Stand Up or Stand Down

We live in a world where people say keep to yourself. What is right for me may not be right for someone else. If I stand up to this injustice then I will be seen as small minded or intolerant by some. If I stand up to that injustice then I will be seen as anti-God by some. My voice is way too small and does not matter anyways. Why should I worry about what happens to another human being? It does not matter in my life. These attitudes give evil a strong foothold in this world.

What is right for me may not be right for someone else. This attitude assumes there is no absolute truth in this universe. Even if one believes that all things are relative they must at least recognize that everything is relative is the absolute truth of the universe. This attitude also assumes the other person has considered the subject at hand from any other perspective other than their own. They may have never heard of your point of view. While you probably won't change their mind right then and there, you may get them to question their own and that is always a good thing.

If I stand up to an injustice, I will be seen either as intolerant by some or anti-God by others. I don't know how many times that I state my views on something and one side is calling me stupid and the other side is calling me amoral. Many times people have not thought about an issue or subject. They have heard what others have told them and they trust what those people (religious leaders politicians, celebrities, family, etc...) say without thinking critically about the subject. This leads to them to demonizing those who think differently. 

My voice is too small and I don't matter anyways. This is the attitude that so many people have in today's society. This is what those with the power want us to believe. If a team believes they are going to lose in the locker room, they will find everyway to lose on the field. This reason not to do something becomes less and less true as technology allows us to reach more and more people. Even if you do not use technology, you can at least influence your friends and family, you can vote, you can protest, you can write letters to government officials and so on and so forth. I do use technology to put my points of view out there. If I see an injustice, I will post on Facebook and Twitter. I know some do not like going on Facebook or Twitter and seeing serious topics and I get that. They want these items for entertainment. For those that feel passionate about something these can be a great tool to inspire others toward a cause.

Why should I are about others? You should not care about others unless they directly effect (or affect, I still don't know which is which) your life. That is of course you believe there is nothing more than this natural world. We are just biological organisms that function for a short time and then waste away to the point of non-existence. If this is your point of view please remember this quote from Martin Niemoller.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- 
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

If you do believe there is something more than this natural world then you should remember that we have a common bond. That we are all created in God's image and that every unopposed evil act distorts that image more and more.