It’s so hard to know what to write about these days.
I want to say relevant things, and not ignore the American Tire Fire, but I feel like here on my blog I’d be preaching to the choir and besides, there are a lot of people out there already saying what I’d say. I don’t think I have any insights to add to the discourse. I think I am pretty clear about my stance on all of this, but just in case:
I am 100% pro
- LGBTQIA+ i(ncluding TRANS in big bold type;)
- Immigrants’ right to due process as guaranteed in the Constitution;
- the goddamn Constitution;
- Diversity and Equality for minorities of all kinds
- Women’s right to bodily autonomy;
- FIRM AND DECISIVE Separation of church and state;
- Science; and
- EMPATHY.
There are almost certainly more things that belong on that list but my brain is addled and I’m sure I’ve forgotten some. But I think you get my drift.
The following people can fuck right off this blog:
Homophobes, TERFs or any kind of anti-trans people, racists, xenophobes, misogynists, “alpha” males, MAGAts, antivaxxers, fatphobes, the current administration, the current administration of the state of Texas (where I unfortunately live), fundamentalist Evangelicals, Islamaphobes, Antisemites, anyone pro-genocide anywhere, ICE proponents, anti-science wackos, pro-“lifers” (most hypocritical term I’ve ever heard), anti-vegans, and whoever else is lurking out there waiting to leave a shitty troll comment. You don’t get warnings, you don’t get the argument you desperately want, you get blocked. This is my sandbox and I have the shovel.
So. That’s where I am in all this. However, I have a problem I imagine a lot of you have: Not knowing what to do about it all.
I have health issues that preclude my protesting – I would end up a burden to others in a potentially hazardous situation and I don’t think that would help anyone. I have anxiety specifically tied to phone calls (although I am working on it in the hope that I can start calling my Congressfolk). I’m a writer but I’ve never been very strong at political or current-events type writing – if you look back through most of my career it’s been fiction, religion, and food, LOL. I’m trying to think of a project or blog series that would let me offer something both helpful and unique to my talents. You know, besides “Gay Porn for Palestine” or something else insane.
What do I do in the meantime? Well, I’m trying to spread ACCURATE information wherever I can, pass on resources, donate money when I have it, and make it obvious where I stand on issues. I don’t have a lot of confrontation in my life (and am terrified of it to be honest) so speaking out when people say crappy things isn’t an opportunity I often have, but I’m preparing responses for if I do!
Every movement has dozens of layers. All kinds of people are needed. As said by Frederick Buechner,
The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.
May we all find that place, and our place in the arc of change.