i won't go speechless.

"ok, i posted it." said my mom who was referring to an interesting article on bullying. her caption stated that bullying was something that everyone can be faced with it at any age and it can also be experienced within a church. we both knew that posting an article like this would cause a stir that could potentially end in ruins, our suspicions were correct. followers started to comment, sharing their experiences with bullying and shortly an interesting comment was posted that was later deleted by the commenter. we expected there to be a commenter who wouldn't be happy with my mom speaking up on the topic of bullying, but we didn't expect a phone call instructing for the post to be deleted. this commenter's family didn't want mine to speak up. they wanted us to be silent. they wanted us to remain speechless.

my household counted down the days, and maybe even hours, until the live action disney aladdin showed in theaters. my sister, alanna, was especially excited because this is her favorite disney movie. our original plan was to see it the very day it was released, but we decided to have a yard sale (they are our specialty :D)  therefore, our plan was delayed until the next day. 

after we packed the leftover items from our successful yard sale into our car, my parents took the items to goodwill. then we changed into nicer attire and drove to the nearest movie theater that was showing aladdin. as the movie began to start, my sisters and i looked at each other and grinned because the moment that we had been waiting for had finally arrived. then, the main character, *sighs* aladdin, made his way onto the big screen. sophie, my youngest sister, whispered to me "woah, he's cute." and of course i agreed because who doesn't like a guy with a nice smile, right?! the movie was very similar to the original; the classic genie and the lamp, the handsome wanna-be prince manages to sweep the princess off her feet, the phenomenal songs that everyone knows by heart- but there was also a new and powerful song sung by the princess herself. 

Here comes a wave
Meant to wash me away
A tide that is taking me under
Swallowed in sand
Left with nothing to say
My voice drowned out in the thunder

But I won't cry
And I won't start to crumble
Whenever they try
To shut me or cut me down

I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless

Try to lock me in this cage
I won't just lay me down and die
I will take these broken wings
And watch me burn across the sky
And it echoes saying I...

Won't be silenced
No you will not see me tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless
Speechless

as i listened to those lyrics i recalled the time when my family was asked to remain silent. we were asked to not talk about a topic and act that has left many people broken. we were asked to go speechless. we made the decision not to remain silent and we were shamed for it.

i don't doubt that i am the only person in both christian and non-christian circles who has been asked to remain silent against certain topics, life circumstances, etc. but just like princess jasmine, we should not be forced to be quiet. we should not be locked in a cage. we should not be silenced. nobody can take away your freedom to speak and i encourage you to be bold, brave, and do not remain speechless even if you are shamed for speaking up.

i won't go speechless, will you?
-karina grace