The past few months, well, years really, have made it EXTREMELY hard to love humans who I do not morally and ethically agree with.
I support LGBTQA+ people of all identities. I have compassion for refugees, immigrants of all kinds, and POC. I believe we should live in justice and equity FOR all people, as a feminist.
For whatever reason, the majority people of America don't agree...or at least have supported the systems of oppression that harm us all. Activists and intellectuals say it is out of grief that "they" are no longer in charge, are losing power, and money. "They" need someone to blame who can take on the fear of the masses-black & brown people, transgender people, immigrants, disabled people, women-all become the scapegoat of the white, cis, billionaires who have purchased the power of the nation. As I write this, Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire citizen, is going through all of our personal data.
Everyone is going to suffer. Many already are suffering: our trans friends are scared and the those of us who serve them want to protect them, our immigrant friends aren't going to work or are worried about sending their kids to school even as their teachers want to protect them, our black and brown friends have been concerned about the white supremacy rhetoric and its only getting worse with violence coming. Our neurodivergent and disabled friends have been working for years to have access to the same spaces able bodied people do are having what little progress they have made, stripped away with the destruction of DEI. We will all be affected by loss of food, the prices soaring, and lack of jobs.
The system is doing what the system is designed to do: protect and empower the able-bodied, male, white, ultra-wealthy citizens at all costs: lives, the planet, democracy, etc.
What does this have to do with loving the good in each other, Leslie? How are we supposed to love them when they continue to choose violence? Does enough compassion exist in the world to hold it for those who chose this?
I don't have the answer to that. This framed print sits on my desk to remind me of why I do this work, sitting with clients across all spectrums of wealth, color, gender, and beliefs. Right now, it is easy to love those who are doing the work of trying to support themselves, ourselves, each other in community to dismantle oppressive systems. But if I truly believe the answer to surviving and thriving in this life is love, how do I love the people who seem to give no fucks about anyone they consider "lesser" or the world, while also showing love to those who obviously need it the most?
I'm going to continue to be compassionate to myself, while challenging the ways I unconsciously hold up these oppressive systems. I'm going to keep doing the work. I hope you do to.
Maybe that's the answer.
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