What I can do

Orlando. Baghdad. Alton Sterling. Philando Castile. Dallas. Nice.

The list is long. It’s overwhelming. I want to help, but what can I do?

I believe I can choose. Let me explain.

• I can choose to greet everyone with a smile.
• I can choose to say hello.
• I can choose to listen.
• I can choose to learn.
• I can choose to seek out those that are different.¹Social media, especially Twitter, is perfect for this. With a little searching, I have found those with different politics, colors, orientations, and experiences, who are advocating for positive change. I try to be careful reading the response/comments. Anonymity gives many the license to be jerks or worse. I don’t accept abuse. The blockhammer works.
• I can choose to listen to understand, not planning my response or rebuttal.²Karen Armstrong quotes Donald Davidson, “Whether we like it or not, if we want to understand others, we must regard them as right in most matters.”
• I can choose to seek that what unites us, not what divides us.
• I can choose to be willing to change my opinions.
• I can choose to apologize when I’ve hurt someone.
• I can choose to look for the win-win, not the win-lose.³And vote for candidates with the same view.
• I can choose to confront prejudice.⁴Many times, a simple, “I don’t get it” is the perfect response to a prejudiced joke. (And again, vote for candidates with the same view.)

In my desire to change the world, I must be willing to change myself first.⁵Matthew 7:3-5

What should I add to my list? What are you willing to do?

• 1
  Social media, especially Twitter, is perfect for this. With a little searching, I have found those with different politics, colors, orientations, and experiences, who are advocating for positive change. I try to be careful reading the response/comments. Anonymity gives many the license to be jerks or worse. I don’t accept abuse. The blockhammer works.
• 2
  Karen Armstrong quotes Donald Davidson, “Whether we like it or not, if we want to understand others, we must regard them as right in most matters.”
• 3
  And vote for candidates with the same view.
• 4
  Many times, a simple, “I don’t get it” is the perfect response to a prejudiced joke. (And again, vote for candidates with the same view.)
• 5
  Matthew 7:3-5