I’m feeling angry, sad, vexed, stressed, annoyed, defeated, useless, scared, worried, confused and I don’t know which of these emotions is going to be the one taking control of my fingers as I type this blog post.

My eyes are tingling, staring ahead behind a watery glaze. My mind pulsing, willing to find the right next step – a solution. This isn’t how life should be. Is it? There must be a different way. When will the light turn on and make the path appear? Perhaps I’m in a delusional state that is hankering after a world that can never be!

So what has got me typing on a rampage?POLITICS!

To be specific it was reading this article on Trump’s policy to expand the Mexico City policy, which in short plans to stop the United States financially supporting groups around the world that support or promote abortion.

I have always shied away from politics. Growing up in a working-class family on a council estate we didn’t talk about it. We had the orange poster which belonged to the Liberal Democrat party on our window – like the majority of the houses on our street. I didn’t ask why we voted Lib-Dem all I knew is that we didn’t like the ‘tories especially not ‘Maggie Thatcher’ (throw her up and catch her)!*

When I was old enough to vote, I carried on the tradition and placed a clear fat X in the Lib-Dem box – not spending a moment reviewing policies. I actually spent more time researching where I was going to go on my first holiday abroad without parents than I did deciding which party I wanted to lead the country. I’m sure I’m not alone with this disclosure.

Another reason I shied away from politics was the belief I held that it was for the intelligent and educated and dare I say it dull – in my circles, politics wasn’t cool! On the rare times that I did decide to pick up a newspaper and read about it, I was quickly discouraged as it was really hard to understand and what was with the long words and drawn out information? Google wasn’t to hand then to check – so I cast the paper aside and continued to live my life in an oblivious ignorant bubble.

I’m so pleased to say that through the years my opinions changed and I started to take politics more seriously. Although I still feel very uncomfortable sharing my views because I’m not academically articulate. I understand that no matter my background, I have a right to my views.

I think that people often get confused with having a right to own an opinion with being abusive, hateful, offensive, controlling and forceful with their views and dangerous with their actions. I’ve seen attacks become personal as the virtual gloves come on and the subject which was been debated cast aside – with neither side having any intention of hearing the other person out.

The scathing down right disgusting comments my eyes witnessed over the recent Alabama abortion policy still weighs heavily on me now. Posts were full of loaded threats, hypocrisy and contradictions.

I can understand that’s the reason why many people steer clear of getting dragged into the troll wars on social media but unfortunately many people sidestep politics all together.

I came across a quote from Elie Wiesel, a Romanian-American writer and political activist. It said:

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

I sat with it. Wanting to defend my action of inaction in the past, but…..I couldn’t.

I’m clearing my throat from years of silence of things that actually do matter – I’m croaky and at times nervous but I realise that every voice matters and I stand with the tormented.

Speaking out does mean putting yourself out there and at times it’s going to be uncomfortable but staying silent often means turning your back on the ones that need the most support.

I came across an infographic which was a breakdown of the results from the 2015 UK General Election. What was shocking to see was the amount of people that did not vote – the numbers surpassed the 2 main parties (Conservative and Labour).

img_2548

Such an eye-opening statistic. So many people stayed silent!

I believe the world is inherently good and the reasons many people stay out of politics are justifiable – to a certain extent. But we need to think wider than what personally affects us and further than our immediate future.

I constantly hear that there’s a shift happening and things are going to improve and I have to admit I’ve been drawn into believing that as I am seeing it. Then I think back to a book I’d read by Naomi Klein, ‘No is Not Enough’. It is where I first heard about Echo Chambers. Wikipedia describes it as:

An echo chamber is a metaphorical description of a situation in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system. By visiting an echo chamber, people are able to seek out information which reinforces their existing views.

Yes, it’s important to be surrounded with people who are on a similar wavelength to you and share your views and values but it can give false hope that things are actually better than they are.

A while back I came across a post on Instagram that made me assess the type of people I followed on social media and become more diverse.

The poster asked you to: check your follow list. Is it full of people who: Look like you? Face the same issues as you? Have the same privileges as you? Because if it is then it’s highly likely that you’re viewing the world through a warped lens – set just to your perfect temperature.

I started to write this post to let off steam, I have a platform to vent and writing helps me to do that. I didn’t know where it was going to go and have taken many a detour to get to here. It’s not a usual post for me but it is one that I needed to write.

If this post can make just one person:

  • that doesn’t currently vote to vote
  • that usually stays neutral to openly offer their support to a vulnerable group
  • join a rally or demonstration march
  • assess the views they currently have (are they hand-me-downs or your own?)
  • follow someone on social media that is different to them

Then I will be grateful.

Emma x

*In primary school I remember drawing a picture of an old woman on one hand and then drawing the same woman and scribbling her out on the other. We would sing “Here’s Maggie Thatcher (showing the hand with the woman intact), throw her up and catch her. Squish Squash (rub hands together) Squish Squash. Here’s the end of Maggie Thatcher (showing the other hand”. I can’t recall how old I was but she was in power until I was 9, so I was young.