The #RadicalEmpathyChallenge — Taking Action
“We are living in a time when practicing empathy, taking action, creating change, and building trust are more important than ever. From Washington, DC, to London, from Berlin to Sydney, from Hong Kong to Johannesburg, people around the world are crying out for social justice” — Terri Givens, Radical Empathy, p. 151
I would now add to this quote, from Austin to Kyiv…in my book, Radical Empathy, I call for people of good will to not only have empathy, but to take action and create change. We are at a point in history where it is time for us to step up and support those who are under attack by politicians, authoritarians, even their neighbors. There are people who are being impacted by injustice all over the world, and it can seem overwhelming, but it is a time to take sides. There are many issues that need our attention and where you can make a difference.
“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must — at that moment — become the center of the universe.”
― Elie Wiesel
Today I am asking you to take action. Find an organization to support, write a letter to your representatives, organize a protest. I will post my actions daily on social media, and I hope you will join me.
To start, I will be donating to organizations supporting the citizens of Ukraine, as they fight the invasion by Russia, and organizations fighting the assault on trans rights in Texas. I am also cancelling a trip to Texas I had planned in March, as I do not want to spend money in a state which is so blatantly damaging young lives: Texas’ Trans Kids Are Targets in a Brutal GOP Culture War: A new vigilante scheme requires everyone to report on transgender youth — or face prosecution.
Here’s a link to a story with organizations that are supporting trans youth in Texas: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a39204824/how-to-support-texas-trans-youth/
Here’s a list of organizations supporting #Ukraine: https://linktr.ee/voiceforukraine — I just gave to United Help Ukraine
Join me!
