Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of feeling unsafe. It is the reality causing the need for a protective or a pseudo-protective society. In such a reality we are told when we feel threatened to be courageous. We are also told to stand up and fight. What about those of us who can’t for the simple reason that they are non-violent souls. Here’s a reality check. If we stop making bullies, and I mean all the bullies, maybe we don’t have to stand up anymore. Maybe people should be taught to be people but since that hasn’t worked for thousands of years maybe if we feel unsafe we can just leave. We’ve created protective and pseudo-protective societies for centuries and people are suffering and dying because of it. There are times for non-violent crisis interventions and there are times for us to leave. I truly believe there are many of us who believe this in one way or another. Jesus and Dr. King showed us this. Love isn’t just a silly song and kindness is in no short supply. They are plentiful human realities. Real people have shown us this in families, communities, neighborhoods and countries. A protective society yes. A pseudo-protective society has only one thought which is stand up and fight. Most people would rather walk away. Peace.
