The continuum from evil to good exists in all of us. This has been a theme of humanity for all time--a theme exhibited in art, music, theater, literature, courts, laws, political events, and more.
As you consider the continuum of evil to good in yourself with relation to current events, what questions are you asking and what work are you doing?
Solve problems while those problems are small
When we let problems grow, we face greater trouble and danger. Many have allowed Trump to spread his terror for years now--many in banking, courts, society, politics, and government have allowed Trump to increase his terrorizing behavior year after year. Why?
There are likely many answers to this?
- As a child, when Trump terrorized his schoolmates and teachers, Trump's family sent him off to a military school.
- In business, Trump is told to make it very difficult or to pay off those he terrorized.
- In politics, Trump likely forwarded his terror via threats, bribes, crooked deals, and more
Many, over time, in every field and at every time have tried to counter Trump's terror, but Trump persisted with his terrorizing, criminal, inhumane behavior. Now we are dealing with his most public terror to date, an insurgence on the American people and government--an insurgence that resulted in death, injury, vandalism, and obstruction of justice.
We cannot let the kind of evil Trump has gotten away with for decades continue--we must work against that evil via legal, peaceful means while problems are small. We can also save ourselves from the influence of trumpians, but steering clear of organizations and individuals that deal in the work of evil and terror, and we must continually work against the inhumanity we may forward in our own lives.
Find the positivity, good, humanity
Whenever we are tempted to terrorize or moved to support evil and terror of any kind, we must think about how we might counter that with a humane response. For multiple reasons, that can be very challenging, but it's only when we work to rid ourselves and our communities of all terror, that we can begin to build a more humane, peaceful, and positive society.
Many may forward terror due to their own history of abuse, neglect, ignorance, and poor mentoring--we need to help each other do the right thing, and this starts when children are small. That's the best time to teach, yet we are able to learn at any age.
Trump had the opportunity to forward the good with regard to the Capitol insurgence many, many times.
- He could have taken a measured look at election procedural changes thinking aloud about the positivity of the changes as well as his thoughts on the not-so-positive changes. For me, the changes were awesome because it made voting so much more accessible and doable than in years past, years when it was very difficult to get the child care, do the research, and discuss my votes with my family--this year with the opportunity to mail in my vote, I had time to think deeply about who and what I was voting for. I wasn't rushed, and had the comfort of my home and good energy to make sure I voted accurately in a way that represented what I believed in.
- He could have studied the election laws--his comments related to the election demonstrate a clear lack of understanding about elections as well as the statistics related to the election.
- He could have committed to telling the truth about the matter rather than spreading lies, exaggeration, propaganda, and misinformation.
- He contested the vote via the courts which I have no problem with, but when the courts proved him wrong, he should have accepted that, and focused on a peaceful transfer of power. Instead he did not accept the court's decisions and continued to perseverate on and communicate the lies, propaganda, misinformation and misunderstanding.
- He could have taken pride in the fact that many voted for him, and used that power to forward the good. Rather than incite his followers to "fight" and cause terror, vandalism, looting, obstruction of justice, injury, and death, he could have helped them think about the next steps with regard to their great allegiance and energy--he could have educated them about political activity, voting, community involvement, and betterment. With that kind of power, he had the potentially to truly uplift and transform lives, but instead he inspired them to break the law, injure people, vandalize, loot, and even kill people--this will result in many arrests, big fines, lost family time, lost jobs, and lots of pain and struggle for many.
- When the violence was apparent, he could have used his power to end the violence, but instead he passively watched and probably enjoyed the violence--again, he inaction was a choice, a choice to let people get injured and killed, a choice to allow the Capitol to be vandalized/looted, and a choice to terrorize all that work in the Capitol including elected officals, and a choice to obstruct justice by way of halting the process to confirm the electoral college results.
- After the violent insurrection, Trump had the choice to redirect his followers by apologizing for sending them into such a lawless, violent activity and apologizing to the American people for the terror he caused. He had the choice to offer to pay for all the damage. He had the choice to fly the flag at half-staff. He had the choice to take responsibility for the insurrection. He had the choice to let the American people know exactly how he and his terrorist team planned and carried out the insurrection. Instead he has chosen to say little and take no responsibility as he cowers in the White House not doing his job and continuing to spew propaganda, lies, misinformation while praising himself and seemingly planning future violent events.
Trump, again and again, chooses self-serving violence, terror, lies, and misinformation rather than humanity and good living for all. We can't emulate that terror. Instead we can work for greater humanity and good living in countless ways.
We all have the evil to good continuum in ourselves, and it's best if we continually lean in the direction of what's positive and humane. if we do that, we'll enjoy good living all over our good country and world.