Punching Complacency in the Loins

Hello, lovelies!

Today’s post is inspired by a tweet I saw from fantastic writer and human K.B. Wagers on Twitter the other day. They said:

Morning neighbors.

One of the things I'm doing this weekend is to make some time to sit down and write out a list of issues that are important to me. Things I want to fight for in the years to come. Things I can help with.

I encourage you to join me.

— K.B. Wagers (they/them) (@kbwagers) January 21, 2021

And I thought this was incredibly important to do. I think a danger currently with the administration that just came into office is that many people will assume that “the danger is past” or “the worse is over” now that fucktard isn’t in the Oval Office anymore. Yet, the things he preached, what he represented–white power, white supremacy, systemic racism, bigotry, fascism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, amongst so many other things; all of that doesn’t just disappear now that he’s gone. Those things existed before him and they will exist after, due to policies and systems currently in place that *allowed* his rise to power in the first place.

Right now, complacency is a great threat and one I don’t want to fall trap to, especially since I *have* felt hope at some of Biden’s executive orders so far.

I’m just one person and I recognize that. I also recognize that there is so much injustice in the world and my actions aren’t going to suddenly change all of it, even if I was able to dedicate my entire life to fighting everything. And while I want to continue to fight and do to better, which is why I wanted wanted to borrow K.B.’s idea and write out a list of specific things I really want to focus on and learn about, over the next year (and obviously carry throughout my lifetime). I’m posting it here because I’ll inevitably lose anything I write out by hand.

It doesn’t mean I’m not going to fight for things that aren’t on this list. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to continue to learn and fight and dream and create a better future for all, because I want to do that.

But, I also want to make sure I use the time, as one singular person, well. I want to make an impact, especially in the country I live, without spreading myself too thin, to the point where I don’t make an impact at all. So, while I am only focusing on three areas here, I hope to continue work on many.

Fighting Climate Change

Obviously, this is something that’s important to me, as I kinda like having a planet to live on? I also hope to have a child one day and I don’t want them to inherit a dying planet when we had the power to stop it.

For me, focusing on this area looks like:

• Learning more about the science on the causes of and solutions to climate change
• Staying on top of new legislation and bills to support or fight against
• Reach out to representatives to make sure they are fighting against climate change
• Speak more to family and friends about what we can do
• Incorporate more sustainable practices in my own daily life

Supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement

Racism and white supremacy are major problems in America (she writes, as if this isn’t obvious fact). Yet, so many either see this as a problem of the past, ignore it or aren’t fighting to remove the policies that enable racism to be so rampant in practically every aspect of our lives. I want to be part of the generation that dismantles it.

For me, focusing on this area looks like:

• Continuing to listen to and support the needs, work and voices of Black folx and activists
• Read one non-fiction book on anti-racism a month
• Work on calling out my own racist thoughts and tendencies to become more anti-racist
• Reach out to representatives to demand change
• Do more research of what changes can be made locally
• Call out racism
• Speak with family and friends on how to be more anti-racist
• Continue to support Black writers

Fight for LGBTQIA+ Rights

This is something that is very important to me and very personal to me. No person should be denied any right–but especially basic human rights like housing, health care, food, job security, love–because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

For me, focusing on this area looks like:

• Learning more about LGBTQIA+ history
• Getting involved in groups at my university to help ensure our queer students are protected and able to thrive and succeed in a safe environment
• Reach out to representatives to make sure they are voting in favor for queer rights
• Do more research on what changes can be made locally
• Continue to support queer writers
• Call out problematic behavior by others and check for my own internalized prejudices

Again, I know the work I’m doing personally isn’t going to change the world. It might not have a huge impact at all, but it’s so much better than doing nothing. I want to fight for a world I want to believe in and these three areas are just some I want to focus particularly on myself.

What about you? What issues are important to you and what are you doing to help make a difference?

Cheers.