The Silent Majority

We're everywhere, you know. 

The silent majority. 

In a world that's seemingly full of extremists and radicals and wackos and nutjobs, holding big signs about killing the gays or burning the banks or saving our children from the disgusting, violent Islamic agenda of our president who is neither violent nor Muslim in the least, we get lost. The news loves the exception. In a crowd full of angry chanting, we're the guy holding the sign that says "LIFE IS PRETTY OKAY". Less symbolically and more realistically, we're the people who look at the rally on the street and shake their heads and keep driving, keep walking, keep living. Because maybe we're happy and maybe we're unhappy, but until things get unbearable we'll keep the illusion that life is, in fact, pretty okay. 

We support our troops, but not so much the wars they're in. We're religious, although we don't know much about it. Mostly we just believe that you'll still get into heaven if you're one of the good guys, even if you don't believe in the exact same God as us. For the most part, we're alright with you doing that thing that you want to do,whatever it is you want to do, as long as it's legal and reasonable and doesn't bother us. We'll live our lives, and you'll live yours, and it'll all be pretty okay. 

Except when it's not.

Because sometimes, the crazy, radical minority isn't harmless anymore. They go from being the class clown to the class bully. And just like with bullies, there's always a victim-- often a helpless one. And just like with bullies, the consequences may end up so much bigger than they seem. And just like with bullies, the ones who stay silent are just as much at fault. 

Once upon a time not too long ago, there was a boy. One day, that boy was going to college, playing the viola, sharing a private moment with his boyfriend. The next day, that moment was put up on the Internet by his roommate who had taped it; the day after that, that boy jumped off a bridge. One bully-- that's all it took to push him off the edge. And one person who'd chosen to speak up rather than stay silent-- that's all it might have taken to keep him alive. And yet, we're still silent. What's so important about keeping mum that keeps us from standing up for what's right? Why would we keep our mouths closed and watch people get hurt when we can do so much, and save so much, just by saying "No, this isn't right"? Maybe you don't think your voice is enough to change the world, but your voice could be the first-- there are others just as afraid to speak up as you. If one raindrop falls from the sky, it's brushed off. But soon there's a second, and a third, and a tenth, and then hundreds of them. Filling the dry streams, watering the thirsty plants, cleaning out the air, and making everybody else take cover and take notice. 

I don't know about you, but I can't stand to be silent any longer. 

--Patti