I’m going to change the world today. My plan is simple: I am going to wear a purple shirt. It will not have a catchy slogan or a sharp logo, but it will carry a message all the same. It will say to anyone who sees me, “I care.”
Wednesday, October 20 has been designated Purple Shirt Day or Spirit Day (so named for the meaning of purple in the LGBT rainbow symbol) to speak out against anti-LGBT bullying, in response to the six recent suicides of young people who were bullied and harassed for being, or for being thought to be, gay.
Viewpoints on the morality or nature of being gay are irrelevant to the issue. All that matters is this: Every life is precious. No parent can rightly tolerate the bullying of any child. No person of faith can rightly tolerate the abuse of any soul. No human can rightly tolerate the harassment of any being. And so I will wear my purple shirt as a mother and a Christian and a human being, and I will change the world today.
Human change is rarely accomplished in large, sweeping ways; More often, it is small and incremental. A person experiences a singular moment, or even a series of little moments, wherein a change takes hold and begins to grow, and as that one person is engaged in life with other people, the change grows in iterations. If one young person sees my shirt today and feels– even for a moment– less alone and despairing, more filled with hope and love, then the world will be changed.
Will you change the world today?
You’re totally right. A visible symbol of love and support is life-changing. And that becomes world-changing.
Very well-written! I’m definitely wearing purple today.
I’m so rockin’ the purple today, Tamara!
well done, tamara.
*looks around for a purple…something…to wear*
Keep on keepin’ on Tamara. I completely agree with you. Even a small change shifts the whole universe. I will wear purple today (in my mind). Unfortunately in the world I do not own anything purple.
Will gladly wear purple today, and I stand with you… “every life is precious”. <3
This morning my 14 year old daughter educated me on the importance of her purple shirt. And with that I found something purple to wear today. I support love – pure and simple
thank you for this post
You might have posted this before I got dress this morning, but I’m wearing purple on the inside.
When is “bullied for being Christian” day? “Bullied for wearing glasses?” “Bullied for….” ?? Just asking.
I think that when we take a stand against bullying of any kind, it sends a message of intolerance for bullying of all kinds.
I can agree with that!
LOVE that we are totally on the same page when we’re not even trying! This is an awesome, beautiful post!!
Mmhmm. It’s a blogtwin thing.
Shucks. Missed the date to wear purple. I’ll wear it anyway and think good thoughts.