With all the turmoil in our country right now, I think many of us have decided that instead of getting involved, we’re going to stand back and shake our heads in sadness, or maybe even in condescension. So many citizens of America have decided to turn a blind eye to the painful issues affecting our own country and other parts of the world. For some reason, so many of us have decided that complacency is OK because the world is so massively screwed up that there’s no point in trying. Maybe because we assume there are already so many people trying to do good in the world, we think that adding our voice won’t make a difference.

For this, we should be ashamed. Yes, I mean we. I, too, have been very quiet about controversial matters, because frankly, I don’t want to argue with people behind a computer screen. I’ve hidden behind my flimsy excuses of not knowing enough about certain topics to want to comment and of not wanting to stir things up between friends and (especially) between family. I am ashamed of the fact that despite the insane amount of white privilege I have (the only oppression I face comes from the fact that I am a woman), I have remained silent and complacent on so many issues -- I think it’s time for that to change.

There is no denying that social media today is rife with all the political conflict of this election, and it’s nearly impossible to open social media without being subjected to political posts. Black Lives Matter, the North Dakota Pipeline Access protests, transgender rights, women’s bodily autonomy rights, Trump being racist, sexist, homophobic, and xenophobic, Clinton being a scheming liar, the war in Syria and refugees -- oodles and oodles of issues are facing our society today, yet so many people are choosing to remain ignorant to these topics and the impact they can make on the world they live in.

The part that we should feel worst about is the fact that while I feel we are ignoring our civic duty to help others whenever possible, those whose struggles we are ignoring see us. We may think our complacency keeps us out of the conflict, but it doesn’t, not really. The people of color notice when we keep quiet about the wrongful deaths of their brothers and sisters, or share racist jokes. The LGBTQ+ community notices when we use the word ‘gay’ as an insult, or misgender people on purpose. They notice the fact that we might shake our heads and say ‘what a shame’ or ‘oh, how sad,’ but we don’t actually do anything about it.

The world is so full of problems I believe it really is our duty that we do something, anything, to try and help solve the issues we are passionate about. It is our duty to use any privilege we have to do the right thing and stand up for those who are being oppressed. That doesn’t necessarily mean posting a million political statuses on Facebook or fighting with people in comment threads. There are so many ways you can help stand up to the bullies of the world. Participate in sit-ins and other forms of (peaceful) protests, donate money to movements -- even a dollar can be a help -- take a few minutes out of your day and write letters and e-mails to your local and national governments -- call them, too!

You have the power to spark change, and you should use it whenever you’re given the opportunity. No matter how small or insignificant your contribution may seem, whether it’s a Facebook status, a phone call, or participating in protests, one thing will happen no matter what: The people you know who are being oppressed will remember that they have someone on their side. A person they can trust.

People having their rights taken away should always concern you, and I understand that doing what’s right and standing up for those being oppressed isn't always the easiest things to do, but they are the right things. I’ve said it many times before: If you have the opportunity to help someone else, you should! Make the world a better place and give a little bit of yourself to others. There are so many things we can do to make a difference and to make change in our own communities. So no more hiding, no more excuses -- it’s time to take a stand. If we are the country’s future, it is time we took a stand and shaped it to be the future we want.