When I taught high school English classes, I reminded my students that while change is often challenging, it can and is incorporated on a daily basis.
To illustrate this point, I discussed life before the internet or call waiting and being able to see the person you are speaking with on a hand held device was considered Science Fiction.
As a country steeped in shame and disconnection, we are lonely and require constant interaction. It is this reality that drove us to create social media and then laws to govern its usage.
We changed our heart’s desires and then the world around us changed.
It is time that we asked ourselves why sacrificing humans is an alright idea.
The desire to protect one segment of our community while destroying another must be questioned and eliminated.
Silence will not protect us either.
Many believe that if they remain silent that things will work themselves out.
Things never work themselves out.
A small group gets their hearts touched and then takes action.
In the words of Sir Richard Branson: they start before they feel ready.
Changing laws and restructuring legislation occurs after people demand it. People demand changed laws when their hearts have been moved.
How do we move another’s heart ?
We challenge ourselves to understand our behavior and look at places(in our hearts) that make us cringe.
Do we view injustices and silently rejoice that it’s “them and not us” ?
Do we hear of an arrest and say: he may not be guilty of what he was arrested for but I’m sure he’s done something that he hasn’t gotten caught for”.
Once we are clear about our embarrassing racism, class issues and irrational fears, we can decide to speak up and out.
Rather than wait for a legal change that may or may not affect you, make the decision that all life is valid and precious and allowing its destruction is evil and cowardly.
Gather in homes and discuss the painful reality that none of us have done enough.
Take action outside the home by taking on projects (beautification of an abandoned lot, creation of a large community garden, adding a street light or stop sign at a dangerous corner).
Creating small and pivotal agreed upon goals makes the heart feel better and larger which leads to the belief that anything is possible.