I was going to bend the knee, but I’m concerned my parents will lose their Medicare benefits.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want my kids to be able to afford a mortgage one day.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want my children to attend a university that has academic freedom.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want to retire in a free country.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want cancer research to exist.

I was going to bend the knee, but I decided to speak up instead.

I was going to bend the knee, but I don’t believe in banning books.

I was going to bend the knee, but I support government regulation.

I was going to bend the knee, but I have spent so long building up this life.

I was going to bend the knee, but I don’t want to be the negativity.

I was going to bend the knee, but movements like this make leaders out of ordinary people.

I was going to bend the knee, but how would I live with myself?

I was going to bend the knee, but instead I made new like-minded friends.

I was going to bend the knee, but I believe in freedom of speech.

I was going to bend the knee, but instead I have invited others to join me.

I was going to bend the knee, but keeping my concerns bottled up will help no one.

I was going to bend the knee, but I don’t want to be that person.

I was going to bend the knee, but I believe political discourse can result in positive collaboration.

I was going to bend the knee, but I realized I can be effective if I stand up.

I was going to bend the knee, but talk is imperative right now.

I was going to bend the knee, but I organized a protest instead.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want my vote to count.

I was going to bend the knee, but small businesses might not survive.

I was going to bend the knee, but I realized our audience is growing.

I was going to bend the knee, but I started fundraising instead.

I was going to bend the knee, but instead I joined a non-profit organization.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want to be on the extreme opposite end.

I was going to bend the knee, but I prefer to speak for myself.

I was going to bend the knee, but instead I became an activist.

I was going to bend the knee, but so many people are hurting.

I was going to bend the knee, but the guardrails are not working.

I was going to bend the knee, but the damage will only get worse.

I was going to bend the knee, but some people might not survive if this doesn’t stop.

I was going to bend the knee, but the system is failing.

I was going to bend the knee, but the experts in fascism have all left the country.

I was going to bend the knee, but I’m afraid there will not be fair elections by the midterms.

I was going to bend the knee, but maybe if I speak up, people will wake up.

I was going to bend the knee, but knowledge is power so I will educate others.

I was going to bend the knee, but now I am learning how I can make a difference.

I was going to bend the knee, but if I’m not out front, who will be?

I was going to bend the knee, but I don’t want to be a hypocrite.

I was going to bend the knee, but standing up for what you believe in is not complicated.

I was going to bend the knee, but there is too much evil in this world.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want to help bring our nation back together.

I was going to bend the knee, but I want my family to live in a democratic country.

I was going to bend the knee, but now is the time to stand tall.

I was going to bend the knee, but instead of protecting myself, I’m fighting to protect all of us.

I was going to bend the knee, but I decided to be brave.

I am brave.

Be brave.