a little more juju

I’ve written, deleted, and rewritten this post about fifteen times because honestly? What else could I say that hasn’t already been said by thousands of people with much larger platforms than I? What perspective could I offer that would be unique or helpful to others?

Who would care?

My social media presence isn’t what it used to be back in the mid- to late-2000s, when Tumblr and message boards were kings and Facebook was little more than database for college students. My once robust online community has sort of withered down to a few people I contact sporadically, and the internet has changed so much in even the past five years that I don’t think I could create such a community again, at least not without putting in hours of unpaid work. And let’s face it: a girl’s gotta get that cash somehow.

Regardless of how completely unimportant I am to the state of the world, though, I feel it’s important that I stay transparent, if for no other reason than to be true to myself. I do not wish to be one of those people who sat and watched as evil walked by my front door. No, it’s a stronger feeling than that: I will not be one of those people.

So to be clear: 1) I stand firmly against everything this current administration stands for and 2) I recognize that it is just a symptom of the greater plague of white supremacy. 3) ICE must be abolished. 4) My support is with the citizens of Gaza and Ukraine, with human rights, trans rights, reproductive rights. 5) Everyone should have healthcare, housing, and food. 6) Your ability to produce is not the sum of your worth. 7) Not a single aspect of life is apolitical.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

Too many of us stay quiet because we think no one will give a shit. And maybe no one will, but as a magnet on my fridge growing up said, “Character is what counts when no one is watching.” Not everyone is going to end up with their name in a history book, and that’s okay. I’m not expecting to, of course; for all I know, my heyday was back in 2009. But I’m still going to speak out, I’m still going to ensure that everyone knows where I stand.

Because I want others, particularly those who can’t speak up for themselves, to know that I stand for them.