I have been meaning to blog about this for quite a bit and am not sure why I haven't because it is such an important topic to me, and I hope I do not offend anyone at all by saying this, but I don't think I will.
I am a huge advocate for peace. I am all about accepting people for who they are and not judging anyone based off of anything other than how they treat others.
To even show how important this is to me, 2 outta my 4 tattoos are related. I have a heart on my wrist and a peace sign on my foot right below my ankle bone.
Okie anyways, a couple weekends ago a presenter came to speak at my school and although I had been to listen to this speaker before, I decided to go again and wow.
Once again I was completely moved.
The speakers name was T.J Leyden and his Presentation is called Turning Away From Hate!
Mr. Leyden is a former Neo-Nazi who throughout the majority of his life took pride in hating everyone who was not white, catholic, straight or in his classification of cool.
He tell his story in a way that is extremely graphic and made my stomach cringe but for helping people understand what it can really be like out there.
He discusses what its like to hate people who are different from you, what its like to hurt them and how difficult it is to try and change.
After a very eye opening experience with his then very young sons, Mr. Leyden decided to leave the movement and become an advocate of breaking hate.
I was moved, by his experience and his strength.
This man and his family endure a lot of threats and pain from his decision to stop hating everyone, but he continues to help and try and get kids on the right track regardless.
One thing Mr. Leyden said at this presentation that really caught my attention was the fact that Itunes by Apple will not sell songs that have homophobic lyrics but refuse to screen songs for lyrics that discriminate against race or women.
He asked all of us to try and help and write to Apple and try not to buy songs from them until they decide to change this and stop promoting hate...
I agree 100%
So bloggy readers, I am reaching out to all of you, write a letter to Apple, send them an e-mail, leave the rest of the money you have in itunes until they respond to you and help try and make a difference in our world!!
"I hope someday you will join us, and the world will be as one!"
John Lennon.
xoxo.
I love this post. Having someone in that position come to your school as a speaker sounds incredibly powerful. It's amazing seeing people completely turn around like that for the better.
ReplyDeletePeace, unity, and love is what our world needs. <3 And that song is perfection!
i love your heart tattoo! if i got a tattoo, that's what i would get, a small heart somewhere to remind me to love everyone and myself.
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p.s. i'll send you that not so "juicy" post soon, promise!
Lovely post dear, and this world needs more people like him and like yourself. Love is all we need.
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Sophie
That had to be one of my favourite episodes of glee ever!!
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I agree with you on this 100% I think this world can do alot with being nice and stop the hating. This is a great post, thanks for sharing :) x
ReplyDeleteYay twin! You ran today! PS: I have a tattoo of a peace sign above my ankle! Did we know this about each other??? And I love that you posted this! I'm doing my Maters in Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in Conflict Societies and am a total advocate for peace!
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