The entire top management level of the State Department has
resigned. This is not the usual
shuffling of staff that comes with a change of administration. These are career foreign service
professionals who have served under both Republican and Democratic
administrations.
Some Republicans are daring to break ranks and disagree with
new policies. Nevada governor Sandoval has
publicly disagreed with the border wall and highlighted Nevada policies
supportive of immigrants.
The press is stepping up, with headings like “Our president
is a pathological liar”. Yes, it is
their job, but intrepid with such a vindictive administration backed by right
wing zealots who think nothing of attacking anyone who dares disagree, facts be
damned. Six journalists were arrested while covering protests, and
charged with felony rioting.
Millions of people marched, all over the country and all
over the world, while 10 states have proposed legislation criminalizing
peaceful protest.
These are the resistance.
These are people who are risking their livelihoods and their safety to
speak up for what they believe in. Do
not squander their courage.
Now is not the time to give up. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer
volume of reactionary changes in our government. Science and the press have been labeled our
enemies. The propaganda machine
justifies “alternate facts”. Press that
dares to report honestly is attacked, said to be left wing liars. If you ever are tempted to consider the Trump
administration credible, just remember the faux debate over the inauguration crowd. They repeatedly told us that the crowds were
huge, while we all stared dumbfounded at the photo evidence to the
contrary.
There will be trolls who get on posts and attack. I’ve had someone threaten to use their right
to punch me in the face. Block
them. This is not discourse. Don’t waste your energy on these people.
Remember that not even 60% of the eligible voters went to
the polls, and Trump lost the popular election.
Fewer than 30% of eligible voters supported him. And I’m pretty sure some of them are starting
to question their choice. Give them
quiet reasons to question. Check your
facts first, then ask a pointed question.
Be polite. Try to draw from them
their reasoning. That alone may be
enough to get them to question themselves.
March, call your senators and representatives, speak up when
you hear racism or discrimination of any kind, be ready to support targets of bigotry,
run for local government, get involved in organizations like the ACLU, buy
subscriptions to mainstream news like the NYT, Washington Post and the Guardian
so they can afford to keep good journalists working, support NPR. Don’t whitewash your language. Lies in support of a political agenda are
propaganda. Euro-centric groups and the
alt-right are white supremacists. Social
conservatives are bigots.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Find a way to keep yourself grounded as this
is not a short term battle. Pace
yourself. Make a realistic schedule to
call a lawmaker every week, review and comment on political posts during certain
times of day, or only on Fridays. Join a
protest march each season. Whatever it
takes to fit your personal methods of resistance into your life without consuming
or exhausting yourself.
Remember the scientists, foreign service officers, prominent
Republicans, reporters, and others who are taking significant risks to fight
the Trump administration. Do not
squander their courage. They are
leaders. Help form the army that fights
for our constitution, our values, our country, and our planet.
