Look for the Helpers

Our freedom rests not in the hands of Congress—but in the hands of the helpers. Be one.

Photo by Suzy Brooks on Unsplash

“Look for the helpers.”

This quote was not born on the lips of Fred Rogers, minister and sweater aficionado. It was breathed to life by his mother.

On April 1, 1933, when a radio announcer first spoke the words “concentration camp” and “Dachua,” his mother may have paused, clutching the banner from his fifth birthday, and said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

When her son turned eleven and the newspapers declared that Poland had fallen to the Nazi forces, she may have repeated, “Look for the helpers.”

Finally, at thirteen when he sprinted home, having heard of the attacks on Pearl Habor, I think his mother must have held her dear boy to her chest, blinked back the tears, and reminded him to “look for the helpers.”

Look. For. The. Helpers.

Today, while you sit in your car or brush your teeth, scrolling through news story after news story, the weight of this moment crushing what hope still remains within you, I offer to you a revision of Mrs. Roger’s words; “Be the helpers.”

The time is now. It is today. We cannot wait for the midterm elections. We cannot wait for July 4, or Memorial Day, or next week. The fate of humanity rests in our imperfect hands. And not just the fate of humanity.

The tyranny that threatens our sea to shining sea has set its sights on the land we call home. For profit, it would plunder the lakes, the streams, and the forests. In its crosshairs, it would take aim at the creatures we are duty-bound to protect. It would fell Redwoods to make keychains and bottle the waters of Yellowstone for profit.

This cannot be. We cannot fail them. We cannot fail us.

If day after day, you have increasingly become despondent, wondering what to do, the answer is simple—help.

Resistance is not a moment, it is a force. It opposes the advancement of hate through a million acts of selflessness. It is a dam, containing the tides of greed through love.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”

Those who stand on the side of love—the helpers—are a force to be reckoned with.

Be the helpers.

According to scholars, a movement of a mere 3.5% of the population is necessary to change the world. What, then, are we waiting for?

Must we wait for tensions with our allies to rise to a fevered pitch before we take up our signs and march? Will the death of the first soldier, our friend’s son, perhaps, be the moment? No, it will be the loss of a child whose Medicaid was slashed so that corporations could pocket half a cent. Or maybe the death of a grandfather who succumbs to diabetes because he rations his medication due to social security cuts.

Surely then, we will protest in mass, eleven million strong. Yes, we may have blood on our hands, but not much, It will be easy to wash away with our contrite tears shed too late.

But must it be? Must the cost be a solitary life?

If a life is the price, it has been paid in full.

It has been paid by every father separated from his family by deportation. Then covered once more by every woman denied reproductive care. And we dare not forget the unrecorded thousands blocked from medical treatment by insurance companies or the officers beaten on January 6th?

No, we cannot. We must become the helpers for their sakes if nothing else.

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Here’s how: INVITE. SERVE. CALL. BOYCOTT. ORGANIZE.

INVITE others to stand beside you. Start with those who have expressed interest but have yet to take action. Challenge them. Share your story. It may make all of the difference.

SERVE your community. Look for needs and meet them. The smallest act of kindness is resistance.

CALL about whatever cause burdens your heart.

Call your school board about threats levied at the Department of Education. Call your state representatives to express your concern about the impact tariffs and threats against Canada, Mexico, Gaza, and Ukraine will have on our economy not to mention our national safety. Implore them to pressure Washington to quash such talks. Call your representatives to demand their honor their oath to the Constitution, hold Trump accountable, and form a budget that benefits the people, not corporations.

5Calls and Jessica Craven have excellent resources.

BOYCOTT businesses averse to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I will be suggesting a long-term strategy for ongoing boycotts soon. Also, participate in the economic shutdown on February 28 and another in March—no shopping, no spending, nothing. More info to come.

ORGANIZE locally. Protest, learn, write letters, and strike. Discover groups by searching on Facebook or Reddit. Mobilize and Pol-Rev host two massive event databases. Get involved locally, but also, nationally.

I will continue to post events weekly, but I cannot do it alone. Share your upcoming events with me.

We can do this—together.

Be the helpers.