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<\/a><\/p>\nThis post election season is so filled with hate that it makes me wonder who we are. We said it was a referendum on which America we would be\u2026 and then Donald Trump \u2018won\u2019. He won and the anti-Semites, racists, woman demeaners, LGBT bashers came pouring out of their swamps into the light of day.<\/p>\n
Where did they all come from and where are their breeding grounds? As I see Trump\u2019s cabinet fleshing out and filling up it is becoming clear that the breeding grounds are greed, self-interest, privilege, and fear of change. The rich are now in positions of power and leading the charge. They got the votes of people who will, no doubt, suffer from their decisions. Inspiring hate and an \u2018us versus them\u2019 mindset will continue to deflect their followers from the more \u2018bigly\u2019 truth.<\/p>\n
If we\u00a0were to base our\u00a0vision for the future of our nation and who we are becoming on those facts it would be easy to\u00a0despair. We are in trouble, no doubt about it. The coming weeks, months, and years will try us as we have never been tried. I have held dear ones who sobbed in my arms crying, \u201cHow do we go on from here?\u201d I have heard from many who fear for their lives. The coming administration is setting us against one another and we all know that will foster distrust, fear, and hate. I wish we were immune but we are not. Don\u2019t think this can\u2019t happen to you or you will not recognize the message when it begins insinuating itself into your life.<\/p>\n
In light of all that, what gives hope? And by hope I do not mean optimism. Rather, how do we move forward in the midst of all this in a way that is life-giving?<\/p>\n
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- we can refuse to divide ourselves from the \u2018other\u2019 and find our common ground<\/li>\n
- we can speak out and stand up in situations where someone (even ourselves) are treated like \u2018the other\u2019<\/li>\n
- we can intentionally build interlinked communities of support and action<\/li>\n
- we can refuse to buy into the idea that there is only one right way to do things and make room for different gifts and skills that individuals and communities bring<\/li>\n
- we can take back our country one issue at a time and one election at a time.<\/li>\n
- we can continue to be who we believe we are even when we are afraid.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Fear decimates trust. We can\u2019t afford to be afraid of one another. We are a patchwork of different communities whose borders don\u2019t always touch. We do things differently for different reasons. We have different abilities and different perspectives. Now is the time to utilize all<\/em> of our resources, to know deeply that there are many \u2018right\u2019 ways. Now is when we celebrate what each one, each community, each faith or non-faith brings to the table. Let our kaleidoscope of possibilities give us hope.<\/p>\n
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This post election season is so filled with hate that it makes me wonder who we are. We said it was a referendum on which America we would be\u2026 and then Donald Trump \u2018won\u2019. He won and the anti-Semites, racists, woman demeaners, LGBT bashers came pouring out of their swamps into the light of … Continue reading What Gives Us Hope<\/span>