Draw the circle wide.
Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song. No one stands alone, standing side by side.
Draw the circle wide.*
It's easy to become frustrated, (yet again), by those who just can't seem to learn to
SING THIS SONG.
Why is that?
As children, we all learn the most important lesson in the world -
BE KIND.
Be compassionate and generous and tolerant and understanding and fair. Be a helper, celebrate diversity.
LOVE.
And be reminded again and again and again and again that
LOVE IS BETTER THAN ANGER, HOPE IS BETTER THAN FEAR.**
Be silent no more,
because we need to start a conversation.
We are all needed to start a conversation with family, friends, co-workers, about what sort of world we want to live in.
We are all needed to start a conversation about safe places in our communities - safe for all who feel threatened because of their sexual orientation or gender identity - in our schools, public places,
and yes,
our churches, temples, synagogues, mosques.
We are all needed to help create an environment free of homophobia, heterosexism, or other forms of exclusion, to help create an environment where we are as accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals, or anyone marginalized in society, as we are of heterosexual people.
And if safe places are not apparent in our communities, what are we doing to create them?
Are conversations happening where you live, where you work, at your kid's school, in your place of worship?
If not, why not?
What if all of our religious places, our schools, our restaurants and bars and theatres, our grocery stores and gyms, our parks and playgrounds, worked together to make our communities beacons of inclusivity for all to see?
Draw the circle wide.
Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song. No one stands alone, standing side by side.
Draw the circle wide.
*Mark Miller and Gordon Light
** Jack Layton
