The Good Fight
Posted by Anne
Have you ever had to fight for something? Have you ever had to convince people, persuade people, and attempt to mold their very ideology? I haven’t. This question occurs to me every Martin Luther King, Jr Day. I ask myself: When was the last time there was a cause…intimately connected to my OWN freedoms and liberties (not just someone else’s)…that I had to fight for? And every year, I have to go with “never”. Some people are just darn privileged. I am one of those people.
Every January, I wake up on MLK Day, delighted to have a day off from my job. The job I’m fortunate to have. I brew my expensive coffee, and flip the channel on my television so I can watch Matt and Meredith in high def. I hear clips of that speech—the first few sentences we know by heart—about dreams, and about equality. I am always moved. And I am always struck with the fact that people are still fighting for these words to be truly realized. There will always be people who have to fight.
Here’s what I can say: I know how to work hard. As a Presbyterian-raised child reared on the Protestant work ethic, this has been ingrained into every fiber of my privileged self. I’ve slogged through tough jobs, emotionally challenging relationships, insecurity, and doubt. I work hard. And I’m proud of the work I’ve done in this world of mine. But no, it’s never been a fight.
I don’t envy these fights. Who would? But there may come a day when I have to fight. I know many people—privileged like myself—who wake up one day and find the rules have changed. Their child is sick. They are sick. Their marriage is suffering. And all of a sudden…they have to fight. They have to fight for their health, their life, their marriage.
We can’t predict the direction our lives will take. I’m learning that. There will be battles I never truly have to fight…at least not for myself. I can fight them on behalf of others. But someday, maybe I’ll have to fight a battle of my own. Until then, I’m thankful for the people who know how to fight. I’m thankful for the people who know how to fight the battles worth fighting. I’m thankful for MLK, and the people I’ll never know who live by his words.
There are good fights. Necessary fights. And I hope that someday…if I have to fight…someone will show me how.
Have you ever had to fight for something? With your words? Your actions? Your emotions?
January 18th, 2010 at 6:14 am
Anne, thank you for these words. They ring true to me, and, I suspect for most of us. I haven’t had to fight, as you describe it, either. Yes, I’ve walked some uphill roads here and there. But for the most part my life – of opportunity, privilege, and luxury – has been handed to me on a platter.
MLK day is seen by many of us, as just another three-day weekend. But his life meant so much more than that. And I appreciate you reminding me of it.
January 18th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Great post, Anne, and an interesting distinction between working hard and fighting hard. As you elucidate, there IS a difference, but it’s easy to clump the two together. I’m not sure I’ve ever had to really fight for something that put me at a risk, either. I just finished reading Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help,” at your recommendation, which was excellent, and it’s such a perfect example of what happens when you wake up one day and risk everything to fight for something you believe in.
January 18th, 2010 at 7:55 am
This is a great post Ann, it really gets you thinking. Everytime I came up with an answer, like the others, I realized I may have had to work hard but never fight hard. I am one of the lucky ones and I hope I continue to be that way, but like you I hope if that day ever comes I can stand up tall and fight the best fight of my life.
January 18th, 2010 at 9:02 am
What a timely and powerful post, Anne. Thank you for these words today.
I have been thinking about the idea of fortune vs. struggle in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti. As I did when the genocide in Darfur was much more in the news, I wonder if this event will be one of the litmus tests for our generation and whether I will have the strength to stand up and do something about the suffering or if I will hole up in my comfortable little life and turn a blind eye to the distant need. Until your post, though, I didn’t connect any of these thoughts to the fact that today is Dr. King’s birthday (or at least its observance) and to his example of fighting the good fight.
January 18th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Powerful post. Gripping reminder of the stark contrast between working and fighting. Timely piece, full of humility and honesty, vision and vulnerability. Thank you for these words on this day.