As Americans endure an insurrection, impeachment and soon a heavily militarized inauguration at our nation’s Capitol – which many consider a beacon of democracy and freedom – we are called to change our communities and our country “for the better.” What does that mean though? Where do we begin when our definitions of “better” are in direct contrast with each other? When not our policy differences, but our understandings of even the truth, stand in complete opposition of each other?
We are in extraordinary times. In response, ALF is calling for extraordinary civic engagement.
Truth.
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” – Abraham Lincoln
We have debated and challenged truth increasingly these past several years. What is my truth, and your truth, our collective truth as a country? Blatant untruths have filled the airwaves and caused angst and division at dinner tables and city halls across our nation. The truth of black and brown people in our country has been, and tragically continues to be, dismissed and minimized. This year, ALF invites us to seek out the truth of our actions, inactions and judgements. If I’m a person of privilege, can I see the truth through the eyes of those that have been historically oppressed and not the eyes of the dominant culture? Am I courageously speaking my truth in order to serve the greater good? Am I creating more division by giving credence to conspiracies and false truths by how I speak or post? As human citizens, what is our responsibility in creating a society founded in truth – even if it is personally inconvenient?
Love.
“Revolutionary love is a well-spring of care, an awakening to the inherent dignity and beauty of others and the earth, a quieting of the ego, a way of moving through the world in relationship… Loving others, even our opponents, in this way has the power to sustain political, social and moral transformation. This is how love changes the world.” – Valarie Kaur, The Revolutionary Love Project.
Why is ALF talking about love? Love is a radical response to the moment we’re in. And yet, a version of the golden rule is found in most religions and community building / culture setting creeds. Loving our neighbor as ourselves is common sense, but not common practice.
Tough love is love as well – the act of being brutally honest with someone whose actions are harmful to themselves or others. Do we courageously call each other in or do we stand at a distance in judgement, or worse yet, enable the behavior? Do we become defensive when called out for our behavior? Love is not complicit, it is courageous. Do we have the courage to lead with (tough) love in 2021?
Reconciliation
“If I thought shaming (these) people could make the world a better place, I would join in. But shame is not the answer. Shame is a HUGE part of the problem.” – Brene Brown on people’s reactions to the January 6 Insurrection.
The power of apology. Rebuilding trust, relationships and systems. Repairing harm done and creating equitable opportunities. As we begin a new year, with a new administration and local electeds, with the promise of a vaccine and returning to public life later this year, we’re invited to do some housecleaning of our own in order to show up as our highest and best selves. Do I owe anyone an apology? Is my side of the street clean? On a broader scale, do we have the courage to take the lessons and learnings of 2020 – from blatant health and economic inequities laying before us from the pandemic to a massive racial reckoning defining a new civil right movement – and embark on a personal and public journey of healing? What do we need to confront, hear, process and heal from both as individuals and a people? We can’t fix it until we feel it. We can’t feel it until we face it.
The soul of our democracy is at stake. The very foundation upon which we stand trembles. Do we have the courage to meet each other as human beings first? To listen and to love? To those of us with privilege and power – our call to action is the greatest. Will we seek truth and reconciliation for our complicity, actions and their consequences?
Together as leaders, we’re invited to explore Truth, Love and Reconciliation in 2021.
Suzanne St. John-Crane
Chief Executive Officer
Class XXV / Urbanism XXXIV
