By Fabiola Rio
It is time to stop grieving the election of Donald Trump. If you voted for Trump, I hope you are someday able to understand what you have done to this country, to your neighbors and to yourself. This is your lesson to learn, and I hope you take that seriously.
But that sentiment does not capture our country’s primary political challenge.
The American government has screwed the people in this country over so badly that we have turned on each other. Trump is just one symptom of that problem. The white men of our generation are being increasingly drawn to far-right political figures and the MAGA movement. Several minorities and marginalized groups have shown greater support for Trump than in either of the two previous presidential elections. The results of this election only prove what has been festering under the surface for years: that we cannot find it within ourselves to care about each other.
I am sick of people in this community and on this campus openly espousing far-left ideals without any intention to participate in meaningful political action. While there are some who are committed to organizing and effecting change, by and large, our approach to activism has become performative, shaped by polarization and a dwindling sense of human empathy. The reality is that very few are willing to do the difficult, often unseen work of community organizing and engagement — and those who do face immense challenges and barriers.
We must do everything in our power to prevent this tragedy from turning us bitter or hateful. Too often, we struggle to show compassion for those who live outside our bubble, to find solidarity with the individuals most affected by systemic oppression in the country and to understand why Trump remains such a powerful figure for so many Americans. The Democratic Party is crumbling. We cannot rely on politicians to make the right decisions. It is on us to advocate for the people in this world who cannot advocate for themselves do so.
While gerrymandering and voter disenfranchisement, especially of people of color, have shaped policies you oppose, these policies do not reflect the will of many Southerners. Do not vilify the people you should be fighting for. Our fight now is not about region vs. region, it is about focusing on solidarity and action — that starts in the communities closest to us.
We attend a predominantly white institution with a great deal of middle and upper-middle-class students. Many of you can rely exclusively on your parents for financial support during this period of your life. I am not here to condemn you for that. But if you are lucky enough not to work a job or rely on other campus involvements for income, it is incumbent on you to take advantage of your free time and do the work that voting could not achieve.
Submit an opinion piece to a local paper (like The Mossy Log or The Oregonian) talking about the world we ought to live in and how we can achieve it. Get involved with Portland Mutual Aid Network, or call your local government to advocate for community libraries and gardens. Donate to an abortion fund in a state imposing abortion restrictions. If you cannot monetarily contribute to causes you care about, donate your time and labor through volunteer work.
Hands On Greater Portland is a group that collates a directory of volunteer opportunities across a variety of projects, including local park restoration, assisting public meal services, tutoring children, delivering groceries to seniors and more.
Other local groups to look at for volunteer opportunities are Rose Haven, Sunshine Division, Rehab’s Sisters, Blanchet House, Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Family Promise of Metro East, Meals on Wheels People and Store to Door Oregon.
Equitable Giving Circle, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, the Urban League of Portland and Don’t Shoot PDX all work to empower local communities of color and could greatly benefit from more volunteers.
L’Arche Portland runs three homes throughout the city for people with intellectual disabilities and needs volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks.
If you care about the mass killings in Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Burkina Faso or any of the other regions around the globe facing war or genocide, call your representatives and go to protests advocating for the victims of this violence.
The United States is not unique. Other people throughout history and the world have lived under and fought against far more repressive regimes than the Trump administration. It is time to stop wringing our hands over how we will survive this time and start fucking doing something to improve it.
For many of you, the policies Trump’s administration will enact likely will not affect your everyday life. Do not let this make you ignorant. Everywhere you look, there is work to be done — posting an Instagram infographic to your majority-liberal followers is not enough. We must show up for our communities, or else the next four years will be graver than we can imagine.
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