First We Admit Our Mistakes and Then We Open Our Eyes

     It's a scary world out there, and it seems like it is always becoming scarier. Our friends and family who feel under threat by comments and actions made by President-Elect Trump and his cohorts need to know that they are not alone, that even though Trump was elected, people are still watching out for them. I'm sure by now, most people have heard of the movement to wear a safety pin to show solidarity and support.

Why the Safety Pin?

     With the pin, comes responsibility. It isn't just a symbol or a fashion accessory it is a statement saying; if I see someone being harassed or harmed in any way, I will stand up and do something. If you don't mean that, please, do not wear the pin. People need our voices, and our actions.
     Seeing a situation unfold is scary, I found this article and comic strip helpful in knowing how to diffuse the situation. What do I do?

     Harassment of course doesn't only happen to those of  Muslim faith, but I think this example gives a good plan of action for most situations.  As always, it doesn't matter who is the victim of this treatment, we need to stand together to protect our friends.
     Of course, there will always be criticism for those who wish to bring good in to the world, such as this simple gesture of solidarity.
He does make a good point
     The author of this piece is right in a lot of ways. Perhaps we white people are trying to make ourselves feel better?  Perhaps we DO need to sit in our guilt of being part of a racist system from which we benefit. But I fear that will just bring more apathy and inaction. What good will it do to just sit and wallow in the fact that yes, we have messed up and continue to mess up, when instead we can actually do something? We can actually prove ourselves to be allies instead of just saying the words.
     As the title of this entry says, "First we admit our mistakes and then we open our eyes." Opening our eyes means opening our mouths, our pocketbooks, our hearts and doing whatever we can to help. We may have messed up over and over again, but we keep trying. We accept that people of color or the LBGTQ community, or the Muslim community may not appreciate the gesture of the safety pin and may find it to be condescending. I think the way to deter those feelings in others is with follow through. As they say, put your money where your mouth is. Put your actions there too. The author of the article above has a good list of things we can do to be an ally. I will do a synopsis here but you can read the full article here Being an ally
1. Be intolerant of intolerance
2. Seek out marginalized voices and perspectives
3. Confront your racism and don't be fragile
4. Use your privilege to support marginalized movements
5. Give your time and money
6. Be proactive about inclusion in your daily life
7. Avoid segregation
8. Do the work to be inclusive

      Getting back to the safety pin--don't wear the pin as a gesture, wear it as a commitment that you aren't going to stand idly by while others continue to be marginalized. Take the time to understand the world view different from your own, work to make a change. Be a friend, be an ally, be a protector. As my friend Lindsay said, just be sure when you are speaking up you aren't speaking down to another. Take the time to listen without being defensive. Take the time to listen.