Letter writer: Trump rally shows we need to build Beloved Community

Graphic by Lori Deaton

Friends: Asheville lost its head on Monday, Sept. 12, when Donald Trump came to town.

We lost our head when we bought into the Trump supporters’ model of loud, threatening antagonism, rather than modeling our own vision of what we would like the world to be — compassionate, peaceful, friendly, respectful, caring and tolerant — thus offering an alternative that others might want to join.

We can’t fight fire with fire. We can’t fight negativity with an angrier, shriller negativity. We won’t entice Trump followers away from a damaging ideology by shouting “Racist! Racist!” in their faces.

Showing up at protests and actions is important, but the best reply we can offer to our perceived enemy, however we name him or her, is to build, right here in Asheville, the Beloved Community.

What is the Beloved Community? Hint: It’s a way of being. But we do not need to give it a set definition. The beauty of those words is that if we each act in a way that we feel would bring about the Beloved Community, we will see it rise and gradually take shape before our eyes. And then — only then — with no need of words, we will all share the knowledge that, “This is it. What we have created is the Beloved Community.”

Others will see it, too. Change will follow. But that is not our concern. The presence of the Beloved Community has a power all its own. All we have to do is live it into being.

Blessed be.

— Daav Wheeler
Asheville

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13 thoughts on “Letter writer: Trump rally shows we need to build Beloved Community

  1. boatrocker

    Huh? Does the Mtn x offer an app to translate vague froo froo new age speak into Standard American English?
    While I found the behavior of the Trumpeters deplorable too, am I to understand that aspiring to something with no set definition is the alternative?
    How, uh, vague.

    Intention does not create one’s reality. Never has, never will .
    Plenty of cults and shysters in town would like rational people to think this is so in order to separate you from your money.
    Actions do.

    • Negrodamus

      I think the takeaway is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Good rule to love by.

    • Lulz

      LOL, just like the Bernie driver who was left stranded by the tow truck driver, so shall many of these loons find themselves. And by the very government they vote in. The insanity of a taxonomy will conclude in many being evicted or simply unable to live in the area. Or will it be one where the cushy government loons find themselves in a pickle? Stay tuned because there’s gonna be trouble.

      • luther blissett

        “just like the Bernie driver who was left stranded by the tow truck driver, so shall many of these loons find themselves.”

        Thought experiment, shameless question-dodger: what happens if Buncombe’s Trump voters cease providing services to non-Trump voters, and vice versa? Best guess: short term pain to the left, long term agony to the right.

      • boatrocker

        As a self-employed businessdude, I look forward to asking someone who inquires to my services,
        “Did you vote for Drumpf? Yes? Get lost, under-educated fascist.”,
        and still have a veritable Garden of Eden of clients who still would hire me such that
        I can eat. I claim religious freedom in this matter.

        Bring that hate on. Rational folks will answer in kind .
        I would do the same for cops, active duty military or any member of a religious group.

  2. Deplorable Infidel

    the Trump inside attendees were herded in by a barrier and the protestors were the ones who were causing the ruckus…NOT the Trump people at all … I was there I witnessed and participated in the stupidity! Had a blast outside with my sign!

    • boatrocker

      Ha- this one has already been proved wrong as the Trumpeter who assaulted a 69 yr old lady turned himself in to police.
      If he were innocent, why would he turn himself in?

    • NFB

      Cool! A new screen name to go with….Unaffiliated Voter, Yep, Red Hot Poker….etc. blah blah blah.

  3. suerenity1

    Had my “Love All” sign and tried to focus on those who were voicing Love over hate. Friend held an “All you need is Love” sign. There was an organized group of Hispanic Americans behind a large banner that read “Love, Respect and Tolerance For Trump” and they were chanting in Spanish and English. I heard them saying “Please don’t deport our families!” John Lennon’s Imagine was playing over and over in the background. I tried to focus on this instead of the people yelling “racist pigs ” (and other derogatory remarks) at people who entered and exited the building. I thought that didn’t represent the Asheville I know and LOVE and EVERYONE had a right to be there, whoever they supported!!( Not to mention that a lot of the people who were attending were not even his supporters. That’s beside the point!)Talked with quite a number of media people about what a loving, amazing community Asheville is and one asked if I was being an ambassador for Asheville. I said- Well, I guess I am today! I do agree with the views of the letter writer. It’s sad that this negativity is what the news media focuses on and that this wonderful community was represented in this way!! No matter what another proclaims, we need not respond at that level!

  4. Val

    Someone tell this schmuck that Israel is a country or as they consider themselves the 51st STATE of the US….. But does ISREAL really count? They may be kind to animals; yet slaughter Palestinians….

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