BE THE CHANGE

  I know that typically this blog is filled with feel good stories and celebrations about all of the great things that are going on at Winston High School, and that is a very good thing.  Our kids need a platform to spread the word about all of the incredible things they are doing.  But while the primary focus is on achievements of our school, there is another perk of having this blog.  It presents me with the opportunity to speak my mind and share some information that I think will make a difference.  This post is intended to do just that.
    A few days ago, I came across a story on social media about a student in Colorado who saw a snapchat post of a student in Arizona whom she had never met and didn't know that commented about planning a school shooting.  The girl told her mother who reported it to authorities in Phoenix.  Authorities arrested the girl when they uncovered evidence that she may have indeed been planning something.  Now, we will never know if the girl really ever intended to do harm (thankfully), but one thing is for certain the reason we will never know is that someone saw something that was wrong, and did something about it.
    We like to complain in this country about the way things are.  It is easy to complain.  We are shown the "lowest common denominator" every day on television and social media.  We see war, pollution, crime, ignorance, and indifference everywhere.  Who wouldn't complain about that?  But while it is easy to complain about a problem, it is harder to do something about it.  Too few people are willing to say "enough complaining, let's do something about it."
   One of my favorite quotes is from the Irish orator and politician Edmund Burke.  Mr. Burke famously said:  "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  If we see things that are not right in our world, we need to correct them.  We need to stand up for what is right.  If we see someone breaking a law, bullying someone, or hurting another it is our duty as responsible citizens to do something.  So my challenge to all of you reading this blog right now is simply to do something.  Once you have identified what is wrong, do something to fix it.  To paraphrase Ghandi:  Be the change you wish to see in the world.
   Change is not easy, it is often messy, difficult, and time consuming.  However, nothing worth having is ever easy.  It is only by working together and everyone doing our part that we can hope to build a better school, community, and world.  Let's work together and insure that today and everyday will be A Great Day to be A Redbird!