I’ve been trying valiantly to stay out of or away from politics on my social media and for the most part I’ve been successful. I’m going to try and remain so, which probably has you scratching your head as to where this post is coming from.
Well, simply put, I feel the need to address why I have been unfriending people quietly on my social media over the last few days.
Oh my god, why would you do that!?
I hear you thinking it, and you know what? I get it. That’s a bold move for an author that relies so much on the word-of-mouth and social media machine that is Facebook. Why would anyone in my position be so crazy as to potentially harm that?
It’s simple. I may be unfriending people over political posts, sure, but I’m not unfriending people over politics.
I’ve been quietly unfriending people because, let’s face it, no matter which side you’re on this election is super ugly and has brought out the absolute worst in people.
I’m going to be blunt. People have turned into total fucking assholes with each other over this shit and it’s incredibly disheartening. I have been reading horror stories. First-hand accounts of racism, sexism, assault, and abuse since this presidential election and I am being constantly reminded of a quote I have often tried to live by:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
-Edmund Burke
It’s been rattling around in my brain a lot, and I’m sad to say, I’m beginning to realize that just quietly unfriending these cruel, bigoted responses to the situation at hand is really me doing a whole lot of nothing. I want to wait and see what is going to happen. I want to give fair chances and reserve judgment until something happens, too but sometimes we really need to be more proactive than reactive. So, when it comes to the half of the country who feels gutted, who is afraid, who sits silent and fears the worst…
I’m reaching out to you. I’m here if you want to talk. My books are available to you if you need an escape.
To the people out there who find the fear of that half of the country funny. Take your privilege and shove it for two minutes of your fucking life and try to use your rusted empathy skills. You know, imagine what it would feel like to have a scarf snatched off your head and shoved at you and told you should hang yourself with it.
Try to imagine minding your own business, pumping your gas and having strangers approach you, threaten you, terrify you with your kids in the back seat of the car looking on. Try for two seconds to imagine what it would be like to step off your porch to drive yourself to work only to realize your car has been vandalized by the people in your very neighborhood with racial and sexist slurs and threats of violence against not just you but your spouse and your children.
These aren’t imaginary things. These are things that are happening right now, out there, and there are people laughing about it.
Those people who find it funny, and who believe the rest of America is overreacting? You’re on notice, right along with the people who are doing these things. If you don’t have anything nice to say, stuff it. No one wants to hear that shit coming out of your mouth or read it coming across your feed. Your candidate won. Bully for you. That doesn’t minimize in any way the feelings of threat and fear the opposite side are feeling now.
I’ll be pinning a safety pin to my clothing when I go out, and as scared as I am for myself as a woman and for my black fiance every time I go out that door if I see any of the kinds of things I fear happening to other people out there. Nope, no, and hell no… Not. On. My. Watch. I’m here, I’m a place of safety. I don’t know you, but I will stand by you and with you. Why, because change, standing up to violence, hatred, and tyranny? It starts at a grassroots level.
Not. On. My. Watch.
I’m here, I’m a place of safety. I don’t know you, but I will stand by you and with you. Why, because change, standing up to violence, hatred, and tyranny? It starts at a grassroots level and I’m there, with my boots on the ground. Won’t you join me?
I’m right there with my safety pin and my snowflakes. I am in the same boat as you, scared for myself and daughter but even more scared for others who may not have anyone to turn to. So I’m here for anyone who needs me and am trying to make what this country is becoming better one act of kindness at a time.
Wow! I just saw your comments and this same quote has been posted in my home office since July of this year. I applaud you and others who will not sit quietly and let evil take control.
Your books do provide a time to escape so please continue. Looking forward to the next one!