Response — Rebecca Hunter went to Fairy Creek to help in the kitchen. While there, she saw sadistic, cruel and unnecessary violence on the part of people whose sole job is to protect and serve.
She saw this. Now what?
That’s what we’re talking about in this two-part episode of Wild and Precious Conversations.
This week we continue but focus on what we can do.
I’ve been noticing a lot of writing on staying numb. It’s nuanced. We don’t have to jump in on every situation that is unbalanced in the world. To have strong boundaries and know when something “is not yours” is super important.
But there are times in our lives when something is handed to us — and we can no longer look away.
Staying numb, I think, is when something has been gifted to you and you still choose to try to look away. Go shopping. Drink. Gamble.
And — Even here — I think it’s an absolutely reasonable response much of the time. There is a need for rest. And sometimes, our bodies force us into “rest” by offering us maladaptive ways of resting. And for a time, these are vital. It’s the basis for the harm reduction strategy.
But — there are times when we feel we need to take action. And for those times, what can we do?
This conversation offers a few ideas — and they can be boiled down to two main things:
Maintain a curious stance and start conversations <= not debates but conversations.
Have a listen and do let us know your thoughts.
Notes:
Video of teen in tripod — Video mentioned in podcast of the teen tumbling 15 feet to the earth in a sleeping bag and then roughly arrested with no check that he’s in good health.
Poll showing 90% of British Columbias support protecting old growth
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Onward. As we heal the otherness in us, in our communities, in our world.
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Rebecca Hunter Talks About What She Saw at Fairy Creek.