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What is having a voice if not to advocate for others and yourself?

  • Writer: itsabiinspired
    itsabiinspired
  • Apr 28, 2019
  • 4 min read

Updated: May 6, 2019


Dear Sisters,



Extract- 'Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"


Are you a leader? a young activist? a person with a platform? or in any position at all to help others? The answer should be Yes! With or without a high position we all have a voice and what is having a voice if not to advocate for others or speak up for yourself. Know that even in a high position, or in a seemingly safe community, or with wealth, you're not exempted from misfortunes that the rest of the world faces. Use your advantage for good because "who knows whether you have not come into this world for such a time as this?", to share with others and make great change. Esther risked her life for her people, she dared to stand up and say what she believed in. Even though keeping quiet would not directly affect her, she could see how it could affect others. At first she thought that Mordeci needed just a change of clothes but what he really needed was her effort; for her to speak on behalf of him and her people. Don't stay quiet. Whether you're in a position of authority or not speak up for change towards justice. Sometimes it is easier to only offer money but you also have a voice, so speak. You may have time, so lend it. It may also be easier to overlook the struggles that others face. Sometimes, because of us focusing on our own situations, it can be easy to forget that other people have their own ordeals or may even have worse situations than ours. However, advocacy gives you the desire to want to care for others and their needs. The experience and exposure also keeps us grounded. Like Esther we should lend our platforms to speak on behalf of others. In many cases you can see justice coming forth because of advocacy and awareness. More persons know of the situation or case you advocate for and it stirs people to want to be aware themselves and wanting others around them to be aware. This chain reaction meets the goal: POSITIVE CHANGE! We can see this in cases of the #metoo movement, where there have been years of voices speaking out against their victimizers without having gotten redressed. However the more persons are aware, the more the matter becomes addressed and it has allowed for a revolution. We all have to be in this together, to make a difference. Let us be like Esther and choose to speak up.




Why should we speak?


I get asked a number of times why I want to be an advocate for women. It is questioned especially in the area of sexual harassment and violence even though I have not gone through it. It's a valid question. But then I think it's like asking why do I empathize? I empathize because we're all in this together. Women threatened by all that we are threatened by. What I want for us is to not be naive. Never say, "that could never be me!". Don't be naive to think that because of your status, that you are exempted from assault or injustices. No woman is exempted. It matters not our station in life; it matters not our age, race, or socioeconomic background. We should all be aware and stand together as sisters.


There has always been a desire for me to want girls and women to strive. There's just a pain in my heart that irks me when women are abused or taken for granted; Knowing that we have so much power in us, so much talent and so much to give. Women have so much to contribute to this world. However, it's being threatened by fear, violence and harassment which is just a few of the injustices the world faces already. I won't pretend that I know the pain that victims of major injustices have gone through. However, my desire is for victims to be rehabilitated and empowered and for those who have never had the misfortune to never experience it. It is a continued struggle for all of us to be educated, empowered and equipped with tools to be great and to make a difference. So let us fight for ourselves and others to make the world as we know it can be, Female-Friendly.



Prayer:


Lord, There are so many injustices that the world faces. Please help me to use my voice for a positive cause so that justice can be served. Help me to always remember other persons needs and do whatever I can to help them. God you hear our cry and you see our world. Please, I pray, step in.

Amen.

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