“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”
– David Morrison
I strive to not be an ignorant asshole. Therefore, the bare minimum I can do here is acknowledge that the United States is plunging towards full-blown autocracy. Besides roasting Trumplethinskin (which I promise to commit to fully!), I feel it’s crucial to outline what my average reader – likely a millennial, probably educated, obviously good-looking – can do.
If you’re like me, a lifelong political junkie already teetering towards a nervous breakdown with each new #AlternativeFact: feel free to skip this post, pop a Xanax, and tune in next week.
This is for those who rush to say they’re “just not into politics.”
The ones who, on the same day millions of Americans documented the Women’s March, opted to Instagram a club selfie instead.
Because I’ve got news for you: Nineteen Eighty-Four is quickly becoming a work of non-fiction and the only silver lining is we can expect some killer new music from Green Day.
It’s time to start paying attention.
Did you know that 200+ white supremacists congregated in DC on election night? That they cried out, “Hail Trump” as they demonstrated the Nazi salute?
Now a follow-up question: does any of this seem familiar?
If you’re not actively confronting our nation’s deterioration – moral, economic, and otherwise – it’s time to park yourself on the right side of history.
“But Arianna,” you profess. “I’m not a political person.”
Congrats! Doesn’t matter. This stretches beyond Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative. We’re not debating federal income tax; the subject at hand is human rights. Perhaps you’re in the position of privilege where you can afford to be apolitical – but guess what? Many people don’t have that luxury, because they’re forced to fight for their lives.
Bottom line: a fanatical demagogue has seized the most powerful position in the most powerful country on the planet with his tiny, orange hands. And the reality is ‘love and optimism’ won’t crack the Galactic Empire’s armor. ‘Giving Tr*mp a chance’ = ‘compliance’ when the GOP denies us checks and balances, when Christian refugees are prioritized yet Muslims are banned, when voter suppression runs rampant, when the Attorney General is branded a traitor* and fired for upholding the Constitution, when Russia influences our own presidential election, when media censorship is permitted, when women’s safety is deemed frivolous.
*Another key component of fascism? Accusing anyone who challenges the government of treason. They know exactly what they’re doing.
In other words? Neutrality is not an option. We’ve handed over our nuclear codes to a possibly illiterate* tyrant hellbent on stripping away our First Amendment rights. You’re either openly resisting or you’re not.
*Hey, I’d believe it.
“Nice people made the best Nazis. My mom grew up next to them. They got along, refused to make waves, looked the other way when things got ugly and focused on happier things than ‘politics.’ They were lovely people who turned their heads as their neighbors were dragged away. You know who weren’t nice people? Resisters.”
– Naomi Shulman
Yet the goal isn’t simply to impeach Agent Orange; he’s a puppet, manipulated by his own fragile masculinity, the very country adamant on exterminating us (i.e. Mother Russia), and his festering batch of Cabinet nominees who put the ‘white’ in White House:
Mike Pence, Vice President and self-proclaimed human: argued gay marriage generates “societal collapse” and used political donations to pay golf tournament fees.
Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State and Putin’s little spoon: hobbies include engaging in shady business practices and living in an alt-reality where everyone’s favorite former KGB agent hasn’t committed war crimes.
Jefferson Beauregard* Sessions III, Attorney General who probably still uses Hotmail: deemed ‘too racist’ to be a judge in the 80s which, given our country’s exceptionally shameful history of racism, is quite the feat!
*Yes, like the Confederate Army general. If there’s such a thing as White Supremacist Bingo, his name would be on it.
Steve Bannon, Chief Strategist and human equivalent of Time Warner Cable: chairman of Breitbart News, a charming little anti-Semitic cesspool that features articles such as, “Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy.”
Sean Spicer, Press Secretary with some very strong feelings about Dippin’ Dots: someone get Melissa McCarthy an Emmy.
Not-so-honorable mentions include: Rick Perry, who urged we eliminate the Department of Energy, for – you guessed it – Department of Energy, Andrew Puzder for Dept of Labor (despite having no government experience), Wilbur Ross for Dept of Commerce (he doesn’t either), Steven Mnuchin for Dept of the Treasury (neither does he), Betsy DeVos for Dept of Education (none here… I’m noting a trend?), and finally, Ben Carson for Dept of Housing and Urban Development who, like his compatriots, lacks any form of political exposure… and literally can’t do anything right. Sad!
We’re entangled in a web of propaganda, scare tactics, and false equivalencies – and as ingenious as I tell myself I am every morning in the mirror – I don’t claim to have the solution. But what I do know is that doing nothing nets nothing – so let’s do something. You can start by:
1. Stop referring to unhinged radicals who ruined the Pepe the Frog meme as the ‘alt-right’ – call them what they are: Nazis. And yes, it’s okay to punch someone who calls for a “peaceful ethnic cleansing” in the face.
I can’t believe I even had to type that.
2. If it’s within your financial means, donate to any organization Führer Cheeto would hate. For instance:
Because climate change isn’t actually a hoax invented by the Chinese, the Natural Resources Defense Council.
If you believe women – even nasty ones – are people too, Planned Parenthood.
(Fun tip: it’s even more rewarding when you cast your donation in Pence’s name!)
To personally piss off Jeff Sessions, Black Lives Matter.
Since having civil rights is always nice, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
And of course, one must #NeverForget to commemorate our country’s latest tragedy, the totally real Bowling Green Massacre.
Not to mention The National Immigration Law Center, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Native American Rights Fund – the list goes on and on. And they all need your help.
3. Volunteer, organize, and protest. Friendly reminder: there’s an ocean of difference between peaceful demonstrations and riots. The reality is, civil progress in the US has yet to be achieved without protest; it highlights, underlines, and bolds the point that “We will not accept this.”
And for those moaning about the unbearable inconvenience of it all – “I’m more offended by protesters delaying my work commute than I am at the oppressive parties responsible for their outrage in the first place!” – this should paraphrase things.
Just remember that breaking out your pink pussy hat for a march, as adorable as it may be, isn’t enough to fill your activism quota.
4. Verbalize your grievances to politicians in power, particularly the invertebrates we call Republicans. Their phone numbers are listed here.
5. Be a fierce advocate and ally. Anyone who falls under the umbrella of female, Muslim, POC, LGBTQ, disabled, immigrant, and so on, needs your support.
6. Practice self-care – but stay vigilant.
Imagine that!
This echoes my earlier sentiment that as we’re subjected to a constant rain of crises, it’s easy to burn out. So prioritize your mental health. Always. But do not regard anger as inherently negative – it isn’t.
“If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”
People may try to minimize your feelings with claims that you’re overreacting, but their criticism sprouts from a place of willful ignorance and apathy. Despite what Bobby from high school preaches on Facebook, there is merit in anger, an emotion that ignites action and change. Do not be consumed by it, but understand the validity in feeling anxious and fearful and frustrated – just not compliant, never compliant.
7. In times like these, when corruption and bigotry seem to seep into every corner of our lives, remind yourself, your friends, your family, and everyone else around you: This. Is. Not. Normal.
So whatever you do, don’t let it be.
The Art of Being Basic 