Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/a-manner-of-speaking/5025496/
Today we are living change as we never could have imagined. COVID-19 has touched every aspect of our lives and rocks the mind space filled by expectations, assumptions and dreams. The tragic death of George Floyd, the most recent victim of abuse of power, in the midst of the stresses of the pandemic, and the protests and calls for change, force us to face the prejudices and inequities pervasive in our society. Issues around health and social justice are intertwined—much of what we may have wished to be true is not the way things are. We are compelled to see truth and determine our own actions. Overwhelming. Yet, there it is. And here we are. We have hope in our hearts, and we are listening, thinking, and planning for change. We have intentions and next steps, ideas and inspirations, because this is who and what we are—no matter what.
At the same time that much of what we are experiencing is shared, there are differences based on race and privilege that are not shared and often not understood, acknowledged or valued. This is a critical time; we are shaping our future.
Children are watching. Consequences of the pandemic and public discourse ...