Linda Daly was honored at the UFC's 2007 Brass Ring Awards Dinner last week. This is her speech.
Thank you mom, quite an introduction. I am quite overwhelmed to be standing in front of you tonight, it is truly an honor.
If I have done anything right it's because of my family. It would be embarrassing to not be socially responsible. All four of my parents are exceptional in their generosity. I'll be lucky if I can be a role model to my kids like my parents have been for me. Besides my super cool parents, I am also blessed to have in my immediate family two inspiring brothers with beautiful and impressive wives who are equally committed to helping our community. The Daly-Riordan-
Bayer-Sager-Bacharach family get-togethers are usually mixed with conversations about what's important to us and what we're doing about it. It's never dull and I must say, it's a good family to be a part of.
My parents have taught me to follow what I have believed in and have always been supportive of what I have chosen to do. Whether it's a humanitarian mission to a refugee camp in Eastern Chad or executing a perfect 3-point turn with the full horse trailer I have had support. Maybe an eyebrow raise or two, but never was I told I could not achieve what I set out to do.
Gerard Prunier once said that human lives are heavy or light depending on where they are, and whom they belong to. He continued by saying people who do not represent either a threat or benefit do not count and when there are no threats or no interests we don't care we only have to pretend to care. This is a concept I can understand but refuse to accept. I cannot accept that any child holds less value than my own. We are fortunate to be living in a society where we have the right to choose. With this wonderful ability, I think that it is easy to lose sight of the fact that there is a large portion of our world's population that does not live like we do. We can have a better car, house or job. We can move across the country and start all over again if we choose. Maybe we've forgotten how lucky we are and have forgotten to care.
Global warming, the increase in HIV/AIDS, malaria, malnutrition and genocide. It becomes hard to know where to start. It might be safer for us not to care, because if we do, then we have to do something about it. The problems are so overwhelming, one might think, what possible difference can I make? None of us want to loose sleep over things out of our control.
But what is it that keeps you up at night? For me it's Prunier's words. Sometimes I am afraid he is right, that sometimes I've chosen not to care. I am also afraid if I stop caring or talking or doing, I'll forget about what I have seen. And then, what would have been the point of bearing witness?
Even with all this, there is hope. I look around this room and see people who have made the choice to make a difference. Tonight you are here to support programs for children who grow up in foster care. All of you sitting here are activists and most of you have spent endless hours dedicated to getting people to listen to the things that keep you up at night. All of us remain hopeful that by making the choice to care it will create a lasting change.
Maybe one day Gerard Prunier can say he was wrong. Maybe he'll say: It does not matter who you are or where you are from, we are caring citizens of this earth. Maybe one day all our children will be free from the things that keep us awake at night. In making the choice to be here tonight you have created hope for the foster youth who are served by United Friends of the Children and I am so very proud to be in this room with you. Thank you so very much for this incredible honor.