I remember when I was watching a video of a group out of Shasta County, California documenting their fight against their totalitarian and corrupt county commissioners. One of the women spearheading a movement to recall some of the commissioners explained that she was a busy mom, wife, business owner, etc. and that she never thought she would get involved in politics. But, when it became clear that her family, her children, her life, and our country were at stake, she got involved.
I was thinking that there probably a lot of important people in history who never wanted to get involved in politics but had to in order to fight for something that was life or death.
I’m sure the Founding Fathers never wanted to have a revolution. They wanted to live their lives in peace. But freedom from the King was more important.
I’m sure any soldier who fought in World War I and II didn’t want to get involved in war. They wanted to live their lives out in peace. But fighting for their country was more important.
I’m sure that Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t want to protest against racism. He wanted to live his life peacefully as a preacher, father and husband. But, fighting for EQUALITY was more important.
I’m sure the first responders on 9/11 didn’t want to get involved in the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. They wanted to live their lives in safety. But saving the lives of others was more important.
I could go on and say the same for so many people.
And now, here we are. None of us wanted to get involved in politics. I know I didn’t. I had retired from teaching. I had spent my life volunteering for various sports organizations and teams. I figured I’d sit at home, feed the birds, run, walk my dogs and visit my children.
But some things are too important to stay out of the fight. The right of our children to be educated, not indoctrinated. The right for citizens to make their own informed decisions about their health. The right for people to speak their minds freely without reprisal. The right to own and have dominion over my property, to worship as I believe, to travel, to conduct business. All these rights.
Each of us brings something to the fray. Some will stand up in the front lines and lead us. Others will write, inform and/or share opinions. People with organizational skills will manage fundraising, membership drives, letter writing campaigns. And some will be “foot soldiers” and will do all that is needed.
But, sitting at home worrying and complaining will not make things better. Yes, I know. You don’t want to lose friends, get called bad names, expose yourself to reprisals. But that won’t help us win what might be the biggest fight in the history of this country. A fight for our heart, soul, and freedom.
So, find your niche. Thicken your emotional skin. And lend your talents to the fight.
In the words of Winston Churchill, ” I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. ” He was taking the British Government over from the appeaser Neville Chamberlain because of Hitler’s advance toward England. It was dire times. But, he ended his plea with this; ” I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our caused will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, ” come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.”
It worked out well in the end, Hitler was defeated and the world was protected from the Nazis.
All because Churchill jumped into the fight and the United States and Russia joined him. Imagine what things would be like if they hadn’t.
Get off the sidelines!!!
