leave your stupid comments in your pocket

Old friend: So what have been up to besides school these days?

Me: Well, I've been planning a lot of vacations.

Old friend: That's great! Where have you been recently?

The simplest and most effective thing you can do is call your Congressperson & Senators. Let them know your stance on an issue and ask them what they plan to do about that issue. If the answer is some form of “We’re not doing anything about that”, then call back the next day...and the next day...and the next day. Calling takes a minute of your time and they are required to take your calls and listen to you, so DO NOT FEEL INTIMIDATED TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. If you don’t know who your Congressperson or Senators are or if you got a new phone and lost their number, here’s how to find them:

Congressperson: http://m.house.gov/representatives/

Depending on your party affiliation, you may be extremely happy right now or extremely distressed. However, regardless of your personal feelings toward the result of the election, I implore you all to listen today. Listen to your fellow Americans that were not born with the same privileges in this country that you were born with simply due to skin color, sexuality, gender, or religion. Listen to their thoughts, their feelings, their concerns, their fears...they are all valid first-hand accounts of things you could never experience. America is still a place where inequality and discrimination is very much present and it is going to be your job in the coming years to be an ally in making certain that we continue to work toward making our country a place where all people are equal and have equal rights. It is your job to listen and empathize and support our brothers and sisters who need it in a time like this. Let people know that you are there for them, that you empathize with them, and that you will be their partner in rectifying social injustices that they may come across. This is not a partisan issue, it's a human issue that goes beyond being a democrat or republican. Supporting your fellow Americans is what you need to be doing right now, because for most of us straight white dudes in this country, the cards will naturally be in our favor no matter who is president or what laws are passed. So if you love your country, listen. If you love your neighbor, listen. If you love yourself, listen. Because if you don't then you are only enabling the rhetoric and actions that have created and will continue to create social injustice and inequality throughout the United States. Much love to all of you.

And to all people reading this that aren't straight white dudes,