What will you give up?
We won't win this fight without some sacrifice
Privilege.
Chances are good that you have it. The question is, will you give it up? Will you share it with people who don’t have it? Will you defer to people with less power than you? Will you allow others to lead? Will you challenge people with power if it makes you uncomfortable? Will you challenge people with power if they are your beloved dad? Risk losing a cherished friend? Will you put your own safety on the line to protect the marginalized?*
Many of us like to think we would. That we are that person. Most of us aren’t. Our privilege feels too comfortable to us.If you are white in this country, you have it.
If you are a man, cis-heterosexual, any form of Christian, you have it.
If you are a white woman, you have it.
If you speak English without an accent from another country (not necessarily well, mind you – that’s not necessary) you have it.
To you, it feels like nothing. It feels like normal day-to-day life. It is likely fully unnoticeable to you. Your rights, which feel non-negotiable, are something you’ve had since birth. Yay, you!
It’s being able to joke with a police officer. It’s the ability to walk around in a store without being followed. It’s having a restaurant server address you as “Ma’am” or “Sir” and you not batting an eye because they’ve correctly identified your gender identity without question. Watch this citizen turn privilege on its head.
And 53% of those who voted in 2024 (oh, yeah, voting without obstacles thrown in your way is privilege) decided to not just maintain their privilege, but make damn sure others who were beginning to enjoy the benefits of those normal, unbothered, day-to-day existences would never come close to experiencing privilege.
You may have not – thank you! But now what?
The “DO SOMETHING” Party
So many of us are demanding Democrats DO SOMETHING. Well, they are. Some are more public and attention-seeking than others about it, others are more behind the scenes, still more are working in ways we aren’t allowed (nor should we be allowed) to see. All you have to do is follow The Democrats online on any social media platform or sign up to get their emails, and you’ll find out.
Follow Indivisible to find out what YOU can do personally, whether it’s with your wallet, your phone, your voice, or your body. Join your local chapter. They have Zoom calls every few days, some are held weekly on certain topics. If you don’t have the bandwith, you can donate to them so they can keep up the amazing organizing work. For example, on their site, they have a great explainer for “The Big Three Fights We Can’t Afford to Lose” and how you can help.
Make your Congress Critters aware of how important your democracy is to you. Karoli already told you about the amazing 5Calls app – download it onto your phone, and call! You’re more likely to get an actual human if you call their local offices than their DC offices, so do it. This app couldn’t make it easier, even giving you the script to say. Now, it’s more effective if you change of the script a bit to be more personal, but hey, whatever you can manage is AMAZING.
DEMAND your reps and senators hold town halls. Then ATTEND THEM. Look what is happening - look! This happened in Albany at Rep. Paul Tonko’s town hall. He’s a Democrat, though you won’t find that information anywhere on his website, it seems. *eyeroll*
That entire audience was cheering and ready to get arrested to keep self-declared King Trump and Emperor Musk out of our Social Security accounts, bank accounts, medical records, and god knows what else. Are you?
Here, in Georgia, we have Rep. Rich McCormick, a Republican (remember he wanted to do away with child labor laws, among other heinous GOP agenda items?) facing angry constituents in his red district. The MAGAs are pissed, folks.
For some extra serotonin, check out the Governor of Maine, Janet Mills, kicking Trump in the balls when he tries to bully her into being a transphobic shithead like he is.
These folks are truly putting their privilege aside and on the line. They are doing something. Their numbers are growing. This is something to fight and gain strength from, and if you have privilege, use it to hold up others who deserve it as much if not more than you do. Hold open the door. Be the step, don’t use the step. Don’t think about what it will cost you. Think about what the world will look like once we’ve won.
One Last Thing
I was talking to my therapist in a marathon session yesterday because god, did I need it on the day Shiri’s brutally murdered babies came home and she did not. My therapist told me this about this moment in history:
Life as we know it is over.
This new reality calls into question all our relationships, current and future. If we are seekers of truth, lovers of justice, we can no longer simply disagree on politics.
So this means you may be feeling wobbly about relationships you felt were solid despite your political differences. This is part of why we feel so unmoored.
That’s okay. You are okay. We will be okay. And if you have any question about that, just watch this and be grateful you are alive while people like this exist.
and
and
lots of love and solidarity,
Aliza (and hopefully, Karoli and Donna if they’ll still associate with me)
*When we ask what you will do or give up, this only applies to whose folks who aren’t marginalized already. We are never asking those already threatened by police for existing, sickened or limited in their mobility, already struggling to feed themselves, teetering on the brink emotionally, etc. to sacrifice anything. Ever.
A question for everyone to ponder