As we all know, events of this past week have turned the world upside down and created more turmoil than many of us ever expected. Even today, three days after the election, my newsfeed is blowing up with people asserting their opinions, picking fights, and genuinely being jerks to one another. I have heard of numerous protests and incidents around the country already; even my own usually peaceful campus has had reports of assault and even some vandalism on a campus landmark. I feel all of us could share stories of similar events that have happened within the past week.

There are feelings of unrest, anxiousness, and even fear among many of us who were less than satisfied with the results of the election. These emotions have left many of us wondering what to do next and for some, how to carry on. I’ll say this, the answer is not to run away and hide in fear, not yet. Instead, stand strong and stand up for what you believe just as those before us did. Each voice matters and the only person that can make it heard is you.

For generations, music has given people a way to use their voices and make their thoughts known. The added bonus is that it is an easy way to spread feelings of love, discontent, hope, as well as help people feel like someone understands. Plus, it lasts forever. This week, hearing Bob Dylan’s timeless classic, “The Times They Are A-Changin’” made me realize that the times are a-changin’ once again. That thought then led me on a search for more songs that could I could put out there for who need a little something extra right now.

“Imagine” - John Lennon

"Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world..."

The ultimate song about world peace, the thing America needs a little more of right now- actually we need a lot of it. In such tumultuous times, where nearly everyone seems to be carrying hate and anger in their hearts, words, and actions, it’s tough to believe such a thing can exist. We all need to stop the hate and just let it be. We cannot move forward if we’re constantly tearing each other down and pointing fingers. I have made a vow to myself to be kind and civil to everyone I meet, even if just in passing. I hope you will do the same. When everything, judgement, stereotyping, and opinion included, is put aside, we’re all human. It’s time we start acting more like it.

“For What It’s Worth” - Buffalo Springfield

“There’s something happening here
what it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware.

I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down.”

These lyrics are from a song written over forty years ago, yet they give me chills when I apply them to our country’s current events. Honestly, truer words regarding recent events have yet to be spoken within a minute’s time span. While those feeling fear, anger, and discontent are entitled to that, we can’t jump the gun. Let the man get into his first few months and see what happens. It’s not clear what’s going to happen. I don’t care how practiced your fortune teller was, they’re not right. Like the song says, take a second and look at what’s going on around you in this moment, not the what could be. Focus on the present, take it one day at a time. We can’t do much about the future until it becomes the present.

“What’s Going on”- Marvin Gaye

Another classic song asking his listeners to take in the world around them, the destruction, the death, suffering, and the calls to action of those around him. Present day Americans should take a second from our busy lives to do the same. See how your or someone else’s words and/ or actions are hurting others and re-evaluate what you say and do. Think before you speak and act, evaluate the consequences, then go for it. But before you do any of that, educate yourself on what is going on before you open your mouth.

“Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what’s going on.”

One line that stands out to me is, "talk to me, so you can see Oh, what's going on. Talk to someone before you assume you know how they feel and think. Talk to someone before you begin immediately shoving your opinions down their throat. It comes down to how we respect each other as human beings. Instead of seeing people as atheists, racists, members of the LGBTQ community, or immigrants, we need to start seeing people for what they are: people. We're all different and we can't pass judgements on those based on one identifying factor.

The second message is to protest peacefully, as Gaye also says in this song, “war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate.” Violence never solves anything, it only increases the fire and the backlash from the opposing side. There are plenty of ways to make your voice heard without destroying or defacing public or private property. Organize a march, or a sit in, write a letter to a government official, maybe even a peaceful rally. But don’t turn to violence just to have the chance to lash out.

“The Sound of Silence” - Simon and Garfunkel

“And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.”

Don’t speak with nothing intelligent to say, don’t listen without truly hearing the words of the person talking to you. Most importantly, don’t remain silent. When the time comes that you must speak up for what you believe in, do it. Like we’ve said already, only you can make your voice heard.

Side note: If you’ve never really listened to this song all the way through and truly heard the lyrics, I’d suggest you do so. Chances are the rest of the song will be pretty enlightening also.

“Touch of Grey” - Grateful Dead

“Must be getting early, clocks are running late.
Paint by number morning sky, looks so phony.
Dawn is breaking everywhere, light a candle, curse the glare
Draw the curtains I don’t care ‘cause it’s alright
I will get by, I will get by, I will get by, I will survive.

The thing many young Americans forgot in the midst of all this chaos is life does go on; you may not always enjoy how it’s going and it may not always be cupcakes and roses, but that’s life. For many of us, this certainly won’t be the first time and probably isn’t the last things won't go the way we hoped. That’s just how life rolls, “every silver lining’s got a touch of grey,” it’s just how it is.

I had a little personal moment relating to this subject Wednesday afternoon: I walked out of my French class to find a group of Choctaw social dancers dancing outside on a beautiful sunny day. As I sat there watching them dance for a group of kids visiting for a day of education on Native American culture, I started thinking about the chaos going on in the world. Yet, right in front of me was my little slice of life that is carrying on as it should. Seeing that display of our country’s diversity in a time where those who give us that diversity are being threatened hit me deep, too.

What I’m really trying to say here is that although this seems like the be-all, end- all. It isn’t. We shouldn’t let this bog us down and keep us from carrying out our daily lives. We must, as they say, keep calm and carry on. Our ancestors survived both world wars, the sixties, major price increases, and countless other things. I think our generation can make it through a presidency.

“The Times They Are A-Changin’” - Bob Dylan

“Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly aging
Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand
Cause the times they are a-changing”

Indeed they are. When Spotify put this through my ear buds yesterday, it immediately reminded me of what’s going on now. Who knew that a song written in the sixties would be so à propos all these years later?

In the sixties, the old ways, the “old road,” was changing fast. Now, we’re facing similar kinds of change as our society tries to move into being more tolerant and respectful of those around them who live different lifestyles or who are just different people. You can try as you might to make these people conform, but it’s not going to happen; you can’t make a person deny who they truly are just to fit in with a society. As our society changes again, we have to respect what we don’t understand and at least be tolerant of the differences in our society. After all, our diversity and willingness to welcome those from other places is what makes this country attractive to those who come here. I hope our country will remain that way in the face of change.

“All You Need is Love” - The Beatles

“There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say, but you can learn
How to play the game
It's easy….

All you need is love.”

I’ve called on this song several other times in my articles to make a similar point about love being all you need. It’s because it’s true, and it always will be; as long as you have love and support from those around you that you can count on, you can do anything life throws at you.

Our world is filled with so much hate from all sides at this moment in time. The only way to conquer it is to love one another and show everyone you meet a little kindness. Hopefully, your show of kindness will inspire a chain reaction that will spread like wildfire. But don’t just spread it through actions; spread it in your words, your thoughts, and what you post on social media. If we can put as much love and kindness out there to counter the seemingly endless amounts of hatred and spite, we may be able to get somewhere.