It’s not just telling people’s stories and transmitting vital data, but truly bearing witness for our neighbors, a practice without which there can be no hope for justice, ever. As the weight of that witness continues to grow, I hope those of you who are shouldering so much of it know that your work is informing and motivating lots of folks as we learn and choose how to use our individual and collective power in pursuit not of a return to some old baseline, but of what *should* be.
The number of things that fail to cause moral outrage by the US public is growing daily. Grief and despair are acceptable and appropriate responses for anyone paying attention that isn't a sociopath.
It’s also so easy for most people to choose not to pay attention, and rationalize that choice. It works so long as it’s never going to directly impact us. By the time it’s impacting everyone, it will be too late. Thanks as always for reading.
I was initially going to respond to the way you sounded somewhat markedly more despondent than usual. Then I was going to respond to the amount of guilt you seemed to feel was your sole responsibility. Both felt too personal and I didn't want to make assumptions.
All truly empathetic people and especially those working for equitable futures and laws equally applied and the end to the business of imprisonment- it's probably safe to say the guilt is felt unequally. In your case though I really don't believe there is much you aren't doing that can be done. You are deeply knowledgeable and your compassion and justified outrage at what's happening are obvious. I can think of few people who are doing more than you to try to end these inhuman miscarriages of justice. You don't deserve to feel crippling guilt. It's ok to feel angry and deeply sad about every bad thing that these policies cause. What YOU particularly don't need to feel is guilt.
It’s not just telling people’s stories and transmitting vital data, but truly bearing witness for our neighbors, a practice without which there can be no hope for justice, ever. As the weight of that witness continues to grow, I hope those of you who are shouldering so much of it know that your work is informing and motivating lots of folks as we learn and choose how to use our individual and collective power in pursuit not of a return to some old baseline, but of what *should* be.
The number of things that fail to cause moral outrage by the US public is growing daily. Grief and despair are acceptable and appropriate responses for anyone paying attention that isn't a sociopath.
It’s also so easy for most people to choose not to pay attention, and rationalize that choice. It works so long as it’s never going to directly impact us. By the time it’s impacting everyone, it will be too late. Thanks as always for reading.
Really loved and needed to read this. Thank you, as always.
I was initially going to respond to the way you sounded somewhat markedly more despondent than usual. Then I was going to respond to the amount of guilt you seemed to feel was your sole responsibility. Both felt too personal and I didn't want to make assumptions.
All truly empathetic people and especially those working for equitable futures and laws equally applied and the end to the business of imprisonment- it's probably safe to say the guilt is felt unequally. In your case though I really don't believe there is much you aren't doing that can be done. You are deeply knowledgeable and your compassion and justified outrage at what's happening are obvious. I can think of few people who are doing more than you to try to end these inhuman miscarriages of justice. You don't deserve to feel crippling guilt. It's ok to feel angry and deeply sad about every bad thing that these policies cause. What YOU particularly don't need to feel is guilt.