Sunday, March 5, 2017

Her Only Solace Was Action

[h/t to Delenn for inspiring the title]

After the March, we made a vow to ourselves to engage in at least one act of resistance each week. One march, one campaign, one outreach….Well, life happens. Late nights at work happen. Cranky pre-schoolers happen. Exhaustion happens.

Nice excuses, m. How great that you have the option NOT to take to the streets.

I know. I know. What it comes down to is this: engaging in the March was a real anomaly for me. I don’t like crowds; they make me nervous. And public marches, rallies, demonstrations whatever you’d like to call them, are pretty limited in their effectiveness, in my opinion. And that’s even before the body you’re trying to influence discounts them and claims everyone’s been paid.

Still waiting for that check. I know you are too. Especially if you saved up for the flight, the babysitter, the days off work…what an insult.

So here’s where I am now. I’ve been searching for meaningful ways to engage. To use my skills and experience in a way that might re-balance the power dynamic and negate the awfulness that’s been empowered by the Administration.

1.) I signed up for my local chapter of Indivisible – their guide is an excellent grassroots primer, and local groups are mobilizing everywhere. See if there’s one in your neighborhood.

2.) I’m going to a Swing Left event this afternoon to see how we can get a little bit of sanity back in the House in 2018. That feels like a world away, but it will be here before you know it. So action starts now.

Don’t see this as a full on endorsement of the Democratic Party, because it’s not. There’s a shit ton of housecleaning that needs to occur there. But we have to start somewhere. I’m starting at a neighbor’s house at 2 pm this afternoon. Check their website to see where the closest swing district is to you.

Lastly, have you seen this resource: townhallproject.com? It’s beautiful, and no small feat. As someone who used to try to coordinate grassroots advocacy, finding when and where Town Halls are being held is some sort of magic. I want to reach out to the team that put this together and place a big wet kiss on their cheeks (with full consent, of course). Bravo, friends. And thank you.

Town Halls don’t have to be contentious. Like your legislator? Tell them. Appreciate the work they’re doing? Let them know and encourage them to DO MORE. Be MORE vocal. Give them cover for the hard work they’re going to have to do. Give them a reason to resist too.

I’m feeling slightly hopeful this morning. I hope there are some glimmers of hope for you too.


As the Swing Left website says, Don’t Despair. Mobilize.

18 comments:

This Foxy Mama said...

It is so hard to know what to 'do' in this time of despair and confusion. Every little bit of action adds up, it really does. and I take comfort in knowing that we are all feeling a deep need to take action. #ShePersisted

Kami said...

Hi! I just happened to open up my blog - and there was my list of 'blogs I follow' and you had an update.

First of all congrats on Big Baby Boy! I am so happy for you. It is wonderful to be parenting.

I am right there with you on our political climate. Every day is another small tragedy. There are so many things going off the rails. So many things that can't be turned back around in 2 or 4 years - like environmental damage and the spreading of hate.

So, we do what we can and try to convince ourselves it makes a difference. Peace to you and may our children have a happy world to live in.

Heather said...

I've been trying.

I've started donating to groups as I always intended but kept putting off; PP, ACLU, Doctors Without Borders, a local refugee settlement group..

I went to a local 'Get to know your ACLU' event, alone. It was so popular it filled up before anyone I knew could RSVP. I introduced myself as, "I'm Heather and going to something like this alone is so out of my wheelhouse..." It ended up being a great evening.

I follow my local Indivisible group on FB but haven't been able to make it to any events.

A group of female friends have been meeting to bitch, send postcards, go to local events (we have kids and this hasn't happened), watch documentaries and discussion and wine (we just watched 13th. Whoa. I was not paying attention in the 80's and 90's).

I've been really working on speaking up when I hear people disparage any group of people. Not easy for this gal, but I'm getting better at it.

This may sound good, but I know I spend too much time reading news on my phone and getting sad and angry. I need to balance this shit with my work and family and still make time for music and fun reading and exercise.

I'm exhausted.

I'm trying.

m said...

A huge high five to all of you - and HI! I missed you too! Kami, when I went to the Swing Left event, during the intros we were asked, what brought you here? And in my head I had this long diatribe on the ready and when I got me, all I could say, with tears, was "this is not the world I want for my son." Everyone nodded. Everyone.

Heather, I haven't seen 13th - I'll look into it. M has been reminding me about all of the things that have been shitty over the last several decades that I just haven't noticed or have chosen to ignore. That's not helping me. But it is helping to shake me out of my complacence.
And I've been noticing the inbalance in my reading (and my mood as a result) so I'm trying to make a pact with myself - for every hour I spend on news/social media, I HAVE to try to balance it with an equal hour of writing, reading something positive, or straight up dedicated time with D and M.

Trying.

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