Steadfast

And so we begin a new (well, old, a repeat) presidential administration. News stories warn of deportation raids ordered by the president. The Texas Legislature has already been seated, with several immigration-related bills in the works. Trans people have already been verbally attacked by an executive order attempting to limit gender identity … though because of a lack of understanding about fetal development, it actually defined everyone as female. (Get your laughs where you can, folks, it’s going to be a long four years.)

But it is the calm resolve of the people I met last week in El Paso that is giving me strength. Over and over, in all the different people and organizations we encountered, there was a steadfastness. One of my particular fields of study is Bowen Family Systems Theory, which is centered around the idea of anxiety and how we respond to it – with a goal of operating not from our anxiety but from our guiding principles. I wasn’t seeing anxiety. I was seeing a commitment to guiding principles.

I cannot say that the people we met were hopeful. That would have been foolish. They have been here before, and they have a good idea what is to come – and it won’t be great.

But it seemed clear to me that they are committed to doing as much good as is possible during these next four years. Helping directly the migrants, and also working to change the overall situation.

I didn’t see despair. And My God, if they – who are right there – aren’t giving in to despair, then what right would I have to?