Life Isn't Fair

Life Isn't Fair

Unfortunately, there are times when the bad guys win

Originally printed Sunday, August 17, 2003

in the Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas

When the editorial board sat down last week, I had given three possibilities that I was going to write about for this week's column. What you are reading now is not one of those initial ideas.

In addition to being a student at Midwestern State University, I am also employed by the department of Housing and Residence Life as a resident assistant. This week has been one of the more challenging weeks, both mentally and physically.

My fellow RA's and I have been waking before 7 am and going through our day, almost non-stop, until as late as 10 pm, all in the effort to prepare for the worst-case scenarios that can occur in college life. And believe me, there are a lot of worst case scenarios.

Through this grueling process, our staff begins to bond, create relationships and, at times, get to their wit's end and bicker and complain. Emotions can run high.

It was when emotions were at their most fevered pitch this week that I was reintroduced to the theme of today's column: Life isn't fair.

That's right. Life isn't fair. There are times when the bad guy wins. There are times when you are not respected. There are times when you fail to respect others. It is human nature. But it occurred to me that when faced with adversity, when you learn that life isn't fiar, the easy road is to accept that fate and move on.

Or, another option is to not choose acquiescence, which soon leads to cynicism.

No. When faced with an injustice, raise your voice and be counted as against it. The other side may still win, but you will have been heard.

For 27 years, I know I have lived a lot of life. That is why I was particularly struck that I was brought face-to-face with this lesson here, in Wichita Falls. Not to say that I can't learn anything here. Quite to the contrary; I am learning daily while here. I am just surprised that such a basic lesson had been overlooked until now.

The applications of this lesson are far reaching, too. In the 1960's, life wasn't fair for the black population of this country, but they stood up to the inequality, to the injustice. And while there is still progress to be made, the distance behind is far more than the distance ahead.

The same could be said for the advancement of women in our society from second-class, subserviant behavior. Or the current "culture war" concerning the gay and lesbian citizens of the United States. All three have stood against unjust opinions and beliefs. And they are being heard by a more informed, more enlightened citizenry.

There is a line from the Broadway musical, "Ragtime" that really hits this nail on the head. Sung by Coalhouse, the lead character:

My path may lead to heaven or hell,

and God will say what's best,

but one thing He will never say

is that I went quietly to my rest.

In that line, he states that man is not accountable to man but to his higher power, alone. Where injustice is concerned, you cannot stay silent. Not for injustice against you. Not for an injustice against others. Raise your voice and be counted against it.