After the election, many of us are surrounded by a plethora of emotions, ranging from fear to anger to hopelessness. How we channel that unsettling feeling into action can seem like another instance of writer’s block. How can we really make a change when the nation already decided that Trump is our new president?
Wednesday night, residents of Columbia came together to march in a peace walk against hate. Taken by Emily Wildenhaus.
Accepting that Trump won the presidency isn’t an easy pill to swallow. We are talking about the man who runs his twitter through bullying and spews remarks that have offended almost every community (women, people of color, LGBTQ, Muslims, people with disabilities, Latinos, etc…).
It’s almost impossible to share your anger towards the election results without getting in a Facebook comment section throw-down, or end up losing friends or family members who don’t see eye to eye with you. (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/us/political-divide-splits-relationshi… this new york times article does a good job illustrating the divide).
So, we turn to other ways to demonstrate how we feel when social media isn’t cutting it. Here are some ways to channel your post-election emotion (whatever that might be) into action:
Get involved in your community
Hundreds line up on the streets of downtown Columbia to march for what they believe in. Taken by Emily Wildenhaus.
No matter where you are, look into what your town is up to. In times of hopelessness, communities stick together. Here in Columbia, we had a peace walk through downtown where we marched against hate. This was a reassuring demonstration for me that there are good people in this world and politics aside, unity is more powerful than divisiveness.
Donate
There are a list of organizations looking for your help. If you particularly feel passionate about a community of people, look into organizations that help protect them.
For example, donate to www.ACLU.org to protect our rights, go to www.TheTrevorProject.org to fight for the LGBTQ community, and visit www.MALDEF.org to assist Latinos.
Be There For Others
Be there for your friends who are scared. Understand that if you don’t have the same fears as them, it doesn’t mean that theirs doesn’t exist. We all live through different experiences and are affected differently.
Let others know that you support them by being an ally. Always believe your friend who trusts you to tell you that they are hurting. And don’t hesitate to get them help if they are feeling defeated.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Your voice is important. Don’t believe others when they say that you can’t do anything about the election results and you just have to accept it. Speak up in whatever way you can. And take comfort in the fact that you are not alone and we will fight through this.