Stand Up
Many of us have been brought up, taught from the laps of our parents and guardians to stand up for the truth, in fact many a Hollywood movie (and daresay Bollywood too?!) ends with a valiant hero…who stands up for the truth, often gifted with riches, lavished with praises, a champion.
“But life ain’t a Hollywood movie”. If someone hasn’t coined that phrase, I will!
One of the lessons I’m trying to implement this New Year, as one of my resolutions is to stand up for the truth and speak out against injustice, whatever the consequences. Even if I think my impact will be limited.
I was inspired by the tragedy of Karbala, an event which is mourned by millions of Muslims across the globe, marking the tragic murder of the grandson of the Holy Prophet, Husayn (peace be upon him) and his family, by an evil tyrant, Yazid. Husayn stood up against an oppressor, the result being forced into a bloody combat which resulted in his murder, alongside his male family and companions, whilst his sisters and children were taken as captives, who suffered at the hands of a sadistic and cruel dictator.
Husayn (peace be upon him) was murdered for speaking the truth, for the freedom of speech and religion. And this is a key message alongside the various other messages. The inscription which calls out to me is: stand up for the truth, be like Husayn (peace be upon him).
It could be as simple as standing up to a bully, which let’s face it – is not as simple and not just in the playground and four foot high, but do your bit. Stand up to them.
Seeing something on the news and doing something about – instead of just feeling sorry for the Romanian orphans, do something for them, a prayer, raise awareness, raise money. Sit up and do it!
Standing up to politicians – they aren’t evil (well not always!), but they are there to present our opinions, concerns be it about climate change, crime, taxes etc
Plato once said: Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.
Now you’re all picturing George W. Bush. I suppose that was inevitable, using the word dumb; but do not think of the Iraq War and Afghanistan war as the end of the truth. Lies were told, lives were lost, but not all is lost. The essence of the truth still waits to be uncovered.
Standing up for the truth does not involve us being in the set which will rival the Lord of the Rings, with a brilliant reward in the end, it could go without praise often without acknowledgement.
But you have made a stand. The stand, that has been most anticipated, more valued than your first step. The move towards the truth and its proliferation. As Gandhi stated: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. The key word here, being you.
Sajida Zahra Manji
