Like many of you, I condemn racism and other inappropriate behaviors. I wish to change society to make such practices fading memories. We are at a unique point in history that is asking all of us to look at things we normally ignore. More specifically, the light of awareness is being trained on our conduct toward others. Whether as individuals or organizations, what we see in our anger and unjust actions is ugly. And our impulse is to want to change. This may be the right time for all of us to carry out the substantive transformations that are needed.
In this year of Black Lives Matter protests, I would be out with the activists, carrying a sign. Such an action would help me be involved in the movement and supportive of the needed transformation to the system. But this is a unique moment. There is an ongoing medical pandemic with COVID-19. I do not feel safe joining the protestors because of coronavirus fears and because I am part of a vulnerable population. This has made me guilty, creating uncertainty about what to do and yet live an authentic life.
Tapping the wisdom of wiser minds at these moments is helpful. Walt Whitman, America’s poet, in his preface to his love poem to earth and humanity, Leaves of Grass, outlines what an authentic person shall do. After reading Whitman and careful consideration, I recognize that it’s more important to open one’s heart than the physical actions we might take. Therefore, the first thing I am trying to do as I practice social distancing and sheltering at home is to understand what others are sensing and thinking about the problems facing our society. I do that by practicing empathy, by imagining and holding others’ feelings as my own. This exercise has made me understand that even while I am part of a minority, education has given me social privileges I was not conscious of before. I am not, for example, fearful about calling police—a simple yet telling act if you are poor black or brown. That has opened my eyes to the systemic racism and pain being exposed and expressed by our fellow humans It shows why the entire system must adjust.
I know also that I must take this understanding and use it to take part in the one revolutionary practice sanctioned by the state—the right to vote. Very little will change until most of the population links the energy of protests with voting. It would be radical if all the people in the streets turn their action into a vote. Our impulse to change dysfunctional systems is a genuine reflection of what is beneficial to humanity. I hope we can find the proper path in which to express those impulses. We must learn to wield such power and appreciate that with it we can alter the world. This is that moment! We march if we can and vote when we must.
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