Name It
There are terms we all throw around. He’s an authoritarian building a fascist government. ICE violates our constitutional rights. Or maybe you don’t use those words, because you’re not certain what they mean. Either way, choose ONE current news story and develop an “elevator pitch” explaining your position, using strong, accurate language.
How to do it:
Be specific
If you tend to avoid confrontational words, practice being clear and firm. Don’t say “I don’t trust him.” Say “He lies” and have a few examples or facts to back your claim. If your community generally leans to supporting Trump, pick something they aren’t thrilled about. For example “It was really disrespectful of him to tear down the East Wing without so much as a public comment period. I’m just heartbroken every time I think about the rubble.” If you’re very confrontation averse, practice with a friend. Recite your pitch and let them poke holes in it. They might say “He’s the President. He can do what he wants.” Think about your reply. For example, you might say something like “I’d have felt the same way if Obama did that. It was the people’s house and it’s gone now.”
Be precise
If you don’t have any problem being confrontational and using words like fascism, oligarch and authoritarian, but you’re not actually sure what they mean, look them up! Use them in the right contexts. Use precise language you can defend and name the things they’re doing. Learn to define each term, with examples to back your claims.
