True Strength

"I think the true strength of a leader is based not on who you beat down but who you lift up. [Trump's] is a stunted, narrow definition of strength: the strength of the bully." - Kamala Harris, 107 Days

With all the chaos going on in the world today, and the rise of government approved force against regular individuals, I have found myself struggling to keep my spirits up and hope alive. I was raised that bullying was not right, and yet I now see it being tolerated in the world I live in.  How can that be?

Two memories come to mind.  I remember as a young adult thinking what an uncouth, selfish man Trump was, and noted how he got he way by bullying people verbally. I just couldn't understand why his show The Apprentice was popular. It made my toes curl. 

The second was when I had young kids in elementary school. There were several dedicated bullies - sports jocks who got only a light slap on the wrist while they smirked. One day their attention turned to my oldest and that was it. All three of my young kids were bullied and isolated. It was brutal and the school didn't seem to be able to find a solution. Although they have grown and succeeded as adults, the experience definitely shaped them. 

Here we are today.  Regular citizens are electing bullies and standing by as laws are broken, violence is used against regular, law-abiding people (both citizens and legal immigrants), lives are lost, freedoms are lost, and groups are being targeted.  How can regular people stand by?  How can they feel this is for the good of the country?  I think what Harris says above gives us a clue. 

It comes down partially at least to how people view strength.  For some strength is an outward show - strong muscles, an ability to fight, a powerful speaker, a magnetic presence, and the drive to win in every situation whether right or wrong.  We have learned this from Reality TV shows.  We have learned this from the way history has been taught in schools.  It's all about power, and who has the biggest pile of money - greed in action. The fact that these same people are usually bullies shouldn't surprise anyone. What should surprise you is the number of people who admire and support this kind of behavior.  

There is another kind of power, one that I strive for. It comes from a place of lifting others up. It comes from knowing it's not about you, it's about the people you serve. The goal is to seek peace and understanding with those who feel differently, strive to find balance. and create a space where opposing views can be aired and compromises found.  It comes from knowing who you are and having a strong foundation. You don't have to respond like a bully, trying to beat people down, because you don't feel threatened in the first place. 

It takes strong, confident people to lead a nation filled with diversity.  And the reward when that happens is a nation that thrives. There is nothing as powerful as people coming together in support of their country and every single person in it - it creates a tsunami of epic proportions. And it starts with true strength and acceptance.