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The claims to be in a but his terrorism on “facts” already has obliterated a beloved species that we all used to gather around and enjoy together, those cute little things called .

“The media” just has become a code word in this for “inconvenient facts.” This (as do his who disturbingly call those lies ). In the role of president, he can’t just , backed via a . “The media” is not

These are not “alternative facts,” because there is no “fact” in them. This claim is like an order for a hamburger minus everything, from the bun to the meat to the ketchup. In other words, in the end, it’s nothing but an empty wrapper. Even the called out this outrageous interpretation of the word “fact.”

Living far away from the White House, in a heavily Democratic state, in the middle of the ocean, we might feel simultaneously sheltered and protected as well as hopeless and powerless in this situation. Those perspectives are not safe.

We essentially live in a major military outpost, and by , and being closest to , we are most vulnerable to threats in the Pacific. This president also threatens carnage in our upcoming wars aimed at and and does nothing to protect the First Amendment when .

Our beautiful Hawaiian environment, our open borders and our diversity are foundational to our ways of life here, all of which could be disrupted by this president’s plans. We rely on media to know what’s going on around the country, but this president suddenly is disrupting information channels everywhere, including at such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of the Interior, Transportation, Agriculture and Health and Human Services.

While complaining can be therapeutic, doing something about it can be transformative.

Maybe the first instinct you have is to grouse with neighbors or friends. But that’s just not going to be enough. , such as posting or recirculating social-media information, rarely has real impact outside of your echo chamber. Neither does “unfriending” someone on Facebook or ranting online. Yet at least that kind of public performance makes you accountable for your ideas and shakes off some of the social-justice inertia.

Voting – and being informed about the issues and the candidates – is a slightly higher level of citizen participation. But it’s also the baseline of being an American, not some great achievement.

Real change comes through the development of micro-relations and common ground among people, particularly between folks who don’t normally share information and space, and particularly with people in power.

For example, the Women’s March on Oahu earlier this month brought together thousands of the state’s residents in coordination with similar marches around the world. We weren’t attracted to that event by any singular issue. It was not an “anti-anything” rally. We came because of the common ground we shared, including a respect for women and feminist issues.

As my 9-year-old daughter put it, “Doesn’t everyone understand that they all came from women?”

Any of you without a mother can stop reading now. But anyone with a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, daughter, granddaughter, female friend, coworker or acquaintance could find something in the faces at that Honolulu rally that really binds us all.

But if you don’t like the way things are going in our society at this moment, that march has to be just a beginning.

The ultimate challenge of societies is to convert their latent or low-level energies for public good into significant and positive real world results. We should exercise our constitutional rights, through free assembly and expression, although efforts are .

We should exercise our constitutional rights of free speech and a free press. We should sign petitions, vote and mobilize others on social media. Once engaged like this, though, people also should feel emboldened to go a step further and pursue their agenda in the public square.

Professors at the University of Washington, for example, are proposing a to teach students how to spot bull, uh, excrement. Women scientists have across the country to hold panels, meetings and rallies, including a . The Intercept proposed , along with other suggestions for action. (The Intercept is part of First Look Media, which was launched by Civil Beat publisher Pierre Omidyar.)

In response to last week’s column about an ill-advised buyout for the Honolulu police chief, reader Natalie Iwasa suggested: “Perhaps you can provide information on how/where people can provide their comments.”

In that spirit, I will take this idea one step further. I urge you to – especially if you have never done this before – call and email your federal legislators (Sens.  and Reps. ) and encourage them to make a stand on issues important to you.

I tried to call the White House last week, (202) 456-1414, but I was just forwarded to an old voicemail set up by Barack Obama’s staff. You could also try to reach the new president at one of his . Or call Congress instead, (202) 225-3121, and just ask to be forwarded to your representative. We can march and share social media and grumble to friends all day, but this really is the time to call the hotline to the top.

Remember, taxpayers fund these jobs, so these people work for you (not the other way around). They want to hear from you, and they usually are eager to connect to voters in their districts. I always have found my elected officials to be open and curious about my thoughts and generous with their time, even if they are busy.

That said, be prepared to get to the point. Make a strong argument for what you believe in and listen to feedback from the representative or staff member. One call, one email isn’t necessarily enough, either. Call and write frequently to establish that you aren’t going away.

Next, if you haven’t done this yet, . This is a simple process online, and if you do it now, you’ll be ready for the next election.

If you become aware of an in this administration, report it. Many news organizations have set up secure and for whistleblowers: The , , , and . If you have a tip for a local or state issue, send those to Civil Beat’s editors on their encrypted email channel.

If none of that floats your boat, now is your chance to speak up and help set the agenda. Put forward one of your own ideas in the reader comments section below.

While complaining can be therapeutic, doing something about it (whatever “it” is) can be transformative. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus recently declared his administration’s strategy for handling inconvenient facts and established science (aka “the media”), saying: “We’re going to fight back tooth and nail every day and twice on Sunday.”

From what I’ve seen so far, I don’t doubt that they will. So what are you going to do about it?