During Troubling Times, Remain Aware and Focus on Community

One of the most powerful weapons a government can use against its own people is the promotion of ignorance and apathy. Often, when we begin to feel hopeless, we are inclined to pull away because it feels too overwhelming to care at all. However, this kind of empathy fatigue only strengthens the impetus of those in power. Therefore, it is absolutely essential in times like these to stay aware and to remember that, even when we feel powerless, our neighbors are our most valuable resource.

The Trump administration is attempting to usher in an age of anti-intellectualism. This is, historically, one of the most common ways fascism begins to assert control — by getting citizens to understand little and care even less. This is currently happening in many ways across the U.S.: On April 16, the State Department shut down the key office tasked with fighting foreign disinformation. DEI initiatives have been rolled back in an effort to downplay the U.S.’s turbulent history and undermine efforts to support the intellectual pursuits of our nation’s protected classes. The federal government is also targeting academic institutions and intellectual freedom by blocking federal funds, especially those of institutions that speak out against the administration.

Through repressive methods like these, we are taught to believe that it is better — and safer — to exist in ignorance rather than stay aware and speak out. The more we believe this, the more individualistic and apathetic we become. And it is not just about anti-intellectualism — the overwhelming amount of constitutional violations and attacks on America’s very structure make it feel crushing to care about anything.

For example, the Trump administration is openly defying federal court orders, fragmenting the Constitution's system of checks and balances that are specifically in place to prevent the unrestricted use of power by any branch of the government. Firstly, even though a federal judge ruled on April 8 that it was unconstitutional for the White House to bar Associated Press (AP) journalists from presidential events, Trump is still refusing to allow AP reporters into the Oval Office.

Additionally, the Trump administration claims it is not responsible for returning a wrongfully-deported Maryland resident despite a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court order that mandated his return from a Salvadoran prison. According to NPR, Trump was also caught on a hot mic telling Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele that “homegrowns are next” and saying that he will start deporting natural-born American citizens to Salvadoran prisons, which many scholars describe as illegal because it would strip American citizens of their constitutional rights and legal protections.

There is much more happening in the country than just these three examples. It can be exhausting to keep up with the constant developments and new federal actions. However, it is not only our right but our duty to remain aware of what’s happening in our country and remember we can resist to effect change.

The United States of America is not just a country — it is a people, and protesting is not the only way to push back against fascist rule. Stay educated on current events by regularly looking at trusted news sources. Get involved with community organizations by volunteering, donating and showing up to events. Get to know your neighbors and offer a helping hand wherever you can. Call your elected representatives about issues that matter to you. Change on a local level creates a ripple effect that defines the state of our nation. You have the power — and the responsibility — to shape America’s future.