Calling All The Simbas Of The World
Shahina Lakhani
It is said that the mark of democracy is an individual's ability to speak their mind without the fear of retaliation from government and those in power. It is a very important human right we all have and we all must do all we can to preserve this right.
However, a question that often comes to my mind is, where do one person's rights end and other person's rights begin? Are there even separations like that at all or all our rights kind of intermingle and then it is up to us to make sense of them and use them as we see fit?
The truth of the matter is that there is no concrete line that says your rights end here and this is the territory of my rights, there are only people who take those rights and twist them into what fits their needs.
The famous quote, "with great power comes great responsibility," is often ignored in real life by people who like to have rights and powers but do not respect the fact that others have the same rights too.
Our society is rampant with examples of such behaviors:
Countries denying other countries the same access to societal progress and technology they have, government officials passing laws that protect their bottom line, corporations using business tactics that are designed to serve their own interests only, individuals bullying others in the name of free speech, and the list goes on.
It is behaviors like this that have created such disparity in the world. Our world has become a man eating man, everyone for themselves kind of place where war sells, oppression is accepted in the name of safety and lies gather more support than the truth.
In this society, the fearful masses like herds of goats and sheep run fearfully to find a cover that seems the safest despite being aware that the outward appearances often are deceptive.
But, like any creature of habit, the masses are just that predictable. When the going gets tough they run to the other side of the turf in hopes for safety and greener pastures. They forget their own ideals, their own hopes, their own dreams and run towards someone who promises they will make all their problems vanish.
All politicians know this, that is why they use fear tactics to lure crowds to their side. Bad mouthing others, using catch phrases that strike a cord (of fear in people) as they bend the truth, become their war cry.
They do this because they know that a frightened crowd will always abandon their own power of choice and discernment and run to the other side of the fence.
A frightened crowd, like Simba in the movie Lion King, thinks they are too weak to stand up for themselves. So they begin telling themselves, "it is no use. I am not strong enough, bright enough, educated enough, tall enough etc so I will let others make decisions that affect my life and the lives of those I love."
Look at the current status of healthcare, look at how most government agencies are run these days, look at how most of our basic rights as human beings are gone. This is all because we stopped caring as masses and gave the reins of our life to those who promised us the moon but are leaving us eating dirt.
Just as Simba one day found out that he was incredibly more powerful than he ever thought, we too have to wake up to our power. We too, as individuals, must wake up and take personal responsibility to help change the tide.
Let us get in touch with our own inner Simba and then create alliances. Let us gather all the Simbas of the world and commit to making a difference.
Occupy Washington is a great example of standing up for ourselves in alliance with others. Occupy healthcare has created a platform for all the Simbas in healthcare.
Movements like Nurseup and International Nursing Alliance (INA) are also gathering brave lions who are determined to help bring caring back to what is now reduced to just health biz.
Individuals like Amanda Trujillo, Andrew Lopez and Carol Gino are making their voices heard. They are creating a roar in an industry where patients are no longer at the center of care but are reduced to being the "Revenue Generating Units".
People sending messages of love and peace to each other while their governments and agencies are at war, are also Simbas of the world finally waking up for peace, harmony and kinship as human beings
We can experience safety, peace and harmony only through tapping into our own strength, giving voice to our inner truth, standing up and living powerfully.
The sheep's clothing we have been wearing for safety has reduced us to being mere slaves in the hands of those in power.
Wearing the sheep's clothing and allowing others to make decisions for us while we sit on the sidelines has stripped us of our dignity, our confidence and made us fear for our safety more than ever before.
Let us get up now. Let go of your fears. Move forward. There is power in numbers. Together we can restore our basic human rights for ourselves and for each other. Together we can bring mankind back to humanity.
Yours in love, peace and gratitude
Shahina Lakhani
Shahina Lakhani RN MSN Author, Poet, Speaker, Holistic Life Change Strategist. She advocates using holistic strategies in personal empowerment, care of the sick, the dying and their loved ones. Shahina Lakhani has been a nurse for more than 25 years. She has worked as an educator, Nurse Practitioner and a Hospice Nurse. Her passion is to empower people to Live Powerfully and experience Wellbeing until their last breath.
What Did you Think?
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Hi Shahina…Excellent article! This is exactly why I am part of a Community that is 'Launching A Leadership Revolution' named after the New York Times, BusinessWeek best selling book 'Launching A Leadership Revolution'! Thank you for sharing…it is time for Leaders to 'Soar With The Eagle' and step to the plate…Thank you, Hughie
Thank you for the mention Shahina. We could each do amazing things if we got over our fears, and forgot about all the practical reasons why we can't!
Need to let "Simba" out a little more often
Andrew