Fear & Hate Can Capture Those Who Oppose It.

I've been fairly quiet focusing on things at home as an expecting father should do but when I do check the headlines and commentators remarks on recent events, it gives me pause to think what's not working with the Kindness campaign. What are we not getting?

Mass shootings in Thailand, armed children in Mexico to fight drug cartels, a failed and divisive #impeachment, extreme weather in #Australia and of course the #Coronavirus. I see good people captured in their outrage celebrating US shock jock, Rush Limbaugh's cancer diagnosis as they become triggered by the President's award.

The award was transparently strategic to incite outrage to demonstrate how the left are not kind while celebrating a voice of the alt right. People don't see the strategy behind it because of their outrage and they fall into the trap of venting which starts the journey down a slippery slope.

I'm sad to say we are failing although we may have small wins in our own kindness space we rarely leave our comfort zone of the Kindness groups AKA echo-chambers which share positive quotes or pics of cute animals and sunsets. It's going to take more than a pay it forward coffee as many of us forget our shared humanity as identity politics overcomes a nation gripped in fear and hate. Being kind online is very different in reality. The passive aggressive option of silence or criticism behind close doors can be just as unkind as the public bullying that many advocates campaign against. The failure to speak honestly and seek to resolve conflict is an indictment on any advocacy for a kinder world. It sadly is what we must contend with whether it is a school's PTA, a workplace, a political party, Kindness movement or a nation, it is fear which lays at the heart of division and is entrenched in the frailty of the human condition.

I'm heartened by people like Grace Foxwell Murdock in the City of Salisbury MD and Shadi Pourkashef in Laguna Beach and so many more who stay on mission never tempted into the divisive rhetoric which plays the man rather than the ball but at some point we must all take the next step to speak up by addressing the issue a while not putting others down.

Whether is the Coronavirus or fear, both are contagious one is airborne the other through airwaves and social media. My hope is authentic Kindness will be contagious but we must remove the myths by demonstrating we can rise above the fray and ask, "Is this the best we can be?" as an Australian I watch the Democratic debates with interest and more than likely an objectivity rarely found in the US. YangGang AndrewYang2020 is right in what he said is the solution, it's not entirely economic issues, it's the cultural divide, address that and the rest will fall into place following on from New Zealand's PM, Jacinda Ardern's policy. Tulsi Gabbard is another candidate who demonstrates the #couragetobekind by addressing the issues in her own party, to then only be ostracized and demonized by the status quo for the call to end the endless wars. The mainstream media are not inclined to cover those who do not tow the party line or threaten the political influence of corporations and self interest groups. With Bernie Sanders we see a shift, a revolt which offers an ambitious alternative to America's status quo demanding that the US should have the best healthcare and education in the world. Unfortunately some of his followers become outraged when challenged and attack those who question his polices or ideology. In turn he is then criticized by those in his own party, which are beholding to their donors who benefit by maintaining the status quo. His message is seen as threat and quickly becomes labeled with socialism / communism tags to discredit him. Mayor Pete, a moderate is attacked for not being part of the establishment yet has an amazing well rounded resume which appears to have groomed him for leadership.

A lot of rhetoric about removing Trump and not enough about how you bridge the divide.

Ironically I have not met any Republican or Democrat who is entirely happy with the status quo. Many are concerned about the divide and lack of civil discourse however blaming the other for it rather than seeking how to bridge it. Well meaning folks share political opinion pieces, some foretelling the end of days likening the future to the past of "Nazi Germany" as America heads to a totalitarian state or the dangers of extreme socialist policies. Again I ask, is this helpful or is it inciting fear and panic? Without question it escalates the fear and widens the divide. I spoke to a political strategist who advised they can not support our campaign, "The Courage To Be Kind" because they need fear and anger to engage participation at their campaign rallies.

My hope is this new country where my daughter will be born, will offer a future where change is embraced and questioning the status quo is not just welcomed it is encouraged, before someone responds to me with "Go Back to Where You Come From!" for sharing my thoughts.

My hope is to see a country as advertised despite who wins an election based on the framers intent, A country where people are not afraid to have a voice because it is a land where we "play the ball not the man" regardless of politics, religion, race, gender, sexuality and zip codes. A nation where Kindness is not just an ideal, its embedded into the culture which has room in its heart to be kind to the unkind. 

#WalkTheTalk #KinderOption #BridgetheDivide #Indivisible #HomeoftheBrave #worldkindnessusa #theworldkindnessmovement #WashingtonPost #CNN #FOX