Speak Up, and Be Kind

By now, I'm sure most of you are aware of what happened in Paris. Another violent attack against innocent people. Many have turned to social media to express their thoughts, and I now join in. I drafted a blog post a few weeks ago after the shooting that occurred at my alma matter, Northern Arizona University. But I couldn't put into words my frustration and pain. Some of my friends could, though, and it brought me comfort. I was comforted by the artists posting and embodying Leonard Bernstein's quote, "This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." Though I hate the frequency with which I read this quote, I am encouraged by its words every time.

Earlier this year, I spoke with my students about the Baltimore riots. I searched for a tangible answer to give them, something concrete they could each do to try and help. It boiled down to "Speak up, and be kind." Sometimes that's all we can do, and it can feel so helpless and useless. But I don't think it is.

I believe we are all given a space in this world--a space we get to fill however we like. I choose to fill my space with beauty. With good vibes and laughter, with thoughtfulness and creativity. I am not one to fly across the globe and live in solidarity--I'm too scared. I very consciously made a decision not to go into politics (though I still wonder if I should). I chose to be an educator and an artist. And that's a good thing. My space in the world will be filled to the brim with light. My space will shine so bright, it will overcome the darkness surrounding it. And I choose to surround myself with other light-makers, so that together we might repel darkness. 

It is easy to grow discouraged with every headline, with every death count. I can't track down the extremists who did this. I can't change their minds. I can't heal the wounded. I can't even write a comprehensive blog post about my feelings. But discouragement is the weak choice. I choose the difficult course of perseverance in the face of destruction. I choose to do what I can. I choose to speak up, and be kind. I hope you do too.


"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
Fred Rogers