I Won't Be Silent Anymore (Monday Moments ep. 259)
Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary
John O'Leary
4.8 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 1 June 2020
⏱️ 5 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Join me every Monday for a quick burst of inspiration on our "Monday Moment" segments.
"A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true." - Martin Luther King, Jr
My friends, our very lives begin to end the moment we stay silent about things that matter.
The only way we begin to achieve true inclusion, diversity and justice is by taking a stand against what remains an utterly broken system for so many; to see with new eyes what we've far too long chosen to ignore; and to raise our voice boldly, courageously, loudly against hatred - ALL hatred - spewed from both sides of disagreements. Yes, even when it means losing advantages we've enjoyed or status we've been given because of it.
We do this important, life-giving work one person, one conversation, and one action at a time. We do it when we seek to understand and not simply judge. We do it when we step in with love rather than slump indifferently away in fear.
This isn't just the job of protesters, politicians, or police departments.
It's our job. And it's time to go to work.
Because a man can live when we begin to stand up for that which is right. A man can live when we choose to stand up for justice. And a man can live when we choose to take a stand for that which is true.
I was silent years ago.
I won't be anymore.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Well, hello, my friends, and welcome to another Monday morning moments with John O'Leary. |
| 0:12.1 | As you know, I record these to help you begin your week on fire and in awe with a burst of inspiration. |
| 0:19.7 | I want to begin this episode by quoting one of the heroes |
| 0:22.6 | that I've always looked up to, as long as I can remember, his name is Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| 0:27.9 | And he wrote, a man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he |
| 0:35.6 | refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a |
| 0:41.4 | stand for that which is true. Well, years ago, I was invited to a friend's birthday party to get there. |
| 0:50.3 | I was picked up by four of his buddies from work. These were guys that I'd never met before. |
| 0:57.1 | All four men were obviously very good friends and they carried themselves with the bravado of high |
| 1:03.0 | school quarterbacks. As we made our way in that automobile to the party, the drivers shared the |
| 1:08.9 | story of a guy he had a problem with at work. |
| 1:13.2 | He talked about why he did not like him. He used a couple derogatory terms to describe him. |
| 1:19.1 | And then he used the inward. The other three guys then jumped in and began using that exact same term. |
| 1:30.8 | And there in the back of the car, this thing continued to take place all around me until we arrived at the party. My friends, those of you |
| 1:37.3 | who know me, I believe you already know this to be true. And the rest of you should know this right now. |
| 1:40.5 | I hate racism. I hate the word that they were using and I hated the general tone |
| 1:47.7 | in that car. I've been through more than a dozen classes and trainings on diversity. I've got a |
| 1:54.3 | picture of Martin Luther King Jr. hanging in my office and am active in organizations that champion |
| 2:00.4 | racial equality. I have numerous friends who are |
| 2:04.0 | African American, became so close with one that my children refer to him lovingly as their uncle. |
| 2:11.1 | And our family has enjoyed being active bigs to two little brothers. So from the back seat of this car with these four guys using that hateful |
| 2:21.5 | word that I despise, how did I respond? Maybe I should ask you the question. How would you have |
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