We can resist from our strengths

[sonia]

I got into a conversation with silveradept in a comment thread about quieter smaller ways of resisting. I like what they said about "making the strategic decision to fight them on the front(s) you are strongest on and trusting that others will fight them on their strongest ground."

I struggled with this a lot 8 years ago. Protests really aren't my thing, and I'm very awkward at calling Congresscritters too. Last time, I realized clearly that I'm a healer, not a warrior. I was offering bodywork for trauma and helping people get through those years.

Now, I'm doing programming work. While it's contributing to the public good (for a state government, fortunately, since working for the federal government is very unstable right now), it's not directly helping people in the same way.

Apparently I'm not the only one thinking about this, because Danielle Foré posted on mastodon:

Easy and meaningful ways you can protest:

• Get vaccinated, wear a mask
  
• Walk, bike, take public transit
  
• Do something gender non-conforming (especially if you’re a cis man)
  
• Reduce time spent on corporate controlled social media (build a puzzle, go to the pub, park, etc)
  
• Do something creative with no regard for productivity or monetization, especially if it’s a social activity

I am up to date on my vaccinations, including Covid vaccine and boosters. I walk or bike most places. I'm mildly gender non-conforming in that I don't wear makeup or heels, and I don't shave my legs. I don't participate in most mainstream social media - I'm here and on mastodon, https://ruby.social/@sonia. I sing and I'm learning to play the piano.

I resist the mainstream corporate takeover of our lives in a lot of ways. I deleted my barely-used Facebook account, I've never used Siri, and I don't have any always-on listening devices in my house. None of my appliances are "smart" or networked, except I very reluctantly have my printer on wifi. The computers & phones are on wifi, but apps aren't allowed to update in the background. As best I can I've opted out of privacy-invading tracking and ads.

I'm resisting all the time, and I'm aware of the consequences of being less connected with people because of it. I could at least give myself credit rather than telling myself I'm not doing enough to resist the current political catastrophe.

Comments

[gingicat]

I walk or take public transit when going places accessible by such.

Yesterday I walked home from the doctor's office but it added 15 minutes or more over taking Lyft, which I did to get there. That all had to go into PTO on my timesheet.

[sonia]

Yay you! That's frustrating, that you get docked PTO, in addition to being outside in winter. (But for me, being outside is better than not, even when the weather isn't great.)

[gingicat]

Well, I am hourly, and my timesheet has to add up to 27 hours, and I feel resposible for honoring the honor system.

[sabotabby]

I'm still masking. It serves multiple useful purposes.

[sonia]

Yay you! Yeah, for me it helps some with fragrance sensitivities, although the masks themselves are chemical-y

[jesse_the_k]

Indeed!

I'm finding positives to share with friends and folks I meet in public. (Not making them up, it's like a gratitude sharing practice).

[sonia]

Yay you! I'm doing some of that too, refocusing on nice weather and small beauties. Also handing out thanks and respect and praise where warranted.

[amethyst73]

First, good for you! You are doing what you are able, which is all one can reasonably ask.

Second, whew, I'm glad you're doing state-level rather than federal-level work! (I couldn't remember which it was and was going to ask.)

I'm up to date on vaccinations and have never stopped masking in enclosed public spaces. My social media includes a couple of specialized Discords, a fairly carefully curated Mastodon, and tumblr - no facebook or ex-Twitter. I use alternate browsers (DuckDuckGo, Firefox). And I sing, sew, and proofread digital books for Project Gutenberg. They are small things, but they still contribute to the good in the world, even if it's very localized! (And give $ to organizations doing the bigger work of resisting.)

[sonia]

Yay you! All good things.

And yes, vastly relieved to be doing state-level work these days. It's tough out there!

[house_wren]

Oh, thanks for this post. It was comforting. I identify with much of what you wrote about yourself.

I feel powerless a lot of the time, so I look for what I can control and try and do that. DW is my only social media, I use cash as much as possible, I don't use any 'smart' appliances, I manage my computer use to minimize any tracking, etc, etc. And if I went to a protest I truly would be on the sideline vomiting from anxiety. ha.

I'm introverted and unwell and quite isolated. I try to be loving towards myself; capitalism doesn't like that so I see it as resistance.

[sonia]

I'm so glad it's comforting! Yay you for everything you're doing. Yes, being loving toward yourself is good in so many ways, including being resistance. And it's damn hard, at least for me.

Living well with disabilities is resistance in itself. It's really hard for me to remember that for myself.

[silveradept]

As is noted further down in the thread on the Mastodon thread, those small items of resistance all center themselves around the idea of building, strengthening, and showing visible signs of being part of communities that are against erasure, discarding, and further marginalization of others. Your strongest fronts are often the ones where you have community or you are looking to engage with community, because backup is a really helpful thing to have.

The opposition wants you to feel isolated, despairing, and to pursue individual goals, regardless of the community impact they will have, because they can beat any given individual with their resources. They have a lot more trouble defeating communities who are pursuing a shared goal. And they have an even more difficult time defeating communities that manage to keep their joy, fun, and that do things without regard to their monetization, because those things indicate an unwillingness to admit that the opposition's frame of reality is correct and superior.

So, yes, there's strength in recognizing what you're already doing, and in not discounting it because it's not visible, flashy, or because thousands of people attended.

[sonia]

Good point about challenging the opposition's framing of reality. That's a piece of emotional labor that we're all doing, and that takes a a lot of energy that's not always acknowledged.