I study how plants resist predators. Sometimes plants poison predators, other times they escape; often plants just tolerate them. In my research I seek to understand why plants have evolved one way or the other — what are the internal drivers and trade-offs shape resistance to predators? But this column is not about plants. It’s about people.
Just as plants adapt to survive, we too must adapt to the changing landscape of our society. Our government — those of several other countries — have pivoted from centrist policies to what seem to be radical changes — changes that have pushed many who once felt secure to the margin. It is shocking, scary and hard to make sense of. If you voted for this — it’s your chance to be represented, and I hope you are getting what you asked for. But, for those that did not, many of us are too confused to know what to say or do. I certainly feel that way. It feels like a cloud over me — not unlike how I felt in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet understanding and action seem critical. I am reminded of the classic grunge from my youth: “Take your time, hurry up, choice is yours, don’t be late.”
A friend suggested, “Think globally, act locally,” encouraging me to focus on making a difference in my immediate community. My dean proposed a different form of resistance: teach the best class you can. Publish the best research ever. Feel our power through the things we already know how to do. Some of us are writing op-eds, others are wondering why we are not taking to the streets. Finding your resistance is part of a larger duality — balancing external political action with internal resistance, the kind that can quietly hold us back.But beyond the personal, beyond the immediate, as scholars we must also grapple with the bigger picture. To the extent possible, we need to think less about feeling displaced, and more about what that displacement represents. Is it the erosion of foundational principles? Is it the normalization of rhetoric that seemed unthinkable even a year ago? A deliberate shift? The changes we are seeing appear to be both systemic and targeted — a confluence of broad societal shifts and specific policy changes.
Resistance isn't just about protesting in the streets, though that certainly has its place. It's about demanding transparency, holding our leaders accountable and refusing to accept any single narrative. We must seek multiple perspectives — each likely speaks some truth. We must navigate a landscape of competing narratives, seeking out diverse sources and engaging in critical analysis. For me, finding a balance between engagement and anger, caring and the need to disconnect and talking and staying silent will be important. I am allowing myself at times to both be comfortable and uncomfortable. After all, how we feel in our daily lives is not always a reliable measure of how well society is functioning. Sometimes we are just pretending. And maybe that’s okay — for a time.
But we can do better as a society. Although I do not believe humans have made long-term societal progress beyond the obvious — less violence, better health outcomes and greater equity — we should strive for it. Progress can perhaps best be measured against the specific injustices of our current time — if you believe we have transgressed, speak out. Progress often demands discomfort, a willingness to challenge our own status quo and a commitment to defending whatever we may hold dear. We should all be able to commit to some form of progress while also taking care of ourselves.
This is a call to be informed, strategic and to do whatever empowers you to stay engaged. Our collective goal for a diverse, equitable and inclusive society is not a sprint — it’s a marathon (in my case, a 10K). We must choose to act, not only react, with clarity, purpose and understanding of what’s at stake. The resistance we feel has little to do with the future we want, rather it is a personal battle shaped by who we are and past experiences. But the future we inherit is being shaped not by those in power, but by the choices we make now. I don’t yet know what the right choices are for me. But I better get on it — and find my resistance.
Anurag Agrawal is the James A. Perkins Professor of Environmental Studies in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is field biologist and studies the Ecology and Evolution of Botany and Entomology. His column Candor and Chlorophyll runs periodically this semester. He can be reached at profaagrawal@cornellsun.com.
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Anurag Agrawal is the James A. Perkins Professor of Environmental Studies in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is field biologist and studies the Ecology and Evolution of Botany and Entomology. His column Candor and Chlorophyll runs periodically this semester. He can be reached at profaagrawal@cornellsun.com.
