Get out and make a Difference

But how can we make a difference when so many cultures, beliefs, and religions are co-existing in our society? The answer is simple: be educated. By letting yourself become fully aware of what is happening in the world around you, you now have the ability to spark conversation that puts the word out into existence. This includes: “knowing who your local legislators and politicians are and how to get in touch with them, attend town hall meetings (city council, school board), use social media to mobilize your voice, volunteer at local organizations, and by attending rallies you can surround yourself with new perspectives” (25 Ways to be Politically Active). By getting yourself out there and sharing your concerns with your local peers and politicians, you are becoming an agent of change for society. After the results of the 2016 presidential election, many people felt as if it was a huge slap in the face. With so much excitement and ambition towards a better future, our hopes were soon shattered when we found out that our new President of the United States was Donald Trump. Waking up the morning after, I realized, along with the rest of America, that we as a nation are simply not paying enough attention: we need to be more involved. In Barack Obama’s farewell speech, he says:

“That’s what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there’s an election, not just when your narrow interest is at stake. But over the full span of a lifetime. If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try talking with one of them in real life. If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Stay at it” (President Obama Farewell Address). Change will never be possible if people just sit by and wait for it to happen. People like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, and Benazir Bhutto did not sit behind a screen hoping that someone would speak up for them. Instead, they took it upon themselves to create their own movements to reconstruct the attitudes of society. It’s like the saying: “if you want something done you have to do it yourself” because although it may be intimidating, the outcome is far greater than the fear of our own vulnerability.