Inhumanity starts with words

When we know there is inhumanity and we justify it or simply turn our heads away, we are spiritually broken. It begins with name calling and fear bating. The goal is to dehumanize and demoralize the "other". What follows is an acceptance of violence.
We're watching it play out over and over again. As the words escalate to bully proportion, they become a trigger for explosive behavior. It does not matter what side you are on, it's ugly and it's dangerous. If you are doing it, it's hurting you as much as it's hurting the target of your words or actions. If you leap to the bully level of outrage over inhumanity and injustice, you too are capable of inhumanity and injustice.
Truth, reason and patience are the key. Yes, speak out against inhumanity. Speak truth. Speak reasonably. Keep doing it with the belief that seeds are being planted in even the most hardened among us. As violence rises, be steadfast in non-violence in both words and deeds.
If we want to see an end to the division and hate mongering that's sweeping our country, we have to be that change. We have to live that change. We have to be what we want to see.
We do need to speak out clearly and boldly before it's too late.
We have never had a president that so openly stoked the fires of division and distrust using ugly rhetorical diatribes. He follows with policies that are dehumanizing and unjust. He is using his power to diminish accountability through the systems of government intended to serve as checks and balances against tyranny. He's labeling dissenting voices as un-American or enemies of the people.
He dehumanizes his adversaries and opening endorses violence against them. He alienates our allies and praises those who traditionally seek to undermine democracy and our place in the world. Environmental protections have been rolled back. Public lands and National Parks which have been national treasures and being decimated. This administration has been rife with corruption and ethics violations including indictments on a variety of criminal charges. All of these combined will have long lasting and devastating effects.
What is most concerning is the number of good and decent people who are willing to turn a blind eye to the inhumanity and walk lock step with him.
Yes, we need to speak out. Many of these people are now locked in to narrow sources of information. They are not hearing about the policy decisions that those sources know would not be popular. Those sources are telling them not to trust any other sources for information. We somehow need to find a way to get them to look out their windows. Hopefully, we can do that before the tornado bears down on them as well.