CROSSROADS: Walking the Line Between Fighting and Silence

There are times when I find myself wrestling with a painful truth:

Where do we draw the line between fighting for what is right, and choosing silence because the very people who should support us have left us behind?

As advocates, as members of a community that longs for equality and recognition, we know too well that the hardest battles are not always fought in public arenas. Often, they are fought within ourselves, when our hearts whisper to keep going, yet our strength falters because the support we counted on is nowhere to be found.

The pain is sharper when it comes from those who promised to walk with us. When institutions, community leaders, or even people we love fail to uplift us, the wound is not just neglect but invisibility. It feels as though our struggles are dismissed, our voices silenced, and our existence made secondary.

And so we walk that thin line. Silence, at times, becomes a shield. It gives us rest when we are weary, it saves us from further hurt when the weight is too heavy. Yet silence also carries a cost: it risks erasing our stories, weakening our cause, and slowing the justice that we seek.

Still, we must admit that even warriors need time to rest. Choosing to be silent for a moment does not mean surrender. It can be a way to heal, to reflect, and to prepare for the next round of battles. What matters is that silence should never become permanent. If we pause, it must be to gather strength, not to lose hope.

I have learned, and we as a community continue to learn, that the choice between fighting and silence is not about weakness or defeat. It is about wisdom and timing. There is power in knowing when to roar, and courage in knowing when to step back and breathe.

To anyone who feels abandoned in their own battles, hear this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE Our worth is not measured by how many stand behind us, but by the truth we carry and the fire we refuse to let die. History has always been written by those who pressed on, even when no one else believed in them.

I walk this line every day. We, as a community, walk it together. Sometimes our fight is loud, sometimes it is quiet, but it is never absent. Because our truth, our dignity, and our freedom are worth every ounce of strength we can give.

And so, whether in silence or in voice, we continue.

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CROSSROADS: Walking the Line Between Fighting and Silence

An Editorial by: Jerry Shangyin

(FTS LOBO-Chairman of the Board of Directors)

Note: This article reflects the author’s own thoughts and interpretations, shaped by personal perspective and experience. It is written with the intention of offering insight, inviting reflection, and opening space for meaningful conversation with readers. While it carries the author’s voice, it also welcomes diverse viewpoints that enrich the dialogue.

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