Decide to Change the World

I have strong feelings about equality for all individuals.  I'm passionate about the concept of erasing cultural biases using education and activism.  Women, minorities, LGBT folk--all have struggled and continue to struggle for civil rights in this supposedly enlightened, modern age. 

Tea Partiers point out that we have elected a black President and state that racism is dead, a non-issue.  Conservatives can name women who have broken through the glass ceilings in many businesses and therefore all women obviously have equal rights.  Likewise, LGBT people come out publicly every day so it's obviously not needed as a protected class and there's no need for "It Gets Better".

Exceptions prove the rule.  The fact that we can point to this, that, and the other to show it just ain't so, means as a rule it usually IS so, except in some situations.

I'm fascinated by civil rights activists throughout history of our country. 

• Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X.  They fought and died for racial equality.
• Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan, who gave voice to women's rights in the 60s and 70s.
• Harry Hay, Harvey Milk, Brenda Howard.  Voices and faces of Gay Rights in America.

These people and thousands of others fought for their causes of social justice and equal rights.  They were vilified, imprisoned, killed.  But they were inspired individuals who paved the way.

The "Be the Change You Wish to See" is so trite, and so true.  We must all model the behaviors and contribute to the stream of consciousness about equal rights.  We must continue to educate our families, coworkers, and neighbors. 

This is a great story about several gay individuals in the midwest.  One of them is Ben Alley, a young man who at the age of 16 was totally abandoned by his Baptist parents.  They dumped him and moved out of state due to him being gay.  He just graduated high school and is moving on to college, thanks to kind and caring friends. 

The other is Raynard Kington, the black man and Grinnell college president who acknowledges,

"I am where I am because a lot of other people decided to change the world."

I think that's very important for us to remember.  What we do, the struggles we encounter in our fight for equality for our fellow citizens, makes the path smoother and less treacherous for those who follow.  We can never abandon the fight, we can never give up or become complacent, or rest on our laurels.  The fact is that although we may win some battles, the war will continue for some generations to come.

Join with me?  Decide to Change the World.