It’s Easy to Feel Overwhelmed

When you feel piled on by layer upon layer of evil attempting to suffocate good. When people who you’ve imagined were decent individuals merrily participate in the destruction of what’s right—not only those you already know are unethical and immoral. It’s easy to feel powerless.

Some people don’t believe in the concept of evil, but I do. Racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, bigotry and destroying the environment top my list of sins. Included in the list are all the ways they’re manifested. For example, allowing 21 year-olds to legally buy AR-15s and make toddlers orphans. While not allowing anyone to provide water to citizens forced to stand in long voting lines due to the targeted elimination of mail-in ballots and polling places.

So how do we combat this? Propel the moral high ground?

1. Vote! In order to expand the Supreme Court, take back state governments so that everyone’s vote is counted fairly–we have to vote blue! Vote the entire ballot–today’s dogcatcher could become tomorrow’s anti-abortion state legislator. It’s important to take the time to research policy positions and who’s funding the candidates so you choose wisely! No more Sinemas! Even if you don’t feel voting does any good, ask yourself this question: Why are those who want to trash our freedoms so invested in making sure we can’t vote?!
2. Challenge those in your circle who spout the evils I outlined above! Of course, only do so in a way that keeps you safe, but difficult conversations need to be had. Evil flourishes in silence. Don’t be silent!

Martin Luther King said “the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice,” but that only occurs if we don’t let feeling overwhelmed stop us from fighting for what’s right. And I’m mostly a pacifist, so I don’t mean fight via physical violence. Evil isn’t afraid of that. It feeds off of it.

We need to focus on fighting the good fight the right way: promoting equality, justice and love.