This is the United States of America, and We Can Do Better

January 8, 2021

Yesterday, we were feeling hopeful and uplifted with the Georgia election results. Then we started work, Angus seeing clients at the treatment center and Rohini working on Zoom. So it wasn't until last night that we were able to catch up with the events of the day. Given that Trump had been urging his supporters for weeks to go to Washington, D.C., and stop his fabricated stealing of the election, we probably shouldn't have been so shocked, but we were.

Our jaws dropped as we watched what had unfolded while we were working. From Rudy Giuliani, telling a crowd: "Let's have trial by combat." To Trump telling them to march on Congress to "save democracy." To then hundreds storming the Capitol and bringing the Confederate flag with them.

Trump's response was to share a video that continued to spread lies about the election and empathized with the rioters. Saying: "Go home, we love you; you're very special.

These acts of violence encouraged by Trump were shocking, and the lack of preparedness by law enforcement was alarming. Who knows what allowed that breach of security to happen, but it highlights the stark discrepancy between how white domestic terrorists attempting a coup are handled and Black Lives Matter protesters.

Many are saying this is not the United States of America. But it is time to recognize that although this is not representative of all Americans, it is America. This is a reflection of the legacy of slavery and the entrenched nature of racism in this country. Trump's term in office may have promoted and emboldened acts of terror and hatred, but it brought to light beliefs that were already there.

In our work, we focus on love, understanding, and compassion. The qualities of our true nature are our compass point. And while doing our best to see the psychological innocence of those involved, we affirm we do not condone these acts.

We recognize that a step toward change is to no longer have a delusional, blatant supporter of White Supremacy in the White House, but we also know that a change in leadership is not enough. And as many of you reading do not reside in the U.S., we want to acknowledge that the violence and harm of racism and social injustice is happening across the globe, not just here.

We want you to know we acknowledge the pain and suffering of the Black, Indigenous, and non-Black people of color. We do not dismiss lived experience and we want to foster an inclusive community founded in generosity, empathy, kindness, compassion, and that must include striving for racial and social justice. We believe in the strength of working together to create transformation and change that dismantles an inequitable status quo and brings more love and understanding into the world.

This is your community, and as leaders within it, we encourage you to use this as a space to share, listen, and respect each other. We celebrate diversity and difference. We are deeply grateful to all of you, and we are holding a space for the power of love to create change.

If you would like to listen to the Rewilding Love Podcast, it comes out in serial format. Start with Episode 1 for context. Click here to listen. And, if you would like to dive deeper into the understanding I share along with additional support please check out the Rewilding Community.

Learn More About the Rewilding Community

Rohini Ross is co-founder of “The Rewilders.” Listen to her podcast, with her partner Angus Ross, Rewilding Love. They believe too many good relationships fall apart because couples give up thinking their relationship problems can’t be solved. In this season of the Rewilding Love Podcast, Rohini and Angus help a couple on the brink of divorce due to conflict. Angus and Rohini also co-facilitate private couples' intensives that rewild relationships back to their natural state of love. Rohini is also the author of the ebook Marriage, and she and Angus are co-founders of The 29-Day Rewilding Experience and The Rewilding Community. You can follow Rohini on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To learn more about her work and subscribe to her blog visit: TheRewilders.org.

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