On Budding Voices

The things you learn about the people around you when you open your mouth politically and what comes out does not jive with what is in their head has been written about extensively, the blogosphere over. The threats and the name calling. The discontinued contact with “friends”, the disclusion from groups and inside jokes that you had previously been privy to. It’s all been, at the very least, touched on.

But there is another side to being of unpopular opinion and not afraid to say so aloud, too. There are the people who suddenly make an effort to say hello when they see you. They smile and seem to feel more comfortable in your presence. There is the unspoken words in their eyes. Ones that perhaps they are too afraid to speak.

There are friends made and relationships grown. And then, there is the day you see one of those people say something — no matter how small — about what they think. They say it aloud. And you know, just a little bit, that the comfort your unpopular, but loudly voiced opinion brought them spurred it. And it makes it all worth it. The name calling, the loss of “friends”, the disclusion, even some of the threats.

It doesn’t matter if you agree with them. It doesn’t matter to me anyway. All that matters is the growth that is happening; the shift in fundamental behavior; the courage that is germinating as one toe dips into the pool, and then another.

There is nothing more beautiful than activism. Nothing more awe-inspiring than speaking out. I wish more people could see that. I wish they could appreciate the roots planted, the growth experienced for what it is. A beautiful, amazing, awesome thing without worrying about whether or not those roots, those growth rings match their own.