Since the actions at the Capitol last week, I have felt angry. These feelings of anger fuel my derisive words and dark thoughts. Each story I see only adds to the frustration and hatred of the people who had the desire to angrily storm and threaten our government. I feel personally affronted and I have posted numerous comments and memes on my private Facebook page that derides them. As I mocked and jeered the violence that was committed against them as well, I felt justified in my hatred. “These people” were disgusting to me and I wished them only harm and misfortune.
The entire time these words were spewing from me it felt erroneous. Don’t get me wrong. It definitely felt good in the moment when I could sit back and watch them reap the consequences of their actions, but there was a part of me that knew this was not the way. It could never be the way. These other feelings caused me to wake up this morning with a unexpected question: “How do I love the people I dislike?”
Every spiritual practice and teacher I have ever read or had has stressed the importance of embracing the darkest part of ourselves. Isn’t part of this journey towards enlightenment about loving ourselves and others and knowing that love is the only true thing? Wasn’t all of that meditation and soul searching an opportunity to grow and awaken to the truth? How many signs do I need to see to finally see that we are truly all connected?
If I believe that we are all connected, then I am connected to the people who raged and destroyed last week. Despite our connection, I cannot control their actions. I can only control mine.
If I truly believe my job on this earth is to bring light to others and help them process their emotions, then I cannot turn away from those whose actions are in direct contrast to my views.
I am in no way saying that the people who are threatening violence on others and spreading their vitriol and hate should be given a pass or not held to the highest levels of justice, but do they also deserve my hate? Wouldn’t my understanding be so much more useful?
Because if I seek to understand how they could get to this spot where they felt it necessary and true to destroy and harm others with their anger, I must also understand my own role in it. People who do these things do not feel loved, not love on the deepest level. This type of love allows people to blossom and flourish. No, those on the Capitol were not people who were raised with a deep sense of love and truth. These were those whose hopes and dreams have died on the vine. They have been left out and their disconnection from others and their own emotions showed them only one path forward, and no loving force could reach them then.
As I watched the videos, I saw violent people pushing and punching, but I saw other things as well. I saw a barricade being pushed forward, knocking one police officer to the ground. Three of the rioters walked over to the police officer and helped her up and seemed to apologize. When people were banging through the glass on the wooden door, I saw a few of them turn and realize things were going to far. I saw them trying to stop them with their hands up as they pushed back through the crowd to get away from the fray.
Again, these small actions mean little in light of the terrible havoc that ripped through the Capitol on Tuesday, but they also can’t be swept away and ignored. We owe it to ourselves as a society to change the way things are done in this country. We have a chance to bring enlightenment and love into our society, but it starts with individuals looking with love even when we don’t feel like we can.
I, for one, am just going to stop my angry, jeering words, and I am going to stop justifying my actions and continue to see how we are all connected. Perhaps if I merely turn my perspective towards love, love can have the space to appear.
Love and Light, All.
sometimes the others just need more time
Yes, I agree. I think they need a lot of things to help them at this point, but I think time is important as well.
I understand why you would be curious about this behavior and what we are to take from it. We are all on our own journeys and at different stages of the journey. I never condone violence yet it’s a cry out for what is dysfunctional within that person. Seeing others through the eyes of compassion or at least attempting to is where I find myself. I know from enduring and surviving a lifetime of trauma that what we experience changes us, it can leave a myriad of scars. I believe each person serves a purpose and that is a lesson in how we respond, react and choose to behave. So much of these issues are from fear and generational trauma responses in DNA. It’s fascinating to learn about and then view within others.
What can we do about it all? The tjings I keep a mindful watch on is my own wellbeing and how I treat and interact with others. This is an excellent post written by a blogger I follow. I think you’ll find it quite an interesting read. As always, take care of you my dear Kelly and keep asking yourself these important questions of love ❤
https://wp.me/p6KBvz-g0g
Absolutely! Trauma has so many forms, but I am learning enough to know that what happened at the Capitol transpired because a lot of really unhappy and damaged people were able to see the world the same way. It is lack of love and humanity that helped create this vibe. If a loving vibe can be created and carried by humans, the reverse must be true. The damage is great, but it provides us with an opportunity to see how deep the wounds go, and I think this shows that they are deep and nowhere near being healed. Thank you again for always reading and commenting on my posts. I look forward to your insights, and it motivates me to try and write everyday. I will check that post out as well. 🦋💜❤🧡
Writing from the UK.. what you are saying and doing is very courageous – even the little taste I’ve had of the incredible anger fuelling the divide in American society through a reaction to my blog tells me that..but surely this is the only way to move towards any kind of unity. Good on you!
Thank you for saying that. I can’t tell you how incredibly difficult it is, but I am working through. Positive feedback like this certainly helps.
Writing from Australia 🇦🇺 of course people all over the world cried even the Angels cried. To see Brother against Brother fight is overwhelming for all of us. Especially when the word has endured. The Pandemic is worldwide. These times when man’s ego ignores human suffering incites his brothers and sisters to hate is everything we fight for….to live in Peace. We pray in Australia, that America units. You in America we understand the angst all Americans feel. We pray you all find peace. 911 was horrific still folk grieve. Defiling the Whitehouse by its people. The greatest shame of all. Our condolences to all families who have suffered will never forget and not do we. You are full of grief we hug you from afar… Know we love American 🗽 No one man is greater than is Nation! He hated no you. You are better than that. Shalom 💫💫💫😔😔😔😔😔
Great thoughts. Thank you for writing this openly and honestly.
If a person’s anger and vitriol is wrong in and of itself, then my anger and vitriol toward that person is just as wrong. We are a society beset with anger, vitriol, division, hatred, and violence. The Capitol outpouring is just the next (and not the worst) in a long stream of such behavior, especially in the last eight months. Minneapolis, Kenosha, Portland, Portland, Portland. It is all not only a sad commentary, but a clear warning sign. The answers we need are not political, for all politics have turned divisive. Our hope is in post-political conversations.
In thinking back to Martin Luther King, whose day we just celebrated, we see a man who lived the answer. He took action, but never with hatred or bitterness. He was an activist who tried to bring people together, not accentuate the differences. He denounced all hatred on all sides. People listened to him.
We need a lot of him right now. Everywhere and on all sides of all conflicts, we need a lot of him.
I agree. I guess my point is to not dismiss anger, but embrace it as an emotion. Part of the reason people are reacting violently and with so much anger and hatred is because their feelings and emotions were dismissed and ignored for too long. Men like MLK are amazing and wonderful, but they are few and far between because people like him make the choice to acknowledge their anger as fuel for service not empty acts of violence. The human condition leans more towards the riots we are seeing than the peaceful rhetoric of a deeply religious man. A man who meditated in silence daily. A man who felt the pain of the people so deeply that he called for justice with honor and humility. Where is such a man or woman today? I don’t have the answer there, but perhaps it will come in some form of togetherness as we move forward. Thank you for your comment and for your response. I always like to examine these thoughts more fully and commentary and conversation help that tremendously.
Quoting your response: “Part of the reason people are reacting violently and with so much anger and hatred is because their feelings and emotions were dismissed and ignored for too long. Men like MLK are amazing and wonderful, but they are few and far between because people like him make the choice to acknowledge their anger as fuel for service not empty acts of violence.”
Well said. Very well said. Thank you for this.