The Second to Last Word

I became an activist today. I am not sure how or why. This morning I had one of those moments made famous in that movie Network.

Yesterday I saw the former ESPN talking head throw his pennies in the mix. If you have not seen it, click here.

It is strange where inspiration comes from. I mean finding Jesus in prison is easy to understand. Where do we find the motivation to do something ANYTHING to help out those whose voice has been silenced by a majority vote? The reason we have a Constitution and a Bill of Rights is to protect all citizens permanently from the current opinion of the majority. Slavery was accepted by the majority, did that make it right?

I hope that tomorrow is a better day. There was a glimmer of hope today…Democratic state legislators, including leaders of the Senate and assembly, filed a brief urging that the California Supreme Court void Prop. 8.

You have the last word.

As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever. – Clarence Darrow

Those words inspire me to stand up for my fellow human beings. It seems that civil rights are being limited and these actions cannot be tolerated.

I am directly affected by this vote even though I am straight. If anyone has their rights trampled upon, then so are mine and so are yours.

“We the people…”

It is somewhat fitting that today is Veterans Day.

Veterans Day.

I am a Veteran myself. I served during Gulf War I. I am trying to remember what actually occurred when I enlisted.

I took an written exam; math, science, reading comprehension…the usual. I was given a full physical. I was told I needed to lose a couple of pounds. I was told to be ready for boot camp. I was given a date that I would be picked up from my home and then transported to Recruit Training Command in San Diego.

I don’t remember filling out a card or a form stating WHICH Freedoms and Rights I was going to fight for.

Nope.

Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen are not given a card where they select their favorite Freedom. It is not on next to your blood type on your dog-tag. It is simple. Veterans have given life and limb for all of our rights, as Americans, to enjoy ALL of our Freedoms. All of OUR FREEDOMS.

I wish I were more eloquent. I am sure you are more so than I.

Just as this country rose to elect a bi-racial president, then we CAN make a difference. If our votes don’t make the difference, then our faces and our stories will.

As the saying goes…A picture tells a thousand words. If everyone out there reading this now would take a picture and email it to me…I will post it so people will see your story (something like this). I will do all I can so that our stories will be seen.

Let the picture tell the stories.

I am by no means an activist. I am by all means Human.

As always, YOU have the last word. Read the rest of this entry »