Christine Smith's Blog

 To follow one’s heart, to bring one’s values into the world in hopes of making it better, requires an integrity and strength of character my greatest respect and admiration is reserved for. Such courage is a rare virtue.

I recently viewed two films which really touched me, and both of which I highly recommend. Based upon two actual individuals, the films have motivated me to further research these individuals (since books provide so much more than a film story based on someone’s life), and my recent viewing of said films has found me pondering courage – or should I say sadly- the lack thereof in people today.

The first film, Amazing Grace, was based on the story of William Wilberforce who was the pioneer behind ending slavery in the British Empire. Here was a young man in Parliament, torn between pursuing a monastic life or continuing in politics. He struggled to make a choice which he thought he had to make between serving God or serving his nation and its people through politics…until his friend suggests that the two are not mutually exclusive. It was a beautiful scene, as Wilberforce, ponders just what it means to serve the principles of faith and realizes that his faith and all he believes is righteous is served through his political service. To choose a life in politics was living his faith for it gave him the opportunity to fight for the rights, the civil liberties, of his fellowmen. Serving humanity is serving God is the conclusion it appears he came to, for this man went on to courageously, and for many years, oppose and expose to the British the horrible tortuous and deadly slave trade. He was responsible for opening their eyes so they could see what slavery really meant and the human suffering it resulted in. The film was inspiring, poignant, and encouraging.

The second film, Varian’s War, is about American Varian Fry, a man responsible for helping approximately 2,000 Jewish artists escape from France during WWII. Despite the consequences should he be discovered, and despite governmental bureaucratic obstacles (as well as anti-Semitism in America), Fry continued his mission. The film, again a powerful representation of an individual who decided to try and do something, thereby leading others to join with him in the cause of helping others in need.

If such individuals saw what was wrong, why did not the rest? If they stood up to challenge injustice, why did not the rest? Why do so many allow their liberty, and the liberty of others, to be taken away.

Why has our society so often allowed bureaucracy, indifference, apathy, and greed and other unworthy agendas of our “leaders” to result in the suffering of millions here and abroad? Because we have allowed fear to do the choosing between right and wrong.

One individual can make a difference. It is often one individual standing up courageously which inspires many others to join the cause. It is always the message that individual communicates that inspires others…the messenger is the means by which others awaken and see what was before their eyes all along, but which because of fear, they blocked out, were too busy, occupied, under their own stresses in life to carefully examine and become involved in. When fear of loss (be it of one’s reputation/respect/monetary/position or anything else), fear of persecution or condemnation, when fear of consequences/repercussions keeps one from doing what is right – then they become part of that injustice.

But once the human spirit is reached, often through a messenger who has the courage to speak and expose the truth, that one human spirit is joined by others because those others awaken to what they too feel within but were afraid to express…and that one individual becomes many…and the cause becomes a movement…and there is change. Fear is relinquished as others see the individual boldly step forward, and they too, respond to the message that they possessed but never expressed.

When one chooses a path which would result in changing ingrained societal injustices, results may be long in coming…but history has shown us they do come.

It took over two decades for Wilberforce to see his dream of freedom, of liberty for those enslaved, come to fruition. It took many courageous individuals to fight (and die) to stop the evil of Hitler’s Nazi Germany. But change did come…because courageous individuals from all walks of life fought injustice…because they fought mans’ inhumanity to man.

Both films illustrated the passion an individual had to stand up for what was right in face of serious (dangerous) opposition. Challenging the corrupt status quo and working for what was right put both of those men at risks – and yet they did it. They chose to trust in the power of love rather than permitting fear to stop them. They possessed courage.

I am heartened when I see those courageous souls today who step forward- be it through education, humanitarian service, politics, etc.- to speak the truth boldly, expose corruption, work tirelessly and lead others in the fight for liberty. The journey toward our goal, no matter what arena it takes place in, may be long but it is achievable.

It is achievable if each of us dedicate ourselves to courageously working for the truth. Whomever you are, wherever you live, you possess the ability to be part of this change. Do not doubt it. Each of us can, and must, choose to be part of this.

Stay on the path, do not waver, for the way to justice…to liberty…is long…but it can and will be reached (I believe) in any cause devoted to truth. As you face obstacles after obstacle, including lies and unfounded attacks, as you experience moments of utter discouragement, as enemies plot against you using unfair tactics, it is then that your spirit, your faith must be strong. Small victories may encourage and apparently large losses may discourage…some battles may be lost…but the war against corruption- and its stripping and stealing of human dignity/civil liberties/property and all its assaults on the human spirit- will be won.

This is my belief. Courage!