Be that guy.

Be that guy.

Really that should say, be that guy or be that girl. Be that person. You know the one that they tell you not to be. When they tell you to quietly sit back and take it. Just because they don’t have the stones, or will, or desire, that’s their choice.

This system works for them, at some level it works for them, or it would not be in place. So be that guy, girl, person. The one that speaks out and says that this is wrong, or I refuse to vote cause you have given me no choice. I refuse to go to the back of the bus because that’s not my place, or refuse to give up my seat cause I have as much right as you do.

Many of the following people that I am going to briefly mention probably had detractors in their lives telling them not to be that person, but you know what, at some point they became that person, and many of the people that I am going to mention below made a difference. Many are famous, to varying degree. You don’t have to be famous, but choice at some point in your life to be that guy, girl, person. It’s one of the few things that has made a difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks

Rose Parks. I was trying to sleep and this woman was on my mind. She was on my mind. What apparently use to happen in the States is that there was this busing policy that kept blacks and whites separated, and apparently if a white person did not have a seat then any black person would be required to give up the seat. (If any of this is incorrect, feel free to correct me.) Anyways, one day after I guess complying with this for some years, she was tired, she was sitting down, and a white person, (some guy) needed a seat, and she just refused. For some reason in that moment, she decided to be that guy, girl, person. She refused. (She had not been the first, but her actions that day made the difference.)

Well the bus was stopped, the cops were called and she was arrested. (I am sure in her life she had people with good intentions, telling her to not be that person and comply, cause just such a fate could happen, or it’s the way things had always been done.) Now instead of acting like good sheeple, her community who were also sick of standing, going to the back of the bus, decided to stage the Montgomery bus boycotts.

The black people of that time decided to not take the bus, until they changed some of the laws. It was not convenient for them, and I am sure it was a hardship, but instead of just sitting back and going, “this is the way it’s always been,” they decided to in that moment do something about it.

(Just like we possibly could.) Anyways, Rosa decided to be that person, and it made a difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Quad/4303/joanofark.html

Joan of ark. Now she was like 14 or something, heard the voice of God, (had visions) and decided to lead the French army to victory. Now I am sure if this girl had parents, they would have shaken their head and told this little peasant girl to not be that person. I mean here she is poor, peasant class, female, no military experience, and this is at a time where France was getting their asses kicked by the English. Military men with years of experience had tried and failed, but this young girl with deep faith, heard the voice of God, presented herself to the King, and lead an army to victory. She decided to be that person.

(Of course for her efforts, the French decided to thank her by letting the English burnt at the stake. Humans seem to do this consistently to their heroes.)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17

King David. Little more than a boy, decided to go deliver food to his big strong military brothers. The whole army of Israel is afraid of the Philistine army and their giant Goliath. David is disgusted, he says that he will go out and fight. He believes in God and that is all that he needs. They all laugh and the brothers want him to go home, and tend his sheep, cause he’s a Sheppard, but he not deterred. He decides to be that guy in that moment. Now cause every other guy is too scared to do anything, they decide to send him. The armour is heavy, and has not been tested, so he decides to put it off. He has such faith in God. He decides to go and face him man to man.

Now David is described as a pretty youth, and Goliath is described as a Giant, but none the less, he went out to meet him. He said you come to me with a shied and spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. The rest if history, he faced him, he took out his sling and stone and killed him, with one fatal blow to the forehead. With not much more than his faith.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012;&version=31;

Matthew 12: 46-49

Jesus. He had his don’t be that guy moments. I mean there is one scene in the bible where his family, mother and brothers are all like come home with us, the people are saying you are crazy. He didn’t listen to them, he just kept on doing what he was doing. There must have been so many moments of doubt and so many detractors, who thought they knew what was best for the
people, but in his ways he just showed them how to be, how to live better, and how to be free, even when you live in a territory occupied by an army (Romans).

His actions would inspire others, and begin a movement which would change many lives, and save many people. He went through all the doubts, temptations, etc, but overcame then to become that guy.
(For his efforts, he got betrayed and crucified, but that sort of had to happen. Still…)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/churchfinalreportIIIbhtml

Martin LUther King Jr. Leader of the civil rights movement. I am sure he had moments where he just wanted to not be that guy.

Especially with his government issuing forth a Cointelpro operation against him. Following him 24/7, spreading lies, disinfo, trying to destroy his every achievement at every turn, sending him a suicide note telling him to take his own life, and a lot of other really despicable things. He overcame it and became that guy. His faith in God, the movement, and the rights of the people would make a difference and chance the circumstances for many at that time. Of course a month before his death his Government would target him for termination, because they saw him as a Black Messiah that could electrify the masses.
(A month later he would get assassinated, by some apparent lone gun man. His family doesn’t buy it either.) Still he became that guy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandi

Ghandi. Oddly enough I don’t know a lot about him. I know he wanted changes, believed in peaceful protests. Started a hunger strike, and a movement that would also change the lives of many. At some point in his life, he also became that guy.
(For his efforts, he would also be assassinated. )

Anyways at some point if there is to be change, someone has to choose to be that guy, that girl, that person. Just because that’s the way it’s always been done, does not mean that is the way it will always be. The resounding theme with many of these people was their faith that a change could be made, and they were not afraid to be that person, no matter what their detractors thought.