We The People

We, the people have to make a choice.

I’m not talking about the choice of a presidential candidate, or the choice of a political party, or a set of ideals. By the end of the day, many of us have already cast our choice, or decided not to. But, no matter the results that we’ll learn in the next week or so, there will be a lot of work ahead of us.

We, the people have to make a choice on the world we want to live in. Do we want to continue to see each other as abstractions and caricatures? Are those people that we disagree with enemies to be treated with scorn and ridicule, before they are defeated and ostracized? Or can we challenge ourselves to put in the work to find a way to listen to each other again?

Fear and anxiety can drive people to the perceived safety of those in power. Healing and rebuilding trust, will take time and authentic effort.

I believe in people. I believe that in spite of our fears and anxieties, we are connected because of our shared (but not always identical) hopes, dreams and aspirations.

Don’t get me wrong. There are very tough conversations ahead. Words and deeds, that previously had minimal consequences, are very different when power and privilege vanish.

We, the people can choose to continue to be adversarial or we can choose to find ways to collaborate again. We, the people can strive to build a more perfect union, with justice, tranquility and provide for the general welfare.

The People are not made of us and them. It’s made of we.

We. The. People.