Dr Aafia Siddiqui : Her Inside Voice !

“I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us…if we shut out all the noise and clutter from our lives and listen to that voice, it will tell us the right thing to do.” (Christopher Reeve)

And that’s the point when she caught people attention on taking out her inner voice out and actually work on it.

What does “courage “have to do with being a person of good character or with someone who stays true to their principles and their values?

Answer: EVERYTHING!

You see, being values-driven means two things:

Doing what’s right – following our conscience; refusing to compromise our principles, despite pressures and temptations to the contrary, and

Taking a stand against what’s wrong – speaking out, whenever we see others do things that are incorrect or inappropriate.

Unquestionably, both of these require guts and fortitude – they require courage.

Courage is…..

Following your conscience instead of “following the crowd.”

Refusing to take part in hurtful or disrespectful behaviours.

Sacrificing personal gain for the benefit of others.

Speaking your mind even though others don’t agree.

Taking complete responsibility for your actions…and your mistakes.

Following the rules – and insisting that others do the same.

Challenging the status quo in search of better ways.

Doing what you know is right – regardless of the risks and potential consequences.

I’d like to share one of the prayers I heard once in between Policemen.

“Make us choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be won. Endow us with the courage tha is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy.”

What Dr Afia did was right or at that time she thinks its right and I am sure she listened to her inner voice and thus acts accordingly. Then she took all the responsibility of her actions and sure she challenged all of us to find better ways by sacrificing her own life.

Hmm….that is truly the essence of courage.