We’ve learned that it will take more than one generation to bring about change. The fight for civil rights has developed into a broader concern for human rights, and that encompasses a great many people and countries. Those of us who live in a democracy have a responsibility to be the voice for those whose voices are stilled.
Interpretation
Change requires time and collective effort across generations to achieve meaningful progress.
Mary Travers emphasizes that the struggle for civil rights is an ongoing journey that extends beyond an individual's lifetime. It involves a collective responsibility to advocate for those who are marginalized, ensuring that their voices are heard in a democratic society. The quote calls for awareness, action, and solidarity in the fight for human rights on a global scale.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, one could quote this to emphasize the importance of continuous advocacy.
The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.
Many times in life, we say we want change but are then terrified when the opportunity for it arrives.
What can change the world today is the same thing that has changed it in the past-an idea and the service of dedicated, committed individuals to that idea.
In terms of closing Rikers, we have to close Rikers, but we have to ensure that we're not just taking - that we're not continuing to incarcerate the same level of people. It doesn't do us much good if we close Rikers and then take that same amount of people and just distribute them to be incarcerated elsewhere.
There's been the same kind of demonizing of the word 'feminism' as words like 'liberal,' 'affirmative action,' and so on.
I think it has been a tremendous feat on the part of East Germans since 1990 to adapt to everything changing.
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