I watched "Freedom Riders" on PBS last night. The documentary chronicled the summer of 1961 and the incredible determination of a small group of people to push the boundaries of segregation by riding Greyhound and Trailways buses from Atlanta to New Orleans, through Alabama and Mississippi, along the way sitting in white-only waiting rooms and eating in white only restaurants.
The violent welcome they received-- one bus burned with the passengers trapped inside, beatings by crowds in Birmingham, menaced by KKK members while quietly waiting for a bus in a bus station-- was disheartening, if not a terrifying display of mob behavior.
The perseverance of the riders was inspiring. They knowingly pushed the envelope, aware that they faced a possibility of violence and even death in pursuit of their goal. It begged the question: what would I be willing to die for?
Certainly, I would risk my life if my family, particularly my children, was at risk. I'm not sure what that risk would be... On September 11, I feared something i didn't understand. I spent time packing a tub with tuna and water and a can opener and blankets... It was a threat, but not one I could take actual action against.
But would I be-- am I-- willing to stand up for something I believe in or someone who is persecuted, even if it meant I could die? I wish I could say an unequivical yes...
I want my kids to watch the documentary and challenge them to think about what means that much to them... and hope that they will be braver than I am.