Dear John Letter. Human Rights Style.

Sometimes you think you get it, sometimes you're lost. But you know you will continue to try anyway. Regardless of the outcome, you know in the end you have done your part to try to change and better the world. You fight for Human Rights.


Sometimes there are certain people in your life who you love, but who neither support what you do, nor understand why you give your life to fight for it.


Sometimes their answer is simply, "I don't care." It's personal. And it hurts.


Like a bad outcome to an election, you know in a matter of 4 years, there is another chance. And you hold on to the hope of that chance for change. You pick yourself back up - and move on.


If you've ever had to write one of these letters, you understand human rights.


To --------

I am going to a place, deep in the heart of the African continent, where the people do not know what I stand for or understand what I hope to accomplish. To be quite honest, I do not know what it is that I must do or what actions I must take to feel whole. I have learned much in my many years as an American, but only in the villages of poverty can I learn what the epitome of hope is. There is hope in the weakest of children faced with malnutrition who dare to forget their own lives to ask how you are doing. At the same time, there is the darkest evil in the strongest of men who seek to silence these children. If peace and hope continue to die at the hands of our own people, than a panacea must be found. I will give up my life fighting for this cause, because there is nothing I desire more than to see the beauty of this world through the eyes of the simplest creature, human, animal or ecosystem alike, that is given the chance to pursue any dream they wish.

These are the challenges that I face and with the guidance of something beyond my own strength, I hope only that I am successful because failure is something I can’t even try to imagine. Even if that success is short lived and without grace, it is something I must attempt. It is because of this risk I face, that I cannot allow myself to stay here. There is nothing here for you to love when the support for my goals is nonexistent. If my only strength must go to my ultimate passions in life, then we both know this will fail since my strength comes from you. I love you with all my heart, and yet because of that, I cannot put you through the pain of seeing what I see every day. Africa is my dream, it is the beginning and the end of humankind, and I must see it through to whatever end.

Not every man can see the world that you can see. And not every man can understand the pain that goes into being something great. I know you understand why I have to leave, but do not agree. Together with you, I could be nothing short of being in blissful happiness, but without you, I can understand so greatly, what it is that the people of this world do not have. I wish with all my heart that you live without fear and achieve what you dream most without consequence. You will become everything you imagine, because of your honesty and passion. I am so very proud of you and I only hope one day you can forgive me.

Goodbye ---- . I will miss you with everything I am.
S