We can change the world

“Never doubt that a small handful of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world : Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has. ” – Margaret Mead

Last night while watching the tv program ‘What Would You do’ I was extremely moved when I viewed one person after another who was willing to speak out and possibly risk their own safety in order to stand up for someone in need.

On last night’s program a man with down syndrome was working as a bag boy at a local grocery store when one of the shoppers begins to verbally abuse him, calling him names and making fun of his condition. Both the bag boy, shopper and cashier were actors, but no one else in the store knew this. Even though the entire thing was just an act, it was still very difficult for me to watch the poor boy get verbally ripped apart as many shoppers just stood there and did nothing about it. Finally one woman decided she had heard enough and stood up for the guy, threatening to physically take the bully out. Afterward when asked by the host of the show how she felt about the situation, she told him that she was willing to fight for the bag boy, saying ‘ what was the worst thing that could have happened? I might have walked away with a black eye, but at least I would have stood up for someone in need’. She was being the change she wished to see in the world.

It is easy to say that you want peace on earth and for wars to end, or to wish that something would be done about the suffering in the world. It is easy to feel pity for mothers who are unable to feed their hungry babies, or for the victims of disaster or of war. It is easy to stand back and do nothing except feel sorry for them. But the world does not need pity – it needs our voice, and it needs us to DO something about it.

We need to remember that every person is someone’s child and that no matter their appearance, their IQ, or their nationality, that they are people like you and I. They feel pain and experience sadness and joy and they deserve to have a fair chance at a happy life. The same can be said for animals.

It is easier than we think to change the world. The first step is to be willing to act when called to action. To walk with out eyes open. I guarantee that there is at least one person or animal that could use your help today. That person might even be your own child.

It’s not that difficult to change the world. We can do it – one kind act at a time. We are more powerful than we think.

So how about it, will you join me and pledge to walk with your eyes open, with the willingness to reach out or speak out when needed? To be the light that is needed in the world?

If you light enough candles, the darkness will disappear. Let’s light up our world!