Dear Everyone,
In July, I penned a post about the virtue of Liberality or generosity. I mentioned the work of Heather Huffman, who donates her royalties to WorldVision in an effort to aid women and children who have been bought and sold through human trafficking.
Even the smallest amount of research into human trafficking produced statistics that shocked me. Children barely school-aged are bought and sold like animals. Young women are taken from their families and sold into brothels. They need help and they need a voice. Heather has dedicated her writing to both. Her idea has power.
At the moment, I’m reading Claire Diaz-Ortiz’s book “Twitter for Good: Change the World One Tweet at a Time. In this work, the author presents concrete examples of how Twitter has been used to effect social change, to raise awareness of various crises and issues, and to focus the world’s attention on particular needs. She also provides helpful tips for non-profit organizations. In harnessing the power of social media for good, her idea has power.
Like many people, I’ve listened to recent news reports about individuals who, when faced with human suffering or a crime, walked away. My idea is that we should do something to help those in need, to protect the weak and the abused, and to stop crime. I’m hoping this idea has power.
As the holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year approach, I ask you to join me in supporting ideas that have power for good. I ask you to do something, not nothing, when you witness human suffering.
I welcome your reflections below.
All the best and thanks for reading,
SR
I am honoured to have had all three of my novels appear on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists. I was a Semifinalist for Best Author in the 2011 and 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards. {
I agree that we all need to take a more active role in stopping human suffering when we have the ability to do so. I’m afraid that “we” as a society at large have become immune and numb.It’s a terrible tragedy. Thanks for bringing much needed attention to this issue. I’m a firm believer that people can do miraculous things when they work together.
Great post SR. I agree, we all should do something when in front of human suffering. No matter how small or big the gesture is, the important thing is we don’t look away. Especially now that the holidays are approaching, I think we should offer a bit of our time to those in need. I always find volunteering a great experience because we all come out enriched in multiple ways.
Thank you and Heather Huffman for bringing these issues to your readers’ attention. The idea has definitely power 😉 The more we are in helping those in need, the better.
Dearest SR, you have a very powerful voice all your own. You have used it for good and I have no doubt you will continue. You also have a huge, warm light around you and we are drawn to it. We want nothing more than to help you make this world safer. Thank the heavens for honorable men like you who see yourself in every living creature we share this earth with. Hugs
Thank you for this message of hope,SR.
We all need writers like you who remind us that we do not have to give in to a spirit of helplessness and hopelessness. Giving us that message is the best Christmas gift we could ever receive.
God Bless you,
Holly
The next step then would be the power of an action. Aren’t we called to not just say, but do, to reach out, not withdraw,to consistently show kindness, not mete it out by whim or emotion or our self imposed busyness or our pride? If the idea is the platform, action is the reality of a kinder world. Pat
I’m really glad to hear there is a book about using Twitter for charity and other good works. I’m embarrassed that for me, it’s more of a means to socialize. My shortsightedness was brought home by the recent uprising in Egypt, where citizens used Twitter to surreptitiously spread word of protests and gatherings. What a vast difference from tweeting what I had for lunch.
I admire you for consistently using your own visibility to promote worthwhile charities, SR. Who knows how many lives you’ve improved by inspiring people to generosity?
I often feel that the problems are so numerous and vast, it’s impossible to choose what to tackle. I have to remember that even small actions add up, and to try not to do it for my own selfish reasons. (To paraphrase Bill Cosby, you’re looking at an old person trying to get into heaven.) I like to think that even something very small, like being kind to someone who’s having a hard day, brings me closer to grace.