I've been discussing, calmly, the felon and the danger he posed since he first announced that he was going to run for president ten years ago. I would not bring up the subject unless it became a topic of conversation, as in "don't discuss politics, religion, or money". Many friends thought I was overreacting, some liked him, and others just said that they "didn't want to be political".
When he was elected the second time, I had hoped that people would finally realize what is at risk. I live in a rural, red area awash in white privilege, and I am not seeing enough people who are paying attention, care, or worse, applaud this blatant lawlessness. Maybe they will care when ICE starts pulling THEM from their vehicles and they see that yes, ICE is coming for them, too. By then, it's going to be pretty damn late.
We have met the Ugly American, and he is us, to paraphrase Walt Kelly.
The Trumpian news caters to the extreme right wing beliefs and fashions these untrue reports to sound reasonable. Not only does the news cater to their beliefs, but it CREATES their beliefs with the many flat out lies that stream into their brains every single day. Then that’s not enough, but they tell them how they should react to the news they’re hearing. To them it all sounds true! Don’t forget this. That’s what we’re fighting against. And with regard to the Christian nationalist, I believe to them it doesn’t matter how they arrive at the destination they want, but that they finally do arrive.
What's wrong with us? Are we afraid to stand up and speak out? Have we lost our sense of connection as citizens of a country and society? Do we not care when we see American citizens beaten and killed by other Americans? Do we no longer care that our President does only what enriches himself, and declares himself as the supreme world leader today, and you can join him for only $1 billion? And lastly, do we want to live in a Democracy anymore, or just give up and comply to the regime?
I think this discussion is asking each of us to look in the mirror and ask yourself... do I really care? Have we lost our way? Our silence is getting louder. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”, MKL
“A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”- Martin Luther King Jr.
Are we finally ready and able to make this man’s vision prophecy? Are we there yet? Are we even close?
What amazes me is that it is not difficult to stand up and be counted. All we have to do is, like the little turtle named Mack in the Dr. Seus allegory of “Yertle the Turtle”, is to cast off the weight of this current oppression by firmly rejecting it. Each and every one of us can do this, and do this we must. We call it ‘The Resistance’ now, but it is plain, old-fashioned patriotism to insist that our leaders stand by their oath of office; the oath they take to protect and defend our Constitution. It is plain old-fashioned patriotism to speak up and speak out against true injustice and government rejection of our most cherished principles. It is plain old-fashioned patriotism to want to have a say in how we are governed.
Enough with the fear of ‘getting out of line’. Enough with the complicit silence or cooperation with unlawful actions. Enough with the complicit silence of watching our fellow citizens be brutalized, tortured and killed. ENOUGH.
Robert Frost said it best, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
Any number of us are trying our level best to shore up and extend the rebellion against the Orange Traitor (yes, traitor) in our midst. Some of us are marching, writing substacks to help educate and encourage people to be both wise and brave, joining groups, donating to organizers to leverage our power, writing letters to our elected reps. And we will do more.
It's so Interesting that you used the word 'malignant' to describe Trump. A cancer is malignant, and grows outside of our awareness at first. A cancer demands energies which would otherwise be used to sustain healthy tissues. And this is how it ultimately kills. We now are sensing the tumor, and starting to understand the state that we're in. There is a period in which people with cancer can begin to see some evidence of it, yet remain in denial, yes. That's the past several years, but we are well past that now. It might be that there won't be one big BOOM that raises a resistance large enough and loud enough to be called a full rebellion. But how about the cold-blooded murder of a peaceful young mother and a failure to investigate her murder, followed by a federal lawsuit against those elected officials in protest of these facts and the threat of dropping a battalion of paratroopers into an American city?
“Tomorrow is the anniversary of Donald Trump’s second-term inauguration, what might be more accurately described as
“America’s Unnecessary Tragedy.”
—-
I feel the “urgency of now” here, right now as you did last year:
I feel we are in a desperate race.
I can’t help speculating something must be strategized to impede the onslaught of Trump’s ICE any further NOW.
I won’t give up
I won’t give in
All of us need all others to not give up.
⬇️
50501
Besides protesting, there are many ways to fight back!
Find your path with the "What Can I Do?" guide from ChooseDemocracy.us.
Boycott strategically: find, join, and share effective boycotts.
