Courage comes in many forms
Last week, the July cover of Vanity Fair magazine introducing Caitlyn Jenner to the world made a big splash. Around the same time that the cover debuted on the Internet, ESPN announced that it would honor Jenner with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
The response was mixed, thanks to a viral rumor that disabled Army veteran Noah Galloway was the runner up. (Note: there is no runner up, per ESPN.)
However, it sparked quite the online debate as to what constitutes courage. Photos of men in battle and of Galloway in a runner’s stance, sans half of his left arm and a prosthetic leg were everywhere, with captions that they embodied true courage.
What the Internet – and society – may have failed to realize is that courage comes in many forms.
Courage is coming out as who you truly are, on the world’s stage, despite the judgement and harassment that comes with it.
Courage is signing up to fight for your country.
Courage is suffering terrible, physically-altering injuries in war, and persevering.
Courage is giving birth.
Courage is letting go of your little one’s hand and allowing them to do things on their own.
Courage is enduring tragedy and getting out of bed and continuing to live life.
Courage is admitting you have a problem and taking steps to solve it.
We could go on and on listing examples of courage, but the pages of this newspaper wouldn’t contain anything else.
However, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that courage is being able to think for yourself and form your own opinions, no matter what people may think.
Courage is also taking steps to combat hate and judgment.
No matter how you personify courage, we salute you.