Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness

I was recently accosted on Twitter because I had the audacity to point out that it is not okay to make fun of a woman’s (or anyone’s) looks just because you disagree with them politically (or really on anything). I generally do not respond to social media jabs, they’re not worth anyone’s time and, really, I’m not popular enough to get them very often. Regardless, it bothered my poor, sensitive soul to be labeled a Trump supporter because I refused to accept attacks on Sarah Huckabee Sander’s make-up.

There have been countless think pieces on civility since the primaries (and far longer according to my aunt’s Facebook page). So, acknowledging my thoughts as overkill, I think it’s worth repeating that being a decent person doesn’t mean you’re a passive person. You can be part of The Resistance™ without making fun of Kellyanne Conway’s appearance or speculating over whether or not Melania and Ivanka have had facelifts. In fact, focusing on such trivial matters reduces your chances of being an effective advocate for your cause. God knows there are enough criticisms of this administration, if you can’t think of one beyond superficial appearances, you must not actually care about the future of this country.

It was Martin Luther King, Jr. who spoke the famous works: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” No one would paint MLK as a person who rolled over and let a racist society do what it wanted. What a laughable idea. Malcolm X said he didn’t have time for White Men. He certainly didn’t waste his time thinking up insults. If you’re a religious person (or even if you’re not) I encourage you to read Walter Wink’s “Jesus and Alinksy” with analysis of what it really means to turn the other cheek. As Wink points out there is a danger of confusing dignified reactions with “being nice” or being passive. But there is wisdom in playing the game as you want it played against you. When we stoop to insults, it becomes a game that has nothing to do with policies or people, but with who can have the best tweet.

The only way to win in politics is when we make society better for everyone. This happens through debate. Sometimes you have to fight to make your voice heard, but doing so in a dismissive, offensive way does not add to debate, it diminishes it. We recently passed 6 months since the monumental Women’s March. Cheeky signs aside, thousands protested peacefully over policies. Thousands have called their senators and representatives, not to yell insults but to express what they need. These are the things that have progressed Resistance.

I am not one to kill them with kindness. I fight my battles with vinegar, not honey. No one has time for that sticky mess. And when it comes to Twitter and the comments sections, the best policy is to ignore them. But we can’t ignore the problems are country is facing, and if you truthfully want to make a difference, make sure those around you, who you interact with online and in person, are aiding in a beneficial way.

Anna Burke Weckwerth

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May the ink of your pen never dry.