The Injustice of Doing Nothing
Dear Collective,
As we settle into our new home in Oak Park, I cannot help but look at the world outside our walls. While we are celebrating a new beginning, many others are facing terrifying endings. Specifically, I have been watching the reports coming out of Minnesota regarding the treatment of people by ICE. It is heavy, it is heartbreaking, and for many of us, it feels overwhelming to the point of paralysis.
When we see human beings mistreated, our first instinct might be to look away—not because we do not care, but because we feel powerless. But we must remember that our silence and our inaction carry a weight of their own.
Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, wrote something in his Meditations that has been ringing in my head all week: “You can also commit injustice by doing nothing.” Stoicism is often misunderstood as a philosophy of just "grinning and bearing it" or staying calm. But at its core, it is built on four virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Moderation, and Justice. Marcus believed that living in alignment with nature meant recognizing our bond to every other human being. To see an injustice and choose to remain a bystander is not "staying out of it is an active choice to let that injustice stand.
Mahatma Gandhi took this a step further when he said, “To forgive and accept injustice is cowardice.” This brings us back to what we have been talking about: the duality of being brave and terrified. Standing up for someone being oppressed is bone-chillingly scary. It is scary to speak out when the political climate is volatile. It is scary to use your voice for those who have been stripped of theirs. But we must realize that "forgiving" these actions through our silence is a form of cowardice we can no longer afford.
In the gym, we train to be strong. We train for "functional dignity", the ability to hold ourselves upright and move through the world with purpose. But that strength is not just for us. It is for the moments when we are called to pick up others.
There are two ways to show your strength. You can push others down, oppress, belittle, dehumanize to feel superior, or you can pull others up to your level, seeing them eye-to-eye and understanding other’s journeys. We all know which side we stand for. Lend a hand and help others up. Look for helpers.
If you feel terrified by what is happening, that is okay. You are allowed to feel that. But do not let that fear turn into the injustice of doing nothing. Whether it is supporting local advocacy groups, showing up for your neighbors, or simply refusing to "accept" the mistreatment of other humans as a normal part of life, do something.
With Strength and Adaptability,
Charlie