The Cape area, like much of our nation, is encountering more cruel, divisive and demeaning actions and words than it has in the entire 25 years I have lived here. (I recognize that some people will dismiss what I say, because I wasn’t born here; instead I chose to live here…but isn’t that only another way to divide people?)
Recently I have read about two examples of cruel, divisive and demeaning actions and one example of cruel, divisive and demeaning words toward others in our community. My mind always searches for reason, even in chaos. So this is my reasoning.
In the past four years, Americans, both in and out of the Cape area, have been exposed to more cruelty, divisiveness and demeaning behaviors from our leaders than I ever remember. Some of us, 70 million in fact, believe(d) in our top leader who spouts cruelty, divisiveness and demeaning behaviors as quickly as most of us breathe. When that type of behavior becomes the norm that we support, our actions will shortly follow the lead we accept. I believe this is what is happening.
So what do we do to return to or begin kindness, inclusion and uplifting words? Rather than seeking revenge, retribution or punishment for those who have followed a cruel leader, I believe we need to look for opportunities for reparation from the people who are followers. I believe they followed the leader’s cruelty they backed, possibly without even realizing it...because negativity has become so woven into our society.
Let’s give people an opportunity for reparation from their words/actions. There has to be a way to enlarge everyone’s empathy for others without increasing the carnage that our country is dealing with now. Enough lives have been destroyed lately; we don’t need to destroy more! Our country and community needs each one of us, to build a better tomorrow for all of us. Let’s start now!!