Mistakes many people make that are wanting change is too think that the status quo is reasonable. It’s not and it Is not kind either. It works overtime to stay the status quo, and that means that new ideas, urgent pleas and cries for justice are rarely easily voiced.
In hindsight and after a period of time, we can see who the real heroes were. For instance, Annie Kenny stood up for a woman’s right to vote all those years ago, even though she got arrested for doing so. And we can now see that Elijah Harper, who brought a debate to a standstill when he stood up for the rights of indigenous folks. We can see now that it was right for Lois Gibbs to stand up to fight for families near Love Canal, and for Rachel Carson blowing the whistle on how we were poisoning ourselves. And on and on.
The historical examples are pretty much beyond dispute. When we think about the past, our heroes are those that were willing to persist even when the critics tried to silence them.
Where it becomes challenging is when someone around us chooses to speak up. Like today or right now.
It might be someme in HR who risks job to report the boss to the board. Or it might be someone in accounting who has found a better way to do things, or an unknown with no power or authority who stands up and says, “follow me”.
We can’t judge those that challenge the status quo ‘merely’ on their rule breaking. Because the ‘rules’ ONLY exist to maintain the status quo. The status quo is always fearful of change because they know inherently that means the end. Subsequently though it can be a new beginning. But then that is the realm of the heroes.
Instead, we have to work ever harder on seeing, listening and supporting the quiet voices who have something important to say.
Perhaps, if we listen a bit harder, we’ll be able to do the right thing that much sooner.