’re absolutely the problem. Sit with that and then STAND UP and do something.
Because honestly, putting up a little FB profile frame that says you “Stand with Ukraine” does ABSOLUTELY nothing. Use your skills to help fight the good fight. Someone close to me used their medical, crafting skills, and financial resources to personally create and ship 30+ clamp tourniquets for those literally fighting for their lives in Ukraine.
This is what I mean by DO SOMETHING. What are YOU doing to make the world a better place? Are you joining forces or are you hanging out in your hall of smoke and mirrors telling yourself that everything is just fine?
If you want to hear more from SESTIVA, enter your information below.
