As we reflect on our lives, we should ask ourselves: “Did I stand on the right side of history?”

Every day we’re faced with choices about whether to stand up for people’s human rights or to just remain quiet and fade into the background.

It’s easier to stay quiet.

It’s easier not to say anything.

It’s easier to just hope that other people will take on the role of activist, of advocate, of warrior.

It’s Time to Take a Stand

When we’re faced with direct threats to our humanity and integrity OR the humanity and integrity of others there is an urgency to take action and become a warrior.

But if too many of us leave the work of being a warrior to others, we’ll miss our opportunity to take action to ensure justice, equality and human rights are respected.  And we’ll fail to live up to our responsibility to act with integrity and courage for the good of the people.

If we choose complacency for too long, injustice will prevail.

And if we choose complacency over action, when the tables turn, we may end up wondering why others aren’t standing up for us when we need them.

Warriors are All Around Us

Through my work, I’m faced with choices about whether to stand up for justice every day – from moment to moment and hour to hour.  I’m surrounded by fierce and fearless people who understand the importance of standing up and taking action to create a better world for ourselves and the people that will be coming after us.

I am surrounded by warriors.

Warriors with scars on their bodies and souls.

Warriors who have been knocked down but keep getting back up.

Warriors with deep wells of courage and resilience who hold strongly to the vision of the world they want to create.

Some Warriors are Born into Battle

Some of my most fierce and fearless friends have been born into struggle.  From their very earliest days, they learned about inequality in this world.  Because of who they are, becoming an advocate and activist was not so much a choice but a reality.

They are born, like my Mom was, into a fight that they didn’t ask for.  They are faced with a fight just because of who they are – the colour of their skin, the history of their family, the assumptions people make about them, the country they come from.

Others have Chosen to Become Warriors

Some friends have chosen to join the struggle, to stand up and take action for a better world.  It may be that the injustice was just too great to tolerate and they decided that they could not stand by for another moment.  It may be that they finally listened to that nagging feeling that they really need to say something about this, that they really couldn’t let this one slide.

They got to their tipping point and said to themselves: “I will no longer stand by while this happens on my watch.”  So they signed that petition, they wrote that letter, they made that call, they stood up to that person, they walked the streets in protest.

They decided to take action to influence change.

And So We Rise

At times, it may feel like a hopeless fight.   At those times, all of us warriors may collapse in a heap, feeling defeated, holding our heads in our hands as tears stream down our faces. We’ll wonder if we have the energy and resolve to carry on for another day.  And then we’ll rise up, as we have done before, and fight for another day…

At other times, we’ll celebrate enormous victories.  And we’ll hold tightly to the vision of a better future as we see signs that things are getting better bit by bit.

So this is is a Fight Song for all my Warrior Friends

This is a fight song for the warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting injustice and the ones who are new to this fight.

I am honoured to walk beside each and every one of you.

I am honoured to walk beside the warriors and leaders who have inspired so many people.

I am honoured to walk beside the future warriors and leaders, who don’t yet know the impact they will have on this world.

As we battle injustice together, we stand on the backs of the giants who have come before us.  Those giants have blazed the trail for us to follow.  And as we walk, we know that a community of past, present and future fierce and fearless warrior friends are walking right alongside us.

Choose to be on the Right Side of History

So as we lay our heads down to sleep at night, let’s rest well knowing that we are indeed on the right side of history.  And when we wake up tomorrow, let’s be ready once again to stand up, battle on, and be the fierce and fearless warrior that each of us has the ability to be.

Importantly, this is also a call to action to my yet-to-be warrior friends.  It’s time to stand up, to fight, and to become the warrior that you’re meant to be.

As you look back and ask yourself whether you stood on the right side of history, what do you want your answer be?

Post a comment below and let us know.  And if this article resonated with you, share it with your warrior friends.

If you liked this article, check out: