The pursuit of learning about one day breaks down your journey of how your values evolved, beliefs held dearer shifted and you stepped towards progression. 👏
Landon. This is tragic & completely unsurprising at the same time. Shame is just faster than grace; it doesn't require patience, context, or the discomfort of holding two things at once. A pile-on takes ten seconds.
While actual accountability takes the work you're describing here: staying in the room long enough to ask whether someone understood the harm, not just whether they should be removed from it.
& ugh, social media made the faster option nearly effortless. Distance, anonymity, & an audience that rewards certainty over curiosity; it's practically the perfect incubator for cruelty dressed up as justice.
"the goal is a bridge, not a destination" should be *stitched* into every comment section that exists.
Makes me so happy that we discussed cancel culture in the comments of one of your pieces last week and that you actually took the time to write about it.
Challenging people instead of shaming them has to be the default setting on which human arguments thrive. Accountability and compassion absolutely need to go hand in hand to create a healthy space for change and evolution.
Admitting mistakes and being supported for acknowledging them does water the roots that keep us grounded, and I am happy that you have chosen to shine a spotlight on it.
you picked up on one of my favorite topics with this Landon and one I always echo when I preach about inclusion and diversity. "In many ways, learning is simply a series of realizations that you were wrong about something." - it could not have been said better.
People evolve, they learn and some things they may have held true some time ago may no longer apply. I do believe that people can become someone better.
At the same time I believe that even though a person can learn and change for the better, the people that were harmed by their past actions do not owe them forgiveness.
“The goal is not humiliation. The goal is transformation.” Exactly. Cancel culture does the opposite for people. It backs them into a corner instead of facilitating growth and empathy. We have to learn to let people grow!
The pursuit of learning about one day breaks down your journey of how your values evolved, beliefs held dearer shifted and you stepped towards progression. 👏
🫶🏻 thanks so much for reading. Means the world to me
Landon. This is tragic & completely unsurprising at the same time. Shame is just faster than grace; it doesn't require patience, context, or the discomfort of holding two things at once. A pile-on takes ten seconds.
While actual accountability takes the work you're describing here: staying in the room long enough to ask whether someone understood the harm, not just whether they should be removed from it.
& ugh, social media made the faster option nearly effortless. Distance, anonymity, & an audience that rewards certainty over curiosity; it's practically the perfect incubator for cruelty dressed up as justice.
"the goal is a bridge, not a destination" should be *stitched* into every comment section that exists.
Yes. Wow what a beautiful and thoughtful perspective. This is so so true. Thank you for this Michelle. Will be thinking on that one for a while
Absolutely welcome! You know I love your work (& ahahaha sorry haven't been keeping up very well lately lol)
No apologies needed. I haven’t been doing a great job either. Life gets busy sometimes
I hope you've been good though & settled back well after your 🍀 trip!
Makes me so happy that we discussed cancel culture in the comments of one of your pieces last week and that you actually took the time to write about it.
Challenging people instead of shaming them has to be the default setting on which human arguments thrive. Accountability and compassion absolutely need to go hand in hand to create a healthy space for change and evolution.
Admitting mistakes and being supported for acknowledging them does water the roots that keep us grounded, and I am happy that you have chosen to shine a spotlight on it.
Thank you :)
That conversation was the inspiration for this piece! So glad you read it. I was hoping you would 🤗🫶🏻
What a blessing to feel special and seen at the same time :)
you picked up on one of my favorite topics with this Landon and one I always echo when I preach about inclusion and diversity. "In many ways, learning is simply a series of realizations that you were wrong about something." - it could not have been said better.
People evolve, they learn and some things they may have held true some time ago may no longer apply. I do believe that people can become someone better.
At the same time I believe that even though a person can learn and change for the better, the people that were harmed by their past actions do not owe them forgiveness.
Yes so true. Forgiveness is such a hard thing. One I struggle to grasp fully myself. Glad you liked it and thanks for reading 💚
“The goal is not humiliation. The goal is transformation.” Exactly. Cancel culture does the opposite for people. It backs them into a corner instead of facilitating growth and empathy. We have to learn to let people grow!
Yes!! I so agree. Thanks so much for reading, Natasha. I appreciate you
🫶🌻