In the midst of all this, the good news is there is nothing magical, mystical, or permanent about the world we’ve created. We carry with us the capacity to undo what has been done and build structures infused by justice, provision, and love. We can transfer our disgust and indignance about current circumstances into a constructive movement that serves the common good and secures the dignity of us all.
The real news is that building structures conducive for transformation will take a tremendous amount of effort and will require orientations that are antithetical to our cultural surroundings. Me-focused orientations, however obvious or subtle, must be substituted by we-focused orientations, and the energy devoted to ideological purity should be transferred to building coalitions imbued by flexible solidarity. The point of unity that will make the relational effort worth it is building a society that moves us beyond the struggle for existence that has continued to define American social life. This false deity demands that we close our eyes to the growing number of people who cannot afford housing, decent food, or healthcare.
The people-serving deliverables that we produce and the dynamic relationships we build to stay united and organized—must be combined with knowledge-building processes that are inclusive, creative, and rooted in proven methodologies. The process of building new worlds through new ways of being will surely be messy. However, we will find order in our collective and unyielding pursuit of truths that are scientifically and experientially valid, in justice-oriented forms of decision-making, and in our commitment to centering love.