Scarcely a week into 2021, we have had to witness a violent attack on lawmakers in the Capitol.
CDI cherishes democracy as a fundamental life-affirming principle. There is certainly much to criticize and contest within the system, and much change to demand and work toward, but causing people to fear for their safety is a desperate and vile tactic. Civil disobedience is one thing, violence is another. It goes without saying (or should) that lying and inciting violence have no rightful place in civil discourse.
Ironically, the morning of January 6, most of our staff was in a nonviolent communication training (NVC) on managing conflict. We are doing our best to learn how to empathize even when we don’t agree, and use force only protectively to prevent harm. It’s quite a challenge to learn to respond to violence with empathy and care instead of more violence. But I do believe only radical changes in approach can change the direction our society is slipping in.
We started our NVC training with a practice of remembering our own humanity and the humanity of each person we meet. Every person feels joy and love, every person feels pain and sorrow. As angry, frustrated, and grieving as we may be, we must remember that democracy means that everyone matters. Even people we don’t agree with.
In the midst of chaos, compassion shows us the way out.
I am frightened by what a few violent people can do, and by the prospect of living with that danger in the years ahead. I feel wretched that so many people live and have lived with fear throughout their lives. I am saddened that five people lost their lives to the madness of January 6.
And I am holding on to this: that the only way through this is healing, and healing requires compassion. Let’s learn how that works and practice it. I am grateful that I can do this in community. We are better and stronger together.