I came home from vacation on Tuesday. Reentries are always a bit rough. This one was like drinking water from a fire hydrant. This week was also the anniversary of 9/11 and my mom’s death, the same week and year. Then we had shootings. Yep, with an S. Preventing violence.
Over the weekend, it caused me to think, what can I/we do better? How will we do better? I shared a video over the weekend for my church gathering. Where do we go? What do we do?
I carried several emotions because of the week. I have severe and urgent concerns. The week has revealed what can only be a profound societal fracture, as well as a meaningful shift. I am saddened, but I also know that resilience in people can be cultivated.
How do we as individuals, a community, a state, and a nation do better? I am humbled in saying that I only have the pieces I have. Preventing violence.
🧠 Preventing Violence & Protecting Lives
It is simple to look at school shootings and think that more gun laws, enforcement of the ones we have, and mental health counseling will change things. I agree with the mental health piece, but if you have tried to find a therapist/counselor for a child, you will see there are not enough to go around. And then you run into the money issues.
We can strengthen security protocols, increase mental health support, deal with extremism and indoctrination, and ask people to SAY SOMETHING.
I believe it is a heart issue. And hearts only change by heart change and understanding the bigger picture. Not by pointing fingers but by reaching out. Connecting. Not disconnecting.
🧠 Changing Culture & Mindsets
So, what can each of us change? We will not change things on a larger scale until we recognize that each of us has a responsibility and a sphere of influence within which we operate. Homes, communities, schools, and workplaces. (When the river rises, all the boats float.)
Each one of us can recognize that we are an instrument of change.
What about promoting respectful dialogue? Are we willing to teach respectful debate? (Or hide and let the world run ramshackle over us? Can we walk a mile in another’s shoes for the sake of change? Can we talk about and participate in conflict resolution? (That alone might be the key to reducing ideological polarization.). Conflict resolution is not a “one and done,” nor is it “all or nothing.” Patience is part of it. Time is part of it.
And if you are an official on some level, you have a RESPONSIBILITY to denounce political violence. Public figures and institutions have a responsibility to those who support them to denounce violence regardless of political affiliation. (In other words, please stop using your sphere of influence to be a jerk. We elect you. You serve us and not the other way around.)
My philosophy on life is and always will be to lift the oppressed while not destroying the oppressor. Meaning we operate with a lot of restraint and patience.
Over the years, I have worked hard with my grandson (The youngest person I deal with regularly) to teach him what I call digital literacy. We must help young people learn to evaluate online content and to resist harmful ideologies. (And we must help them ignore the 140-character thinking and sound bites.)
And if we do not learn to foster inclusive communities (It does NOT mean that we will agree with everyone and everything, but that our “doors” are open), we lose momentum. We must build environments where students can feel seen, safe, and valued. And on a broader scale, that must be brought into our communities. And not in a nonsensical manner, but in a way that values each person at the table.
And finally…
🛠️ Policy & Leadership
To change a community, we must invest our time, talent, and treasure into “violence prevention.” Local initiatives that address and discuss root causes of violence. Some of these may include poverty, cultural practices, and perceptions of hopelessness. One of the organizations I work with promotes positivity and resilience beginning at the school level. Another organization I work with works to prevent suicide.
And holding institutions accountable to ensure appropriate responses to threats or glorification of violence will go a long way. At the core of these organizations are people. And we must never forget that. It is not a “burn it all down” but more like conversations across the table.
What about politics? This partisan approach has lost its place in the lives of many people. It is time for cross-party solutions to the violence and political extremism. It can no longer be “us against them” thinking.
And finally, we must show real support to victims and survivors. Yes, it may include long-term care, advocacy, and platforms for those affected by violence. No more lip service, but real investments into the lives of our communities (Spelled P-E-O-P-L-E)
I am not looking to be one more voice in the mix. I will be taking these ideas and either incorporating them into my life, or I already have. I am but one person. For years, I have invited people “from across the aisle” to conversations that I know have made me uncomfortable from time to time. Sometimes awkwardness makes all the difference. Preventing violence.
We can do better. Will we do better?
I invite conversation around this. Let’s look at changing the world and making it a better place.
