Share POLITY | a voice for action
Are we not looking for ways be courageous? I am. What larger part of my authentic self can I bring forth to support others who are doing great work, others who are risking their lives and well-being?
Opportunities to take heart, to step into courage are all around. Cameron, a gentleman whose car services we use for airport and local taxying, recently pierced the bubble of anxiety I was in. An Iraqi Kurd, Cameron was a prominent member of the Iraqi National Congress, the primary resistance to Saddam Hussein's reign which terrorized so many. His prominence equaled great danger for himself, his family and his opposition colleagues. Cameron worked with the U.S. State Department which, ultimately, brought him to the United States 27 years ago. He is acutely aware of our clear and present danger. His evaluation through his lens of experience:
"I am confident that we'll be able to turn things around."
As we more deeply coalesce around defending the issues we value, our collective opposition to fascism is strengthened. The key issues for each of us are the ones we need to select and defend. Select one; select two, and learn everything you can about it to bring your own dedication and energy:
Attempts to gut Medicaid, food assistance, nutrition and basic needs programs;
Illegal tariffs that not only threaten our financial well-being, but our livelihoods;
Critical staffing cuts at the Social Security Administration that now risk system collapse in the next 30-90 days;
Broader assaults on the health and well-being of American citizens, a topic we need to better define and defend: the dismantlement of our public health infrastructure, research institutions and anti-science crackpottery (reproductive health, diseases, autism);
The war on academia: its funding, interference in its curriculum and university operations, the eligibility of students to attend;
The attack on birthright citizenship;
Snatching people off the street to ship them to a foreign gulag without a chance to defend themselves in a court of law;
Shuttering the Department of Education;
Illegal deportation of international students who criticize U.S. policy in the Middle East.
The two issues that are critically important to me right now are:
the restoration of Social Security Administration staff and the stabilization of the agency;
my data security and data privacy.
On the data security topic, my partner’s Substack, Essential Risk Management took off yesterday when his post, “Slamming the Door on Google Account Surveillance” dropped. We are all being surveilled; Google’s Chrome browser builds a detailed profile of everywhere you go on the Web, and every interest you have. Your data is sold to “data brokers.” In the post, he enumerates ten steps to take to disable as many Google Account sensor settings as possible.
Legislators who remain responsive and in communication with their constituents tell us categorically that our communication with their offices determines which issues they address. My House Rep's emails alone are >8,000 per week.
Continue emailing and calling our Senators and House Reps throughout the week. If you live in a Red state, please contact several times per week or daily. Your voice matters. The pressure and urgency you bring matters.
We need to start demanding our legislators attend rallies and protests with us. Broad-based protests invite others in, and create increasing pressure on non-participative legislators to engage and defend.
As we take action to defend, it's critical that we preserve our own well-being by recognizing the threats that vie for our attention. Preserving healthful routines and rest; leaning into life-affirming activities we love; protecting our family and friend relationships as the restorative core of who we are in the world.
Tracy K Smith, former U.S. poet-laureate, addresses the fear we may have with its antidote:
"Of the many emotions with which I lately must wrestle - outrage, disappointment, anger, hope, resolve - fear is the one that threatens to stifle and tamp down the energy and clarity of mind with which its antidote - courage - and so much more can be claimed. And so I choose to acknowledge and address fear as the shadow - the dark sister - of freedom. What makes her so vigilant? Is it possible that she hasn't come to shut us down, but rather to offer us something, or lead us someplace?"
Big voices are becoming bigger. Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker:
"The Democratic Party must abandon the culture of incrementalism that has led us to swallow their cruelty.” It is time for his party, he said, “to knock the rust off poll-tested language that has obscured our better instincts.
"It is time to fight everywhere, all at once.”
In the activities of our dedication we can lose the extraordinary progress we are making. Please, please take a moment to read Jessica Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water entitled " Extra! Extra! 4/27." She lists more than 60 significant successes from the past week alone. Here’s her post.
Be well. Do good work. Carry on together.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.