Ignorance is Bliss-phemous

 

Turn the other cheek.

Rise above.

When they go low, we go high.

Be the bigger person.

Let it be.

It all comes out in the wash.

We all have heard plenty of platitudes to get us through life’s conflicts, disappointments, and hurt. I’ve repeated similar mantras in my own personal life. With yoga breathing, talking with friends, a ton of journal writing and self-reflection, I’ve taken the high road versus being vocal because I’ve thought—what’s the point? People aren’t going to change. I can shift my thinking, my perspective, and my behavior. Focus on what I can control.

But is silence the best treatment?

I’m sure many of us have been on the receiving end of the silent treatment—and what does that actually do? Let anger fester? Not heal? How do you feel when you stay quiet and don’t vocalize your feelings? Is that always better? Hillary Clinton said, “To remain silent is to be complicit.” In my personal life I’m still dealing with those decisions of not being more vocal, but how does this same idea apply to the entire country? To a government?

Can our democratic government choose to ignore, to just let things pass, when white privileged MAGA terrorists attacked the Capitol building, incited by the 45^th President of the United States because they refused the outcome of the November election? When other elected leaders added fuel to this aggressive attack? By ignoring the obvious actors—and the whys—do people think that normalcy will just naturally happen once Biden and Harris are inaugurated? That this horrific nightmare of the last 4 years will just become a 4-line paragraph in US history books for our grandchildren to read? I’m not convinced.

I have felt many emotions and thoughts today as I digest not only how our democracy was threatened, but also by reading and watching reactions of our elected leaders—along with people in my circles and community. And while I have been impressed with some, shared similar sentiments with friends, felt dubious about some politicians’ earnestness, I have also been disappointed by the ignorance of others. The choosing to overlook what’s happening because maybe it’s easier? More peaceful? Is this a conscious choice to ignore? I would like to think that most people admit that so much was wrong about the DC events of January 6^th…Trump, social media, false propaganda, the lack of police protection, the glaring racial injustice, the horror and reality of the noose and Confederate flags…

What I do know for sure is that if our current elected leaders choose to ignore the violence trying to subvert our democratic process and do not invoke the 25^th Amendment and not impeach Trump—that sends a powerful and scary message to our kids, to extremist groups, to voters, to future presidents, and to the rest of the world. Ignorance is NOT bliss. It’s blasphemous.