Do me a favor, will you?

I made some online friends angry a few days ago in a Facebook post. People apparently don't like being called small minded because they voted for Trump.  Duly noted. One even wrote that if we put Jesus first, all will be well. I don't even know what that means. Pray, and then sit on our asses doing nothing?  That doesn't work for me. Peace, love and prayers will only get me so far and mean nothing without action behind them. Most people were kind and respectful, and most friends agreed with me. I saw one friend who was offended and commented yesterday, and we had a nice talk about it. I'm not hurt by the criticism because it's laughable to me that anyone, especially women who voted for Trump were surprised that someone would find that act to be small minded. "When you roll around in the mud, you're going to get dirty." That sums up my thought that voting for Trump = you agree with his rhetoric, at least for me. And yes, it was exclusively women who were offended and sounded off. Mind boggling to me. I have no way of reconciling that a vote for that man does not equal supporting his rhetoric, but I'm trying.  I understand that time may change hearts, once the true nature of how badly they've screwed up comes to light.  

I understand "we're all in this together" being thrown around on social media, but don't agree with it.  Yes, we all live in one geographical nation, but some have been treated abhorrently for centuries, simply because they are not able-bodied, straight white men. This nasty turn of events seems to be a wake up call for those who knew before Tuesday that change was needed and maybe haven't done much to help effect change. I include myself in that, because yes, while I've regularly donated to causes that support change and equality, have spoken up for those who are being held down, marched in a Pride parade with my girls, it's past time to do more.  Will I be as affected by this administration as tens of thousands of others will? No, probably not.  But my daughters' futures will be different than I envisioned, family members will be that much more apt to be harassed, more friends will live in fear for themselves and their children, and people will be killed because of this man and his hateful rhetoric. Just because my everyday life may not be impacted as much as someone else's is no excuse to sit by and watch it happen. I'm thinking about and working on what to do, how to make a bigger difference.  

Here's the favor I ask of you, especially if you chose to vote for the morally bankrupt individual and you're still reading this: Please, please, please, write to your lawmakers and express that you do not support his bigoted rhetoric.  Demand that they publicly denounce the racist, reprehensible words on which he based his campaign. Demand that they publicly denounce the appointment of misogynists, racists, and anti-Semites to his transition team and to his cabinet. Demand that they ensure that the disabled are not going to be made fun of by our Commander in Chief. Tell them that you want them to stand up for every American. Hearing from Republicans and Trump voters will have a greater impact than just hearing from Democrats, and third party voters. They may never respond, they may ignore your words, but you will have let yourself be heard. And if you voted for Trump, it's a good way to demonstrate that you are not, in fact, small minded, and that you do not support his violent rhetoric. This is something we can all do, and it's a start. 

Carry on my wayward friends, and hold the line.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

--Martin Niemöller