American Embarrassment

*Warning: This piece mentions sexual assault as well as the recent Senate Judiciary hearings involving Dr. Christine Blasey Ford & Brett Kavanaugh. These topics may be triggering for some, so reader discretion is advised. 

America, no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave, but the laughing stock of society (literally the entire UN laughed at us because of our sad excuse for a President). Over the last almost two years the U.S. has definitely lost all of its credibility as a country, and is now in the process of crumbling. There's a lot that needs to be fixed and essentially America needs to be turned upside down in order for its basic functions to be returned to their normal state.

Legislators all claim to "represent the people", but do they really?!
Most of them are old, wealthy, cis white men who care about nothing except their power and reputation. Not only have they given an unqualified man, who's been accused several times of sexual assault (and other crimes) a free pass to do as he pleases as President, but now they're in the process of possibly confirming the nomination of a sexual assault predator, for the second time. They fail to hold anyone who looks like them, including themselves accountable. Senators don't act morally until they have to see people recounting their pain and trauma in front of them in the name of partisan politics. No one should have to tell stories of the darkest periods of their lives in order for their humanity to be seen. People like Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Dr. Anita Hill should not have to appear on national television in order for anyone to see their stories as credible. To every survivor of sexual abuse, I see you, I believe you, and your story matters.

Twenty-seven years ago the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Justice Clarence Thomas, a predator of sexual assault to the Supreme Court, and clearly they haven't learned. Because now, twenty-seven years later, they're probably going to make the same mistake again. All in the name of "carrying out an agenda". What is the point in calling yourself a "public servant" or a "representative" if you all you care about is yourself and your "agenda"?!--An agenda that hurts the majority of society; people who call themselves constituents. Honestly, it seems like Senators simply represent themselves these days and not the people they're supposed to advocate for.

As someone who plans to go to law school one day, I think a lot about the concept of justice. I don't know much, but to me personally, justice and accountability go hand-in-hand. If Judge Kavanaugh and the many other men who are like him cannot be held accountable for their actions, then has justice really been served?--No because the law doesn't allow for the guilty to be brought to justice.  The concept of "innocent until proven guilty" is only so effective because social privilege (race, class, gender, sexuality, etc.) ultimately determines who is considered innocent and who is considered guilty.

Every day the news seems to be getting worse, and more people are being harmed by the Trump administration's agenda. I think now the real question is for long how can the country withstand the impact of Trump and his harmful policies? Will it really help if the Democrats take back the House and the Senate, or will it take the American voter to wake up and realize who we've been electing into office over the last several years? These are all questions that I don't have the answers to, but I do know that it'll take everyone, regardless of their background to come together to make change. So, if you're able to, do yourself and the rest of society a favor, and register to vote. Your vote and your voice matter. You can also contact your representatives and hold them accountable. Hold yourself and the people in your life accountable too, keep having difficult conversations, and try to understand someone else's perspective.

At the same time, give yourself some time to yourself. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the news and by all of the chaos. It's okay to sign off of social media for a while and mute your news notifications; disengaging in the name of self-care is important and valid. To the rest of the world, please hold while we get our shit together.


Useful Resources: 
RAINN (if you are in danger call 911)
Self-care tips for people of color 
Activism and Self-Care
Cancel Kavanaugh
sexual harassment psa
Consent: Vice Report
Why Conservative Women Are Ok with Harassment
Connie Chung's Letter to Christine Blasey Ford

Humor Therapy: 
Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert