Vision
As a person born into privilege, I've never had to worry about going homeless,
going hungry,
being forced into prostitution,
or being ignored due to my race or religion.
I have faced many difficulties in life, as does everyone else, but I would be ignorant to think that I had it worse than anyone else.
I have seen discrimination, sexual harassment, victim-blaming, body-shaming.
I have seen guys high fiving each other after belittling a girl for her drunken mistake.
I have seen teenage girls harass other girls.
I have heard girls throw up their lunch in the bathroom, and criticize their bony body for not being skinny enough.
I have seen it, but what have I done to prevent, to help?
That is the question that keeps me up at night.
If I had just said something, did something, but I didn't.
Why?
Helen Keller said, "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
I could see the injustice happening, but I had no vision, no willpower to step up.
I thought, "It wasn't my business," until I was the victim.
And at that moment I realized that to see the ugly truth was not enough,
to hurt for them was not enough.
I had to muster all of my confidence and turn my sight into a vision.
A vision that to see something induces a reaction to do something.
I find it is my responsibility as a woman,
an American,
and a human being to not only see cruelty
but to fight it.