Reasons to speak

When I'm not writing, I like to read about it and think about it. It's what I do for a living, it's my hobby, it's my bliss. That doesn't make for varied answers on personal questionnaires, but it does lead me to interesting stuff like this, which I found this week on a blog called Storytelling:

a change in policy

For the most part I have not raised politics here on the weblog. There are so many good political bloggers out there, you don’t need to hear my opinions as well. That was my policy, but today a friend sent me an email with a new signature line: Your Silence, Your Legacy.

That shook me. In my personal life I am not silent (I’m sure this is no surprise), but I am rarely in a situation where I’m talking to a pro-war type person. But as far as this weblog is concerned, I have taken the easy way out. So I’ve carved out the top of the right sidebar as my political stomping ground. I will make an effort to update it every day, but that probably is overly optimistic. In any case, if a few more people are a little more aware of what’s going on, I’ll feel as if I’ve raised my voice.

I had never thought about it that way before! The reasons we give ourselves to keep quiet on subjects that are important to us, that keep us from speaking up for something, are often flat-out bogus social conventions: This isn't the time, this isn't the place, other people do it better, I'll sound foolish, that kind of thing.

Now and then I tell myself that being quiet is the same as picking my battles. And to a certain extent, that's true. But frankly, there are times when I don't speak up -- for peace, for equality, for healing -- because I'm afraid I'll sound dumb, or that my one small opinion doesn't count for much.

Doesn't count?! Where the heck did that idea come from? When we speak up for something -- think MLK in Washington speaking for "the riches of freedom and security of justice," think the monks in Myanmar marching for democracy -- we add volume and strength and personal meaning to the global conversation on the topics we care about. When we speak up for peace and healing, that naturally attracts more attention to peace and healing.

If I say, "I am for peace in Congo," that's small, but it's something. And if other people hear me, and agree, and then more people around the world, and eventually we're all saying, in concert with people in Congo, all while acknowledging the history of suffering and violence, "I am for peace here," and then eventually we're all acting from that place, acting from the idea that peace in Congo is possible ...

Some may be skeptical, but speaking up for peace, consistently, with no caveats, as if it is possible, tends to push things along. It adds energy and momentum to the awareness of peace, an awareness that it's something people want, something of which people are capable.

Awareness first, then action, then change.

That's what this HumanKind Media thing is all about: The global community we want to create already exists in the form of billions of individuals who want peace and healing -- we're just trying to make it more possible for everyone to speak up and become aware of each other. So use our comment forms, use your blog, use your voice and actions to speak up for peace and healing. And while you're at it, use your bliss: writing, teaching, photography, running, art, finance, entrepreneurship, whatever you do, to support it, too.

There's no reason not to speak up for what we all want. There are billions of good reasons to speak up: All the other people who are waiting to see if anyone else wants peace this much, too.

Comments

[Renata Meirelles]

Hi Liz,
I just loved your website.
Believe me, your "reasons to speak" and other texts did something good to me. You are right: there's no reason not to speak up for what we all want.
I'll practice this more often in my way.
It was great to see you this weekend.
Keep in touch
XOXOXO
Renata