The question comes to me when I’m with people in my favorite coffee shop, in fellowship hour at church and with neighbors gathered in community. It inevitably comes up when details from the daily news reports slip into our conversations.
The stress levels rise as we recall pictures of women, men and children in Gaza, surrounded by bombed out ruins, with their possessions piled high in vehicles, on wagons and on their backs. Or when a friend is in danger of being deported because he has found it difficult to wend his way through the maze of paperwork and documents to which he is entitled. Stress increases when we relay the news about universities, lawyers, students, media reporters and others being threatened by the government for unfavorable opinions about the president. There is also the despair over climate change, including the actions of the White House to end regulations and to increase the use of fossil fuel. The financial impact of the manipulation of tariffs also raises our ire.
Inevitably, the question arises, “What can we do?” It is a question wrought with frustration, a sense of powerlessness and anger, implying that there is nothing we can do. Because our inclination is to fix things, we default to the usual answers: phone and write to congressional representatives and senators, write a letter to the editor and participate in public advocacy. Then often, someone will remind us that we might have more success communicating with local elected officials.
However, as important as it is to participate in these actions, these routine answers no longer seem to satisfy. We have no influence over our government officials. As each conversation ends, we are left with the heavy burden, “What can we possibly do?” Arthur Wilton Brown, an English rock singer and songwriter captures the feeling in his song, “Nothing We Can Do”:
“One thing is strangе / No matter where I turn / Thunder menaces / Do I carry it with me / … Is there no escape, no / Wild beasts on the prowl / Nothing we can do.”
David Brooks, writing for the New York times, observes, “life is filled with hard choices: whom to marry, whom to vote for, whether to borrow money….” Should I accept the job offer or negotiate for more compensation? Is recycling and composting really contributing to solving the climate crisis? Brooks concludes, “to make these calls, you have to be able to discern what is central to the situation, envision possible outcomes, understand other minds, calculate probabilities.”
We may use this process to inform the political and social questions we are facing. Brooks advocates that in order to practice these four steps it is important to be well read. The more information we have on a subject the more fruitful will be our insights and the more adept we shall be to answer the question, “What can we do?”
One resource for ideas may be found in the Social Justice LibGuide, “Ways to Affect Change,” from Adelphi University. Included among the ways is providing safe spaces where individuals can share their lived experiences and values. These spaces may be created in our living rooms, places of worship or in designated rooms of sympathetic organizations. As citizens, we may participate in peaceful protesting as a way to have our voices heard by our government. The Guide reminds us that “dissent is patriotic.” Another action listed in the guide is to join an organization that does the work to advance the causes in which we believe. We can be a volunteer, an intern or a paid staff member.
Or, perhaps we may choose to engage in civil disobedience. The guide gives the example of civil rights activist and U.S. Congressman John Lewis talking about getting into “good trouble.” It goes on, “If a law is immoral or unjust, it is the responsibility of citizens to break those laws and refuse to comply with those laws. As a peaceful form of protest, this act of defiance illustrates and brings into the open, into focus the immorality of such laws and the reasons why such laws should be overturned.” Also, even if we are unable to join in these actions, we may donate to causes that work for the ideals and values we support.
Finally, we can consult the Committee of 70 guide that lists 70 actions, big and small, that make a difference. The committee was founded in Philadelphia in 1904 to confront corruption in the city and state. However, even though the guide focuses on local issues, it may easily be used for national issues as well. The list of 70 actions can be found on their website.
We shall never expect to have the power or the authority to assure the end of wars, the dignity of minorities, the end of gun violence, equity and inclusivity and a just and peaceful society. But we are able to turn “What can we do?” into “What we can do!” In the long run, we shall find purpose and our answers will make a difference.
John Buttrick writes from his Vermont Folk Rocker in his Concord home, Minds Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com.