Current mood: I’m scrolling through Facebook, glancing at headlines, and half-listening to the news while trying not to disintegrate into a puddle of frustration and tears. Honestly, keeping up with current events these days feels like a balancing act between staying informed and avoiding a mental meltdown. It’s been a tough time, and the state of our nation is so bleak that I sometimes don’t know where to begin. Let’s just say, my swearing has reached Olympic levels, and the urge to hide under a blanket is strong.
So, what’s a gal to do? What can any of us do, really?
We raise our voices. We get loud. We resist.
But let’s be real: resisting is tough work. Sometimes it feels utterly pointless, especially when Congress seems hell-bent on passing laws that disregard the well-being of most Americans. We doubt whether our voices can make a difference. This is why having a chorus of voices joining together can uplift our spirits.
When Aisha Karim and her family entered the Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist (CCUU) in suburban Chicago on a chilly January morning, they were hoping to find a community ready to stand together in resistance.
I met Aisha a while back at an Open Mosque event. Over time, our families have connected, and she and I have developed a wonderful friendship. Although this was her family’s first visit to our church, her kids were eager to participate after hearing about the planned activity. Armed with postcards, stamps, and pens, all that was needed was their voices.
“For me, this was about more than just politics,” Aisha shared. “Being at CCUU that day with my family was crucial as a Muslim American. I wanted my kids to see that their voices matter in this country. They can speak up, either by pen or phone. I wanted them to know they have allies who may look different but share the same values we hold dear.”
For about an hour, a diverse group of people—friends and strangers from various faith backgrounds—came together to express their views to legislators. Aisha wrote to our Illinois senators about her worries regarding health care, immigration, and education, particularly for those with special needs.
Even the youngest voices chimed in. Aisha’s 8-year-old daughter, Layla, penned, “I’m scared of what the president might do, can you please help us?!” Her 6-year-old daughter, Yasmin, voiced her concerns for displaced families in Syria. Aisha was taken aback by the depth of their messages.
“I remember writing to George H.W. Bush in grade school asking him to ban homework,” Aisha told Home Insemination Kit. “My kids are facing a completely different world right now, and it worries me what they think and feel.”
I share that worry. Sometimes, it feels like our calls and letters just vanish into an abyss, ending up in a trash bin somewhere. It’s easy to think our voices are too small to counter the loud, careless laughter of those stripping health care from millions. There are days when it feels like resisting isn’t enough.
But we persist. We keep calling, writing, and marching—not just so our elected officials hear us, but to remind ourselves and our kids that our voices matter.
And it turns out, people really are listening. Those postcards written by Aisha’s children on that winter day were read by Illinois Senator Mark Thompson—not just in his office but at a recent gathering hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee in Chicago. When word got out that Senator Thompson quoted Layla and Yasmin’s letters, Aisha and her daughters were overjoyed.
“Did we just make history?” her daughters asked excitedly. After a moment of reflection, Aisha replied, “You know what? You might have. I think this is the first time a U.S. senator has quoted two girls named Layla and Yasmin.”
“Writing to your local legislators DOES make a difference,” Aisha emphasized in a Facebook post. “This is proof… You’re never too small to have your voice heard.”
Not only was the reading of their postcards thrilling for Aisha and her family, but it also inspired many friends and community members.
“Sometimes we hear that no one reads our letters or that our calls go unheard, or even that our votes don’t count. This event proved otherwise,” she noted. “Your voice matters, and people are listening.”
In sum, this experience reminded us that our collective voices can make a difference, and standing together is powerful. For insights on similar topics, check out this resource on pregnancy and home insemination and consider exploring these tips for your journey to parenthood.