This was emailed out to a certain committee of mine, but I think it applies here to:
It has been a long time since I last blogged, so I thought that I would this week explain what a poignant ride the past few weeks have been for me.
History is not linear; while the arc of history may bend towards what is just and right, without constant vigilance and substantial effort we will not be successful in attaining what we seek.
As I find my myself watching the House healthcare vote on C-Span, this notion proves itself evident: we have made extreme and great leaps towards health care reform, but not all is as it should be. The Stupak amendment passed, there is no strong and robust public option, and reform is far from single payer. However, I have recently learned that in order to have the energy and will to keep fighting it is necessary to revel in success and frame our substantial progress as a basis for change in the future.
I have recently been struggling with the gross ineptitude and apathy of our campus; without failure (ha) at the end of every quarter I become so jaded and disheartened by my fellow students that I become very negative in my expressions. I constantly struggle to stave off my building despondence.
I have come to realize that this, focus on the negative, in the long run is not as effective as a more balanced viewpoint. I personally need to realize the great and positive changes that have been made while still working to improve and protect upon what we have.
In the past few weeks, I learned that I need to focus on the journey as I seek to fulfill my future and the same is true for each and everyone of you. During this process it is important to realize that everyday is special, and that everyday we have all made a difference. Similar to healthcare reform, we must revel in our successes in order to keep going. For without noticing and living the steps along the way, and the positive changes associated with them, myself and all of us will further become disheartened with our situations.
I guess what I am trying to say is that we must not be discouraged and we must not give up. I have lately been struggling (as I always do towards the end of a quarter) to gather the strength needed to continue what often times feels like ineffective and unappreciated work. It is important to realize this is not true. Everyday we all make positive change, and everyday somebody’s life is better because of it.
When we strive (and struggle) to become better than we are, everyone around us becomes better too. It is with this mindset that we must go forward, reveling in our victories, while working to protect and expand upon what we have accomplished. We must not give up in the fight for what is just and right. We must work everyday to better our school and community.
With continued and vigilant effort, we will win.