I’m taking a slight break from the letter writing for a moment here, for a very good reason. Because the world is hurting right now. In many ways, it’s not a new pain. But there is hurt. There is fear, unrest and ignorance.
I’ve talked before on this blog about coexisting with people with different beliefs than you. And if you’re interested in that piece, you can find it here. But I really don’t want that to be where the topic rests, especially with the state of things right now. Because there’s a big difference between “we think differently about life” and “injustice is happening but you don’t care”.
Nobody needs my opinion or explanation of these big topics, such as injustice, bigotry, abuse of power, or the effectiveness of different aspects of activism. In fact, in a lot of ways, how I feel and my understanding of it is pretty irrelevant, since I’m not an oppressed person, I don’t have legal or systemic authority, and I don’t have a very big platform for raising awareness. But there is an aspect of this messy unrest and injustice that I do feel I have enough credibility to speak on, and it fits pretty well with the brand of the blog as well, so that’s what we’re going to talk about today.
Be the change
I am a firm believer that change starts from within. You have to become the person that you wish you could see out there in the world, and that applies to large scale injustices too. We should all be working to be better people. To educate ourselves about what our fellow earthlings go through, to come up with new ideas to share kindness, and to put good into this world. We should put our money where our mouth is, and support good causes, and avoid taking part in activities that benefit destruction, division or harm to others.
We need to also invest our attention. To visionaries with solutions, to stories of those who inspire us and fill us with hope. We need to pay more attention to our loved ones, to learn how to better hear them, encourage them, and support them. If we are upset by a problem, we need to seriously sit down and try to understand how we can be part of the solution. And I promise you, there are many ways that you can give of yourself, in order to be a positive influence.
Use your voice
Alongside improving yourself and trying your best to leave a legacy of love, respect, and kindness to the world, I think there’s one other thing you can do, and that is to use your voice. And this is a tricky one. Because it does require tact to get your point across, and you also have to be ready for people to ridicule you, treat you as a burden, a crazy, or a joke. And honestly, that hurts. Especially when it’s people you care about. But when you’re speaking up for a good cause, something that’s real, and important, although it may hurt, your conscience will stay clear. Because you know you are doing the best you can.
And there are many ways to use your voice. I look at people who do peaceful protests with so much admiration. Or those who use their platforms to advocate for causes they know to be important. “Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.” But honestly, speaking out against injustice isn’t just for famous people with huge social media followings, or for people with voices loud enough to challenge a bullhorn. It happens in the little moments, too.
Change happens when you treat the people around you with respect, and when you won’t stand by while your peers refuse to do so. Change happens when you sit down with your ignorant friend and tell them that even though you love them, they’re subscribing to harmful ideas. And to be honest, using your voice, even in these seemingly small-stakes scenarios is often uncomfortable. Because we’d like to think that the people we love are better than that. But they’re fallible. And your voice could make them finally understand.
Even if you’re not going to do anything else, I think it’s important to have the uncomfortable conversations with your peers and loved ones, particularly if you do come from a place of privilege. Because to be a silent ally…when you see injustice being advocated for or rationalized in front of you…well, that’s hardly an ally at all.
And if the only place where you have any sway is in your personal life, with your personal friends and loved ones, that’s okay. But use it there. Have the conversations. You don’t need to scream or be irrational. But it’s okay to be emotional. Use your voice to let people know the negative impact of injustice. Even if they just see how it upsets you or rubs you the wrong way, it could make them ask a new question. One they should have been asking all along.
