For You, 'The Protester', Time's Person of the Year

You know who you are. You are someone who cares and who is willing to join those who care not just about their own selves, those whom they love, their relatives and close-knit clans, but others, whether near or far.

"You" are the people, the next generation making history because you care about the state of our humanity. You care about our ability to love, having time to express that love and give our lives joy. You care about each and every one of us thriving because of this love – families and communities – reaching their highest human potential in the short time each of us, as individuals, exist in the universe. 

You care about social injustices to others no matter where in the world they are, because you know that our lives now in the 21st century are all globally intertwined – an injustice anywhere is an injustice against everyone, everywhere.

And you are willing to speak up, march in protest when the powers that be frown upon you and it seems the majority don't understand, even belittle or ridicule you. You are willing to risk the elements, arrest, police brutality,  your belongings taken from you, because you know that they cannot take way your dream of a better, more peaceful, sustainable world for every one's children -- our children's children.

Time magazine said it is recognizing protesters because they are “redefining people power” around the world and are changing global politics.

You are the people that love life deeply and know when there is a calling in your soul you must heed.

Your dream is one our collective ancestors around the world have had, but could never accomplish as  we all can in the 21st century, where we now have the technology and resources to help one another, instantly anywhere in the world.

Bless you all  for keeping the dream alive, and thank you for working to make that dream come true.

Just because you believe, dream and dare to love, a better world is possible.

-- Anna Manzo