Do you speak up?

 Do you speak up?

“The only thing necessary for the evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”, said Edmund Burke, the Irish statesman and philosopher. In Bhagwat Geeta, lord Krishna said people who keep quiet against a bully are worse than the bully himself. They encourage him by their cowardice. People get scared for their life or that of their family. They think I alone cannot do much, I have no power. I am just a common person. But are we really powerless?

History has shown that every major revolution was brought about by common people working together. Whether it was Russian revolution against the tyranny of the Tzar, the reformation movement, Mexican revolution or the German peasant’s war, they were all started by common people rising against the oppression. They spoke against the injustice meted out to them and overthrew the system. 

In a democracy we have the power of vote. The common man can change the government if it doesn’t deliver. But in our day to day life so many occasions come when we should speak up and we don’t. We are either scared or we are given some incentive to keep quiet. The manager who bullies his subordinates to achieve targets, husband who belittles his wife all the time, a bully in school who  targets every good student or the local goon, they all have the power only because no one stands up to them. We can rationalize that I alone can’t do anything. But what if that wife gets up and retaliates ? What if the bully is reported to the principal of the school? What if the team get together and threaten the manager with non compliance? By keeping quiet and acquiescing to them, you are encouraging them. 

I know I am going to get all sorts of arguments of why people don’t speak up. I have spoken up and have got positive results most of the time. Even when no one came along, I spoke up and that encouraged other people. If one has the courage of their convictions, they are able to bring people together. Atleast one should try instead of suffering in silence. That is my belief. 

What do you think about it? Do you think a common person can make a difference? Do share your thoughts. 

Be outspoken against injustice. 

So be it !!!