Speak Up

In American History, we were taught that Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world.

And while I can understand what the textbook was trying to say, I can't help but notice its most essential flaw:

To say that world was changed by someone is where history begins to be misrepresented,

For when his voice rang out over the thousands of people in that D.C. crowd on that August day, the people rose up in response.

They rose up to change the world together, and they did it.

Moreover, when the thud of further oppression came down upon them all, they pressed warm hands into cold concrete in resistance.

And when they did this, their combined efforts did leave a mark.

Concrete crumbled, and what was once unyielding was reshaped.

But they're right.

It wouldn't have happened without people like him.

We are now being boxed in and cut out.

Boxed into yet another seemingly unbreakable form and cut out of the decision-making process which will determine our destiny.

We find ourselves waiting for the next undeniable atrocities to be declared.

We find ourselves sniffing the air and smelling the scents of battle at hand,

And yet, we do nothing.

We can not and will not be lulled into senses of false security in our lives by the lack of revolutionary voices calling up into the air, for there is precious little time to spare.

We can and will create these thundering changes.

But it all starts with one.

So, if you see something, say something!

Do not step back and be silent.

If you see something, say something!

Or this world will never change.

If you see something, say something!

'Cause if you don't, who will?

We are not meant to be martyrs.

We were given voices to use, and we shall use them.

We shall use them to stir the fierce screams for freedom.

We shall use them to break barriers set before us.

And I have a dream…

A dream, in which, the wind whistling past our ears will not stay silent.

A dream, in which, voices will be used to sound the calls of liberty.

And a dream, in which, voices the world over will cheer in response.

But for my dream to come true, we must all realize it.

We can not step back and be silent.

We must step forward… and be heard.