If you read something, say something

"If you see something, say something" has quite correctly become the rallying cry in NYC's war against terrorism. It effectively summarizes the need to be aware of the world around us, to be vigilant against not only those threats that are obvious, but alert to even the seemingly insignificant yet somehow unusual or out of place; and then to feel (and act on) the obligation to address the issue and facilitate whatever needs to be corrected or removed.

Interestingly, it's been noted by some that that which applies to terrorism should also apply to everything (and everyone) which threatens the quality of our lives, and, therefore, in any situation, if you see something, say something.

Thus, it has been suggested that:

If you see someone being rude on the bakery line, say something.

If you see someone double-parked beside an empty spot, blocking traffic while on their cell phone, say something.

If you see your community's children "hanging out" like so much laundry on a Saturday night, say something.

If you see those same kids ingesting beer (or worse) at a family or neighborhood or religious event, say something.

If you see teachers or clerics or community leaders being unfairly criticized or (worse) being mocked, say something.

If you see your children being exposed to hypocrisy that undermines their confidence in what you've taught them to believe in, say something.

If you see the quest for the bottom line pushing out those who are top of the line, say something.

If you see silence being offered as the response to every challenge, say something.

If you see disinterest, arrogance, personal agendas or vindictiveness as the mode of operation, say something.

If you see bad guys taking over, say something.

Of course, in this world of ours there is not only a lot of bad stuff to see but also a lot of good stuff that all too often we see but say nothing about. Here, once again, it's good advice that, if we see something (good) we should say something (good or encouraging or supportive).

Thus, for example:

If you see someone standing up for principle, say something.

If you see a good kid being good, say something.

If you see a good adult being good, say something.