In this tight-knit boarding school community where the only difference between a very personal secret and the hottest gossip around campus is a couple of hours, words can be extremely powerful. We’ve all invariably been in the position of hearing some snide comment or nasty rumor about a friend, dorm mate, or even just someone we’ve seen around campus. But how many of us have actually done anything about it? All it would take to defend a person is a few moments of our time, but many of us would simply take the opportunity for granted and refuse to speak up. We’d move along in our busy lives and think nothing of our own reaction.
As trivial as it may seem, speaking up in a situation like that can be monumental. What makes talking behind others’ backs such an easy habit to fall into is that no one expects to be challenged. An insult is only really effective when it is quick and biting, and most people will only say mean things about a person when they are sure everybody else is thinking the same thing. When you challenge them directly and show them that at least one person has differing views, they are far more likely to hold their tongue for fear of offending you and losing face with others. Chances are, they’ll learn to be more diplomatic with their words and people will grow to respect your integrity and loyalty in the face of pressure.
In the larger scheme of things, inaction in the presence of any wrongdoing or injustice is just as bad as or worse than committing the crime itself. Not only does silence leave very little room for change and improvement, it can also be misconstrued as agreement or satisfaction with the status quo. In the absence of vocal objections from onlookers, a person will be inclined to believe that she is more or less right—even if she knows deep down that her action itself is wrong.
There’s something innate in each of us that craves attention and recognition as an individual capable of going against the flow and acting out impulsively. The darker side of this quest for attention drives criminals to commit large-scale acts that will surely attract the media. To a lesser degree, it encourages us to bash our friends and spread rumors when their backs are turned. Most of the time, a single voice of reason is more than enough to crush this impulse while it’s still small. It’s up to us as responsible human beings to be that voice when we recognize unusually wrong behavior in our friends and classmates.
Sometimes it’s very hard to step up and address the masses, especially when they are all thinking one thing and your mind is set on another. There’ll be people who oppose your view and maybe even hate you for it. Some people will laugh and ridicule you. Then there are those—the vast majority of people in today’s self-oriented society—who will simply ignore you and your message.
We live in a world that teaches that showing too much emotion or interest is a sign of weakness. We’re taught to accept things as they come to us and lay low when it comes to issues of controversy and adversity. Anyone who doesn’t abide by these simple rules is seen as a complainer or a troublemaker. But there’s a big difference between complaining about something and speaking out against it. Complaining rests on bitterness and selfish desires, and is generally fruitless because it doesn’t allow for compromise of any sort and usually just makes things worse. On the other hand, speaking out against something is based on deeper convictions and mutual respect. Solid reasoning and a sincere desire to at least understand varying viewpoints make compromise a feasible end result.
As for being a troublemaker, there’s no telling what effect your words will have on witnesses. Sometimes you will get in trouble for stepping out of your comfort zone and “invading” those of others. But few of the historical heroes we celebrate to this day ever got anywhere without finding themselves paying the consequences for their courageous and rebellious actions. We can’t expect to please everyone with everything we say or do, but since when was life defined by how many people we can conciliate?
This world (and more particularly this school) needs more voices that reflect their owners’ genuine concerns and perspectives. If you find yourself feeling strongly about some issue—whether it is a certain administrative decision that seems unjustifiable or the frequent lack of toilet paper in your dorm bathrooms—go out and say something about it. Let your voice be heard where it counts—and when you do, you may be surprised at just how much a few well-meant words can achieve.
