By Toby King

Power, it seems, doesn’t react well to Truth, it lashes out when pressed. But that doesn’t mean we do not speak. It is not for the sake of the powerful that we tell them the truth, but for our own sake and for the sake of the powerless.

And yet, that’s still not what does it.

I’m not trying to say that any of these are the right or wrong answer, there’s merit and downfall in all of these methods. Disobedience is powerful and exciting, but when you take just yourself out of the system, the system keeps going. Entering the system comes with legitimacy and slow, meaningful changes, but there’s only so far you can push it, till the system pushes back. Escape is enticing, and we need to do it every now and then to stay healthy and to be ready, but it doesn’t save anyone but ourselves. Calls to action fill us with inspiration, but we need to follow through; get the tools and the partners you need, but no more excuses. Speaking the truth to power can be a powerful statement to the world, but you had better be ready for backlash and be willing to keep pushing forward.

We’re all looking for comfort, for ways to resist, for things that might be both, and Shemot is rife with just that. The Exodus story has always been my favourite, it’s full of tales of resistance, resilience, strong women, leadership and peoplehood - all things we need very much right now. Shemot is just the start of that story, and I hope in the weeks to come we’ll hear of even more ways to resist and to care for each other. Let’s take what we can from each method, and work together to make up for the holes in each. For now, I’ll leave you with this:

"Three conclusions from the Exodus story:

1) Wherever you live, it is probably Mitzrayim.

2) There is a better place, a promised land.

3) The way to this promised land is through the wilderness – there is no way to get there except by joining together and marching."

-Michael Waltzer, Exodus and Revolution

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