Doing something
A list of actions, and a reminder that every single act of compassion, every reaching out across differences, every move toward humanizing everyone counts as a powerful act of love and resistance.
For the action-oriented among us, and for all of us who feel the burning need to “do something, anything,” I offer some prompts, ideas, and invitations. Make them your own.
Follow the links from the League of Women Voters to send a message to President Biden and Vice President Harris, insisting they ensure the national archivist publishes the Equal Rights Amendment: “President Biden [must] take urgent action to ensure the process of publishing the Amendment is completed since it has been fully ratified since 2020.”
https://www.lwv.org/
Tell your senators to fill judicial vacancies now, before the majority shifts. Indivisible provides a form here: https://act.indivisible.org/sign/tell-your-senators-fill-every-judicial-vacancy-now
Contact senators and representatives to stop the attack on health care for trans kids whose parents are serving our country in the military. ACLU provides information and a form here: https://act.aclu.org/a/defend-trans-ndaa
And while you have your senators on the phone, add a message like this about the dangers of putting a conspiracy theorist with little medical or scientific background in charge of the nation’s health (from Jessica Craven’s Chop Wood, Carry Water):
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I am calling to say that the nomination of RFK Jr. for HHS Secretary is dangerous and I oppose it. He opposes lifesaving vaccines and has pledged to stop funding research on treatments and cures for deadly diseases. In a public health emergency more would die under his watch. He also lacks the experience necessary to manage major health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid. I urge the Senator to protect our health and reject RFK Jr.'s nomination. Thanks.
Finally, remember that every single act of compassion, every reaching out across differences, every move toward humanizing everyone counts as a powerful act of love and resistance. These actions remind us that we are all so connected, our futures depend on one another. Facing opposition only heightens the need for us to engage in compassionate understanding in our daily lives. Dictatorships are built on the premise that individuals will give up their own autonomy and turn on one another in small acts first. If enough of us refuse to do either, dictators will fail.
Be safe and well, and be there for one another. It’s our only option.
