The killing of George Floyd, a 46 year old man of colour, who repeatedly told a Minneapolis police officer he couldn’t breathe as the officer knelt on his neck, sparked mass protests and initiated the “Black Lives Matter” Movement across the planet. As many others, I am deeply moved and shocked. The colour of skin still seems to define for many, how you are being treated and what privileges and opportunities you have in life.
Showing solidarity with words is not enough.
Our everyday actions and habits should speak louder than words.
For example, this is about
- showing support for people of colour and marginalised groups in general, who need our help,
- speaking up for truth and fairness when others stay silent,
- being quiet when others gossip and spread rumours,
- judging people by the beauty of their soul and not by their colour of skin, gender, nationality, age, status or clothes,
- being less judgemental and giving others the benefit of doubt,
- stopping the vicious cycle of “an eye for an eye…” in many small, daily clashes and arguments
- verbalising our anger and frustration in constructive ways instead of numbing it or acting it out,
- addressing and working through our own fears and anxieties about “not having enough” and” not being enough”,
- teaching our children to show compassion and respect for all living beings and nature and,
- most importantly: going to the polls. It’s about voting for leaders who show integrity, unite us across nations and continents and foster mutual respect, kindness, fairness, justice and equality.
What are your ways of living peace, your actions and habits?
Please share your thoughts and leave a comment.
Text and Image:
© Jutta Nedden, Lead and Connect Ltd. 06/2020