Doing nothing is the worst thing we can do
Last night my husband and I had tickets to see Girl Talk — a show we’ve dreamed about seeing for years.
We booked the babysitter. Put on nice clothes. Reserved a parking spot.
But the closer we got to the venue, the more my anxiety rose.
What if something happens tonight?
If it can happen at a grocery store, a church, a movie theater, a nightclub, or an effing school, why not here?
I started imagining the headlines and the news reports. I tried to breathe through the fear and rationalize my way out of it. I even reminded myself about the importance of seeking joy even in the darkest times. But the effort seemed futile in the face of the tragedies of the last two weeks months years decades. We ultimately ended up turning around and going home.
These past two weeks have been extraordinarily difficult. I’m unable to focus on anything at work (How are we even working right now anyway?!). I’m walking around as a shell of myself, paralyzed by the sadness and hopelessness and frustration. Bursting into tears at daycare pick-up. Jumping if I hear a tire squeal or loud bang while walking down the street. Turning off my camera and muting myself so I can cry without my coworkers knowing.
But also, I’m consciously choosing to not look away. To sit in the pain. And eventually, to turn that pain into action.
Because I’m not willing to be a bystander in the unraveling of our world.
I’ve had several conversations over the last couple weeks that inspired me to write this post. At the core of each of the conversations was a similar sentiment – “This is horrific, but really, what can we even do?” – a mix of extreme sadness and presumed powerlessness due to the stranglehold NRA-backed politicians (who are gathering this weekend for their annual conference) have on this issue and the lip service offered in the wake of tragedies. I don’t want their empty thoughts and prayers. I want someone else in their seat that actually gives a shit about the health and safety of women, children, and people of color.
The truth is, it’s up to each of us to stand up and say, this isn’t ok, and I won’t back down until something changes. In each of the conversations I’ve had over the past weeks, I shared a couple simple actions I’m taking, and in each one, it shifted the trajectory of the conversation – from hopeless and despondent to empowered and action-oriented. So, I’m compelled to share some of the resources I’ve gathered in an effort to get everyone to commit to one thing you can do to make our world a safer place, instead of waiting on the people in power to do it for us.
Actions to take:
Talk to people in your life about how this is impacting you – family, friends, neighbors, colleagues. Tell them what you’re committed to doing. Challenge their feelings of powerlessness and share a couple of easy actions they can take. Encourage them to pass it along to 2-3 people, and so on. If everyone does something, we’ll create change.
Looking for an ongoing way to stay involved? Sign up for Everytown’s Summer Series – a weekly text with an action that will take you 20 minutes or less. Already signed up? Ask 3 friends to join you by texting SUMMER to 64433
Put this number in your phone 202.224.3121
Call your Senators (you have two) and tell them:
To pass universal background checks on all gun sales that will close the Gun Show Loophole
To confirm Steve Dettelbach as ATF Director
To support the Assault Weapon Ban
To support the Manchin-Toomey bill to expand background checks for gun sales
Call your Representative and see if they sponsor Ethan’s Law – if they don’t, ask them to, and if they do, ask them to request a vote on it
Organizations to join:
Everytown - https://www.everytown.org/
Swing Left - https://swingleft.org/ - electing officials who support gun safety is critical for our future… register with Swing Left to identify where your closest swing district is for the next election.
Moms Demand Action - https://momsdemandaction.org/
Together Rising - https://togetherrising.org/
Things to read or listen to:
We Can Do Hard Things interview with Shannon Watts - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MSMtoszAVt2ozmIGwh3gn?si=VQsjLwuvTji2NfhOuKQzXg
The Daily looks at what’s changed and hasn’t since Sandy Hook - https://open.spotify.com/episode/22LYJK8fOGCuXPXZ80gSXF?si=1dHk8xFYSMW8-RIbSLsgRQ
PBS asked every Senator what actions need to be taken in the wake of Uvalde, Buffalo, and Laguna Woods; see where yours stand - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-action-should-be-taken-on-guns-we-asked-every-senator
Everytown held their Virtual Rally for Federal Action on Thursday. If you weren’t able to make it, you can watch the recording here (Password: @b92cv?0)
Research on how to prevent school shootings - https://www.npr.org/2022/05/26/1101571302/what-schools-can-do-to-prevent-school-shootings
This list is only the beginning. Please add your actions and orgs in the comments.
And last but not least, stay safe everyone. Our world is a beautiful place, but from time to time, it requires people to stand up and fight for what’s right. Now is that time. What are you going to do?
