Standing up for yourself and for others seems to be the leadership skill most demonstrated in our world today. Everyone, it seems, is taking a stand for some person or some cause. This is the second time in my life I have watched demonstrations and protests paraded daily on the news shows and covered in the local and national written media. It is a time when heated debate and finger pointing are on the rampage. Thank goodness, I managed to survive the first time, the Vietnam era, with my own belief system still anchored and sure. I am not sure how this latest period will turn out in the social realm.
One reason I think I am less sure today is that many people take a stand, but they do it behind the veil of the internet. In the Vietnam era, and in the era of civil rights for all, people knew that to take a stand required physical effort to bring about change. We were willing to put our own lives on the firing line so to speak. Many of my friends lost their lives in a war which was not a war…and others of my friends and I faced rejection and exclusion for standing up for civil rights. It was frightening when I was called to the High School principal’s office to be “persuaded” to end the Bible club meetings we held in the Bowling Alley across the street from our school. As president of the club, I could not cave in to the pressure which violated our civil rights. This was pretty scary stuff for a 17 year old student.
I am seeing evidence that children are learning to “speak their minds” without thinking about the consequences for all. Children do not hesitate to brand people as “liars,” “thieves,” and “evil.” They are quick to accuse and take sides…even without any prior knowledge of the situation. This causes many possible friendships to never actually take root…since deep emotional feelings are hard to release.
But I have not totally given up hope. One of my first grade students stood up for a child who was guilty of breaking rules, and pleaded for the class to give her another chance. She did persuade them to give the reprieve. I was very proud of her action. If I were to mark tally marks for all the mean and negative things being said about people, they would greatly outnumber the good and positive remarks a few people give. It just seems there are more antagonists in this world than protagonists.
All I have to do is remind myself of the old adage: “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” God knew me before I was born. He provided His Son, Jesus, to be a scapegoat for me…to bear the just punishments I deserved for all the wrongs I have done in my life. This one act of great kindness and forgiveness is the “supreme” example for me to “stand up for my friends and for those who cannot stand on their own.” I think this example always helps me as a leader to go the second mile with people. No…I am not perfect in this…but I pray for wisdom and guidance as I take a stand or not.
Kay