Alouise Urness, Community and Member Organizer

At Thursday’s Stand for Compassion demonstration in response to the assault on homeless people in Seattle’s Pioneer Square, one of the first speakers called out a value that at first seems at odds with compassion: discomfort, yes, discomfort as a good thing. Andrew Himes of the Compassionate Action Network (pictured right) advised the 100 or so gathered in the park where the assault happened nearly two weeks ago that we should “aspire to live in a city that is profoundly uncomfortable."

When we live surrounded by injustice, I agree that being comfortable means accepting the injustice. In an age of distraction, just staying awake to the injustice around us can be a huge challenge. Discomfort keeps us awake, so discomfort is actually appropriate. It would have been one thing to walk away from a pleasant and mildly inspiring lineup of speeches with this interesting idea to ponder. It was another thing altogether that the discomfort began moments later.

Image

Fire Chief Gregory Dean was up next to speak, and as he approached the dais, an older man in ragged layers leaning on an aluminum cane made his own way across the cobblestones, stopping right in front of the firefighters making up in the front row of the crowd. His voice was a wheezing rasp, so I didn’t catch the words, but when he shook that cane, his disgust and anger were crystal clear.

The discomfort came when the usual window of tolerance for such an outburst came and went. It was there while the fire chief still stood, waiting his turn. And it was there while the firefighters listened, appearing to accept his shaming on behalf of their off-duty peers responsible for the assault. And it remained while more minutes went by, filled only with quiet wheezing anger.

When the man shook the cane once more at the firefighters as he headed back across the cobblestones, the fire chief began his prepared remarks. I actually don’t recall what he said. More memorable was what he didn’t say and the discomfort while he didn’t say it.

Image

Finally Ray Kingfisher, from the Chief Seattle Club, closed out the event with a directive to "raise the mood." He told us all to hold hands (I am not kidding), and dance in a circle while he played his drum and sang. If that’s not discomfort in Seattle, I don’t know what is.

So I ask myself and all of us, now that we’ve stood for compassion, what will we do to stay awake and “profoundly uncomfortable” until everyone can rest, indoors and safe from harm? 

You can also watch an interview with Susan Russell from our friends at Firesteel here.