Remember: Pushkin was exiled for his Poetry.

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I was thinking today about a story. About how strange these times are.

I was thinking today, about how writing is a form of resistance even when there are no other forms of resistance remaining. Writers have existed in every major society, in every major rebellion. And writers are persecuted for daring to have ideas that don’t fit into the mainstream vision for the nation.

Pushkin was exiled for his poetry.

I went to bed last night feeling hopeless. I went to bed last night worrying about what I’ve brought my girls home to. This is not their home, not yet. My eldest still sounds like any child in London, still says “rubbish” and “pants” and girl” and, sometimes, but not often anymore, “mummy.” My little one likes best the book with pictures of London, of red busses and taxis and the Eye that she has never ridden in. But we’ve walked on by.

I will always be mummy. I will also be mom and mommy and mama and mooooooommmmmmmmm and ugh and I hate you and none of these someday.

But writing is a form of resistance. And Pushkin was exiled for his poetry.

And every child in Russia knows his poetry now.

So I will remember that, for now. And I will write. And I will keep on living my life. Because this is my country, too. And someday it may be my girls’ country. And someday maybe it will be all of ours again too. And maybe it will be hard, and maybe there are those amongst us who will be persecuted, and maybe it will get darker before this dawn, this dawn we believe is coming. (We have to believe. The alternative to believing is worse.)

And Pushkin was exiled for his poetry.

Activism 101 – A Guide to the Guides

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I put together this as a primer for anyone looking to get involved but overwhelmed by the prospect of doing the grassroots level research themselves. If you aren’t sure how to get started in U.S. politics and activism in this new (unexpected) era, read on…

  • Autocracy: Rules for Survival (Masha Gessen) – If you have not read this yet, start here.  Masha Gessen is a Russian American Journalist and she’s 110% on point. She’s written extensively about Putin’s rise to power in Russia. Reading this list is essential. She’s also on twitter, @mashagessen.
  • One of my favourite resources right now is the “OH CRAP! WHAT NOW?! Survival Guide” and its Digital Security section. Take a look there before you begin, and protect yourself if necessary. Bookmark it for the future; even if it feels paranoid now, when you later feel like you need to protect your digital footprint it may already be too late. Other important sections to review right now:
    • The Legal System and You – especially important information for immigrants and DREAM kids, Queer families, and trans folks who haven’t finished name change paperwork yet.
    • Self Defense – includes links to ACLU recommended cop watch apps designed to record during an arrest, and basics on possessing other self defense weapons in the U.S.A.
    • Money – key information on tax prep and freelancing filing. Also has interesting (scary) info on currency and where to keep money right now if NAFTA is terminated in January.
  • There are a few primers floating around out there in cyberland that include basics for activism within the system, which is where we have to start initially in hopes of reigning in the early power grabs (aka, the completely unacceptable cabinet picks, and I’m sure we’ll see more surprises come January). My two preferred ones are:
    • The Rudimentary Guide to Action for Democracy and Human Rights: A Direct Response to the Incoming Trump Administration (via google docs), which includes a primer for activism for “couch potatoes” and lists out various actions to take, organized by issue; and,
    • The “We’re his Problem Now” Calling Sheet (via google docs), a calling-script focused document divided into sections for weekly (updated) calls to action, calling scripts, contact info for party leaders and senators, representative contact info, and various tips and strategies.

If you have recommendations for other resources to list or review, let me know here or on twitter @apentopaper. Note I’m only interested in resources to share with like minded folks that do not require named login, not secret or private Facebook groups (see above re: Digital Security concerns regarding Facebook and other named social media).