I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s a jungle out there. Lingering election wounds. Pipelines. Scary people being appointed to high government offices. Debates over flags and freedoms. These conversations are hard and messy and it’s so much easier to defend our own opinions and blame others and criticize each other. It’s easier to each stand on our own small pedestal yelling across the divide at each other—telling others that what the view from their own pedestal is “wrong”. I’m just as guilty of this as anyone. It’s a shit show of human ignorance and judgement and unkindness on both sides. And it’s hard to watch.
But I’m asking you, friends…
Don’t look away.
When your friends and neighbors and family members show you their fear and their anger, don’t look away. Even if you don’t agree. Don’t distract yourself with judgment or criticism. Stop and see.
When your friends and neighbors and family members show you their resolve, their determination, their rock solid beliefs, don’t look away. Even if you don’t agree. Don’t distract yourself with attempts at persuasion or expressed frustration. Stop and see.
When your friends and neighbors and family members act out of desperation. When they protest. When they post on social media. Don’t look away. Even if you don’t agree. Don’t distract yourself by arguing against their method of expression. Stop and see.
When your friends and neighbors and family members are victims of hate crimes.
When your friends and neighbors and family members are unkind to each other on social media.
When you read articles that make you feel judged and hurt and angry.
When people throw words like racist, bigot, sexist, etc. around.
When people throw words like nigger, faggot, wet back, terrorist, or white trash around.
Don’t look away.
These times are hard. Scary. Painful. But they are so, so important. We can’t decide where we go from here if we don’t see where we are. We can’t go anywhere unless we go together. And we can’t go there together if we don’t stand by each other.
So when you see each other hurting. When you see each other lashing out. When you see each other judging and hating and wounding and being wounded.
Don’t look away.