Do You Stand Up for What You Believe In?

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”  -Thomas Jefferson

 Standing up for what you believe in. That’s a pretty important thing. 

How far do you go to stand up for what you believe in?  I have been pondering that question for a while now. I like to consider myself a caring, compassionate person.  I try to be there for my family, I help take care of my elderly, Mom. I hope my son would say that I am a good Mom and that I am always there for him. I know I could be a better friend, and make an effort to be better, because I believe in the need for good friends in your life. 

What about outside my little world?  Do I do anything to stand up for things that I feel strongly about?  I volunteered at the local library for a couple of years, but stopped doing that this past year, my business and personal lives were just too demanding.  I feel very strongly about a great many issues and am brought to tears when I hear stories of abuse of children or animals.  I volunteered with Lab Rescue of Florida for a year or two, that started to fade off after my hysterectomy and then again a business and personal life that is too demanding.  I used to do the local Breast Cancer Walk every year, haven’t done that in a few years. 

Every so often, I will hear about something that I would like to participate it. Last night on the news there was a story about a place in Kissimmee http://www.gktw.org/about/.  The story they had was about a fifteen year old girl who had kidney cancer as a toddler and was given a few years to live. She wanted to be a princess and went there and became a princess for a week that she was there.  She got better after going there and she is now completely cancer free. She volunteers there now. Here is the link:  Give Kids the World Story ABC News   It was touching and I was motivated to find out more and see what I could do to participate, but then my son found out he didn’t get a job he interviewed for and my focus was on encouraging him, dealing with other family stuff, you know “life.”

 There is a saying that moves me every time I hear or see it:  According to the US Holocaust Museum, the text is as follows:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

I know I personally need to start doing better at standing up and even fighting for things that I believe in. How about you?