Big Ups: Stepping in
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
Have you ever been in a position where you were being treated cruelly or unfairly, and then someone stepped in to defend you? In your overall experience of life, how amazing was that incident in particular?
I’ve been thinking about the above quote from Dr. King since it was cited in a social media post by a highly respected acquaintance who was taking people to task for not speaking up when they witness bigotry and racism.
In response, thinking about all the privileges and advantages I’ve been afforded in my life — while also feeling deep outrage for victims of injustice, and intense desires for fairness and parity — I always try to do what seems to make sense. Honestly, I’m realizing my approaches need to improve.
When I think about people who have intervened in disputes on my behalf, I don’t believe rationality was their first thought. Essentially, their actions were about stopping what was wrongful. I am wide open to your ideas on this topic, and also, am reminding myself: If I don’t step in to halt what’s wrongful, maybe no one will.
The gentleman I’m referring to above was stirred up by DEI initiatives in the ad industry coming under attack, and the large-scale failures of others to…
