We Refuse To Be Enemies

by Becca Pugh

No matter the outcome, no matter who wins - we refuse to hate. We will choose love, no matter what. Why? 

First of all, Jesus commands us to love not just those who think and vote like us but to love even our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). As followers of Jesus, we take this seriously, and as Jesus-centered peacemakers, this is central to what we do.

If that weren’t enough, as highlighted in this important article by peacebuilding experts John Paul Lederach and Melanie Greenberg, "Dehumanizing language used by politicians, and echoed in social and broadcast media, has played a devastating role in the lead up to violence in other countries, and we now see frequent examples of dehumanization emerging in the political and media landscape of the United States." 

The authors describe four "shifts" that take place leading up to direct violence between groups. In the third shift, blocking the other side's goals devolves into actually wishing and doing them harm. "We want them to hurt as much or more than we did. We want to extract pain." In the fourth shift, the goal becomes the humiliation of the other side and their community. In its extreme forms, humiliation seeks to erase any remaining humanity and dignity, often descending into gender-based and identity-based violence in settings of armed conflict. Countries like Northern Ireland, Kenya, Colombia, and South Sudan have seen these patterns of dehumanization and escalating violence play out in horrific ways, and they all followed these same patterns.

Does choosing to love the "other" and upholding their humanity mean that we abandon progress on issues of social justice, equity, anti-racism, Islamophobia, immigration, homelessness, and more? Of course not, but we must recognize each other's humanity in the midst of it all (yes, even and especially those whom we see as enemies) if we hope to prevent ourselves from escalating into further violence and conflict.

I am confident that we can proclaim truth, expose injustice, and pursue the holistic shalom of our society while still recognizing and upholding the humanity of the 'other.' And we at Peace Catalyst will choose love, no matter who is President.

Are you with us?