Check for the latest No Kings Alliance weekly action.
Contact your representatives daily using 5calls.org or ResistBot.
Use your economic power wisely: support your local community and the most vulnerable in it. Use the Winterboots Chrome extension to support ethical brands when shopping online.
Write an op-ed on a topic you're passionate about.
Amplify our message on social media. Share our posts or participate in discussions on Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, and Discord.
Make sure to read the 50501 Welcome Guide!
Participate in some of 50501's community-driven initiatives:
Trump has started a civil war in America: fascism (Trump) vs. democracy (everyone who opposes Trump). The presence of military forces on domestic soil in lieu of civil police forces is potentially an opening salvo not unlike Ft Sumter and it portends much difficulty for our nation.
I think a lot of us are trying to rise up, but we get lost in the noise. I live in a red state, Montana, and I go to the protests, and a lot of other people are going to the protests, but it gets a little or no coverage and then gets drowned out by all of Trump’s shenanigans. Plus people who follow Fox News get an entirely different picture which reinforces their worldview. I make my calls to my congressional delegation, but they know that they can get reelected without my vote. All we can do is to continue to persevere and follow the lead of Martin Luther King. I do feel that what’s going on in Minneapolis may help because there’s such overwhelming evidence from peoples’ cell phone footage about the violence that’s being inflicted on local citizens. We SHALL overcome SOMEDAY.
Thanks Steven; Well scripted. Yes some of us where told never discuss politics or religion . Those are two topics that are tabbo. I just never learned well and got into a few donnybrooks, bloodied nose and eventually I learned how to discuss politics in a civil manner. I did learn you cannot convince anyone with bluster and bullets. Civil discourse is the way to achieve better outcomes. Its not over until it is over and it will never be over. One can be overcome with despair but they must stay in the fray. Protest peacefully and vote when you have the chance to speak clearly with the ballot.
Minnesotans are legally protesting THE shooting and an invasion of their State by a group of brown-clad thugs -remember the brown shirts of 30's Germany? Apparently history does repeat if we do not remember. This is NOT an insurrection against America. It is a non-violent protest against all has occurred and still is. For What's-His-Name to call it an insurrection and call up America's true military IS unlawful - maybe one of those illegal orders to not be obeyed?? American troops against loyal Americans? When will a majority of people realize just how in jeopardy our Democracy is???
Excellent post, and very timely quotation from MLK:
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it,” King wrote. “He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
I've just read a couple of columns this morning concerning the upcoming Davos meetings, which started me wondering about the current relevance of those meetings. It seems like so much empty posturing (which is probably why Trump and his official minions are attending in such numbers). But at the same time, the destruction that the Trump regime is inflicting on America and the post-WW2 liberal consensus may be clearing the way for a new post-American order of regional economic and defense cooperation -- to the detriment of the US. I'm wondering how many countries are going to send members to meet with Trump's lackeys, basically to tell them to put Trump's Gaza Peace club where the sun don't shine. It is said that diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell in a way that makes them look forward to the trip. I'll be interested to read reports coming out of Davos (except those put out by the Trump regime, which will surely be a tissue of lies).
I left a message for vince fong, my current congressman, asking if trump's threats to invade Minneapolis and Greenland and abandon NATO were enough for him to get brave and bring articles of impeachment. Can't wait to see if I get a reply!!! he replaced kevin mccarthy, so I'm not expecting much.
Anyone can participate: Melt the ICE, join the Strike. January 23rd — No Work, No School, No Spend
“Minnesota-based faith leaders, unions, and other community groups called for a strike and economic blackout on Jan. 23 in response to the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge.”
Hi Sharon - my latest encouraging ‘discovery’- have you seen it before?
* Current list of pro-democracy *accomplishments … GOOD LUCK with your Strike!
🪵 Chop Wood, Carry Water
This weekday newsletter gives you easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair, effect positive change and elect more true public servants.
