It is January 21, 2017 and there are massive groups of people taking to the streets on every continent to protest the new Trump administration and to show solidarity with those who will be most effected by the policy changes and hateful rhetoric and actions that has been on the rise since the election cycle. This is a day of global protest. There is at least one group of protesters standing in opposition to Trump on every continent of the world. Every continent. The entire world save from isolated pockets is actively beginning to ensure that the new American president and his party members will not be able to commit the actions that would stand in direct opposition to modern science, civil rights, human rights, ethics etc., It is honestly an incredible day to be alive, knowing that the entire world is looking out for my best interests.
However, today, I am inside. Why? A young, lifelong feminist, liberal, able bodied woman working towards degrees in Environmental Studies and Theatre, whose friends and loved ones very much belong to the groups most targeted by the hateful new party platform, is not taking to the streets?
Let me explain myself. Yes, I vehemently oppose everything that this new regime stands for. And, yes, I am going to be negatively effected if even some of Trump's campaign promises or the Republican platform is implemented. Yes, I have a strong moral compass that points me toward compassion, empathy, and sympathy whenever possible. No, I am not marching. I am also a week into a four month stay in a new city in a new country and grappling with a whole world of new stimuli and cultural exchanges.
I know nothing of Danish law, politics, or even how to navigate this city yet. I don't know who will be at the march, and I do not know what type of counter protest to expect. I am also on a leave of absence from a college that strongly stated that it is best to avoid protests and political situations when abroad in order to protect ones self from situations that would be challenging to navigate even on ones home turf. Emotionally, I am struggling to think of what is happening and to happen back home without shedding tears. So, with all of this in mind, I decided that marching was not the best outlet for my activism at this moment.
When I marched on my home campus, and was feeling guilty about not signing up to be a marshal at my first protest, a dear friend of mine took me aside and explained that there are many forms of activism and that everyone needs to be mindful of their own comfort zones. That an effective protest, particularly walks and marches, are designed to empower rather than frighten. And, that everyone has their limits and it is to the individual to know themselves well enough to understand where they are most useful and empowered. With this incredibly helpful advice in mind, and taking an objective look at my mental health (with assistance from my incredible parents), I am staying in today.
In the days following the election, I remember telling my friends that it is now most important that we continue to buckle down and commit ourselves to our chosen fields of study. It is clear from the rhetoric and platform that there is little that is more damaging to this new regime than a woman who knows what she is talking about.
Despite my career prospects as an ES major focusing in government taking a major shift on November 9, 2016, I am using this first day of political activism to dedicate myself to the causes I care most about. I am spending the next four months studying the state of global environmental affairs, sustainable development, cross cultural exchanges, and the philosophy of human relationships. All things that will prove necessary in a government that turns a deaf ear to common sense, respect, and logic. I am going to be bringing back a big tool kit of activist strategies and knowledge when I return home that I intend to use for the rest of my life.
My good fortune and privilege to be able to mobilize in this way is just part of the equation. I am also going to be contacting my politicians to encourage them to continue the good fight (Elizabeth Warren, anyone?) as well as following the representatives that need to hear the roar of the crowd advocating for change. On a more simple level, I am going to be consuming news only from credible, fact checked sources that do not bend to the will of those decrying good journalism as personal attacks. My activism is through education and the written word (at least, for now).
Activism is not meant to frighten the activist. There are so many outlets nowadays to garner attention and make change. If one option sits better with you than others, go for it. Diversity is what makes my country wonderful. It is only fitting that concerned citizens and onlookers,then, engage with a diverse range of activism. If you are marching for our rights today, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your strength, courage, empathy, and love makes the world a better place. In return for your incredible gift, I am writing my representatives and studying hard for our collective future.
In solidarity,
Sarah
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