This week I had an interesting Facebook dialogue with people both known to me and unknown about how we respond to the trauma and violence we see in the world. I was confident that I could express what I wanted to say – to express my hope that they can stand against rape-culture without hating others and suffering themselves. When these conversations happen without the context of a relationship it can seem scary – maybe I will be understood, labelled as sensitive or not resisting and fighting enough, even apathetic. But I believe we did agree that although we have different strategies and slogans we want to challenge privilege and dominance where we see it.
I was reminded of a quite by Emma Goldman a Russian writer, feminist, anarchist, atheist who I thought said, ‘If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.’. When I searched for this quite I actually discovered there are several variations all attributed to her,
If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution!
If I can’t dance, I don’t want your revolution!
A revolution without dancing is not a revolution worth having.
If there won’t be dancing at the revolution, I’m not coming.
A safe space to process conflict
In my private practice, I provide a safe space for individuals to process conversations resulting in conflict. See my Therapy and Supervision & Coaching sections for more info.
Right now I enjoy the one I used for the title more. Yes, there is horror, but beauty is also a truth. People commit violence and people have rare gifts. The environmental, developmental and spiritual challenges we face are huge and if I tackle them from a place of pain and desperation I won’t; ask long, so let’s bring our dancing shoes to this difficult path.