I have just re-read the 25th Amendment, the one whose purpose is the prevention of a mentally unfit insane man like Trump from continuing as President. While it is tempting to castigate the authors for endowing responsibility for executing said amendment to the Cabinet, the very people who owe their jobs to the insane President, the same would have to be said of the framers of the Constitution. The safeguards they built into our government have all failed as well. While the founders could foresee the possibility that the Supreme Court, Congress and the Cabinet would all be lead by corrupt individuals, they could devise no safeguard against that eventuality. Thus, Franklin’s famous statement when asked what form of government the framers devised: “A Republic-if you can keep it.” It turns out we could not. As the Supreme Court has effectively overturned the Constitution and the Congress has essentially abolished itself, there is no legal bar preventing the dissolution the present Union and allowing each state to decide on its own future. One way or another, the country will not survive another 3 years of this insanity.
Yes he is a “malignancy” cancerous cells that multiply exponentially. While many tried to blare the alarm, it was ignored or heaven forbid they wouldn’t vote for a women of color who was so more prepared for the position and the job. Or because as some who are absurd by complaining over her laugh. Well who’s laughing now?
We have a suggestion from Brooke Rollins Dept. of Agriculture - that a meal will be 1 piece of chicken (3 to 5 oz), 1 broccoli floret, 1 corn tortilla (6”only) and something else - may consider the something else more food, such as meal. Have no idea on the tariff if that tortilla decision is made in Mexico versus in U.S.
Sir, the malignancy has spread throughout his regime to all of his sycophants and minions and has unleashed a law enforcement that is parallel to the Gestapo - ICE. A FOX celebrity playing General and going to possibly send 1500 Military personnel to Minnesota. Now beyond threatening Greenland and a crazy-loon email to Norwegian Prime Minister .. And not a peep from Republican/MAGA Congressional representatives our employees … have called and left messages again….and celebrated MLK day
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
This weekday newsletter gives you easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair, effect positive change and elect more true public servants.
I've been discussing, calmly, the felon and the danger he posed since he first announced that he was going to run for president ten years ago. I would not bring up the subject unless it became a topic of conversation, as in "don't discuss politics, religion, or money". Many friends thought I was overreacting, some liked him, and others just said that they "didn't want to be political".
When he was elected the second time, I had hoped that people would finally realize what is at risk. I live in a rural, red area awash in white privilege, and I am not seeing enough people who are paying attention, care, or worse, applaud this blatant lawlessness. Maybe they will care when ICE starts pulling THEM from their vehicles and they see that yes, ICE is coming for them, too. By then, it's going to be pretty damn late.
We have met the Ugly American, and he is us, to paraphrase Walt Kelly.
The Trumpian news caters to the extreme right wing beliefs and fashions these untrue reports to sound reasonable. Not only does the news cater to their beliefs, but it CREATES their beliefs with the many flat out lies that stream into their brains every single day. Then that’s not enough, but they tell them how they should react to the news they’re hearing. To them it all sounds true! Don’t forget this. That’s what we’re fighting against. And with regard to the Christian nationalist, I believe to them it doesn’t matter how they arrive at the destination they want, but that they finally do arrive.
Yes, if the earth is destroyed and everything on it, that is simply fulfilling their prophecy.
What's wrong with us? Are we afraid to stand up and speak out? Have we lost our sense of connection as citizens of a country and society? Do we not care when we see American citizens beaten and killed by other Americans? Do we no longer care that our President does only what enriches himself, and declares himself as the supreme world leader today, and you can join him for only $1 billion? And lastly, do we want to live in a Democracy anymore, or just give up and comply to the regime?
I think this discussion is asking each of us to look in the mirror and ask yourself... do I really care? Have we lost our way? Our silence is getting louder. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”, MKL
I said from day one 2015 it was always about character, integrity. You could just listen to him.
I used to ask people
“ do you want your children talking and acting like him?”
“A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand, we are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside, but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho Road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life's highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”- Martin Luther King Jr.
Are we finally ready and able to make this man’s vision prophecy? Are we there yet? Are we even close?
The lack of response to your question, Al, leads me to believe we’re not even close!
Sad and true.
What amazes me is that it is not difficult to stand up and be counted. All we have to do is, like the little turtle named Mack in the Dr. Seus allegory of “Yertle the Turtle”, is to cast off the weight of this current oppression by firmly rejecting it. Each and every one of us can do this, and do this we must. We call it ‘The Resistance’ now, but it is plain, old-fashioned patriotism to insist that our leaders stand by their oath of office; the oath they take to protect and defend our Constitution. It is plain old-fashioned patriotism to speak up and speak out against true injustice and government rejection of our most cherished principles. It is plain old-fashioned patriotism to want to have a say in how we are governed.
