Soul of Nonviolence - To Be An Affirmation
“I don’t want to be an opposition, as was said of me. I want to be simply an affirmation. When one says yes to one’s own conviction, one is not confronting. Naturally, some others don’t think the same way and thus confrontation arises.”
This week’s quote from Bishop Oscar Romero provides a unique take on how to counter polarization with affirmation. He discusses that fine line between opposing someone and standing in integrity with one’s own conviction.
Veronica highlights how this quote encourages us not to conform to things we don’t believe in, but to affirm ourselves while still making an effort to be a listener instead of an enemy. Then, when conflict arises, we can be poised to see past the confrontation to the common ground we share with people on the other side.