There’s no sugarcoating it. The current headlines about those in power are gut-wrenching and horrific. When we see people in power getting away with selfish, harmful, and self-enriching acts, it’s human to feel outraged. Their deception, abuse of power, and efforts to harm marginalized communities offend our deeply held values and beliefs. It’s only natural for that outrage to seek retribution. The more scorched earth, the better. Right?
Many years ago, I heard the expression, “Resentment is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.” I’ve learned over time that when I act from a place of bitter hatred, it corrodes the good I’m trying to do. It hurts me more than anyone I detest. Be angry, yes. Be outraged and outspoken, yes. Funnel that passion into action.
For many, there also comes a time to find a still, calm place within and discover what it is that we love more than whatever we hate. In many movements throughout history, activists learn to consciously detach from the horrors around them and turn toward what inspires and nourishes them. It takes discipline to do this. The constant supply of outrage-inducing media makes it hard today to stop obsessing over the latest awfulness.
However, the wisdom we gain from experience means we can simply acknowledge the latest outrage without surprise (for nothing the powerful are doing is really that surprising, given their motivations). This isn’t about supporting ignorance, it’s simply a conscious decision to keep turning our focus back toward what we love.
From this place, we can then decide what we want to do. This week’s Checklist contains an inspiring amount of examples of people working to ensure the powerful are held accountable for their actions. The activists behind these efforts are outraged, yet focused, strategic, and acting from a place of love of justice, respect, transparency, and hope.
For example, this week, we’re thanking Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (CA) and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) for their leadership in holding the powerful accountable. Not only did they co-sponsor a law last year whose passage led to the release of Epstein-related files, they also recently called for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to step down for deceptive testimony. In addition, this week, they successfully pressured the Justice Department to unredact all non-victim names from the Epstein files. These two lawmakers could have let their red/blue divide cloud their judgment, but their actions show that they love truth and accountability more than party.
We’re also thanking New Hampshire’s Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte this week for vetoing a bill seeking to deny protections for transgender people in public spaces. She has vetoed this bill not once. Not twice. This is her third time vetoing similar bills repeatedly proposed by a small segment of state legislators willing to infringe on some people’s rights.
She told the New Hampshire Bulletin, “I made it clear this issue needed to be addressed in a thoughtful, narrow way that protects the privacy, safety, and rights of all Granite Staters.” That’s constitutional and ethical principles in action. That’s disciplined leadership. We may not agree with everything Gov. Ayotte stands for, but there’s enough overlap in our values to acknowledge this as a win for The People from the “Live Free or Die” state.
When we demand accountability, as so many Americans are doing right now—with signs in the streets, with apps in our cars, in speaking truth to Congress, in testifying at the SCOTUS—we embody love in action. I’m inspired by the leadership and wisdom of people—young and old and from every corner of this nation—taking small courageous actions…not from hatred, but out of devotion to the better future we want for ourselves and our neighbors. Even though the just and thriving democracy we seek does not yet exist, people like this give us glimpses daily.
So I invite you to take a collective breath and refocus your attention on what good we can do. Stop wasting precious energy on hatred. Ask yourself: How can I show my love for a better future today by taking one small step?
Join us in speaking up this week.
Warmly,
Jen Hofmann
Founder and Director
Americans of Conscience.com
Today Robert Reich’s email asked (something like) why are we not going full throttle at the threat to our democracy.
I wrote that (essentially) I’m 70 and tired, dispirited.
And then I read this.
Thank you.