Never before in history has it been more important for you to use your talent for writing. The pen is mightier than the sword and we will prove that together.
So. Let's address the obvious.
Hate won. Hatred and violence won. I will not address that creature by its name because that only gives it power and it does not need anymore of that, believe me. I am writing to you as a young girl who is receiving texts from her friends of color, from her LGBT friends, from friends who fear for their rights and safety in a world that has placed the wants of the privileged over the needs of the oppressed. I am writing to you as a young girl who has seen sexism and homophobia and racism and albeism and transphobia firsthand, and knows that these horrific concepts are openly supported by millions. I am writing to you as a young girl who is afraid for the people she loves and ashamed of the country she lives in.
But the important thing is that I am writing. Because my voice might be muffled by the oppressive burden of hatred and fear, but it will never be silenced. That is something you must believe in. It may be dangerous for you to share your opinions verbally, especially if you live in an especially close-minded area like me, but your words cannot be taken away from you. You are allowed to write and to write freely, to write honestly, to write with the love and passion that appears to have lost today. By clinging to that concept, you will be reminded of the truth--love cannot be crushed. Love cannot be destroyed. Years from now, the people who supported that creature will be forced to look their grandchildren in the eyes and explain why they supported hatred. We will not collapse under their bigotry and fear. The heat of their ignorance will turn us from iron to steel and we will be even stronger than we were before.
The first thing to discuss is that it is okay to be scared. In fact, you should probably be terrified. But you cannot let that fear dictate your decisions and actions, because that is not its purpose. Fear is an instinctual response to a stressful situation, a chemical response developed to survive in a world that is constantly trying to destroy you. It is not, however, a way of life. Living in fear means relinquishing yourself to that world, to resigning your autonomy to what you cannot control. While you can't extinguish fear, you can use it to your advantage. When your body proposes the question "FIGHT OR FLIGHT", you have to fight. Let your fear motivate you. The same goes for anger, which is a completely normal response to injustice and grievances. These are two emotions that are regularly suppressed due to a conditioned belief that they are "bad". Your feelings are not something to be ashamed of or ignored: if you are scared or frustrated, express your emotions in a constructive manner. Write. Envision that "FIGHT" option as a pen instead of a pistol. Open up your laptop and start writing, because your words are going to outlive the clenched fist, the obscenity, the violence.
But how? How can writing can be an effective tool against something that seems impervious to both logic and emotion? Well, beyond writing just to relieve yourself of these emotions in a positive way, the written word can be utilized as a weapon. A weapon not meant to kill, but to educate. When they try to make outrageous claims that you know are wrong, speak up. Write about your personal experiences and discredit their voices with your own. Fear's greatest enemy is knowledge. They can't stop you from learning and sharing your knowledge with others: if they do, you will still keep writing. In an evanescent world, your writing will endure because it will embody the love and truth that could never be killed. You will turn experiences and events to stone by putting them down on paper. They will try to tear your words apart, to set them ablaze, to reduce you to ashes. But like the Phoenix--like all the people before you who did not acquiesce to hatred--you will rise.
This might sound a little grandiose, but it's the truth. In times of terror, it is the voice of the oppressed that is preserved. When we reflect on the Holocaust, we do not read Mein Kampf. We read Night and The Diary of Anne Frank, the stories of the victims whose spirits could not be extinguished by the deluge of injustice that swept through their country. These people refused to let themselves go quietly. They used their fear and anger to tell their stories, to share that determination and passion, to prove that love would eventually triumph. It may be hard to summon even an iota of optimism in a time like this, but we must believe that there is something better for us. Like I said before, love will win. It will be a long, arduous process and we will want to close our laptops and cap our pens as the sun of virulence beats down mercilessly upon us, but there will come a day with a kind, rewarding rain and we will finally slake our thirsts for justice.
It's perfectly fine if you don't want to immediately start writing about the current state of affairs. I'd actually advise you to stop writing for a day or two, just to compose yourself and ensure that you're mentally equipped to deal with the challenges that lie ahead. Speak with someone you trust about your emotions. Draw, cook something delicious, fall asleep listening to your favorite song. You will need to be strong both physically and mentally for the trials we will all have to face: do not forget to love yourself in addition to loving others. When you're ready to fight, come prepared. You will be met with resistance on every front. But you won't be alone, not as long as others have faith in their abilities to enact change. Remember that you are stronger than hate. You are stronger than violence. And with that pen in your hand, you are stronger than the sword. I have faith in you.
Author's Note: To every person of color, LBGTPQA+ individual, disabled person, poor person, and women--I am with you. You are not alone in this fight. They have yet to silence our voices and they will never get a chance to do so. We are strong. We are proud. We are heard.
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