Any ideas on how i can become more active in my community without protesting (my parents won’t let me) I’m 16 btw and I just need to do something to help people I feel like it’d be a shame if I didn’t.
I’m very artsy and creative though I have some mobility issues due to chronic illness and I have trouble with loud noises and bright/flashing lights if that changes anything
Hi there!
How lovely to meet a fellow artist! I understand your desire to be more active in these unfortunately historic times. If your parents aren’t permitting physical protesting, there are still plenty of ways to support the community!
Because of your chronic conditions you mentioned, my suggestion is that it’s probably best that you’re not going out to an actual protest. One of many reasons is that marching in protests is a physically demanding job. At best, you’re standing for hours outside in whatever elements grace the weather that day(s), and subsequent.y facing potential flareups in the aftermath. At worst, you’re dodging kettle traps, rubber bullets (which is a deceptive term), and tear gas. (Tear gas is one of the reasons why I don’t physically march, myself; I have my own share of health issues, one of which guarantees that, if I were to be hit with tear gas, it would slowly and painfully kill me.) And, given your sensitivity to lights and noises, just the environment of physical protesting would probably be torture for you.
However, like I mentioned, there’s still plenty of ways to participate in the resistance! A major place to start would be choosing one or just a couple subjects to keep up on (there’s simply TOO MUCH to keep track of in real time by any one person and thats by design), and to remember to take breaks from it now and then. Remember: keeping informed is one thing, doomscrolling is another. Your mental health matters just as much, and you can’t help anyone with anything if you’re not taken care of, first.
But, choose one or a couple things and document as much information as you can about it. (Always make sure to check and verify your sources along the way, too! You don’t want to unwittingly spread misinformation.) I recommend making hard copy files alongside electronic, because in case of electricity/connection issues, you'll still have access to your data with hard copies.
In addition to this, I would try to have conversations about these topics with others, so as to help inform and spread information. Also, correct false information whenever you come across it, if you can. (Keep in mind that there are many ignorant — yet confidant — loudmouths who will try to talk over and discredit anything they may not like. With that said, if it stresses you out to deal with these particular individuals, then simply refrain from engaging; most of them have no interest in being informed anyways; they just want to believe they’re right, no matter what the facts say.)
Writing/sharing articles and blogs about your chosen topics would also help! You’ll only need to engage with others online, and if any of them give you trouble, that’s what the block button is for! And since you’re an artist, making Protest Art is an essential part of protesting! Some of the most beautiful works in history were created in protest. Lots of statements could be made that way, as well. Political cartoons are a major impact, for sure!
Also, supporting independent journalists who rely on their subscribers (and not corporate donors) — such as Aaron Parnas, Ben Meiselas, and Jeff Tiedrich — will also help real news from getting buried in all the noise out there. And, if you can donate to any of them, that also helps keep them going against a regime who wants to silence and punish them!
Another thing I would recommend is to listen to members of groups affected by the current events (I.e. immigrants, Black folks, afab and queer people, etc.) Especially if they are of a different demographic than yourself. The best way to understand each other is to listen to one another, and I think if you make a habit of it, others will follow your example. There’s so much that marginalized groups can tell everyone about what it’s like to live a day in their shoes, their struggles, their worries, their traumas, etc.
One other thing I’d recommend is to make a habit of complimenting strangers. It doesn’t have to be anything major, but you’d be amazed at how much simply telling a passing individual, “I dig your t-shirt, man!” Or telling a waitress, “I love your tattoos!” will make a difference in somebody’s day! I’ve seen people who were simply trudging on by, and when I gave them a random complement, they visibly brightened up and they almost always smiled 😃 (Make sure to keep these compliments about something they clearly CHOSE — i.e., like their clothing choice or jewelry — instead of something they didn’t, like their height or eye color) It takes little to no effort, and it can make such a huge difference — especially in a world where so many people can be so mean just for the sake of it. (And, especially in a time where the regime wants us closed-off and apathetic to each other’s plights.) I think we, as a society, can make kindness in vogue, again. It costs literally nothing, and does way more good than not. And, again, you’d be surprised how many other people you could influence just by leading by example.
None of us can save the world on our own, but there are so many of us that, if we all pitch in even a little, it can go such a long way.
I hope I was able to offer answers that help! Thank you for thinking to ask me.
