Michelle E. Brown has not talked directly about herrelationship with the Human Rights Campaign Board of Governors since the ENDA controversy began. Her resignation from the HRC Board of Governors "was not a protest but a conscious decision," she said.
At some point in each of our lives we "drank the Kool-aid." Some charismatic leader, organization, religion, political party, politician and/or movement has had a message that resonated so deeply with our core beliefs that we jump on the bandwagon believing we are finally on the right track to get us to our promised "ideal" land, our nirvana.
It's like a torrid love affair. We can see only the good, the promise. If there are some shortcomings, we honestly believe that now that our piece has been added to the puzzle, the picture will become complete and all that we hope for follows. We recruit our friends, spread the "gospel", devote hours of volunteer time and of course give our money to the cause.
Inevitably, like most torrid affairs, things cool down, passions change. Sometimes our involvement becomes less active, even to the point where our activism consists solely of writing a check once a year. Other times the break is permanent. If amicable we just go away. Our taste for the lime Kool-Aid just switches to the grape Kool-Aid and we take our time, talents and tithes to a new passion.
Sometimes the break is not amicable. New leadership, a controversial decision or political stance is so diametrically opposed to our core belief that the sweet taste of the Kool-Aid seems transformed to bitter colored water. All the passion, commitment and belief feels betrayed. Those shortcomings that we believed our involvement would heal become vast chasms of irreparable differences. We leave angry, bitter, and inconsolable. Our previous support turns to vocal opposition. Sadly in the ensuing chaos the proverbial baby too often gets thrown out with the bath water.
I have not talked directly about my relationship with the Human Rights Campaign Board of Governors since the ENDA controversy began. My resignation from the HRC Board of Governors was not a protest but a conscious decision. You see long ago I learned that all Kool-Aid is just colored water. What gives it the sweetness, the strength, the potential is me, my participation, my passion not the other way around.
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