I am reminded every day of how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful, affluent place like New York City. Since moving here three years ago, I have noticed an incredible change in my confidence, worldly knowledge, and frame of mind. I approach each day in a far different way than before. Within the confines of this small island, I see joy, fear, happiness, and sadness daily. Among this, I see new life, I see changing seasons, I see construction and development and I see changing people.
Over the last two weeks, I have seen this change in people more than I have seen in the last three years combined. The news and media are absolutely saturated with new stories, updates on scandals, and old stories resurfacing about President-Elect Donald Trump in the face of this month’s election. I have seen pictures of protests, walked through rallies, and even had the privilege of participating in one with my best friend. I am aware of the noticeable change in how I think of others and of situations and issues around the world. True to myself and who I have always been, though, I have remained kind and open-minded. I believe that this is the only approach, at this point, to combat the rough journey that could lay ahead for this great nation. I find myself asking, though, if we are such a great nation, how can we channel this energy of fear and upset into productivity and a battle for change? It is so much easier said than done.
When I find myself struggling to understand government and society and simply the present moment in times like these, I often turn to TED Talks to help guide me through. This week I came across a talk by “peace builder” Scilla Elworthy, a woman who has spent nearly her entire life devoted to making a global change by means of non-violence. In her talk, called “Fighting with nonviolence,” Elworthy recalls a time, when she was a young girl, that she watched Soviet tanks plow through Budapest on her television. That sight has stuck with her throughout her career as a constant reminder of how and why she wants to encourage this change. As the world is seemingly always fighting and crumbling around her, she asks herself “How do I deal with a bully without becoming a thug in return?” I found myself strongly identifying with this worry. In no way do I want to combat this new administration with violence nor do I want my friends and peers to feel that they must act with violence either. It is very rare that more violence will actually work, she says.
After a lifetime devoted to training and learning how to be an activist without violence, Elworthy has devised methodologies that could be used by anyone in any situation. Her methods, when used successfully and in a productive manner, will connect people with people and will rebuild:
- Find your inner power.
- Recognize your fears.
- Use your anger as fuel.
- Cooperate with others to make change.
- Have courage.
- Commit to nonviolence.
I hope that I might be able to use these when feeling overwhelmed by the results of this election and the unpredictable future of this nation. If you can’t take much away from her talk, please internalize her final statement to be channeled when feelings of helplessness surface in this time of confusion and divide in society, we must “organize to overcome oppression by opening our hearts…”
Watch her full talk here.
