Speaking “publicly” is not easy. Listening “publicly” is not easy. Both are required.

I think it is extraordinary process that more of my friends are posting honestly on social media. Dealing with pain and emotion and stress with healthy coping mechanisms is key to progress. It is a hard thing to hear when others speak their truth. It is not my view. It IS theirs and the struggle and burden to listen and hear them is on me.
This reverses as well. I have lived out loud on media platforms for over a decade now and even I struggle with sharing bad news and emotional instability. It is human. MY truth is that I have little patience for the victim culture of blame. The shame game regarding speech is futile in a country built on free speech.
I reject collectivist consumerism in favor of rugged individualism. Talking openly about my beliefs and principles is not easy. It has consequences for real. Sharing pain and sorrow without becoming a attention seeking victim is a difficult balance point to identify. It is not easy. I am confident that few hear me. They listen with their viewpoint and then debate or seek to debate line by line point by point. I am listening more carefully to others now and hearing more completely. Agreement is not required for respect and tolerance. It is helpful, and peaceful to be in the majority, and to be popular, but it is not reality.

check yourself as you listen. Speak boldly and do not be bullied into silence and compliance. Respect and consider others as the extraordinary children of God that they are. Realizing and seeking to clarify the divide is useful. Building a new bridge which accepts the differences but connects hearts and minds is key to our future. All of this begins with a foundation of honesty and relationship rather than blame and punishment.

Progress is hard bu necessary.