you're worth fighting for, and so is that person...

i feel alive when i am fighting for something. 

growing up, i always thrived when someone said i couldn't do something. as soon as they had this belief or conveyed this doubt, i had this push to prove them wrong. i learned by heart a piano piece that was way above my ability for a recital. i memorized enough verses in a short time to go to camp for free. i moved a bucket of rocks at work. i have a bad memory, but these moments stand out to me clear as day.  nobody could tell me i was less than, because if they did, i proved them wrong.

as i have been growing older, this fighting to prove myself has morphed into a passion for justice. i fell in love with my first social work internship because people had been wronged. i was able to be the voice that said to victims: "you don't deserve this. that person who took advantage of you was wrong, you are valuable." i wanted justice, showing these clients humans are all equal and no one deserves to be a victim. (note: justice here is not retribution)

i care about people and justice because i feel everyone is a child of God and nobody should be treated less than.

there are so many controversies to the Obama health care plan. honestly, i have a lot of questions about it myself. but let me be clear-- i believe health care is a human right, it shouldn't be dependent on income. Children aren't expected to have an income to receive it. in the same way, i believe adults shouldn't either. Human health doesn't depend on anything like how hard you work. Someone can get sick for no reason at all. Everyone should have the same opportunity to get treatment. point blank. (note: justice here is not entitlement)

today i am reminded of my passion for justice. hopefully i can really use this passion to make a difference. and just remember, justice is what happens when you treat everyone as if they were your own grandma. tell me that doesn't put an image in your mind ;)





(note: not my grandma, this is mother teresa)