A restorative justice session has healed the wounds left by the DeVos confirmation battle, according to a joint statement written by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the ranking members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee.
The closed-door meeting took place Friday, as the warm afternoon light filled the committee hearing room, inoculating the atmosphere with a sense of peace.
Congressional staffers reported that Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) initiated the session using a rarely-used committee rule on community health. All committee members were present, and special guest Dawn Jyoti, a guidance counselor from nearby Swanson Middle School, facilitated, according to committee aides in attendance.
“They began with an icebreaker called ‘A Big Wind Blows,’ which, I assure you, was not intended as a comment on anyone’s verbosity,” said one aide. Senators also held a candle-lighting ceremony, and participated in a rose-bud-thorn reflection activity. When pressed for more details, the aide stated, “I am not comfortable sharing more about what was said. People got really personal really fast. I do not want to violate the sanctity of their experience.” The aide did note that the joint statement was written by the senators themselves in “the most heartfelt display of bipartisanship [she had] ever witnessed”.
Word spread across the Hill as staffers tweeted pictures of the sign taped across the door, “Please do not disturb—community building in process.” By the time Dawn Jyoti emerged, a crowd had gathered. The counselor announced in a soothing voice that Senators were unlikely to take questions, given their recent emotional experiences, but she reassured the assembled that all was well:
“The peacemaking circle, with its communal sharing of the pipe, led to constructive, healing responses from both victims and offenders—of which Democrats and Republicans took turns. Hurtful conduct was discussed in open, egalitarian and respectful dialogue. The circle keepers honored the various interests of all of our policymakers, who shared the responsibility for creating a sacred space attuned to our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs.”
Upon exit, most Senators demurred except for Senator Bennet (D-CO) who has prior experience with the circles since passage of Colorado Amendment 64. “The circles are where it’s at, man. They tap into the collective capacity for wisdom, support, and insight that lays dormant and unused in all of us.”
Senator Patty Murry (D-WA) seemed to float from the meeting, walking slowly, purposefully, alongside Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), both adorned in quartz wellness crystals, sharing a newfound platonic intimacy: “I just want to say Rand and I are now open to fresh possibilities for connection and mutual understanding.” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) left the room in silence, with a contemplative smile on his face, clear lines of tears streaked across his cheeks, and what looked to be a cellophane baggie in his back pocket. Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) did stop for a brief statement, saying only, “we are stronger together.”