A couple of days ago I received an email from Elizabeth Berrey, who is one of this project’s leaders, in response to my post of November 15, “Grieving for my country.” Her message inspired me to think quite specifically about the list of things that I will do over the coming months to participate in action to resist the dangers that are becoming more and more clear in the US and world-wide, threatening the health and well-being of world citizens everywhere.  After all, his is the time of year that our children are making lists in anticipation of the December holidays,  At the same time, the notion of “lists” in and of itself raises a specter of danger for many – for example, there is now a website recruiting names of “liberal professors” (see report here and here).

So let’s be clear – making a list of ways we can act and be involved can serve to inspire others, particularly those who are tempted to give up in despair given what is happening around us.  But the list must also lead to action – and this is what is so inspiring about Elizabeth’s message.  We may not agree about the specific ways to act, and we can certainly have a discussion about the race, class and economic implications of any action we choose to raise awareness in the quest for finding the best and most effective avenues.  But unless we act, and support those who are choosing different paths than our own, we in fact support the forces of injustice.

Elizabeth has given me permission to post her message here – so here it is, lightly edited, in the hope that the actions she is taking will inspire you to go beyond a mere list – to find your own ways to get involved!

Hi Peggy,
I have now read your post & sent it to my kids, some nurses, & other non-nurses.  I especially like that you said that we must be ready at a moment’s notice. I also read the replies to date. Thx so much for clarifying to the person who wrote that we should stand with Trump & give him a chance.
I have been wearing, & will continue to wear, my safety pin – a large one in the top hole of my left ear. I brought safety pins to our NMOLOC  (New Mexico Old Lesbians Organizing for Change) Gathering this month, & explained what it means to the old Lesbians gathered. Our Unitarian church handed them out the 2 Sundays after the elections, with explanations for the whole congregation & especially the children.
As I think that I told you, I am working here in NM to get our state legislatures to sign onto the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Nurses across the country could do this, too! They could certainly activate their nursing associations to lobby their state legislators to sign onto this compact. This is the 2nd time that the electoral college has overturned the majority vote in this country since the turn of this century, for heavenssakes! As someone on the Laurence O’Donnell show said a couple of wks ago, “What we call the popular vote here in the US is called the vote in the rest of the world!”
We are organizing our NMOLOC chapter to show up in Santa Fe for the Million Women March (our state’s version). We’ll have our old Lesbian banner, of course!
We are planning training in resistance in our NMOLOC chapter for the coming yr — reminding us all of what we learned, and practiced, so many yrs ago. As you say, we must be ready!