the right to write
Amnesty @ WLU's take on human rights
When I moved to Virginia from 800 miles south, one of the aspects of the college environment I was most excited for was being surrounded by politically aware and active people. After attending the initial meetings of different political clubs and discussing politics in classes, I realized what attracted me to politics was activism. This is when I discovered Washington and Lee’s chapter of Amnesty International.
I think that part of the reward of a challenge is the uncomfortable ways you are sometimes forced to seek to achieve it. Through W&L’s chapter of Amnesty, I’ve had the opportunity to take action outside of my comfort zone. In November we drove to Washington, D.C. for the organization's Virginia chapters to meet and collectively lobby House representatives for their support for the Refugee Protection Act of 2016. I had never sat down with a legislator or staffers to exercise my democracy before then. I learned through this experience the significance of not only exercising your own voice but amplifying the voices of others in democracy. I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone by interviewing other students on campus about their thoughts on feminist activism to truly listen. Throughout the past few months and the increasing division within our country, I've been in disbelief, saddened, angry, disappointed. But more importantly, I'm motivated. Somehow, my friends who have targets on their backs - who have always had targets on their backs because of the color of their skin, their religion, their nationality, their sexuality - somehow they are able to not be consumed by (albeit, justified) anger every day. Somehow, they are able to first look for the best in people. Somehow, they still have the emotional capacity to love. Somehow, they still have the strength to continue. This is what motivates me to stay informed and take action in support of human rights. Amnesty provides me with the opportunity to seek real justice and change, beyond Facebook arguments and bumper stickers. Being part of our chapter of Amnesty has given me the opportunity to discuss global issues and how they apply to the W&L community with a group of different people with a common goal. I’ve learned empathy in starting dialogue about these issues on campus. On days when I feel stressed from schoolwork or the other day-to-day obstacles, I have a group of people that motivate me to alter my perspective and remind me of my responsibility to advocate for the voices of others. ~Hannah Denham '20, [email protected]
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