There have been a couple local activists getting some heat recently for being less than ethical in their social giving.
This, I think, is shocking to the person in the cross hairs of these accusations. It also throws a wet blanket on the good feelings of supporters.
Martin Luther King was often accused of incredible things. Look at this headline:
These MLK accusations should be taken in light of a letter J. Edgar Hoover wrote condemning MLK. You can read more about it here: ‘You are done: A secret letter to Martin Luther King Jr. sheds light on FBIs malice
This has happened to me over the years.
I've been accused of stealing money, selling drugs and running a prostitution ring.
In my case, these accusations came from people I had tried to help. That's a weird feeling.
It seems that where anyone trying to do good goes, darkness follows close behind.
I'm not saying these people did or did not do the things they are accused of. I have no idea.
All I can tell you is that I know who I am. And I know the accusations that I've gotten. The things people have accused me of are just absurd.
For a long time people would say I was just helping the homeless so I could run for mayor again. I hated that rumor, not only because it was not true, but because it accused me of having such small vision that all I could imagine was running for mayor. This is a hell of a lot of work to try to make a run for mayor. At least accuse me of doing all this work to run for something like state representative or something. (for the record, I've grown to hate most politicians. I'm not sure I'd want to ever be part of their dirty, sleazy club.)
I hated the drug dealer rumors for the same reason. Why in the world would I quit all these great businesses that could be used as perfect covers for my drug empire to hang around homeless people and drug addicts?
I just felt insulted by the stupidity people thought I was capable of.
And as far as stealing money... The kind of money we're talking about that this charity brings in is not needed in my life. I'm doing fine financially. I don't need to steal a couple thousand dollars from a startup charity.
Here's the actual truth of what motivates me.
So, while I don't know the truth of other activists, I know the truth about me.
That leads me to believe that, at the very least, the rumors and accusations of other activists are likely either not true or exaggerated.
These rumors and accusations happen for one reason: The accuser wants to hurt the activist.
The accuser feels wronged in some way by the activist. They become filled with hate and anger. And they want to see them go down. Seeing the activist die would be just fine with them. They are filled, they are seething, with hate.
I just got a text message last night from an anonymous person that hates me. It is not uncommon for me to get death threats. A few people HATE me.
All I can tell you is this: when a person attempts to stand up for light and love, darkness and hate will ALWAYS show up too. It's like the activist conjures a magical gym where forces of good and evil must do battle. Anywhere The Good takes a stand, that place becomes sacred ground where The Bad will appear and fight. I'm telling you, it's just a fact. I'm not being some crazy spiritualist here. This battle of good and evil happens every single time good takes a stand.
And, may I say, it happens every time evil takes a stand. The Good will rush in to do battle as well.
So, to summarize so far: I don't know if the activist was doing the thing they were accused of. But I know one thing for a total fact: the accuser made the accusations to hurt, damage and ultimately destroy the activist. They want to see the activist ended. And it's because they are filled with anger and hate. While I don't know if the activist is totally good, I do know the accuser is filled with evil, anger and hate.
I don't need to tell the accused activists much of anything. They, at least on some level, understand everything I've stated above.
This is a message to activists of the future and activists who have yet to meet this inevitable fire of anger and hate.
When (not if, but when), WHEN this kind of anger and hate comes for you, just stand there and take it. Imagine it as a straight-line wind blowing across the land at 60 miles an hour right at your face. Just stand there and let it beat you. You might not even believe you can take it. But I assure you, you can. Just take it.
If you want to talk about it publicly, talk about it publicly. If you don't want to talk about it publicly, don't talk about it. It doesn't matter. From a public relations point of view it will likely blow over. If the accusations are not true then the outcome doesn't matter. Just keep doing the work. If you are on a charity and the board of directors fires you then do the work on your own.
You are in a battle of good and evil. Sometimes evil gets the upper hand. That's just the nature of battling. But don't stop. Go in the direction you are able to go. You are a rare person in the world that is called to take the stands you are taking. The army of The Good needs you to keep fighting.
You chose the life of an activist because you found wrongs that needed to be righted. Those wrongs have supporters, no matter how evil and vile the wrongs may be. You will be fought. And there will be those that want to see you fail and crash and burn. There will be no greater joy for them than to see your failure or even death.
You are fighting a holy war. And thank God you are willing to fight it. Most people just keep their heads down and hope not the slightest uncomfortable breeze will ruffle their hair. You were called to stand in the wind and take it all head first.
You likely are not made of the same things as the activist you support. You likely have a higher level of fear and worry than the activist you support.
Fight the fear within you.
You gravitated towards the activist you support because you saw something that inspired you. You saw a wrong they were trying to right. Have faith in that belief.
I'm not saying you shouldn't question your activist. I'm not saying you shouldn't investigate rumors or accusations. But what I AM saying is that your activist should be innocent until proven guilty.
Before you run away in fear because you heard something, make sure you have a very good reason for running away. There will never be a cause worth fighting for or an activist worth standing with that won't draw hate, anger and untrue accusations. It's just the nature of the game.
If you want to make a difference you are going to experience pain and suffering along the way. Nothing in nature wants to change. And you are part of a mission that seeks change. Your beliefs and actions will be tested.
It is said that no good deed goes unpunished. I often say it to myself.
The reason no good deed goes unpunished is because a bad deed doesn't want it to happen. The fight between good and evil is real and will always exist.
Evil will come in many forms. In its most dangerous form, it will often look like "rational" moderates who think you are moving too fast or pushing too hard.
If you don't like the word "evil" then call them for what they truly are: fearmongers. They can't resist spreading fear where ever they go. Fear is at the core of every evil act. Fear of the unknown. Fear of change. Fear of other people.
When you feel anxious, when you feel afraid, know this: it is evil creeping inside you. We all experience it. But there are those who embody the fear.
Fear is evil.
Don't give in to the fear. Any of you.
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