It’s less than two weeks since the U.S. election and we’re still coping with the gut punch of the result. Jerry and I worked tirelessly to support the Harris-Walz ticket and hoped they would prevail. As we watch a staff and cabinet being assembled, lots of people feel despair, anger, fear and anxiety. What’s going to happen now? What are we going to do?
As I’ve been dealing with my own thoughts and feelings, as well as absorbing the post-election public reaction and media commentary, I fortuitously came across the Buddhist parable of The Second Arrow. In summary it’s this: the first arrow, the shot from outside, wounds us; the second arrow is our suffering after being pierced by the first arrow. The Buddha said: “Beware the second arrow.” That’s because the first arrow is the assault we couldn’t control, but the second arrow is our response, and it is our response that we can, we must, control.
The British WWII motto ‘Keep calm and carry on’ is a good reminder to start with; their united fortitude and action is an example to be recalled now. ‘Keep Calm’ hears the warning of ‘Beware the second arrow.’ We have the right to suffer – but also the necessity, and willingness, to heal. We have an obligation to not succumb to prolonged suffering, or rage, or panic about what might happen. That’s where ‘Carry On’ comes in.
Whether or not we presently comprehend what happened in the election, we must emotionally and practically cope with the fact that it did. Casting blame on how the Democratic campaign was conducted is not useful; exploring the root causes of why so many people feel that no one cares about them is necessary. Viewing all supporters who voted differently as hateful enemies just widens the division and is wastefully counterproductive. My May post ‘Working Together Can Be Powerful’ was about corporate communication and cooperation, but it equally applies to political action and it’s not just politicians that should walk across the aisle.
In my Global Citizens Circle blog post, ‘Voting: the price of democracy,’ days before the election, I wrote about the sacred hard-won obligation to vote, quoting a Sweet Honey in the Rock song, ‘We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest’ and John Lewis who called on us to ‘make good trouble.’ I ended it with “Regardless of your personal political perspectives, we encourage you to vote as it’s the price of democracy. We hope you vote for the person you believe will best protect democracy, a choice that’s clear to us; but whatever your persuasion, do not give up this hallowed responsibility to your nation.”
We lost an election, but not our compassion, intelligence, inner strength, or faith in our power to effect change. Michelle Obama roused us: “Don’t complain, do something!” Vice President Kamala Harris in her gracious, steadfast concession speech said, “the light of America’s promise will never go out … treating each other with kindness and respect … staying engaged for the sake of freedom and justice … we will never give up.” She reminded us that when it’s darkest, that’s when the stars shine brightest. The Buddha might have told us: “Don’t agonize, organize!”
The Harris campaign talked a lot about freedom and joy. Yes, it’s joyful to win, but there is also a delicious kind of joy in unified righteous response – and freedom requires participatory defense. I believe that the president-elect and his cohorts pose global danger, affecting us all. But if we respond as fully informed global citizens and, to whatever extent possible, work in tandem with groups and programs big or small on the issues that most concern us, we can indeed be a forceful loyal opposition to be reckoned with. And we don’t have to demonize anyone.
In 1964, Gil Turner wrote the song ‘Carry It On.’ Many notable singers like Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Judy Collins – and countless people during protests – sang it (lyrics below). Its theme is to keep aiming for small victories with the faith that big victories will follow. Take a listen, take heed, take heart, take part – and stay calm and carry on.
“There’s a woman by my side walking,
There’s a voice within me talking,
There’s a voice, within me saying,
Carry on, carry it on.
They will tell their empty stories,
Send their dogs to bite our bodies,
They will lock us up in prison,
Carry on, carry it on.
When you can’t go on any longer,
Take the hand, hand of your sister,
Every victory brings another,
Carry it on, carry it on,
Carry on, carry it on.”
