Dear Women,

I can’t help but realize that no one is coming to save us. No one. Nothing. Certainly not the men appointed to the highest authority in our countries or even repeatedly listening to Beyoncé’s anthem “Run the World”.

Before I continue, let me explain that I am not American. I have the privilege of being a free, independent, Canadian woman. Although I was born in India, I am grateful that I have the privilege of a lifetime to say and do whatever I please in all aspects of my life. But as a bystander, watching the American Dream be replaced with the American Nightmare where children are targets of gun violence, women’s bodies are targets of pro-life propaganda and people of colour are the target of generational racism, I can no longer stand on the sidelines.

I have never been an advocate by any means. I’ve never protested, or participated in a march. I have never stood up for people who are marginalized. In fact, I have stayed small.

I believed that by living as a free independent woman, I was using my rights. And now, I can’t help but think how foolishly wrong I have been. For that, I say I am deeply sorry to all the women and children I have deserted while enjoying my individual freedom. I now realize, that freedom is collective, and we need each other even more than ever before.

We need us in the white houses, in the supreme courts, in the leadership and supportive roles. We need us on tv, on social media, and on book shelves across the world. We need us in the libraries and in the schools of underprivileged communities and countries. We may not be able to change the minds of people in power, but we have the power to change the course.

So where does that leave me? This is my very first step in the right direction, and I could use all the help I need now to walk this path.

If you are a change maker or just a decently good human being, I am ready to learn and be of benefit. I am ready to listen, discern, and use my own voice to move the needle in the right direction – for the greater good of all.