Pam Y. Fields

It has been a while since I’ve been able to come up for air and share what’s on my heart and mind. I know that everyone (well, 81 million of us) is feeling excited about the new leadership in our country. I am excited as well. However, I want to caution us to not rush into the possibilities of a new dawn before we thoroughly and positively deal with January 6, a day that should never be forgotten. A lot was said and done (or not done) that led to that day, Insurrection Day. Politicians, news outlets, talking heads, academics, everyday Jills and Joes, even some church leaders threw gas on a living, breathing fire (also referred to as the “Big Lie”), which eventually resulted in aggressive, deadly actions taken by a mob to undermine and further divide our country. We MUST ensure that the fire-instigators as well as the perpetrators are held accountable for their words and actions. We MUST ensure that anyone involved in the domestic terrorist act is punished based on the severity of their actions and their position.

If we try to sugarcoat this act or merely slap people on the wrist that sends the message that their actions were not so bad. That is the wrong message to send. What they did was treasonous! What they did was seek to overthrow a legitimate, fair, and free election. What they did was carry out an attempted coup. They sought out politicians to kill, desecrated the flag, injured, even killed citizens. No, everyone inside the building nor outside on the Capitol grounds did not do the killing or desecrating, but all are complicit by their presence. This is the same thinking logic that is applied when Black Lives Matter protests are accompanied by riots, right? The public is told that all participants in BLM protests are guilty, all are rioters and violent. In actuality, 90 percent of BLM protests are peaceful. The other ten percent have been plagued by outsiders who are not even part of the protest. Media and law enforcement identifies them as neo-Nazis, agitators, white supremacists, etc. whose purpose is to discredit the protests, to muddy the message. Or, the rioters are outliers acting out of selfishness, greed, or anger. BLM protesters. Insurrectionists. Are they all guilty and complicit by their participation? By their presence? In the coming weeks and months, it will be interesting to see how the argument shakes out. It will be interesting to see how the narrative is shaped. America has a real opportunity to apply equity and justice. Will she? Will you?

Regardless of what the future holds, I encourage each of you to consider your part. Are you willing to contact your elected officials and media personalities and share your feelings about January 6^th and the action you want them to take to ensure justice and equity across the board? Are you willing to add your voice to the narrative? Are you moved to begin or continue those difficult conversations with family members, friends, co-workers, etc. who were involved with Insurrection Day or who sympathize with the insurrectionists? Are you ready to start building coalitions and relationships with “others?” Today, we can start to create a healthy, just, and fair America. Together we can make our nation into what the founding document proclaims, “One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” www.visibleunityinc.org