True Warriors And False Martyrs

Into a pit of darkness, we fall down the rabbit hole of destruction. Following the cruelties of nations’ past, we enter an era of fascism, committing human wrongs. Turning a blind eye, afraid to be the next target of a man not fit for presidency, people cower at the annoying fits thrown by Trump. Legacies of civil rights leaders of the past, drowned and forgotten, spit on by the apathetic tones of the people in the modern world—people who praise white nationalists like Charlie Kirk.

Kirk is not a martyr, nor will he ever be. That is an insult to true Christians and basic human decency. He was a false prophet, a grifter. He was a mortal man whose atrocious ideals led to an early death. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, but the consequences can be dire. Just ask Kirk.

From abolitionists to women's rights advocates, people throughout the years stood up for what they believed in, fighting against the atrocities inflicted by man. The sufferings of others was felt by these individuals, and through their empathy, they fought for equality.

Meet Angelina Emily Grimké Weld and Sarah Moore Grimké. Born in the South to a man who had believed women should be subordinate to men, they were not educated like their older brother. However, their brother taught them what he had learned in school: mathematics, language, and more. The sisters would continue to educate the enslaved individuals on their father’s land. It was short-lived, as their father ordered them to stop. Though, Angelina and Sarah did not allow their roots to corrupt them. In fact, from witnessing the cruelties of slavery, they fought for the freedom and equality of others. They both became American abolitionists, political activists, women's rights advocates, and supporters of the women's suffrage movement. In fact, Sarah Grimké is known to be the mother of the women's suffrage movement. While they had roots of being born on a slave-owning plantation, they did not allow that to lead them into the footsteps of their parents. And as two white women in the 1800s, the color of their skin and their status did not prevent them from fighting for the freedom of enslaved individuals in this country. In fact, they used that privilege as a power for good.

So, what is your excuse?

Read more about the Welds at:

• https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/angelina-grimke-weld 

• https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-moore-grimke

Sarah Moore Grimké: abolitionist and feminist (1796-1873)

Angelina Grimké Weld: abolitionist, political activist, and women's rights advocate (1805-1879))

When people prioritize material possessions—over people and facts—it is no wonder that hate has been spreading like a plague of filth. So how do we fix a country so divided? A country that has fallen and become smothered in hate and fear? We speak up; we fight. We do not cower, in fear of losing our jobs. We do not cower, in fear of being arrested. We do not cower because it is popular...

Many social justice advocates have come before us, and many will come after us. These individuals have their own fears, which they put aside in order to fight for the freedoms of others, as well as themselves. These people were born with a purpose, with passion. And you, too, can be one of these people. You just have to learn not to cower. You must learn to get rid of the human-made notions that you cannot create change merely because you are "just one person." In fact, YOU can create change for that reason alone. You are ONE person, a unique individual with strength that continues to sleep dormant under the fears of failure and death. Your words, your actions, inspire those around you for better or for worst. Like a spiral maze of dominoes or a jigsaw puzzle, you are one piece—an important piece.

So, you have read it this far, which means you and I may be on the same wavelength, even if it is just a pin drop of similar thinking. My next question: So, what is really preventing you from speaking up?

Is it really something so mundane as fear? Why have fear, when we all end up in the same place with the same end? The fear of the unknown... it eats at the soul. Fear is the root of cowardice. And in fear, we travel further down our personal rabbit holes into an uglier slime. Do not let cowardice and the fears of this world prevent you from being the best version of yourself. If you do, what is the point of living?

In Malcolm X fashion of saying some of the most profound wisdom, "I'm a man who believes that I died 20 years ago. And I live like a man who is dead already. I have no fear whatsoever of anybody or anything."

If all of these words escape you, and you find yourself still relishing the pain and suffering of others, maybe you are not actually fit to live within a society? A society is to benefit all within the group, not a selected few. We are primates, first and foremost, no matter your personal religious beliefs. That is a fact. We are part of the Animal Kingdom, but who is to say your belief is wrong? Both things could be right, everything could be right. The universe is a mystical place. But this is not a piece about philosophy and theory. This is a letter to the American people, a plea, to restore ethics and civility to the United States of America. So, all people can prosper in unity and love.

Everyone talks about the chimpanzees and bonobos being our closest cousins, and while they are correct, we must learn to harness the gorilla. We must fight for our society. We must be strong, loving, and kind. We must protect our young and show strength in times of need. Only then can we live a life worth meaning and have the right to call ourselves human.

So, be like Malcolm X, Angelina and Sarah Grimké, Dian Fossey, and so many others. Live life with meaning, purpose. Become your higher self and turn away from the evils of apathy and cruelty, because the world is waiting for you to shine bright like a supernova, exploding in the universe for all to become inspired from.