5 Easy Ways to Avoid Normalizing Trump

The moment Donald Trump won the election, the normalization began to happen. For those unfamiliar with the term, what it means, simply, is that as a society we look at something terrible and begin to accept it as "normal" for lack of a better word. For example, the world at large has become normalized to the enslavement and slaughter of animals. Instead of seeing the animal agriculture industry for what it is, people accept that there is no way to live other than by eating meat and animal products. Once something becomes normalized, it becomes near impossible to un-normalize it for the masses. That's why it's beyond important that we not let society normalize Trump and Pence.

It's easier said than done to fight normalization in society, particularly when you're just a single drop in the ocean. But that sort of thinking is what makes people stop fighting. While individually we may not be able to stop normalization, together we can make real change or, at the very least, make Trump and Pence's stay as miserable as possible.

Below are just five, very small, very easy ways to fight normalization.

1. Call Amerikkka by its real name

A small but effective tactic in standing against the white supremacist values of Trump, Pence, and their people. The sight of "Amerikkka" alone is enough to shake people up because it makes the bold but accurate statement that this country has racism in its roots and can't live without it. 

2. Stop sharing all the Joe Biden memes

I get that they're entertaining but they're sort of normalizing the transition from Obama/Biden to Trump/Pence. It's a way to laugh at something very real, and while self-care is totally encouraged and important in this time, we often enjoy jokes and viral content so much that we start to miss the real point here, which is that Trump and Pence are not qualified nor acceptable people to occupy the White House.

3. Don't call him the President

Trump is the President-Elect and Pence is the Vice President-Elect. They are not in power yet and if and when they do assume office they still are not the President and Vice President to the people they smeared and attacked before, throughout, and after their campaign. We don't owe them anything.

4. Be conscious of the language the media uses on and around him

Don't let publications convince you that Trump and his colleagues are passionate or outsiders. Don't let them define white supremacists like Steve Bannon by their occupation(s) instead of the hateful ideologies they push on others. Don't let them spin his sloppy campaign into some carefully planned work of art or an honest approach to politics. They're going to try to sugarcoat everything so that you eventually give in and eat up the lies and dishonesty.

5. Stay motivated

This is probably the most difficult one of all because it's so easy to give up or to fail. This isn't the kind of task you can complete in a day or check off your list. Staying motivated means accepting the painful realities of this election and caring enough about yourself and others to keep speaking up long after mainstream media has lost interest. All successful movements in history were made up of people who didn't quit. Don't stand up when it's popular or because all your friends are doing it. Fight because this world deserves better.

Donald Trump is not qualified to be President, nor will he ever be. And Mike Pence needs to be kept as far away from positions of power as possible.