Recently, I watched this explosive talk, The Danger of Silence by a young teacher and poet, Clint Smith.
He begins by quoting Dr Martin Luther King who said, ” In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Clint’s extropolation on the danger of silence, caused me to reflect on how and why we tell stories to impact the lives of others.
Some write novels of a 1000 pages; some posts of 1000 words; some tell just a brief anecdote.
In under five minutes, Clint Smith tells multiple stories, many of them in one profound and poetic sentence. Each with the potential to change the way you think and how you conduct your daily life.
One deliberate but small act can have an exponential effect. As we continue to act on the consequences of the original act, change is born.
Clint vows that he will live every day, ‘as if there is a microphone tucked under his tongue’, so that he might speak up against ignorance and injustice.
I urge you to watch this talk because in these few minutes, his short but impactful stories might change the way you think about silence as a foil to action. You may take just one deliberate action now or later in your life that will have a ripple affect and change or even save the lives of others.
It is telling our stories with conviction as Clint has that changes how people think and act.
If you want more TED goodness and you live in Melbourne, come along to the TedXMelbourne event, Journey Off The Grid‘, on 10th October, 2014. I’m privileged to be a speaker on how stories change lives.
That’s fantastic. So many people don’t realise how silence one day, silence the next…. ends up “allowing” something that people didn’t want in the first place. Then they wonder “how did this happen?” Clint did a great job speaking about the simple things that can be said with meaningful assistance to himself and others. It doesn’t need to be a soap box, but just stating your perspective and hopefully others can reflect and enter discussion. Thanks for sharing that talk Sandy 🙂
So true Elizabeth, it has made me think about what I am silent about and what to do about it. Not just on a global or humanitarian basis, but personally in my relationships. It is challenging. That is what stories are all about, sharing! Thank you for dropping in.
SandyMc recently posted…The danger of silence
Great talk to give some deep thought for the mind. Being true to yourself and others is one of the greatest gifts. We just need reminding on how to give it.
It’s powerful isn’t it Claire
SandyMc recently posted…The dance in our brain