Hidey Ho Xanga Rangers!
I watched "Hairspray" again last week (third time, thank you very much) and I had some thoughts that came up about the state of the world. First of all, I highly recommend that everyone go and see this film! You can't help but tap your feet, start to sing along with the music, and leave with one of the biggest smiles on your face that you might have ever had in your entire life. It is just straight up fun from start to finish.
The thing that really struck me during this last viewing of the film is, why does it take so long for people to realize that they need to stand up for things that should be changed, and why do more people not do the "right" thing? There is a point in the film where the African American characters decide to protest the television station that does not allow them to dance with the Caucasian kids, and Tracy Turnblad (the main character) asks her boyfriend if he will go with her. He says that he does not want to risk his career and she says "But it's the right thing to do."
And there you have it. So simple.
When it comes to equality and fairness within humanity, I believe that most issues have a very simple answer. Will it propel people forward or will it hold them back? Is it giving others an equal footing, or pulling the rug out from under their feet? If some action that you can do improves the lot of others, then it is the right thing to do. And it should be done. So why do we fight doing the right thing so often? Why are there not more people fighting for the rights of single mothers, more people fighting for equality in education, more people working to eradicate poverty? Why are there not more people doing the right thing? Why is it so hard for us to take a step out of our comfort zone and do what we know needs to be done?
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