This is the eve of our US election. It has been a painful election season with constant attacks by both candidates upon the other. The vitriol has been so bad most people are tuning out and have stopped watching (eg. sharp drop off in ratings by the third debate.) Voters report being weary of this election. I have noticed recently how we have without every signing up for it been bathed in "hate speech". This is disturbing in that studies of the rise of fascism say people are more willing to accept absolute power and charisma if they are first afraid. When afraid we are more willing to blame others, to scapegoat and to yes: hate.
Recently, I heard someone say that just as we need Love, that Love needs us - that it is the only way through us that Love can manifest in the world. This idea got me to start thinking of the idea of "Love Speech". “What
does Love Speech sound like?” There were two kinds I thought
of. One is the kind of thing Quakers talk about when they talk
about "speaking to that of God in another person" which means to call out the
Highest in them. But the other way I think of that is sort of what Martin Luther King, Jr use to do which was to talk about Love, to remind us of it in the midst of
our struggles. Another age old religious concept is that of prophetic speech.
I invite you each to think about how you might be a vessel of Love Speech? Especially in the next few days when anger, disappointment, fear and alienation might be in high gear in this country.
