In Nazi Germany, there were pockets of resistance, which were quickly crushed. The population was terrified to do anything, and a sizable majority were simply brainwashed into the ideology.
We have to be mindful of the risk that this administratiom will take a range of steps to intimidate the population. That has already happened on a number of levels, mostly involving current or former government workers and elected officials. If this spreads into the general population, there is a risk we become even more like Nazi Germany.
This means we may soon find that ordinary acts of minor resistance, i.e. nonviolent obstructions of the sort you describe are fewer and farther between. What then? Do we wait till it gets to that point? Or do we start engaging in greater (in scope), and/or more forceful acts? The hope being that the impact is greater and that it gives pause to the oppressors.
A gradual or sudden escalation may be what is called for.
Meanwhile, are we wasting precious time by focusing on becoming living monkeywrenches, mere minor nuisances, instead of planning how to achieve decisive victory?
I don't know the answers to these questions, but we do have historical models to inform us, as we ponder our next moves.
Most people will never do anything at all. They will be paralyzed by various fears, both personal (social anxiety etc.) and political (the things you cite.)
So they'll wait. Until someone is ready to lead them. The thing is, most of our "leaders" didn't get there by actually showing bravery. THEY don't know what/have the courage to do the right thing either. The exceptions are already visible: Ron Wyden, AOC, even Patty Murray are leading the charge, while others like my Senator Maria Cantwell very much want things to be "business as usual" or perhaps are laying low for themselves.
So I evaluated what I personally can do. I don't have a huge platform to rally folks to some location, and I don't have an in with anyone in power. I don't have military experience, or a job in the government where I can stand in someone's way, making a bold stand. I don't even have a connection to a major news publication where I could fight to write what I have to say.
But I do have this: I'm pretty good at helping people regulate their feelings and come back to a place of seeing their own utility and other's humanity. I'm a decent community-builder in the sense of knowing a lot of people and knowing who should meet each other. I also see patterns and write well.
So I've set this task for myself: get people to STOP WAITING FOR THE ANSWER and STOP THINKING THERE IS ONE ANSWER. Neither of these things are true, and they lead to paralysis -- and paralysis is the real enemy here.
I want people to do something NOW because the practice will make it easier to KEEP doing something even if it gets harder. I want people to find a place to lean into the traces now, before the administration makes it so much easier to decide it's not their fight. I want people to stop thinking that there is some one big thing that needs to happen, and therefore they're not part of the solution.
Non-violent resistance works more often, is appealing to more people, and really only requires one thing: enough people to participate.
This advice isn't what I'd say to a Federal judge, or a US Marshall, or a Senator. This is advice for all of us who, individually, feel powerless.
There is no doubt that this is a scary time. When I feel the smallest and most scared I listen to the loud voices of our elected officials who ARE speaking/screaming out and I am able to look outward again and take those little steps that hopefully matter. I call and write to my elected officials. This week I am adding our state's attorney general to my list of calls. They are all, in my opinion, on the right side calling for lawfulness and constitutional rights and freedoms protected. So I thank them and tell them that their work matters to all of us. I thank the aids/interns who answer the phones and record my words - they are working hard for us.
A friend of mine was in the Netherlands during the nazi occupation. His stories still bring me to tears. The mowing down of citizens in the streets, in churches, in homes. Do I want to die for the cause of freedom, of challenging this push toward fascist rule? No. But I want to live the result of the people reclaiming the gov. that we want. So I take the little steps. I speak out. I reach out my hand to remind others that we are in this together. Is this enough? We will only know through time, so let's keep throwing sand in the gears, lets keep taking those steps and feeling the power of the people uniting.
Thanks Shasta for your writing - your insights and experiences, your inspiration.
In Nazi Germany, there were pockets of resistance, which were quickly crushed. The population was terrified to do anything, and a sizable majority were simply brainwashed into the ideology.
We have to be mindful of the risk that this administratiom will take a range of steps to intimidate the population. That has already happened on a number of levels, mostly involving current or former government workers and elected officials. If this spreads into the general population, there is a risk we become even more like Nazi Germany.
This means we may soon find that ordinary acts of minor resistance, i.e. nonviolent obstructions of the sort you describe are fewer and farther between. What then? Do we wait till it gets to that point? Or do we start engaging in greater (in scope), and/or more forceful acts? The hope being that the impact is greater and that it gives pause to the oppressors.
A gradual or sudden escalation may be what is called for.
Meanwhile, are we wasting precious time by focusing on becoming living monkeywrenches, mere minor nuisances, instead of planning how to achieve decisive victory?
I don't know the answers to these questions, but we do have historical models to inform us, as we ponder our next moves.
Most people will never do anything at all. They will be paralyzed by various fears, both personal (social anxiety etc.) and political (the things you cite.)
So they'll wait. Until someone is ready to lead them. The thing is, most of our "leaders" didn't get there by actually showing bravery. THEY don't know what/have the courage to do the right thing either. The exceptions are already visible: Ron Wyden, AOC, even Patty Murray are leading the charge, while others like my Senator Maria Cantwell very much want things to be "business as usual" or perhaps are laying low for themselves.
So I evaluated what I personally can do. I don't have a huge platform to rally folks to some location, and I don't have an in with anyone in power. I don't have military experience, or a job in the government where I can stand in someone's way, making a bold stand. I don't even have a connection to a major news publication where I could fight to write what I have to say.
But I do have this: I'm pretty good at helping people regulate their feelings and come back to a place of seeing their own utility and other's humanity. I'm a decent community-builder in the sense of knowing a lot of people and knowing who should meet each other. I also see patterns and write well.
So I've set this task for myself: get people to STOP WAITING FOR THE ANSWER and STOP THINKING THERE IS ONE ANSWER. Neither of these things are true, and they lead to paralysis -- and paralysis is the real enemy here.
I want people to do something NOW because the practice will make it easier to KEEP doing something even if it gets harder. I want people to find a place to lean into the traces now, before the administration makes it so much easier to decide it's not their fight. I want people to stop thinking that there is some one big thing that needs to happen, and therefore they're not part of the solution.
Non-violent resistance works more often, is appealing to more people, and really only requires one thing: enough people to participate.
This advice isn't what I'd say to a Federal judge, or a US Marshall, or a Senator. This is advice for all of us who, individually, feel powerless.
Collectively we're unstoppable.
Thanks for such a thoughtful reply! We all bring our various skills to the table, and should use what we have.
Btw, i have begun a private dialogue via PM, with one of my Senators, Andy Kim, at his request. Good guy, who started his career at USAID.
There is no doubt that this is a scary time. When I feel the smallest and most scared I listen to the loud voices of our elected officials who ARE speaking/screaming out and I am able to look outward again and take those little steps that hopefully matter. I call and write to my elected officials. This week I am adding our state's attorney general to my list of calls. They are all, in my opinion, on the right side calling for lawfulness and constitutional rights and freedoms protected. So I thank them and tell them that their work matters to all of us. I thank the aids/interns who answer the phones and record my words - they are working hard for us.
A friend of mine was in the Netherlands during the nazi occupation. His stories still bring me to tears. The mowing down of citizens in the streets, in churches, in homes. Do I want to die for the cause of freedom, of challenging this push toward fascist rule? No. But I want to live the result of the people reclaiming the gov. that we want. So I take the little steps. I speak out. I reach out my hand to remind others that we are in this together. Is this enough? We will only know through time, so let's keep throwing sand in the gears, lets keep taking those steps and feeling the power of the people uniting.
Thanks Shasta for your writing - your insights and experiences, your inspiration.