Justmehere
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Another way I'm coping with the the triggers is to not just wear a safety pin myself, but to hand out safety pins to anyone that I know that is interested in keeping people safe.
It helps me see so many people who say yes, I want to be a safe person for anyone feeling stressed out and scared.
There are protests of thousands of people happening within blocks of my home, and I have a number of friends volunteering with the police as marshals to keep the peace. Remembering their work helps me cope too.
People who voted for and against the president elect have been wearing the safety pins too Yes, even people who voted for him...
I could link to a many articles and stats that show most people who voted for the president-elect didn't vote because they are in support of sexual assault or racism. A few did, but not the vast majority.
Most who voted for him choose him because they felt something else was more important than standing up against that. More important than even that - and there was massive outrage about the Standford rapist...
Most of them will take the safety pin and offer to be in harms way to protect people - and I'm only handing them out to people I know and have engaged with over the past 14 months who are legit.
The more people I talk with who voted for him, the more I can validate that the vote for the president elect was not a vote for sexual assault or racism. Yes, it still stinks... I don't agree with them and their choice (but that's not the topic of this thread - coping with what happened is the topic) but remembering this might help some cope - sexual assault is not taken seriously enough in this nation but it's not like millions of people voted in favor of rape and racism.
Yes, they overlooked it. Yes, some racists and myogynists have been empowered.
But don't forget the picture is more grey, more complex, than it might seem by the headlines - and that there are so so so many of us willing and trying to keep people safe and ok.
In general, inside and outside of this election, in the midst of any danger and darkness, we have to not lose sight of where there might be safe places and light, even if they are small and few. They still are there. Don't forget them, instead focus on them.
And silly YouTube videos. That makes me smile and breathe in the midst of all that is happening... there is still room to laugh and that reduces stress too.
Hugs to all who need one!
Edited to add:
@lostforgottensoul - I posted before I saw your post - yes exactly!!! :)
It helps me see so many people who say yes, I want to be a safe person for anyone feeling stressed out and scared.
There are protests of thousands of people happening within blocks of my home, and I have a number of friends volunteering with the police as marshals to keep the peace. Remembering their work helps me cope too.
People who voted for and against the president elect have been wearing the safety pins too Yes, even people who voted for him...
I could link to a many articles and stats that show most people who voted for the president-elect didn't vote because they are in support of sexual assault or racism. A few did, but not the vast majority.
Most who voted for him choose him because they felt something else was more important than standing up against that. More important than even that - and there was massive outrage about the Standford rapist...
Most of them will take the safety pin and offer to be in harms way to protect people - and I'm only handing them out to people I know and have engaged with over the past 14 months who are legit.
The more people I talk with who voted for him, the more I can validate that the vote for the president elect was not a vote for sexual assault or racism. Yes, it still stinks... I don't agree with them and their choice (but that's not the topic of this thread - coping with what happened is the topic) but remembering this might help some cope - sexual assault is not taken seriously enough in this nation but it's not like millions of people voted in favor of rape and racism.
Yes, they overlooked it. Yes, some racists and myogynists have been empowered.
But don't forget the picture is more grey, more complex, than it might seem by the headlines - and that there are so so so many of us willing and trying to keep people safe and ok.
In general, inside and outside of this election, in the midst of any danger and darkness, we have to not lose sight of where there might be safe places and light, even if they are small and few. They still are there. Don't forget them, instead focus on them.
And silly YouTube videos. That makes me smile and breathe in the midst of all that is happening... there is still room to laugh and that reduces stress too.
Hugs to all who need one!
Edited to add:
@lostforgottensoul - I posted before I saw your post - yes exactly!!! :)