How To Live

Many people I talk to are wondering about how to live in these times of change and disturbance. For many of us, the world feels fundamentally different than it did last year at this time. Our new President, instead of embodying values that are important to us, seems intent on undercutting the fundamental institutions and processes of our democracy—moving away from a spirit of respect and mutuality to a world of competing self-interest and power politics.

But the world is always all of the above. The inclusiveness and welcoming of difference that is one of the unique features of our country has never been experienced equally by all. And paradoxically, the movements to increase inclusivity and fairness have led sizable portions of our country to feel attacked and not included. Our focus on identity politics, appreciating the unique challenges and contributions of each group of Americans, has gone hand in hand with a virulent polarization of interests and positions.

For many of us liberal intellectuals who live in the cities or near the coasts, life has been reasonably comfortable. Certainly there have been economic and social challenges, administrations we agree with or find objectionable. But for the most part our children have gotten reasonable educations and had the opportunity to find decent jobs and begin their own independent lives. We have been able to rest with some uneasy confidence that the arc of history is bending toward justice.

Perhaps the harsh benefit of these times is that some bit of our comfort and certainty has been snatched away. No longer feeling in the majority, we are experiencing some portion of what many others are quite familiar with – a feeling of alienation, uncertainty and pessimism about the arc of our country.

Though in my personal life, I still have the option of not reading the news and pretending that my life is still normal, this is less and less a tenable option. I feel the increasing pressure of discomfort as arbitrary decisions are made by Steve Bannon and the President that are in direct conflict with due process and the values of our society. (Though I can’t write this without thinking of the Republican’s reactions to some of Obama’s executive orders protecting immigrants and the environment – a mirror image of my outrage.)

Each of us is going to have to find a unique way to balance integrity, engagement and sanity. Spending four years being outraged 24/7 makes no sense. But hiding and pretending makes no sense either. How do we hold our hearts open to this suffering world (including the suffering from fear and having to build walls to keep others out) and realize the limitations of our time and energies? How to still find time for what we love in the midst of making time for participating in our democracy as active and effective agents of peace and mutuality? This is our challenge.