“But to make a real difference in this world, find one issue and attack it with zeal and passion. You may be surprised to see how one successful act can have a domino effect on many other actions.” –Randy Stephens
Watermark has had contests before, but our Scottie Sees the World contest made you think a little bit more than the others. Out of the 600 hits that blog post received, we only had six entries in our contest to win a trip to the United Kingdom courtesy of Art Events Travel. It’s no wonder, right? The task at hand was a large one: Share your plan for making the world a better place. Whew. Even Gandhi would have said, “I’ll get back to you on that!”
Our six entries were strong ones (including, to my delight, a poem!) and our panel had a tough decision to make. Said panel included Russ and Marky Russell, owners of Art Events Travel; Brendan O’Connor, president of the Organic Gardeners Club of Rollins College and my bedmate; Tony Ward, founder of The Making Music Matter Project. In the end, the decision proved so challenging that there was a tie! So I had to ask Watermark publisher Tom Dyer to step in to break it.
And, ladies and gentleman, the winner is…Randy Stephens.
I’ve only just met Randy through this contest, but I can tell you not only is Randy a lucky winner, the other folks going on the trip are lucky to have Randy along. He’s a kind, jovial man who knows how to have fun. It’s also clear from his contest submission, titled “Save the Gays,” that he has a serious side.
I’ll let you take a look at Randy’s entry and the others on your own, but I want to comment on the main thrust of Randy’s entry, because it is one that has made its way into my thoughts.
“How to make the world a better place?” Randy asks. “When you think about it, it is a very easy answer. Just give a damn about something. Anything. Become an activist for something you feel passionate about. It may be preventing real estate development in the Wekiva River basin. Or defending the right to serve meals to the homeless in a public park. Or campaigning for candidates who recognize the need to change the archaic law that prohibits gay men and lesbians from adopting children. For many people, this is difficult because they want to be many things to many people…that is not a bad thing, but many of us lack the discipline to keep focused on one issue.”
What a great point he makes here, and yet I have to admit to being one of those people who tries to do lots things. Hell, that’s pretty much what this blog is about. So I’m going to open this topic up for debate in our comments below. Tell me what you think.
Oh, and I just need to remind those of you who aren’t Randy that the time is now to book your space for the London Birmingham trip. I’m your host of these trips for the GLBT community and those who know how cool it is to hang with us. We’re calling them Birds of a Feather Tours. You know you want to join our flock!
P.S. Beefeater costume and tiara courtesty of Century Costumes.
