Diary 270

Diary 270

Sunday, December 13th

As I read about far right protesters in Washington DC who think the election was rigged (but who also seem to be chanting ‘Dump Trump’ at the same time), I’m about as confused as the next person. 

And yet I’m also aware of something else. In these turbulent times we are witnessing the surfacing of some deep and historically ugly biases – on left and right. I have no sympathy for the beliefs of the far right, yet it’s impossible not to recognize the circumstances that have contributed to the angry, racist, misogynistic viewpoints they seem to hold. They have been ignored by both political parties, and have decided, as the disenfranchised will, to victimize others. If we’re to move forwards we have to do it by taking into account the damage done over decades to minorities by those who are afraid of them, and the backlash that has created.

The ugliness has surfaced.  Now we need to try and heal it.

Or perhaps a better metaphor is required: we are witnessing the painful birth process of a newer way of being, and birth is always painful.  When this child emerges we’ll have to look after it very carefully and help it to grow.