This election season in the United States is complex, hard to navigate, and not easy to live through. Not the first hard election season but probably the scariest so far for me up to now.
I believe that the very idea of democracy surviving in this country is at stake. Autocratic propaganda keeps lying that single votes do not count yet the margins will be slim and every little step in the right direction is a step to keep democracy going. There are many levels on which democracy exists and I think it is important to participate in the democratic process of governance on all the levels that are available for us.
So here are things that are helping me:
- I do not look at social media as a source of the news. I found several sources for aggregated news from writers that I find balanced and who do a lot of research (I receive one email a day).
- My other source is www.allsides.com - offers many ways to check sources as much less a sensational source of information.
- I made sure that I have a local news source - even if you live in a tiny town or if have someone you care about who lives in a small community having that different scale of the news in your input helps to have a different perspective on things.
- I limit my news consumption in general and try to have a good variety of reading materials ready everywhere. Timer is my friend.
- I made sure that I kept tabs on many issues that I care about throughout the whole country, different states, my county, and city - spreading my attention over many important things instead of sinking it all into the results of the presidential race (however important it is).
- I continue writing letters and donating what resources I have - till the very end. Encouraging people to go vote, make sure that their voice is heard. Sending messages asking people to open their eyes and choose a future in which they are heard and are part of decision-making. I make every card and letter personal. And I enclose my owl "vote" sticker inside :)
- And I try to connect to people I know personally - send them a letter, or card or text or place a call - with an unseasonal hello, some news, and a reminder to vote too.
- I made plans for the election day and days before and after: keeping busy helping people in the community, drawing, and being with people I care about, friends, and connecting to nature. It will be there long after we forget this all.
- And I voted!
I wish you peace and strength. If you are an American - please vote. For your future, for the future of democracy in this country and in the world.
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