Repairing the breach

Did you read the Rev. William J. Barber II’s recent editorial in The Washington Post? If not, take time to read it now — https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-ralph-northam-and-others-can-repent-of-americas-original-sin/2019/02/07/9aef18ec-2b0f-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html — and you can skip the rest of my blog post. I will simply add underscoring and exclamation points to some of the main points in Barber’s eloquent piece.

Barber takes up the topic of men currently in elected office who have done stupid and hurtful things in the past, such as appearing in black face at fraternity parties, and what they can do to atone for their behavior, now that they know better.

Many people who define themselves as liberals want the men to resign. We certainly don’t want anyone to misconstrue them as role models. But Barber asks: How would it help to erase them from public view and replace them with members of a political party that works to establish policies of white supremacy?

When revelations surface that Democrats have fallen short of the ideals of their party, even when they were young and rash as most of us were, we hesitate to let their behavior go with only mild admonishment. I can see the rationale of people who argue that Democrats should take the high road and boot them out, even though Republicans who have behaved abominably are still installed in higher office — think Bret Kavanaugh and Donald Trump.

Taking the high road would make us feel good about ourselves. But it wouldn’t right the systemic wrongs that led those men in their younger years to think that mocking people of color was funny.

Those once clueless teenagers are now in positions of power. They have the ability to make restitution and use their office to change society for the better. Rather than scapegoating them and removing them from office, hold them accountable to the people most harmed by their actions, Barber says. Use their authority to change the policies and practices that have tamped down people of color, immigrants, women and other marginalized people.

It’s always easier to take umbrage and sign a petition than it is to walk with someone willing to make real change. But if we want to move forward as a society, we must seize the opportunity to work with someone’s remorse and use that repentance to build a better world. That’s meaningful restitution.

— Nancy Oates