Even from a thousand miles away, I could still hear that voice. Those cries. The dry, humid air of the capital city filled my lungs as birds chirped in the distance. Chaotic memories plagued my heart. Memories that brought me back to a time when everything was not so well. Stinging words levied against me, every syllable a lie that tore straight into my heart. Sly gossiping that turned into constant whispers behind my back. Anticipating a friend to deliver, when all they gave me were broken promises. Every day, millions of people across the world face the same suffering when they remember past abuse and trauma. They carry with them the crushed skeletons in the closet resulting from individuals who did not treat them with the respect they deserved. Whether it was from neglect, physical attacks, harassment, cyberbullying, or sexual assault, these people are deeply hurt by what the experiences they go through. What is causing 28% of children to witness a traumatic experience before they turn four, 40% of youth to receive a physical adult, and 33% of children to report being emotionally harassed? And this is just in America alone. The answer is that we don't yet have the courage to stand up and say "This is wrong." We as a society are so consumed in the latest Twitter posts, the most trendy fads, that we are forgetting what makes us human. And that is taking care of the humans around us. We need to create a culture of accountability. People should not be able to just say what they want to say and just "get away with it." Words are power. Words have real influence over society. And so, when people try to label an individual as "other" or viciously demean them, that is not okay. It is not okay to inflict that kind of abuse and it is not okay to tolerate it. And that is why, when you see something wrong, it is your responsibility to speak up and say something. You hold the power in your hands to erase the pain from someone else's life. That is not an easy burden to carry, neither is it a burden that everyone can carry. But if special people have taken the time out of their day to pour love into you and make you feel whole, then you sure as hell owe it to pass that gift onto someone else.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |