Stand steadfast

Published about 11 hours ago • 1 min read

During the Vietnam War, life-long pacifist A.J. Muste stood in front of the White House night after night, for years, holding a lighted candle. He was in his eighties.

Sometimes others joined him. Sometimes he stood alone.

A reporter interviewed him one evening as he stood there in the rain. “Mr. Muste,” the reporter said, “do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?”

Muste replied, “Oh, I don’t do this to change the country. I do this so the country won’t change me.”

When we take action to fight unjust laws or policies, sometimes it feels like nothing we do makes a difference.

And maybe the deck really is stacked against us.

But what if changing others isn't the point?

Maybe it's all about staying true to yourself. Your values. Your core.

No law, no policy, no rhetoric, no retaliation will change who you are.

Stand steadfast.

Mandy Giles
Founder, Parents of Trans Youth

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