Silence
April 29th, 2008 @ 2019
“Our lives begin to end the moment we remain silent about the things that matter.” The words of a man who didn’t listen when he was told to be quiet, and do as he was told; the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Despite such examples of audacity and courage, so many of us choose not to speak or act, instead choosing to remain silent. It is the decisions we make not to act that I want to talk to you about.
We are faced with so many problems that crave simple answers, and some are as simple as our decision to act. Low voter turn-out, critically low levels of blood donation, a failing education system, racism, sexism, pollution, starvation, homelessness, and war are just a few of those problems. We’ve been silent, I’ve been silent. It is my own silence which made me realize the depth of the need to change what it means to be a part of changing the world. Our lives start to end by letting ourselves believe that our voice doesn’t matter. Our lives begin to end by letting ourselves believe that corporations and politicians won’t listen. Our lives begin to end when we allow ourselves to believe our actions are useless. It is our decisions to remain silent about the things that matter, which jeopardizes our futures.
I’m going to talk to you about why we choose to tune-out and turn off; and then, I’m going to talk to you about how, and why, it’s time to tune-in and turn on. Because, I believe, that even the smallest actions can be a source of fundamental change.
We’ve allowed ourselves to be bombarded, not just by the problems, but by the voices of hopelessness and apathy, I’m there with you; it is hard to know how to make a difference when it all seems so big. We’ve been told by those who hold sway in our lives that there are too many problems for us to possibly solve, and we’ve listened. We come from a generation which has been told from childhood that there are things we don’t talk about, and we’ve listened. In doing so we’ve relegated our moments of caring for the time we spend in our religious institutions and our fleeting pangs of guilt as we watch the suffering of starving children on television. We’ve relegated our moments of activism to shouting complaints at the television as we watch the news. We’ve relinquished the power of our voices, and in doing so, our lives have begun to end. This is the cause, this is the problem, and it will take no less than fundamental change within ourselves (but not in the world) to change it.
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” These are the words of Mohandas Gandhi, a spiritual leader and powerful symbol for change. These words are only words, what made Gandhi a leader and a symbol was his decision to act. His voice was made powerful by his decision to act.
It doesn’t take the voice or influence of Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, or Mother Theresa to be the change we want to see in the world. But then what does it take for one person to make a difference? I would suggest that it takes only the ability to be an example for others, to be an influence for change. Mother Theresa herself once said “you can do no great things, only small things with great love.” What it takes to make a difference is simply the decision to do so, and the courage and passion to act.
Action can sometimes seem so hard, and even positive change can be a source of fear and come at great risk. History is filled with those who died for an ideal, and whose names are remembered. But it doesn’t take the courage or the risk of those people to be a source of change in the world nor does it take dedicating one’s life only to such a pursuit.
What can you do to make a difference? First, don’t try to fix it all, but don’t be afraid to try and work toward a goal that seems so much bigger than yourself. The idealist in me, the dreamer in me, wishes we could change it all and heal the world all at once. But one person can do more than the voices of doubt and disbelief can ever understand. The power of us, as individuals, is in our ability to make the small changes in the world. Even the voice of Dr. King would have been of no effect had it not been for the millions of those who chose to act.
You can start making a difference by finding an organization that means something to you and getting involved. If you can’t find one, start it yourself. There are countless charitable organizations, aid organizations, activist organizations, and community service organizations waiting for you to act. I will leave you with a list of such organizations and causes and would encourage you to find one to get involved with. Also, an opportunity to be a part of deciding our future and be involved is coming up in what will seem like an instant; the selection of our next president. I encourage you all to learn what the candidates stand for; ask tough questions, and then act: vote. According to the center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement in a release dated November 3rd, 2004 the 2004 youth voting turn up was up 4.6 Million more than in 2000… it is time to for us to make those numbers even higher and prove the voices of doubt wrong. When you’re done with that, go to the American Red Cross and save three lives by donating blood.
Now that I’ve told you what’s been stopping us from making a difference. Now that I’ve told you what you can do to change that and how; it is time to make the decision, and make the changes you want to see in the world.
Dr. King became the voice of a movement, the voice of a generation, simply by having the courage and the strength to act. Any of us can be a King, a Gandhi, or a Theresa, all it takes is for us to choose to speak our mind even if our voices tremble; to do those small things, and do them with great love. You may not end up influencing millions, but you will change the world.
REGISTER TO VOTE! (And then do it.)
http://www.rockthevote.com
Find an organization…
http://www.networkforgood.org
http://www.idealist.org
Huron Valley Habitat for Humanity
(734) 677-1558
http://www.h4h.org
American Red Cross Washtenaw County
(734) 971-5300
http://www.wc-redcross.org
Michigan Humane Society
(248) 283-1000 ext. 136
http://www.michiganhumane.org
Make a Wish Foundation of Michigan
(800) 622-9474 ext. 118
http://www.wishmich.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw County
(734) 975-0933
http://www.bbbswashtenaw.org
Shelter Association of Washtenaw County
(734) 662-2829
http://www.annarborshelter.org
The Ypsilanti Area Jaycees
(734) 332-9139
http://www.ypsilantijaycees.com
UMHS Volunteer Services
(734) 936-4327
http://www.med.umich.edu/volunteer
Natural Area Preservation
(City of Ann Arbor Parks and Rec.)
(734) 996-3266
http://www.a2gov.org/nap




