When I look at my Twitter feed, which I do too often, I’m buffeted by the news of nazis, children separated from parents, and kids killed by guns. And every story I see reminds me of the people I’m related to and myriad strangers who have a very different reaction to each event. I have no solution to this problem: I used to think that if we could just consider our love for our children and how we have that in common, we might be able to start there, but I’ve been relieved of that fantasy. As soon as we start to see people as other, and therefore not eligible for our empathy, we’re in deep shit. Fear and uncertainty cause absolute thinking, so we cling to whatever tenants we hold most dear and defend them at any cost, even at the expense of children.
But this has all been said. I can’t convince anyone with words, as much as I believe in them and their potential power. We’re in familiar territory, as old as homo sapiens only aided by filter bubbles and the 24-hour news cycle. It’s an old abyss, and I don’t know how to bring the sides together, but I will make myself go the edge and look into the darkness even though I’m afraid. Fear is what got us here, and it’s not the way forward. So I will look, and if I can’t build a bridge then I will throw ropes to those being pushed, hold tight to those thrown to me, and stand on the side of love.
Christine Elgersma 