Holdin' Out

I'm sleeping on the floor tonight.

I know a guy, John, who got to go to the OKC Hold Out and was inspired by the people willing to sacrifice comfort to ensure that the bill progressed through Senate. After 11 days on the streets, Coburn lifted his hold. The bill passed through Senate the next day.

But why stop there?

John created a facebook group to encourage people to sacrifice something big until this bill passes the House. Most people are giving up the comfort of their beds, so I am joining them.

At first I thought this was crazy. I said to myself, "Ok, I'll give up soda" but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if I truly care about this bill's passage as much as I say I do, then why not give up my bed? One of the biggest things I kick myself over is my complete ignorance of the Rescue event which took place one year ago next month. I always tell myself that I'll be ready for the next big thing, and that I will sleep outside in the cold and in the rain for 7 days if that's what it takes. But I won't sleep on the floor in my room, with my blankets and pillows and bathroom nearby and roof over my head and running water and electricity? I tell my club the importance of this bill, but I'm not willing to get dirty for it? Yeah, I think it's a bit hypocritical too.

50% of my roommates think I'm crazy, 25% thinks it's something I should do, but probably won't join, and the last 25% (whose reading this now) will probably end up on the floor with me.

One of my roommates didn't see the point. (But the irony is she's coming to the Sleep Out to End Malaria with Kayla and I in Nashville.) What's the difference really? Sure, one has hundreds, if not thousands, of other people, music, speakers and a jumbotron, but they both require sacrifice, but one quite possibly requires more.

Sometimes it's easy to forget to act. If I'm not in a meeting with senators or reps or hosting a national call-in day or getting people to write letters (all of which are pretty rare occurrences), then I'm really not doing much else regarding this bill. Abandoning the comfort of my bed will force me to remember each morning why this bill is important and what I can do that day to help see it's passage.

People will ask questions and call me crazy. I'm okay with questions and I'm okay with crazy, but I am not okay with slacktivism.

So here goes night 1.