Enough with the fear of ‘getting out of line’. Enough with the complicit silence or cooperation with unlawful actions. Enough with the complicit silence of watching our fellow citizens be brutalized, tortured and killed. ENOUGH.
Robert Frost said it best, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
Minnesotans are calling for a General Strike on January 23rd. “Melt the ICE” No Work, No School, No Spend.
Regional labor organizations, numerous businesses & religious leaders have joined the call. So why aren’t we hearing about it? This is from the 13th. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-day-of-truth-and-freedom-economic-blackout-ice-operation-metro-surge/
Any number of us are trying our level best to shore up and extend the rebellion against the Orange Traitor (yes, traitor) in our midst. Some of us are marching, writing substacks to help educate and encourage people to be both wise and brave, joining groups, donating to organizers to leverage our power, writing letters to our elected reps. And we will do more.
It's so Interesting that you used the word 'malignant' to describe Trump. A cancer is malignant, and grows outside of our awareness at first. A cancer demands energies which would otherwise be used to sustain healthy tissues. And this is how it ultimately kills. We now are sensing the tumor, and starting to understand the state that we're in. There is a period in which people with cancer can begin to see some evidence of it, yet remain in denial, yes. That's the past several years, but we are well past that now. It might be that there won't be one big BOOM that raises a resistance large enough and loud enough to be called a full rebellion. But how about the cold-blooded murder of a peaceful young mother and a failure to investigate her murder, followed by a federal lawsuit against those elected officials in protest of these facts and the threat of dropping a battalion of paratroopers into an American city?
Yes
I agree with you Steven:
“Tomorrow is the anniversary of Donald Trump’s second-term inauguration, what might be more accurately described as
“America’s Unnecessary Tragedy.”
—-
I feel the “urgency of now” here, right now as you did last year:
I feel we are in a desperate race.
I can’t help speculating something must be strategized to impede the onslaught of Trump’s ICE any further NOW.
I won’t give up
I won’t give in
All of us need all others to not give up.
⬇️
50501
Besides protesting, there are many ways to fight back!
Find your path with the "What Can I Do?" guide from ChooseDemocracy.us.
Boycott strategically: find, join, and share effective boycotts.
Check for the latest No Kings Alliance weekly action.
Contact your representatives daily using 5calls.org or ResistBot.
Use your economic power wisely: support your local community and the most vulnerable in it. Use the Winterboots Chrome extension to support ethical brands when shopping online.
Write an op-ed on a topic you're passionate about.
Amplify our message on social media. Share our posts or participate in discussions on Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, and Discord.
Make sure to read the 50501 Welcome Guide!
Participate in some of 50501's community-driven initiatives:
https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
Trump has started a civil war in America: fascism (Trump) vs. democracy (everyone who opposes Trump). The presence of military forces on domestic soil in lieu of civil police forces is potentially an opening salvo not unlike Ft Sumter and it portends much difficulty for our nation.
I think a lot of us are trying to rise up, but we get lost in the noise. I live in a red state, Montana, and I go to the protests, and a lot of other people are going to the protests, but it gets a little or no coverage and then gets drowned out by all of Trump’s shenanigans. Plus people who follow Fox News get an entirely different picture which reinforces their worldview. I make my calls to my congressional delegation, but they know that they can get reelected without my vote. All we can do is to continue to persevere and follow the lead of Martin Luther King. I do feel that what’s going on in Minneapolis may help because there’s such overwhelming evidence from peoples’ cell phone footage about the violence that’s being inflicted on local citizens. We SHALL overcome SOMEDAY.
Thanks Steven; Well scripted. Yes some of us where told never discuss politics or religion . Those are two topics that are tabbo. I just never learned well and got into a few donnybrooks, bloodied nose and eventually I learned how to discuss politics in a civil manner. I did learn you cannot convince anyone with bluster and bullets. Civil discourse is the way to achieve better outcomes. Its not over until it is over and it will never be over. One can be overcome with despair but they must stay in the fray. Protest peacefully and vote when you have the chance to speak clearly with the ballot.
