DEFIANCE!

“Defiance” by Herbert Ward 

In sports, defense equates to Defiance. Defying your opponent the freedom to oppress you with their offensive powers and skills. In life, when a person or group is forced to resort to Defiance againt someone or something, they're committing to defending what they believe theirs by right. Be it property, civil or human rights, or the common decency of humane treatment, if someone takes and/or violates another person’s right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, the victim of such unjust treatment owes it to him or herself to Defy the offense and take a stand againt the threatening actions.

What may have once been theirs by right, might require going on the offensive to gain back, if taken. Once taken back, don't just sit back and celebrate, but begin strengthening your defenses so oppressive actions are tackled immediately and revoking freedoms will hopefully never threaten again. Such is a basic principle of sport; defense/defiance. So to are principles of survival in life. 

Revolution for change begins when Defiance courageously stands against or pins down oppression. 

Today I mourn the loss of a woman who rallied black people into taking back what they believed theirs by right; the right to be treated as equal citizens of these United States of America. The lady I honor here today had grown tired of watching her people oppressed by powers and unjust laws, which up to that point were beyond her control. She was forced to Defiantly demand her constitutional right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

It was on a winter day in 1955 that our heroine, tired of being offended, let Defiance overtake her person. She took a stand in defense of what she believed to be her right to sit in a seat on a bus without having to relinquish it because someone with white skin was entitled by an unjust law to uproot her black body and take over the seat. Though it may sound like a trivial triumph to persons unfamiliar with racial history in the U.S., to us in the know, it was and still remains Huge.

This one act of Defiance by Mrs Rosa Parks changed the course of history for Black People here in the United States, as well as, oppressed persons throughout the world. Her act of Defiance signified to all oppressed peoples worldwide, that a single voice, a sparked action, committed to a righteous cause, can restore broken hope and bring about real change; change that proves all can enjoy pursuing the fruits of this world equally, if we stand strong together in Defiance to the wrongs of oppression in society. 

Mrs. Rosa Parks 1913-2005 

A Defiant Patriot Against Oppression and Injustice 

TWENTY-THIRD PSALM My Shepherd is the Lord my God,- There is no want I know; His flock he leads in verdant meads, Where tranquil waters flow. He doth restore my fainting soul With His divine caress, And, when I stray, He points the way To paths of righteousness. Yea, though I walk the vale of death, What evil shall I fear? Thy staff and rod are mine, O God, And Thou, my Shepherd, near! Mine enemies behold the feast Which my dear Lord hath spread; And, lo! My cup He filleth up, With oil anoints my head! Goodness and mercy shall be mine Unto my dying day; Then will I bide at His dear side Forever and for aye! By.Eugene Field, 1889