We all have beliefs, they are the lens that we filter the massive amount of information that assails us every moment of every day. It is how we make sense of our world and live comfortably or uncomfortably with ourselves and others. In these unsettling times of partisanship, I feel the tug of being with or against more and more. I prefer to be able to pick and choose, never aligned with any one group, dogma or point of view. And as a Librarian, I feel I have chosen the Switzerland of professions where I would be doing my community a disservice by vocally taking a stance that might exclude some.
But I have guiding beliefs that I have developed as I have thoughtfully walked through the world listening and observing--learning from both good and bad examples and my own successes and failures. I, like you, am not perfect. I make errors in judgment, hurt those that I do not wish to, and even with growth I remain just as flawed today and I was yesterday. But my hope is that with each passing year, I am making more positive contributions than negative ones. I feel that now more than ever before, that I must articulate my belief system so that I can navigate these challenging times in a way that does not seem false.
First and foremost, I believe that every single life--human, animal, plant--has value. There are no junk existences. But unlike animals and plants, humans can choose the impact that their lives have on others and the earth we live upon.
I believe that every single person--that's some 7 billion and counting--deserves dignity, safety and hope. This current trend toward being powerful, strong, and always right is only be achieved removing dignity, safety and hope from someone else. This desire for power and strength caters to the baser qualities that make up humankind. It is a struggle each and everyday, to treat everyone with respect--but I must try and as a species we all must try.
I believe that the way to live our lives are many and as long as my own or others personal safety, dignity and hope are not impinged upon you have the right to live your life as you please.
I believe that not everyone has the same opportunities, faculties, or abilities. It is the responsibility of those that have won the lottery of life, to assist others in fully realizing their potential. I understand that some are incapable or unwilling but I believe that they will never represent the majority, so we must try for everyone. The annals of history are filled with the underdog that succeeds against all odds. Imagine the stories to be told, if those without the tremendous strength of these achievers are given dignity, safety and hope; taught how to fish and allowed to blossom.
I believe that the concept of race with an associated color are human constructs that allow some to feel strong and powerful by taking away the dignity, safety and hope of others. And that we always must rise above those who wish to pull us down and never stoop to their levels. I recognize that this is perhaps the most difficult thing to do, but we must try. We cannot gain our own power and strength though the destruction dignity, safety and hope of others.
I believe that each time a positive action or thought is set afloat, our world becomes a better place and each time a negative one is cast out into the world the opposite is so. Although we cannot control the actions of others, we can control the actions of ourselves and it is up to each of us individually to add as much positive as we possibly can. Yes, we are all fallible humans and this is not always easy, but we must try.
As a human, I feel that it is my obligation to treat each and every person that walks into my life--at work, on the street, anywhere, everywhere--needs to be treated with dignity so that they will if not today then perhaps tomorrow feel safe and have hope. Do I always live this truth? No. Would you be able to point at times that I clearly acted contrary to these beliefs? Yes. But with each experience, I can only hope to get a better understanding of what it means to treat others in such a way that they can live their lives with dignity, safety and hope and each No and Yes become more the exception than the rule.
The path that we are currently traveling is a dangerous one. It is time for each of us to stand up and say, I believe that everyone deserves dignity, safety and hope and those that act otherwise must be held accountable. A bright future is ours only if we take immediate and firm action, and that action starts with me & you.