The Aftermath
Dec. 26th, 2016 10:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silveradeptWhat has happened requires processing and thought. And a willingness to catalogue and synthesize what is right in front of you.
An uptick in hate crimes and messages on themes of Trump or with his name attached, assaults on those visibly different than the Trump supporter, and calls for the formation of extrajudicial attack groups. That's the beginning. Expect continued erosion of union protections.
There are consequences. Things like the need to equip yourself with what to do should you find yourself in conversation with someone suicidal. Understanding that trying to fight in the face of your own despair is strength. Being ready to ask questions and accept real answers. Getting equipped to help someone if they're being harassed. Regardless of the situation. Also, being ready in case your intimate partners are having breakdowns. Looking for reasons to continue. Remembering that self-care is a valid life choice. And the need to think about long term planning regarding birth control, in case your access becomes nonexistent.
It might mean making declarations of love while you can. And finding the one you want to be with. Or believing that you are loved, whether you are out or not.
It might mean walking out on someone loudly proclaiming cultural appropriation is just and right and standing up for your right to tell your own story.
It means acknowledging the truth that's right in front of you.
It also means working against the ways in which police profile minorities that have little to do with crime rates, the ease in which black men are arrested, then stripped of their right to vote, while being systematically denied access to real property in all neighborhoods. It's understanding the consequences and permutations of racism.
If you are the kind of person that thinks Muslims should be banned from the country, you're advocating for the removal of legislators, both federal and in the states based solely on their religion. You want to restrict an artist from being able to perform the language of forms of the body.
If you think it will only apply to a Them, think again - Border Agents wield incredible power with little oversight, and can just as easily make you a Them.
If you think that gender identity is a choice that can be applied to someone, rather than something that person keeps at their core, understand why someone might attempt their own deaths and many others will seek counseling and help, because you intend to deny them their reality. It's not always outside forces that does this, either. Internal factions sometimes attack each other.
Oregon elected a bi governor, so if you're against other letters in the QUILTBAG pantheon, you intend to deny a democratically elected governor the ability to govern as their authentic self.
If you think comments that degrade women and encourage sexual assault against them are just matters of the locker room, understand that actual locker rooms are much less horrible than you. Where you are is Twitter's trolls and serial abusers.
What will also be demanded is real inquiries as to why the director of the FBI made a nonsense statement designed to raise suspicion about a candidate, going so far as to disseminate the information to a surrogate of the other candidate before releasing it publicly.
Accurately analyzing what happened requires being willing to see the frameworks of racism, misogyny, and bigotry. Having those frameworks makes it easier to see why people would be so fixated on whether Hillary was likeable in the face of the more obvious problems with the other candidate.
It requires not just spotting lies, but calling them out. It requires acknowledging that fake news is sometimes more powerful than real news.
It requires finding your armor and strapping in to fight. And protecting those whose voices are to be amplified. It means recognizing your allies and supporting them.
It requires being completely honest and straightforward with children about what happened. Which, no, don't downplay it as "people were frustrated and voted against Hillary as more of the same" - there's far too much evidence against that for it to be the real reason. Admit there are no simple solutions, acknowledge that many supporters of that candidate are not poor, and many of them have college degrees, and recognize the media that is broadcast to you needs fewer places of blinkering privilege.
And, because I am the magpie that collects information, these are things that may be helpful.
Lambda Legal's FAQ, The Gleewood Seeker Self-care Suggestions, tips on how one might manage the mental distress brought on by events, a suggested course of mental fortitude, action, and fidelity, bullet points of long-term and larger-scale things one might consider.
Take care of yourselves, though - it's easy to get caught up in everything that you forget yourself.
Virtual hugs for all in distress.
If you are looking for a place to donate time or money, a long list of places where you can donate time or money toward progressive causes.
If nothing else rings for you, have a space where you can be reminded of your virtue and your worth.
An uptick in hate crimes and messages on themes of Trump or with his name attached, assaults on those visibly different than the Trump supporter, and calls for the formation of extrajudicial attack groups. That's the beginning. Expect continued erosion of union protections.
There are consequences. Things like the need to equip yourself with what to do should you find yourself in conversation with someone suicidal. Understanding that trying to fight in the face of your own despair is strength. Being ready to ask questions and accept real answers. Getting equipped to help someone if they're being harassed. Regardless of the situation. Also, being ready in case your intimate partners are having breakdowns. Looking for reasons to continue. Remembering that self-care is a valid life choice. And the need to think about long term planning regarding birth control, in case your access becomes nonexistent.
It might mean making declarations of love while you can. And finding the one you want to be with. Or believing that you are loved, whether you are out or not.
It might mean walking out on someone loudly proclaiming cultural appropriation is just and right and standing up for your right to tell your own story.
It means acknowledging the truth that's right in front of you.
It also means working against the ways in which police profile minorities that have little to do with crime rates, the ease in which black men are arrested, then stripped of their right to vote, while being systematically denied access to real property in all neighborhoods. It's understanding the consequences and permutations of racism.
If you are the kind of person that thinks Muslims should be banned from the country, you're advocating for the removal of legislators, both federal and in the states based solely on their religion. You want to restrict an artist from being able to perform the language of forms of the body.
If you think it will only apply to a Them, think again - Border Agents wield incredible power with little oversight, and can just as easily make you a Them.
If you think that gender identity is a choice that can be applied to someone, rather than something that person keeps at their core, understand why someone might attempt their own deaths and many others will seek counseling and help, because you intend to deny them their reality. It's not always outside forces that does this, either. Internal factions sometimes attack each other.
Oregon elected a bi governor, so if you're against other letters in the QUILTBAG pantheon, you intend to deny a democratically elected governor the ability to govern as their authentic self.
If you think comments that degrade women and encourage sexual assault against them are just matters of the locker room, understand that actual locker rooms are much less horrible than you. Where you are is Twitter's trolls and serial abusers.
What will also be demanded is real inquiries as to why the director of the FBI made a nonsense statement designed to raise suspicion about a candidate, going so far as to disseminate the information to a surrogate of the other candidate before releasing it publicly.
Accurately analyzing what happened requires being willing to see the frameworks of racism, misogyny, and bigotry. Having those frameworks makes it easier to see why people would be so fixated on whether Hillary was likeable in the face of the more obvious problems with the other candidate.
It requires not just spotting lies, but calling them out. It requires acknowledging that fake news is sometimes more powerful than real news.
It requires finding your armor and strapping in to fight. And protecting those whose voices are to be amplified. It means recognizing your allies and supporting them.
It requires being completely honest and straightforward with children about what happened. Which, no, don't downplay it as "people were frustrated and voted against Hillary as more of the same" - there's far too much evidence against that for it to be the real reason. Admit there are no simple solutions, acknowledge that many supporters of that candidate are not poor, and many of them have college degrees, and recognize the media that is broadcast to you needs fewer places of blinkering privilege.
And, because I am the magpie that collects information, these are things that may be helpful.
Lambda Legal's FAQ, The Gleewood Seeker Self-care Suggestions, tips on how one might manage the mental distress brought on by events, a suggested course of mental fortitude, action, and fidelity, bullet points of long-term and larger-scale things one might consider.
Take care of yourselves, though - it's easy to get caught up in everything that you forget yourself.
Virtual hugs for all in distress.
If you are looking for a place to donate time or money, a long list of places where you can donate time or money toward progressive causes.
If nothing else rings for you, have a space where you can be reminded of your virtue and your worth.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-26 11:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-27 12:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-27 01:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-29 12:07 am (UTC)And while supporting the environment, avoid supporting environmental groups that destroy in the name of conservation.
http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=4809