Thread by @usnehal

Grateful for my 1st amendment rights. Grateful my country is again a country of rule of law & due process. Yes, we are still striving to be a more perfect Union. As a country we must embrace #learningmindset as the Founding Fathers intended

A 🧵 of my exercising right to speech

Sometimes you make demands and let them know you are not going anywhere and not shutting up about injustice.

There is due process and violating the Constitution by a single paper signed by one man is not the government envisioned by the Founding Fathers.

Sometimes you sing about inclusiveness. Frankly, advocates need to mix it up for own wellbeing. It is a form of self care to affirm values & vision

It also helps one stay within one’s own personal boundaries of ethical behavior. Such groups are often wrongly called “mobs”
Nope

Plus not all mobs - like flash mobs - are bad

However, some people really detest joy, fun, smiles, dancing, freedom, expression. Very little to be done about unhappy Scrouge types - they will always mislabel & resist progress & equity 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also, veering a bit off topic, is this not the cutest flash mob proposal?
OMG. 😍

I started off with a tiny sign with a big message but ended up with a more effective sign

An advocate must find ways to take up more space & be loud

Some will say you have problems with boundaries which is a sign you are an effective advocate expanding past current limits 👍🏾

There was this protest. Was it a mob? I mean there was a disappointing lack of dancing. But there were clever signs like the “liar, liar pants on fire” which was in good fun (compared to people who build functional gallows and bring zip ties to kidnap or kill legislators)

Some of my favorite signs. It’s true: we all should be doing science and publishing instead of protesting. But sometimes you have to risk being called part of an unruly mob with pun-filled signs of nerdy jokes.

That said, I can “clean up” and be “the suit” when needed. I mean that is what it takes to have oversight/advisory role of $300 million in national #disparities #research funding for #system level change like.

#Medtwitter folks are often inside/outside system.

Some Muslim Americans attempt to erase identity to fit into mainstream culture
I double down on being Muslim American, all on my own terms

I do a ton of volunteer pro bono advocacy & #SciComm in my community where I can work thru relationships of trust

In fact, the time I got a personal invitation from President Obama to a White House reception?

It was for my volunteer work running a national ACA enrollment campaign with zero budget or staff but securing buy in from individual community leaders.

A woman navigating patriarchy.

I don’t have a powerful or well connected dad so I navigate patriarchy alone & without protectors

This had popped up as a “memory” from 2 years ago when I was living in #NYC

I deal with stuff like this not uncommonly, alone, with only my own good judgment to protect me

Many people find me “too much” - a common response to a WOC being authentic, believing her own agency, not living in fear of her “weak” or “vulnerable” position. Anyone is welcome to not interact me or read my posts. Pakistani(-American) women are intense. theprint.in/features/iqbal…

I only have two modes: intense or zen. I’m 95-99% intense. You can literally feel me thru the screen. Both an inherent trait & a honed skill as an advocate & just a WOC who travels alone. You need to be ready/able to scream, pull alarm, get attention: stylecaster.com/personal-safet…

One time, alone in Boulder, felt a man was following me. I wove a random, illogical pattern - he was always a few yards behind

I entered a street fair, walked to most crowded area, I suddenly turned around & screamed “STOP FOLLOWING ME!” then I immediately stood next to a guard

#MedTwitter needs to get out ivory tower & “safe spaces” if want to be change agents & challenge status quo

There is NO safety for some of us

Unless you live our realities you will FAIL & even HARM in your efforts, especially on #DEI

My role models:

theprint.in/pageturner/exc…

I spent my early 20s in med school in Pakistan

seeing a female prime minister (later shot)

learning surgery from female department chair

=types of female leadership America has not seen yet

of course America(n feminism) is not ready for me, my voice, my strength, my courage

https://twitter.com/usnehal/status/1282282218270973952

Or is that true?

For first time in years I feel cautious optimism & hope seeing @KamalaHarris @AOC @DrOmolara @DrDaniJackson #AmandaGorman @staceyabrams etc

These are fearless strong women I recognize as true feminists & trailblazers for needed progress

news.yahoo.com/a-confident-st…

True progress requires:
break silos
quit formulaic approaches
not trite slogans, “optics”
not aligning w/ past or status quo

Calls for “unity” are fine
but not thru suppression,silencing, control

Need more organic expression

Need restructuring & system change

Expand the tent

I recently exercised my 2nd amendment rights w/in safety of a socially distanced well regulated instructional setting. But let’s not forget that 1st amendment comes BEFORE 2nd amendment

Anyone attempting to silence by threats of violence (physical or otherwise) is unAmerican

And yeah, I am darn good at hitting my target, literally & figuratively

I:
set my sights
prepare
aim
adjust
steady
pull the trigger
am effective

= Coolheadedness
learned in ED work & in Pakistan
often are in fast paced, unsafe situations
often alone
no one to count on but self

I used that video as a way to engage conservatives on #LinkedIn
to point out time they attempted to muzzle & silence pediatricians & the @AmerAcadPeds

By showing I had fired a gun
(& won respect for skill & calm under pressure)
I could advocate better

linkedin.com/posts/usnehal_…

Instead of
blocking, silos
hidden behind walls
imprisoning self
(or justifying cyberstalking or any ethics violations)
out of own fear

I can confidently walk over to “their” side
win their respect
communicate w/ authentic voice
stand firm on my values

=power of voice/speech

What if
is not really about
“us” vs “them”
clubs/parties
at all? 🤔 💡

If we do NOT
block
shut out
muzzle
(unless harm/violence)

we can actually achieve what America is supposed to be:
a grand, messy experiment, perpetual #learningmindset

to form #aMorePerfectUnion
🤝🧕🏼👨🏼‍💼👩🏽‍🎓

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