If you’d asked me five years ago if I thought I’d ever meet someone “from the internet” I would have thought you were creepy and changed the conversation. There was a time when meeting people from the Internet was something I considered a one-way ticket to inspiring your own episode of Law & Order. But now? I can’t imagine my life without the value the internet has added to it. It’s kind of like when I wore uniforms in High School and ended up with friends who liked Debate Camp as much as I like Riot Grrrrl music. The Internet is the great equalizer. I’ve gotten to know people I might never otherwise have connected with because we had a shared love for the fiberoptics. (That’s Laura and I up there. She lives 15 minutes away and we worked in the same industry for years but we ultimately met online, through blogging, and now she’s one of my closest friends and confidants. She’s also my polar opposite in almost every way — despite a shared love for fierce hair and bright lipstick. The good kind of polar opposite that broadens your horizons and challenges your ideals and stuff.) And at the moment she’s working her butt off to raise money to stop human trafficking by collecting donations and holding a literal and virtual yard sale and trust me you want to buy her stuff.
This past week or so, both the Internet (and life) has been kind of a confusing place. #BringBackOurGirls grabbed international attention, and in doing so has started a conversation about accountability, race, and global politics that I hope will continue after the kidnapped Chibok girls are found. I’ve read so many thought provoking posts and articles surrounding the terrifying stand-off, and I wanted to pass some of those perspectives along to you —
Nigerian journalist Alexis Okeowo’s piece in The New Yorker provides a clear overview of the nightmare the girls and their families are going through, and how the Nigerian (and other) government(s) has responded.
Kristen Howerton explains why the Chibok girls should be more than numbers to you.
Heather Barmore suggests a few more ways to help.
And Nigerian-American blogger Jumoke Balogun lays out the argument that our social media noise isn’t benefitting who we think it is, and asks Americans backing the movement to take a second look.
Here at home, members of the blogging community tragically lost their young son when he was struck by a truck while playing in the street. Hashtags have become a natural part of grieving for many in our modern world, and Ryan’s sudden and shocking death was mourned by the community at large via #redbaloonsforRyan. I don’t think many people know what to say or do when a child is suddenly taken from us, but my friend Heather (who has unfortunately been through the horror of losing a child) shared her advice on what not to say when facing grieving parents. I found it really poignant. You can read that HERE.
That’s where my head’s been. Swimming around in everything I’ve learned these past few months and trying to reconcile the unreconcilable. How’s your head doing these days?