SPEAK UP

INTRODUCTION

Corruption, illiteracy, violence, ignorance, rebel, these are not just mere words, every single one of them holds a sad but true reality of our society, that is; nobody speaks against them.

Let’s start from a lower scale, some man throws a bag full of garbage on the street, in front of everyone but nobody cares enough to either stop him or report him, they just don’t care, they don’t realize that their silence is representing their acceptance to that particular act and later they are the ones who are blaming government for such condition of their street.

On contemporary basis, there exist numerous injustices that have sadly become normalized. From the illegal sale of goods to individuals deceiving others out of greed, and from persistent gender inequality to the uneven distribution of human rights and lingering racism, and many more. These issues persist despite our awareness. It's concerning that we witness these occurrences regularly yet often fail to take meaningful action against them. Many people claims that they are not indulged in such activities, and tries to stay out of the trouble, when it is crucial to know that; just saying you're not involved doesn't cut it. It's not enough to just distance yourself. As citizens, we've got to step up and do our part to make things better. It is obligatory to prove your existence and loyalty as a citizen. That's how we show we're here and making a difference.

MY IDEA TO MAKE A CHANGE

Rather than complaining for the lack of resources and platforms, I would chose to grab every opportunity to “SPEAK UP”. Speak up against wrong, and speak up for good.

“Morally courageous individuals can become a protective force for individuals, a catalyst for social change, and an inspiration for others, thereby making a crucial contribution to the greater good.”

 Reasons why it is important to raise your voice against evil:

1. Silence means approval

2. You might be the next victim

3. Historical responsibility

4. Safeguarding democracy and human rights

5. Ethical and professional responsibility

6. Educational role

7. Catalyst for broader change

 My role as an activist.

Accepting my responsibilities as a native of this nation, can prove as my first step. And here’s how I plan to do it:

1. Self-Reflection and Research: Observe the issues and problems faced by people around me (environmental conservation, human rights, injustice, violence etc.), Learn about these issues, understand the problems, and find out what has been done and what needs to be done.

2. Know more about it by reading articles and joining clubs and groups. ( I have started it by joining two WhatsApp groups that work for social movements)

3. Start small and local: Look for volunteer opportunities in my community. This can be with local nonprofits, community centers, or school projects, or even in my neighborhood.

4. Use my voice: Participate in school debates, write articles for the school newspaper, or give presentations about your cause. I can start a YouTube channel or use other social media platforms to spread awareness among people.

5. I recently started writing on vocal media, I hope I can inspire more people and be a light for them.

6. As I am currently in EDS (English Debating Society), I would like to grab every opportunity to be an advocate and speak up for the injustice and other issues.

7. Last but not least, if I ever got a chance to see injustice, corruption or violence, I will not stay silent, I will speak and do the best I can to support the victim. I will never become a useless witness.

 Future Goals:

However, my journey isn’t going to end here, I may be just a student and a dependent teenager who relies on her parents’ support right now. But in future, when I am a fully grown mature woman, I would contribute and start working as an activist, at a bigger scale.

CONCLUSION

In short, the call to "speak up" is more than a moral imperative; it's a crucial step towards bridging the widening gap between expert knowledge and public opinion. The silence of professionals and academics undermines their relevance and contributes to a society that needs to be more informed and divided on critical issues. The time to speak is now, for in the words of Edmund Burke,

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."