The thing about living in unprecedented times is that you will be called to do unprecedented things. Or at least things that are unprecedented for you.
And make no mistake, we are living through unprecedented times. There is a tectonic shift happening around us all. This is not the normal partisan squabbling that happens in a healthy, two-party society. This is a technocratic takeover of our society by power-mad oligarchs who have control of the vast reserves of money, all branches of government, the mainstream news media, and much of the internet.
The world – YOUR world – is going to change.
Your choice now is how involved you want to be in the changes that are coming.
I know that you’re recoiling from what I just wrote because it sounds so insurmountable. Trust me, I feel it, too. It’s taken me 20 minutes to figure out how to write this paragraph where I transition from the clarion call of “Havoc!” to tell you how we can “let slip the dogs of war” and take vengeance on the would-be assassins of our democracy.
We start, as Shakespeare’s Marc Anthony did, with words. We stand up and use our voices to speak truth to power.
Or at least speak the truth on Facebook.
Use Your Words
Yes, the idea of standing up to friends, family, local leaders, internet trolls, and the entire media ecosystem is terrifying. But fear is not an excuse to stay silent. You can feel fear and still take action. In the words of Our Lady of Chutzpah, She of Blessed Memory, the One and Only Carrie Fisher, “Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.”
Carrie Fisher is right. You don’t have to be confident. You don’t have to be eloquent. You don’t have to be confrontational. All you have to do is take one action: be honest.
In a maelstrom of lies, honest words are powerful.
Internet Discourse 101
I’ve spend many years arguing on the internet and I’ve learned a lot about how to do it. That main thing I’ve learned is that arguing on the internet isn’t actually a good idea. Mayyyyybe you’ll get a few good roasts in but mostly it’s just going to make your carpal tunnel issues worse. So don’t bother.
On the other hand, talking on the internet? Spitting facts on the internet? Bringing truth to the internet? THAT is powerful.
To be an effective truth-teller, all you have to do is follow these three simple rules:
- Fact check yourself in advance: Don’t fight misinformation with mistakes. Take a few minutes to double-check your facts before you post them. Every time you share information that is correct, you are building your own reputation as someone who is knowledgeable and honest. Before you know it, the people around you will regard you as a trusted source.
- Talk like nobody is listening: The point of speaking up about things that matter to you is that they matter to YOU. Don’t try to tailor your message to anyone else. Don’t obliquely refer back to things other people posted. Just say the honest thing you want to say and hit submit.
- Don’t reply to the comments: Say everything you want to say in your initial post, and ignore the provocations in the comments. Do not argue your point further. Do not justify your position. Do not give your valuable time and energy to people who want to tear you down. If they don’t like what you said, that’s about them.
Talk Isn’t Cheap
What does this look like in practice? Let me demonstrate.
Let’s say you see a news article that says that DOGE has fired 1000 National Park Service employees and you’re upset because your sister-in-law works in a National Park. You want to share your feelings and be supportive of your SIL. So do it!
Do some searches to make sure that information is accurate (spoiler: it’s accurate). Remember that facts matter. Always start with facts.
Once you have your facts straight, share the news and say, “This is heartbreaking. National Parks are so wonderful! My SIL got her dream job in Yosemite last year. She visited during a family vacation when she was a kid and loved it. She studied ecology and as a Park Ranger she gets to share how much she loves the park with visitors. I hope our leaders recognize the value of National Parks and the people who work there.”
That’s all you need to say. You don’t need to reply to whatever edgelord shows up in your comments mansplaining why we should drill for oil in Yosemite. You don’t need to justify the starting salary of a National Park Ranger to a “socially liberal, economic conservative.” You don’t have to get into a debate about entrance fees at National Parks with a libertarian. If they want to have those conversations, they can initiate them on their own pages. You already said what you wanted to say.
By posting your honest, factual sentiment, you have put a face on the situation. You spotlighted the way National Parks inspire young people. You illuminated the education and skills that National Park staff bring to work. You described the intergenerational value of National Parks, and how they deliver joy to families right now, and inspire future scientists and public servants.
And, maybe most importantly, you showed your SIL that you care about her and what she loves. You showed her that she isn’t fighting this battle alone.
Your Silence Will Not Protect You
There is a risk to speaking up, of course. Will your words matter? Are you inviting conflict for no good result? Is it safer to stay silent? I contend that it is not.
As Audre Lorde says, “Your silence will not protect you.” Elie Wiesel further summed up the risk of silence, saying, “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
Be brave. Be loud. Be bold. Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war.
Photo Credit: By i threw a guitar at him. – BLM – 044., CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116539437
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