We are living in unsettling times, engaged as a country in a relationship where power and its balance is challenged daily.
When crafting our Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote that a government “deriv[es] its just power from the consent of the governed”. The word “consent” begs the question as to individual and collective willingness. How we treat people individually, and in society-at-large are not disparate. Just as marriage is a consensual contract between partners, “we the people” have a consensual social contract with our government. In both instances, justice mandates that there be a balance of powers.
No matter the house, be it The White House, the Courthouse, the House of Representatives or the house in which we lay our heads at night, when power goes awry and an imbalance ensues, a breakdown occurs. When one party feels entitled and another disenfranchised, bonds will fray and all will suffer.
As families and as a Nation we have the power to restructure. However, it takes thought and effort and will. When a partner feels abused and exhausted and overwhelmed, it can be difficult to sustain the commitment necessary to move beyond trying circumstances. But with support – counseling, knowledge, and fortitude- one can move forward. And often for the good of oneself (the Nation) and one’s children (“we the people”), it’s the best way forward. As a Nation, we need to heal, and we need to act. We need to stay informed. We need to remain vigilant. Moving forward, it is crucial that we maintain and preserve ourselves so that we can focus on what really matters to the future of our nation, for the sake of the world our children will inherit.
If consent is important to you, a text sent to 228-466 will keep you apprised of ways to have your voice heard by our government.
