Civility and Taking Radical Responsibility

These are such unusual times.  A year ago, who would have imagined we would be wearing masks wherever we go, would only be doing curbside dining and all sports and concert events would be canceled?  Who would have thought that statues from our history would be removed, the police force in major cities would be defunded and protests and looting would result from police brutality?

Such issues often result in finger-pointing.  “Who is to blame?” can be the question of the day.  White people blame black people and blacks blame whites.  We blame ancestors, political figures, splinter groups, other countries, and the media.

Civility has no room for casting blame.  Instead, it invites everyone to take radical responsibility for all that is good and all that is not so good in our country.  Rather than asking, “Who is to blame?” let’s shift the conversation to each of us asking “What can I do to make things better?”

Whether it is in small actions or big ones, each of us not only has something to learn from those who are different from us, we also have something to contribute that can make things better.  Please catch yourself when you find yourself casting blame and take a moment to shift to taking radical responsibility.  Make yourself part of the solution in whatever way you can.

Happy 4^th of July.