Being silent is like being complicit

Many people in this country have been captivated by the total eclipse of the sun on August 21, when for 2½ minutes a rare shadow would fall over our country, a blocking of the light in some places leading to total darkness in the middle of an otherwise sunny day.

Unfortunately, as I reflect on the recent events in Charlottesville, Va., I see a similar shadow leading to darkness enveloping our nation. It is an eclipse of our values, an eclipse of our national character. Goodness and basic respect for others is being eclipsed by hate, prejudice, bigotry, and vitriolic statements and actions by white supremacists and other hate groups. This xenophobia and exclusionary attitude has made its way into the White House.

Those of us who are troubled by this turn of events and these collective attitudes of racism are called to speak out and stand up for our brothers and sisters, and for the principles upon which this nation was founded. To be silent in the face of such hatred is to be complicit. As some have said, if we’re going to change the conversation, we have to change the situation.

To my Jewish and Muslim friends, my friends of color, my immigrant and LGBT friends, to any who feel excluded or attacked, you are not alone. We will stand together against such ruthless aggression from the radical right in this country. We must not allow the basic decency of America to be eclipsed by an arrogant, uninformed narcissist who occupies our White House.

As the prophet Isaiah said, we must be a “repairer of the breach.” The good news about the solar eclipse of Aug. 21 is that after a few moments of darkness, the light returned. Let us work together so that such will be the case for an America that is currently in the shadow of dread and uncertainty.

Stephen Wiard Pastor, El Pueblito United Methodist Church Taos