Courage Is When

Courage is when . . . any person - like the crucified Christians in ancient times - take upon themselves certain death standing firm to their convictions. Courage is when . . . any person - such as Harriet Tubman in the 1800's or the Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights Era - take up the fight for human rights either for themselves or for others at the peril of their lives. Courage is when . . . any young person - such as Malala Yousafzai, puts their very life in danger by speaking out against rights being denied for reason of their gender, even to the point of taking a bullet to the head. Courage is when . . . any person having harmless but non-traditional behavior or sexual preference endures persecution for simply being themselves and showing their authentic selves to the world. Courage is when . . . any person - such as the front line doctors who stepped forward this summer in Washington DC to bring valuable knowledge to the public based on their many years of expertise - risk being mocked by the press or even losing their jobs. Courage is when . . . any person of any age or of either sex risks their reputation or puts themselves in a situation where bullying or shaming is certain to ensue, by speaking up for what they strongly believe to be just and true. These are the more meaningful examples of what courage represents for me. By my own definitions, I don't suppose I possess very much of great courage. Sept. 8, 2020 for the Courage Poetry Contest of Chantelle Anne Cooke