Day 30: Stand Up
When I started my ministry at the United Nations, a new colleague and friend said to me, “unless men start to care and stand up for the rights of women and girls, nothing will ever change.”
These words stay with me, as I continue to learn about the realities of women and girls worldwide. I can overwhelm you with staggering statistics, but instead just trust me that they are worse than you can imagine.
It has changed how I look at my own daughters. For example, just this morning as I held my youngest as she had a cavity filled, I thought of the tens of millions of children, in this country, and in many others, who cannot have their teeth cared for, either because the care is limited or not available.
I feel this way when I drop my girls off at school, soccer practice, or classes at the local library. When I lock the door at night, I know there are many girls worldwide who do not experience the security that my kids do. (As one example, do a simple Google search about the realities in Haiti right now).
It is time to stand up- not for a political party or our own self-interests, but for those who need our voice, our care, and our action.
For some further motivation, listen to this song “Stand Up” by my favorite country band, Sugarland. The lyrics are below.
All the lonely people cryin'
It could change if we just get started
Life the darkness, light a fire
For the silent and the broken hearted
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up you girls and boys?
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up and use your voice?
There's a comfort
There's healing
High above the pain and sorrow
Change is coming
Can you feel it?
Calling us into a new tomorrow
Won't you stand up
Stand up. stand up
Won't you stand up you girls and boys?
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up and use your voice
Oh oh, oh ay, oh oh woah oh
Oh oh, oh ay, oh oh woah oh
Oh oh, oh ay, oh oh woah oh
When the walls fall all around you
When your hope has turned to dust
Let the sound of love surround you
Beat like a heart in each of us
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up you girls and boys?
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up and use your voice?
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up you girls and boys?
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up and use your voice
Oh oh, oh ay, oh oh woah oh
Won't you stand up
Hey, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah
Hey, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah
Won't you stand up
Stand up, stand up
Won't you stand up and use your voice?
Oh oh, oh ay, oh oh woah oh
