I am often asked, “Where do you get you passion?” or “Why do you have so much passion…?”. So I though I would take a brief moment to answer the question they best I can, but I must admit it's not something I haven't thought about too much, for me this is just the way I live. I think what comes off to most people as passion, for me is often nothing more than outrage, and at times I just wonder why more people are not as outraged as I am, and therefore I go one about it even more to make up for everyone else who remains silent.
The issues of human trafficking and slavery, are just inconceivable injustices inflicted upon countless innocent people, driven by greed and ignorance. And, yes it amazes me everyday how little the average person knows about the issues, or that slavery is far from dead and it is from this and what I have witnessed in my own travels that I know I can never look away. The use of rape as a weapon is increasing and as I woman I know the detriment it causes, leaving women as empty shells of themselves and murdering the innocence of children. I have been given a voice and I will use it in the best way I can to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
When it comes to genocide, “Never Again”, are meaningless failed words to me…words which continually fall on deaf ears. Maybe I am passionate about these issues just because I am a living being with a soul, or maybe it is in part because part of my own family has faced persecution in the past (no I’m not Jewish, but part Russian-German and Irish). In reality I think the reason is simply because I am a genuinely hopeful, honest and caring person, who cannot bare to see to continually watch needless suffering, continue decade after decade. A woman who can no longer stand the silence…no longer bare witness with the minority, no longer watch the fires of hate burn and burn without witness! Therefore if that is passion, then yes I am passionate. However I still look at the world and think I am never doing enough, and I know even on my worst days that there is someone who is suffering in a way that I could never imagine.
I only hope my so-called passion is an infectious energy that will carry over to you, and that you will pass along your own passions to others. If it takes passion to change the world, then we must share it!
