None of what we are witnessing today is normal. While not new, this rise of authoritarian rule; this acceptance of “to the victor goes the spoils” and this “might is right” are far from normal. The legacies of misogyny, racism and capitalism and their hold on this country and countries around the world are also not new and not normal. They are defaults that we have accepted.
This hijacking of human individuality is an old story. Divide and conquer works well on those who have forgotten who they are. Ideologies and beliefs hold a grip on us and choke our will to be human. We’re trading creativity for robotic ease, and sacrificing compassion and empathy to fit into a culture that no longer cares. None of this is normal.
Kindness is normal. Benevolence is normal. Working for the betterment of everyone – with appreciation for those who have come before us and laying a good foundation for those who will come after. That is normal.
Racism, transphobia and hatred towards Queer people are symptoms of those who have forgotten their humanity. The lack of dignity displayed by the dominant culture is vile and unworthy. And definitely not normal. Stop accepting it as such. Find your uniqueness and celebrate it. Flaunt it. Discover the depths of your humanity and savor it. We are built for this, not for senseless suffering.
Decades ago, I knew an old woman who had led a turbulent life. Yet with a glint in her eye, she told me she planted roses wherever she had lived to leave a legacy of beauty there. She triumphed. That is human. That is normal.
Leave your legacy. Touch this world and those around you with love. Plant the seeds of kindness and dignity and even if you do not live to see them sprout, know that they will.
Rose buds Photo: JLPC / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
