Senator Cory Booker made the news earlier this week. He said, “Tonight, I rise with the intention of getting in some good trouble. I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” He remained standing (and didn’t eat or go to the bathroom) for 25 hours because he believes that our country is in crisis. Would I have been willing to do that? Would I be willing to be physically uncomfortable in order to stand up for what I believe?
This evening during a class, we were discussing the Holocaust and how scary it must have been to endanger yourself and your family in order to protect Anne Frank’s family. Would I have been willing to do that? Would I be willing to endanger myself to help protect others who are being persecuted?
The history books are full of the brave. Harriet Tubman and those who participated in the Underground Railroad helped many people find freedom. The suffragette movement leaders who championed women’s rights helped bring about the 19th amendment: my right to vote. Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ended up sacrificing his own life in the civil rights movement.
As a child, I always thought:
Of course, I would have helped Anne Frank.
Of course, I would have helped the Underground Railroad.
Of course, I would have participated in the Civil Rights movement.
As an adult, I have to ask myself:
Have I helped those who are being persecuted?
Have I helped the oppressed find freedom?
Have I championed the rights of all people?
Our descendants will learn about our country's current crisis in their history classes. Will you be on the compassionate side, the humane side, the right side of this time in history? Will I?
Reading stories about brave people is fun and exciting, but the decision to actually be a brave person will always take courage. Do you have that courage? Do I?
Rosa Parks refused to stand up.
Senator Cory Booker refused to sit down.
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It’s certainly something to think about. When I taught the Holocaust unit, the kids would always say, “I would have… .” I reminded them that it is easy to be brave reading about it in a classroom; reality is much different.
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly is much easier to read about it or watch a movie about it. The reality that is usually happening in a society which requires people to act with such courage is pretty scary.
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