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a paradox of will


Where human rights are concerned, we live today at the heart of paradox. ...

The world is rich enough to guarantee the economic, social and cultural rights of every person on earth, yet powerful national and international institutions so far refuse to do so .... they lack the political courage to do so. ... A radically unequal world is a world in which terrorism can only continue to thrive.

-- Susan George, The Paradoxes of Human Rights

by Simon Ezra Balto

in this world of paradox

we will risk too much

because enough is no longer enough

we will risk too much

because the expectation is that we won’t

we will risk too much

because we currently have the freedom and privilege to do so

we will risk too much

because we have both everything and nothing to lose

we will risk too much

not because it is what we want to do—it is what we have to do

we will risk too much

because not doing so is complacency, silence, and death

in this world of paradox

we will risk too much

because there is no other choice if we are to have any choice at all

we will risk too much

because if we don’t—no one will

we will risk too much

because bravery can only be born of fear

and in this world, paradox is reason for hope, so

we will risk too much

because this is the place of churning where a new world will be born

and we are its midwife, mother, and child

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