First of all this is the ONLY political post I will write. And to be honest, it's not really that political...just hear me out. Also, I somewhat apologize for the length of this intro but I feel it needs to be said. If you prefer to skip to the 5 things that will help you get back to happy, scroll to the bottom.
I want to propose a crazy concept....we have more in common than not. MOST people are good people. We want love, kindness, equality, and justice to prevail. Fortunately we have differing views on how to accomplish similar goals. If we didn't, we'd never collaborate. We'd never try, fail, improve and try again. We would be stagnant.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Few people are genuinely happy about this whole election season. It's not just one side or the other. Whether you're okay with the outcomes or not, very few people felt good about their choices and the nasty, bitter campaigns that were run on both sides of the aisle. Guess what though, your whining and complaining about it aren't going to change a thing. Your scoffing at those that differ in opinions and your condescending blanket statements of "everyone who voted for [fill in the blank with either candidate] is [uneducated/ignorant/hateful/etc]" are not going to change a thing. Your spread of hate and fear is not going to make this a country you are proud of. Your inability to see another perspective, to actually listen to someone with an opposing view, and to take POSITIVE action to stand up for what you believe in is what scares me - not the outcome of this election.
You have every right to feel happy, sad, angry, scared, disappointed, whatever emotion you're feeling. I would suggest though that you chill out with the extremist rhetoric that "Trump will fix all our problems and make America great again", or "this is going to be the biggest catastrophe America has ever seen and we'll all be lucky to live through it." Newsflash, the president has never been one to make or break our country and he's not going to start now. He is not the one starting charitable organizations from the ground up. He is not the one volunteering daily at inner city schools, shelters, or clinics. He is not the one writing state laws. It is up to YOU to be the change you want to see. It is up to YOU to get involved in your communities (in a positive way) and stand up for what you believe in (without being condescending and rude to others).
We all share some of the blame for the mess that was this election season. We've let our society run low on morals, kindness, manners and accountability. We've created a society who's overall sentiment is "fed up" and that "we are entitled to better". Whether it's fed up with how the government works, the lack of attention to women's rights issues, racial disparities, whatever - chances are you are fed up with something. If you have the energy to whine about these things on social media though, or cause a disturbance out there in your community, you have the energy to positively stand up for your cause. You are not going to change people's minds or make them want to meet you half way by being condescending and rude or staying up there on your high horse.
Go out there and get your hands dirty. Do the hard work. Immerse yourself in doing good. Spend your time doing this rather than spreading negativity and you'll be surprised at how quickly your outlook changes. You'll see much more good in the world around you and have much less time to complain.
With that being said... below are 4 of the fears that I've heard most from people "devastated" by how this election turned out paired with an action (or several actions) you can take to start making it better starting in your own community. Note that some of the links are for Minnesota-specific organizations but a quick Google search will show you similar organizations in your area.
Call to Action #1
This one's not tied to any one fear as it's a great start to addressing all of them.
- Engage in Citizen Participation with your Legislature. Check out these FAQs about how to get involved in Minnesota.
- Write or Meet With Your Representative (not just once but repeatedly!)- please just remember to be respectful about it and offer up actual solutions, not just complaints/requests. Research opinions on both sides of the aisle before you write and acknowledge them respectfully.
Fear: Trump is going to set women's rights back decades.
Call to Action #2
- Again, can't emphasize call to action #1 enough for this one.
- Join a Women's organization or sit on the board of a business/organization that you want to make sure is held accountable for making the right choices.
- Volunteer at your favorite organizations, fundraise or offer your services to them.
- Not sure where to start? Check out Planned Parenthood's Volunteer Page.
- Do the research, join the movement and present the facts in a RESPECTFUL and uniting way.
Fear: Trump is going to fuel racism with his immigration policy, and treatment of minorities.
Call to Action #3
- Volunteer at an immigration center such as the International Institute of Minnesota
- Volunteer at or fundraise for a Youth Development Program in the inner city. Hospitality House and Athletes Committed to Educating Students are a couple of my favorites but there are plenty to choose from that fit your values!
- Serve as a community education teacher for adult literacy, math or English language classes.
- A simple one - stand up for people when you see injustices taking place or hateful rhetoric flowing freely.
- Support your minority-owned local businesses.
Fear: Trump is going to set the precedent that bullying is acceptable.
Call to Action #4
First things first, stop using the word "retarded" in derogatory ways. In fact, you can probably just axe it from your vocabulary all together and focus on the new R-Word: Respect.
Once you've got that taken care of, get out there and be an advocate for and help empower those with special needs. Coaching/volunteering/mentoring with Special Olympics is one way you can start right now.
Help facilitate Unity Days in your local schools and ensure that character building programs (with an emphasis on anti-bullying) are a part of every school.
Set a better example. Stop bullying each other and trolling on social media. Cut it out with the name calling and let's get back to the golden rule. Accept that you may have to respectfully disagree with someone and do so without making them feel inferior. If they're not hurting anyone, it's time for you to move on.
Fear: Trump is going to reverse all the hard-fought progress we've made with regard to LGBTQ rights
Call to Action #5
- Cannot emphasize Action Item #1 enough on this point. Keep fighting for love.
- Attend events, show support and take PRIDE. There are several sites where you can find upcoming events and learn how to get involved. Twin Cities Pride is just one of them.
- Gotta repeat this one although it's sad it even has to be said: A simple one - stand up for people when you see injustices taking place or hateful rhetoric flowing freely.
We're all busy. We've got jobs to work and families to care for, but it's up to us to make some time to show our community that we care for them too and that we're willing to do our part to continue to help our great country improve. Who cares about who anyone voted for. Let's agree to stand up for what's right. Let's agree to compromise on things so that change can actually occur. And let's agree to build a society with the moral fiber strong enough to never let a presidential election become so divisive and hateful ever again (looking at BOTH political parties here).
Please leave a comment on how you would suggest people get involved to start being the change they wish to see. The more links/resources we can provide and the easier we can make it for people to get out there the more success we will see! Please be respectful with your comments and open to all points of views. You don't have to agree with every cause out there, but you don't have to be rude to those who do.