that's how it is

"It's too bad, but that's just how it is." 

With these words, many a "decent" person can dismiss injustices with a clear conscience. It is not such a difficult thing to do when faced with the overwhelming problems in our world: terrorism, drug cartels, corrupt governments, starving children, refugee camps, systemic injustices, racism, human trafficking, natural disasters. pollution, diseases...the list goes on. The fact that it is not possible for one person to address all of these wrongs seems to make it easier to justify not trying at all. The difference would be minuscule, so what's the point in trying?

I wonder if this was the thought process of the people who turned their backs on the Jews during the Holocaust, or refused to help the slaves seeking freedom in the northern US and Canada. It was too bad, but what could they really do to help? It is as if by recognizing that the situation is regrettable, we absolve ourselves of doing anything about it. As long as the injustice is not our reality, it is not at the forefront of our minds. After all, we donate our unwanted clothes, and contribute cans to the food drive, and volunteer occasionally, and give some extra cash to that charity. Isn't that enough? Because sure, the problems are there, but since we cannot imagine solving them in our lifetimes, we just have to accept it: that's how it is. It's too bad, but that's just how it is.


I do not want this to be my life. I do not want to be the person who turns away from the fight for justice because it is difficult and overwhelming. I want to recognize that even when change seems impossible, by neglecting to try we make that impossibility a certainty.

I refuse to accept "that's how it is."
I want my life to be about changing and challenging "that's how it is."

I want "that's how it is" to become "that's how it was."