"Where were you before?"

In light of the Troy Davis "execution" today I have been thrown into thought. I have heard a lot of people belittled for just now joining the fight to grant this man Clemency. What? Why? OK, so there are some (myself included) who were not enlightened about the case until recently. Does that make them any less committed. I should feel ashamed that I wasn't aware of this issue until later on. That, to me, just doesn't seem right. I wonder if during the Civil Rights movement were the earlier activists looking down on those who joined the fight later? Or if the the volunteers who weren't able to help in New Orleans immediately, in light of Hurricane Katrina, were belittled for coming down a year later? Or maybe the protestors of the Vietnam War who added their voices later on were shunned by those who were against the war from the beginning. I would hope the answer to those questions are no! It shouldn't matter when you join the fight but that you're there to fight...and more importantly continue to fight!! We, as Americans, need continue to educate ourselves and stand for something and at no point during these fights should discourage those willing to join us. Now is the time to stand for what you believe in whatever way you can! Let us educate our communities and ourselves!