I never thought I would say these words.
I'm living through a Revolution!
Never. I always thoughts politics was boring; and I hated Government class senior year of high school, or political science anything back then. But also as recent as before the 2016 election. I remember studying revolutions, yes, but not living through one. 2018 is the year of the white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-everything in the white house. And yes I realize that it started in 2016.
Okay, that is a super generalized statement, but since the 2016 president election, the growth of the intolerant, fascist, anti-woman, anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ+, pro-tax cut for the wealthy 1% kind of hit me full force; I was terrified. Am still. Will always be terrified of that kinda of hatred and fear. It is real! It is happening! I couldn't deny it, nor could I ignore it.
I was/am angry!
I still am/will be.
This time I will not be silenced by the ignorant, small minded conservatives who clearly believed anything that President Cheeto (one of my favourite names to call him, but not the only one) said or tweeted. I started speaking up. Paying attention to the news. Talking about all the things that I shunned before. And something happened, I became angry, but I was also clear headed in my anger. I started to try to understand why the conservatives thought the way they did. I stood up for others. I protested and argued. Somewhere in all of that I decided that staying angry helped get through the bad shit, and it helped drive me to create art, help others, and fight the battles that we (as a country) need to fight.
Today is election day, mid-term election, when the balance of power, the pendulum, begins to swing back. I voted at 7:30 this morning. I was to wired to lay in bed until I had to go to work. I was awake. I woke up! Voting starts with a single person, yes, but from that so much can come of it. I may not always be a positive person, but my anger makes me a powerful enemy, because I know what I AM FIGHTING FOR.
I voted.
I tell others to vote.
I do not keep silent.
And I will be everything I can to reclaim my country. A country that has lost a lot, but still has potential. Like I see potential in my theatre children as they grow up, in my friends who are learning to grow and are finding their own way, in my community that wants so much more than what we currently have.
Yes, I am angry, but I am rightly angry. From my anger I sow the seeds of love, art, charity, and a dash of humility. I make the world better, because I am angry. I won't always be anger, and the whole won't always be broken. There is always hope.
I am a fighter in the new Revolution!
Vive la Revolucion!
