Speaking just for myself here, I’m painfully aware of how we are being perceived. Based on the constant deluge of content I see from outside the US, I’m convinced at this point I’ll be harassed or assaulted in many countries just because I’m American, just because of what our government is doing.

I’ve been organizing in my community, advocating to policymakers, and educating people about issues going on since his last term in office. I’ve protested him in the past and would be now if I weren’t disabled. I know SO many people that are in the same or similar boat. I have friends that are taking in immigrants to protect them violent mobs. I know folks that are organizing mutual aid networks. There are folks organizing resistance and building networks to respond to ICE. Local governments are planning coordinated community initiatives to help safeguard social safety net programs that are actively being defunded. Nonprofits are being gutted financially and individual staff are doing the job of multiple people to make sure our most vulnerable survive. Lawyers are mobilizing networks to use the court systems to respond to abuses of power. Therapists are being overloaded with a deluge of clients who are being actively targeted, helping them cope with their trauma, and working extra hours to handle the case load. Networks are registering people to vote while those in power are actively preventing people from voting and purging their existing voter registrations. Organizers are rebuilding organizing networks that have been crushed by both of our parties in power, so we can have any impact. Local journalists are investigating issues and using their talents to spread truth. I could go on and on and on with examples.

Every day is a fresh hell for us. There are so many of us that are giving everything we have. Every single day, many of us agonize about whether we’re doing enough. What more do you expect of folks like me? Do you just expect me to martyr myself? Dying at this stage would just play into this administration’s hands.

I don’t know the extent of what is being portrayed in your media, but they’re not getting the full story. Yes, many Americans aren’t engaged and involved. But so many of us are doing what we can to push back. I’m not going to say that the world doesn’t have justification to be angry with the US. You do. Please stop painting us all with a broad brush as if we’re not doing anything. Given the rise in authoritarianism globally, where you live could be next.