One of the biggest contributors to the growing epidemic of division, polarization, and violence in the world today is the tendency of people to disrespect, belittle, shame, or vilify anyone that disagrees with them – even to accuse them of being motivated by ill will, animus, hatred, and bigotry – when the other person often just has a difference of opinion or just sees the world differently. Often, those that accuse others of hatred and bigotry are the perpetrators of the hatred and bigotry. So, what can you do?

I. Inoculate yourself: Be part of the solution – not part of the problem. Don’t unwittingly (or otherwise) allow yourself to catch the disease. Don’t allow yourself to be stirred to harsh feelings or be otherwise manipulated by those who stir up contention to further their own selfish interests. Don’t contribute to spreading the epidemic of division, polarization, and violence.  Some practical actions you can take to inoculate yourself are:

  1. Respect Freedom of Belief and Opinion. Lack of respect for freedom of belief is one of the main markers for violence in a society. We each cherish that right for ourselves. To protect it for one, it must be respected and protected for all. Moreover, you simply cannot experience the full richness and depth of your own humanity without respect for the humanity of others.
  2. Don’t play the “blame game”. There is more than enough blame to go around. Blaming only tends to deepen the divide and can make one unjustifiably feel justified and absolved from responsibility to make things better.
  3. Listen to understand, not to react. Stay calm. Check the facts.
  4. Answer contempt with warm-heartedness. (Advice from the Dalai Lama) “A soft answer turns away wrath.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Public discourse can be passionate while maintaining mutual respect that reaches beyond differing opinions.  Intimidation, ridicule, personal attacks, mean spiritedness, reprisals against those who disagree, and other disrespectful or unethical behaviors destroy the fabric of our society and can no longer be tolerated. Inoculate yourself. Then do whatever you can to inoculate others and to let leaders know you want a higher standard of civility. Let your voice be heard.

II. Be more true to the best of what you already know.

  1. Accept responsibility for your piece of peace. “Never let it be forgotten that peace resides not in the hands of governments but in the hands of the people” (King Hussein of Jordan) Accept responsibility for your piece of peace (and for your own inner peace). “You may not be responsible for world peace, but you are responsible for your piece/peace”.  Burn that principle into your heart and mind.
  2. Remember to remember shared humanity. People the world over are much more alike than they are different. Every person on earth is 99.9% genetically identical to every other. All have the same basic needs, hopes, and fears. We all feel the same pain. We shed the same tears. We all bleed the same. We share many of the same values. We’re all part of the same human family. Remember to remember that and act accordingly.
  3. Take a look at life through the peacebuilder lens utilizing what you already know.  Be true to the best of what you see. For just a few minutes picture yourself as a peacebuilder. Envision what you will do to build more peace in your home, your school or workplace, and your community. What about finding more peace in your own life? If you stop and think about it, you already know some things you can do to make the world around you better and more peace-filled. Write them down. Step up and put them into action. Live your piece of peace.

III. Power Up – Increase Your Power to Make a Difference.  Live intentionally. Don’t let things that matter most be obscured by things that matter less.

Three more ways to empower yourself are:

  1. Expand your vision. Seek to live in harmony with the source of wisdom, love, and light in the best way you know or can find. (Whatever you understand that source to be and whether your understanding is based on your faith, your humanity, or something else.) Be true to the light received. Seek more light. Doing so will add more purpose, meaning, fulfillment and peace in your own life and make you a more powerful force for good in the world. Hatred, contention, and violence move you further away from harmony with that source. Respect and love move you closer. Always be moving closer. (For suggestions see “Resources” at the end of Click #3)
  2. Expand your sense of awareness – especially of the good that is shared in common.Increasing awareness of and commitment to uplifting values that are already shared in common is the most-sure foundation upon which to counter division and violence and build sustainable peace. It is the greatest hope for humanity. Focus more on what unites – not just on difference. Difference should not be allowed to eclipse the good that is shared in common. (See “Resources” at end of Click #3)
  3. Expand your world – Don’t live in a silo with only like-minded people.  One of the great blessings of life is to come to know, respect, and love great people of other faiths, ethnicities, nationalities, viewpoints, persuasions and cultures. It is deeply enriching, uplifting, and inspiring to learn of their goodness, example, friendship, courage, perspectives, and beliefs and to work together for the common good. Intergroup cohesion is also key to overcoming divisiveness and building community and peace.

Empower yourself to be more of a force for good by (i) inoculating yourself against division and ill will, (ii) by being more true to the best you know and (iii) by expanding your vision, your sense of awareness, and your world.