Seen on the wall of Post It Notes at 14th St. – Union Square Station in New York City, 20 Nov. 2016:
I can’t even look at him without getting angry, but I don’t want to be an angry person. What should I do? I have to find a way to make peace with that which goes against all my values.
You should let yourself feel your anger.
We do ourselves a disservice by believing our anger and all expressions of our anger are unhealthy. It is entirely healthy and appropriate to feel anger in the face of hatred, injustice, insensitivity, and criminal behavior. Trump embodies all of those things along with the privilege of being able to buy his way out of the worst of the consequences. That should make anyone who believes in justice angry.
Let that anger fuel your behavior in constructive ways. Stand up for marginalized groups. Pressure our representatives in Congress to work towards a future that helps all people. Get or continue to be involved in supporting progressive, local lawmakers as they fill the pipeline to Washington. Stand up to your friends and acquaintances when they repeat his lies or mirror his behavior. Refuse to internalize any of the cruel things he said about a group you may belong to. Refuse to make peace with or normalize his behavior. Live your truth out loud.
If you make peace with anything, make peace with feeling angry. It’s a sign you are awake.