Minnesotans are legally protesting THE shooting and an invasion of their State by a group of brown-clad thugs -remember the brown shirts of 30's Germany? Apparently history does repeat if we do not remember. This is NOT an insurrection against America. It is a non-violent protest against all has occurred and still is. For What's-His-Name to call it an insurrection and call up America's true military IS unlawful - maybe one of those illegal orders to not be obeyed?? American troops against loyal Americans? When will a majority of people realize just how in jeopardy our Democracy is???
Excellent post, and very timely quotation from MLK:
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it,” King wrote. “He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
I've just read a couple of columns this morning concerning the upcoming Davos meetings, which started me wondering about the current relevance of those meetings. It seems like so much empty posturing (which is probably why Trump and his official minions are attending in such numbers). But at the same time, the destruction that the Trump regime is inflicting on America and the post-WW2 liberal consensus may be clearing the way for a new post-American order of regional economic and defense cooperation -- to the detriment of the US. I'm wondering how many countries are going to send members to meet with Trump's lackeys, basically to tell them to put Trump's Gaza Peace club where the sun don't shine. It is said that diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell in a way that makes them look forward to the trip. I'll be interested to read reports coming out of Davos (except those put out by the Trump regime, which will surely be a tissue of lies).
Agreed. These will be important meetings.
I left a message for vince fong, my current congressman, asking if trump's threats to invade Minneapolis and Greenland and abandon NATO were enough for him to get brave and bring articles of impeachment. Can't wait to see if I get a reply!!! he replaced kevin mccarthy, so I'm not expecting much.
Please continue all your good work, Steven
Anyone can participate: Melt the ICE, join the Strike. January 23rd — No Work, No School, No Spend
“Minnesota-based faith leaders, unions, and other community groups called for a strike and economic blackout on Jan. 23 in response to the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge.”
Hi Sharon - my latest encouraging ‘discovery’- have you seen it before?
* Current list of pro-democracy *accomplishments … GOOD LUCK with your Strike!
🪵 Chop Wood, Carry Water
This weekday newsletter gives you easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair, effect positive change and elect more true public servants.
https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/extra-extra-118/comments#comment-201726842
I have just re-read the 25th Amendment, the one whose purpose is the prevention of a mentally unfit insane man like Trump from continuing as President. While it is tempting to castigate the authors for endowing responsibility for executing said amendment to the Cabinet, the very people who owe their jobs to the insane President, the same would have to be said of the framers of the Constitution. The safeguards they built into our government have all failed as well. While the founders could foresee the possibility that the Supreme Court, Congress and the Cabinet would all be lead by corrupt individuals, they could devise no safeguard against that eventuality. Thus, Franklin’s famous statement when asked what form of government the framers devised: “A Republic-if you can keep it.” It turns out we could not. As the Supreme Court has effectively overturned the Constitution and the Congress has essentially abolished itself, there is no legal bar preventing the dissolution the present Union and allowing each state to decide on its own future. One way or another, the country will not survive another 3 years of this insanity.
Thank you Professor Beschloss
Yes he is a “malignancy” cancerous cells that multiply exponentially. While many tried to blare the alarm, it was ignored or heaven forbid they wouldn’t vote for a women of color who was so more prepared for the position and the job. Or because as some who are absurd by complaining over her laugh. Well who’s laughing now?
We have a suggestion from Brooke Rollins Dept. of Agriculture - that a meal will be 1 piece of chicken (3 to 5 oz), 1 broccoli floret, 1 corn tortilla (6”only) and something else - may consider the something else more food, such as meal. Have no idea on the tariff if that tortilla decision is made in Mexico versus in U.S.
Sir, the malignancy has spread throughout his regime to all of his sycophants and minions and has unleashed a law enforcement that is parallel to the Gestapo - ICE. A FOX celebrity playing General and going to possibly send 1500 Military personnel to Minnesota. Now beyond threatening Greenland and a crazy-loon email to Norwegian Prime Minister .. And not a peep from Republican/MAGA Congressional representatives our employees … have called and left messages again….and celebrated MLK day
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
My latest ‘discovery’ - have you seen it before?
Current list of pro-democracy accomplishments …
🪵 Chop Wood, Carry Water
This weekday newsletter gives you easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair, effect positive change and elect more true public servants.
https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/extra-extra-118/comments#comment-201726842