In the waning days before the 2020 American election, society looks more divided than ever. The reds and the blues are firmly entrenched in their positions and already voting for their candidates. It seems that both sides firmly believe that they will win, in fact that they cannot lose. Both sides seem convinced that the other side will do anything to win, and that the only way the other side can claim victory is by cheating. Likewise, each side seems convinced that the other will not back down, will not concede peacefully, and may get violent. In short … the Second American Civil War feels imminent. Some even feel it’s been raging for months now.
So what happens in the weeks following November 3rd? What can we do to keep the peace as the mail-in ballots are counted? What can we do now to get ready? And how did we get to this place? Please consider the following 4 strategies, adapted from the 12 Core Values.
Truth - Seek it, Speak it
The great irony of our age is the nearly unending volume of information and the simultaneous lack of verifiable Truth. We no longer have a few reliable trusted sources that everyone recognizes as authoritative. Now we have legacy media hanging onto a claimed mantle of authority. Now we have independent journalists doing their own reporting. Now we have mobile phone camera eye witnesses recording and broadcasting events in real time. Now we have systems and networks where short posts and photos are spread around, out of context, within bubbles of like-minded people. And can any of it truly be trusted? The technology exists to fabricate anything. Who and what should we believe?
It is essential to seek and speak Truth. Seek Truth by looking broadly, venturing outside of your bubble, getting as many perspectives as possible. Dig in, research, click the links, check the sources. LISTEN to what people have to say. Weigh and value their words and images. Then make up your own mind using discernment, common sense, a preponderance of evidence and your gut. Then and only then, speak Truth. Share what you’ve learned in an honest way, based in real context. Speak the Truth in Love. Understand that people may not believe you, and give them the grace and Respect to have their own opinions and understandings.
It has been said that the Truth shall set us free and that lies are a prison. Truth today is hard to come by and will take a lot of time and effort to get back to a place where people can agree on a single Truth. In fact, the groupings of people we are in (often called tribes) are reinforced around what they choose to believe as Truth. One vital requirement for averting civil war is to reconcile the realities of tribes into a single understanding of the Truth.
Community - Build it, Live it
Even though we interact increasingly online, we live in physical proximity in the real world, in physical space. The people around us make up our real Community. Our neighbors live next door and down the block. We can see them come and go, we can hear their music or their shouting, we can smell their barbeques or their garbage. Good or bad, appealing or repulsive, there they are, and here we are. So what do we do? Do we engage with our neighbors? Or do we pretend they don’t exist and find our relationships online? Do we pitch in to build and clean up our Community? Or do we channel anger and desperation into breaking windows, burning cars and destroying businesses? Who do we choose … our neighbors or our tribes?
It is essential that we build Community and live in peace with our neighbors. As freedom of movement is reduced through travel bans, lockdowns and 2-week quarantines, we spend more time in our local Community. With supply chain disruptions, factory closings due to illness and difficulties shipping goods across borders, consumer goods (food, medicine, other supplies) become more expensive and difficult to get. Locally produced food and supplies become more important. We increasingly need to work together within our physical Community to make sure that we have what we need, and that we can help our neighbors with their needs.
We seem so divided as a nation into our tribes, and that is amplified by the online groups and echo chambers where we spend our time and focus our attention. Perhaps if we lifted our eyes away from our screens and towards our neighbors, we could again see each other as people who have far more in common than we have in differences. There is understandable anger and frustration at the wrongs and evils that play out in our world, and protesting and demonstrating are vital ways to bring attention and change. But at the end of a demonstration, why cap it off with looting, burning and destruction of our Community? What if we ended protests with Community Service projects instead? What if demonstrators planted gardens, passed out blankets, washed cars and repaired broken windows? These acts of kindness and Community building would go a long way toward bringing peace and prosperity.
Health & Safety - Eat it, Breathe it
COVID-19 has been named the invisible enemy. This year it has dominated our thoughts and actions for the Health & Safety of ourselves and others. Cultural norms like shaking hands, hugging, and meeting face-to-face have been set aside. People are encouraged to limit their time out and about, and to wear face masks when they do. What impact has all of this had on our Health & Safety? These measures slow or prevent the spread of the virus, but many have asserted that they lead to unintended consequences like depression, addiction, suicidal ideation, postponing of medical diagnostics and procedures, domestic violence and lack of exercise. Further, the loss of income and jobs lead to malnutrition, anxiety and desperation, endangering large swaths of our population. In the age of COVID-19 … how do we find and build significant Health & Safety for ourselves and those we care about? What can we do? What can we control?
COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that manifests with mild to moderate symptoms in most people, with the exception of those that are older, who have compromised immune systems, or who have existing underlying health problems. It is a serious and terrifying proposition for those who are vulnerable. But for the vast majority of people, a strong and healthy immune system is able to fight off the infection. Vitamins such as D, C, and Zinc are known to boost the immune system and their deficiencies are associated with less effective immune systems. The basic tenets of personal health such as eating healthy foods, taking vitamin supplements and getting exercise still apply. Further measures apply for those in higher risk categories. In every other outbreak in human history we have quarantined the sick, not the healthy. We need to protect the vulnerable, but not shatter the lives of the innocent and the masses.
We need to find our way back to some kind of new normal. We need to get moving again. And we need to do things that are positive and constructive, not just negative and destructive. To find peace, we need to be healthy and safe … but we also need to be productive.
Productivity - Work it, Do it
There is so much work to do, in every sense of the word. Work to do to get the economy booming again. Work to do inside of ourselves to feel better and navigate this new reality. Work to do to create fun and life giving activities for ourselves and for others. We need to start! We need to get to it … quickly and efficiently.
So many people have been made idle by layoffs, business closures and restrictions. As the lockdowns ease up, we need to reopen schools, stores and restaurants. Yes, we need to take safety measures. But we need to push ahead. The economy is all about flow of resources, circulation of money through the system. We need to get the blood of the economy pumping again. So that means we, as customers, need to go out and participate, spend some money, invest in our local businesses, have some fun, tip our servers generously.
We must also understand that we can’t consume our way to a solution. People are happiest when they are producing things that they love. Productivity also extends to artwork, yardwork, and housework. Especially for those whose regular jobs are not available right now. Producing for ourselves and for those around us keep us feeling useful and appreciated. We can meet our own needs and those of people around us through creative Productivity.
One way to fight despair and desperation is to take action … any action. Do something! Build something. Fix something. Paint something. Write something. Grow something. Record something. Whatever your heart desires. The crucial thing here is to create instead of destroy.
To find peace and preserve our nation, we need to be honest with each other and seek the truth and understanding beyond our bubbles. We need to reach out to the people living around us, listen to them, connect with them. We need to take actions to protect and build our own health and safety, and that of the most vulnerable around us. And we need to get moving again! We need to build instead of destroy.