The continued fight for justice; when the passion for it declines

BY BRITTNEY CHANNER

Happy New Year Everyone!

We are finally in 2020. Another 365 days to make moments, achieve personal goals and ensure that we are left feeling fulfilled by the end of the year. I know how hard new years resolutions can be, so I therefore challenge you all to start with one resolution and focus solely on that for an entire year. Remember the goal is quality not quantity; as we try to better ourselves in every way possible.

This week, I want to discuss a moment of deep thought that occurred the other day pertaining to the very topic that I write about every week in this newspaper; social justice. For a year and a half, I have written about almost every social justice issue one can possibly think of. I did this because I felt it was necessary to introuduce matters of importance to the community and help establish solutions to issues that are sometimes difficult to find. However, I must admit, being a social justice intellect is exhausting; there, I said it! I have reached a point where I have become uninspired towards the fight for justice.

I am pretty sure this is not the response many of you were waiting to hear, but if we are going to talk about the issues at hand, we must discuss the heavy load that sometimes comes with them. As rewarding as advocating for social justice or those who are a part of disadvantaged groups can be, it can be emotionally and mentally draining solely due to how unfair this world actually is.

Every day when you turn on the news, there are multiple occurrences of injustice stemming from authority figures abusing their power, disadvantaged groups going without basic necessities or even the lack of equality amongst all people; leaving many wondering if justice is a figment of the imagination. Can we as a society achieve justice? With everything that is going on in the world, can we truly live to see peace and harmony established amongst everyone? I believe it is this very question that has caused many people to give up hope, desensitize themselves and eventually lose passion regarding fighting for what is deemed to be right.

Like every individual in this world, I am equally flawed and sometimes, it is difficult to stand strong in the principles you believe in especially when the common theme around you is to do the exact opposite or disregard human morality. Nevertheless, to ensure that one is consistent in achieving justice in all forms, one has to admit when they are tired; and that is what I did last week. Over time, the fight does get challenging and rigorous but despite it all, activism in this regard in still necessary.

After admitting to myself that I was tired, I forced myself to look at the bigger picture. Sometimes looking at the main goal as whole sometimes provides much needed insight and therefore prevents us from becoming dull or bored; especially when that goal is tedious to achieve. Nonetheless, during this brief moment I with myself, realized that the most powerful way to ensure that I do not lose the passion for attaining justice is to make sure I bring my love for it in everything I do and everything I touch. No matter how low I may be feeling, the fight for justice can only continue if I make sure that I bring as much enthusiasm and energy to it as I possibly can. Although this concept is easier said than done, the idea of it gave me the spark that I needed to try and continue my journey in helping others through legal knowledge.

Regardless if your goal is to fight for justice like me or achieve some other passion that you may possess, if in the event you do feel uninspired, remind yourself why you started in the first place; the bigger picture may surprise you.