I have something to say to those who are sneering at the safety pins. First of all, the pins are not connected to the protests, so stop trying to say they are the same thing or even the same people.

Do you know what the pins mean? I’ll bet you think they mean, “I’m a left-wing pussy who’s crying because I didn’t get my way.” (Paraphrased from one post about the pins I saw.) In reality, the pin says, “No matter who you are, if you are being bullied or are fearful for any reason, I am a safe person and I will help you.”

Note that’s “No matter who you are.” The commitment is to help anyone. Even Trump voters, should they find themselves feeling threatened.

That’s it. Although it arises out of political opposition, it is free of political content. If you think there’s something wrong with that simple commitment, then we are in deeper trouble than I even now suspect.

As for the need for people to make this commitment, I think that events tell us it is desperately needed: http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/10/us/post-election-hate-crimes-and-fears-trnd/ Even President-elect Donald Trump has mentioned hate crimes and hate speech and asked for it to stop.

It’s easy and fun to sneer, I get it. Safety pins seem small, trivial. I get it. But it isn’t about safety pins. It’s about people committing to love their neighbors, regardless of race, religion, size, religion,sexual orientation, political affiliation or anything else–and who are willing to intercede when hate is uppermost.