WHAT IS COURAGE?
I cannot remain silent
anymore amidst the ongoing mocking, insulting, demoralizing and bullying of
Caitlyn Jenner, and the outrage that exists over her "Courage" award.
It is being said that there were athletes more deserving of the award, athletes
who have or had physical ailments but achieved success, war heroes, and family
members of athletes facing off with struggles of their own. They all have
courage. Every one of them. As do people who are not famous, who suffer
silently and beat the odds or achieve their goals in life. I also think it
takes courage in today's era to be tolerant. Because those who are tolerant get
bashed and ridiculed by those who are intolerant of people who are doing NO
HARM, who are trying to live their lives and their truth under their God, and
in doing so are helping other "different" people in the process,
inspiring them, making them feel less isolated, giving them hope. I think it
takes the most courage to do something unpopular, publicly, that you know will
attract the haters, that you know could put you are risk physically, and in
Caitlyn's case, knowing that the harassment will result in cheap shots and
scorn right down to her private parts - taunts, put downs, indignities, all
over social media. It is the haters who are cowards, because they cannot find
the courage to accept something in others that they don't understand or relate
to, something that perhaps isn't in line with their God, or their morals, but
Caitlyn Jenner is not hurting anybody. Who cares what her DNA is? Who cares
what body parts she has or doesn't have? Who cares what she is wearing? Who
cares that she has a lot of money, mainly because she is going to use it to do
good. She is saving an entire group of people, mostly young people, from
killing themselves because of hatred and intolerance. She put a target on her
back.
Ironically, the award given to
Caitlyn Jenner has Arthur Ashe's name on it. Arthur Ashe said, "You learn
about equality in history and civics, but you find out life is not really like
that." Nothing BAD comes from kindness. Courage comes from being kind when
in a room full of antagonists.
