The outrage for the killing of blacks and the killing of policemen has got to produce more than anger, fury, and resentment. It must be a wake-up call to address the hate that is so prevalent in our society. Hate is driven by fear, and the vicious cycle of fear driving anger, judgment, hate and negative and damaging behaviors has to come to a halt. The anatomy of fear is a powerful force, but it is just that – an energetic force that has the potential to be transformed into compassion and love and create change.
And, if you are not able to grasp the idea that love is possible, at the very least let your humanity bring you to caring. Give a damn that other human beings are not as privileged and live very different lives and realities. If you think you have no privileges in society, think again. Unless you are the one who has been targeted daily for the color of your skin, your gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, economic status, educational status, geographic location, you have privilege. And when you have had any of these or more categories of your personhood judged, blamed or marginalized or discriminated against, let it be the impetus that moves you – really moves you to choose compassion, to examine your fear and anger and hate or indifference – and do something about it.
The hateful rhetoric that is running through the political campaign and in government is killing compassion and caring, as well as any chance of collaboration for finding a way that we all can live more peacefully and create equality. It is adding to the forces of fear and hate behind the killings and the divisiveness.
It does not have to be this way. It takes commitment to “be the change you want to see.” It takes stopping and looking at your own reactions that keep you in a negative feedback loop of anger, frustration, and fear. It can be halted and turned around, and it takes work. Drop the dualistic thinking of me vs. you, which only feeds the fear frenzy more than you can imagine. We are better than this.
As individuals and as a nation, we can grieve and work for change to stop what happens to blacks in racial profiling. We can hold police accountable for their actions and grieve the loss of those attacked and killed. It is absolutely critical that these incidences make each and every one look at their own reactions and tendencies to then stereotype blacks and police, which only makes the problems worse and contributes to the angst.
We are better than this.
Let’s prove it with our actions of compassion to peacefully come together to stop the hate and the killing of minds, souls and bodies.
