The world is heavy right now. There’s no two ways about it.
But here’s the thing. If we give up, the fascists, the white supremacists, the polluters win. They all win. And the world as we know it will never be the same. And the world we dream of will never be.
In the past few weeks, violence and threats have rocked communities, political leaders, and outspoken critics across our country. We’ve watched in horror as gunshots rang out, bombs were mailed, and horrid new policy proposals were announced. And amidst all of this, the United Nations issued a report saying we have barely more than a decade to stave off true climate catastrophe.
It’s hard to find hope in a world where everywhere you turn something seems to be going horribly wrong. But it’s out there. In communities around the country, people are rising up and demanding more from their political leaders. People are coming together to stand up against hate, against dirty projects, and for each other.
In times of uncertainty and fear, there’s something comforting about the things you can plan for, and the ways that we can come together to make a real difference. And here’s a big one: One of the most important elections of our lives is tomorrow.
Please, please vote.
I’m a firm believer in the power, and the responsibility, of voting. I’ve never missed voting in an election. It’s important to me. But I also know that voting is not the end of the struggle, by any means. We must continue raising our voices in countless ways – on Election Day and beyond. As my friend Rebecca Solnit has put it, “Voting is a chess move, not a valentine.”
There are many battles ahead. It seems like every single day a new challenge is presented to us, forcing us to adapt and adjust and fight even harder. We will do our best to stand in solidarity with our allies, and build our collective power for progress. We will do our best to plan for the worst and strive for the very best. And in the meantime, we’ll do what we can to help the arc of the moral universe start bending towards justice again.
But first, join us in voting. Bring your friends. Find strength in joining in community to raise your voice at the polls. Please, please vote.
You can learn more about how, where, and when to vote in your community from our good friends at Vote.org.