jillknife

"I'm not going to move on this."

The senator was adamant. Her aide sighed, knowing how stubborn she could be about these things. He loved working for her as she was a woman of principle, strong and resolute. But he couldn't help but think of her as a tree in a storm - only the ones who bend survive: the ones with the thickest trunks that are unable to respond to the bullying shove of the wind will not live to fight another day. They become splintered and shafted and rot down to a stump.

"I know you're disappointed in me, Michael." Senator McLaren looked directly at her aide, the bags under her eyes reflecting the toll the fight was having on her. But they were sharp, glittering with fervour that comes from being right. "But this is too important to be swerving whichever way we're being pulled. It just is. We must remain firm." She paused at the risk of sounding dramatic and added, "Life depends on it."

"It's not disappointment, Senator. It's just, well, I fear for the outcome of us proposing this. You talk about life depending on it but what about ours?"

Senator McLaren gazed steadily at her aide, sensing his fear and acknowledging that she held some too. Deeply. Not that she'd show it. But she sure felt it. It would not deter her though.

Let them threaten. Let them bully. Let them martyr her.

Someone had to take a stand, no matter what.

***

I've not talked about what the Senator and her aide may be proposing - it could be anything that upsets the powers that be, whether it's the right for women to have a choice, or about who should or shouldn't have guns, or something environmental. It doesn't really matter.

However, the principle of standing up to those who want to control or restrict or misgovern is the same, no matter what the issue.

It's got an American feel but it's not specifically about issues in one country. It's about humanity as a whole and having leaders who can speak for us and be strong for us. For all of us.

There is a risk associated with taking a stand. People can be ruthless. But someone has to have the courage to jillknife.

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