If you haven’t heard, there is a recycled person in the Whitehouse. #47, an adjudicated rapist and 34-count felon, took the Oath of Office again, without his hand on the Bible. Based on his actions this week, he has no intention, again, of living up to the words said during the swearing in ceremony. He and his sycophants wasted no time in working to divide and instill fear in the American people.
One of his first actions was an Executive Order about immigration. His Republican administration then stated they are will no longer honor sanctuary in schools, hospitals, nor even in churches (Note: Churches have been serving as places of sanctuary for centuries).
There was almost immediate condemnation of the stance on immigrant round-up, but more specifically towards raiding churches, with exceptions by the Baptists and Protestants, who seem to be okay with armed policeman barging into their churches to drag human beings out to be deported without it seems, due process.
The Episcopalian, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian religious leaders have maintained their faith and moral standing by being outspoken against this policy. In fact, the Episcopalian Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, DC, spoke her truth as a moral leader directly to #47. During her sermon on Tuesday morning, with #47 present in the audience, she made an appeal for him to show mercy towards immigrants, gays, lesbians, transgender, and others who may being living in fear at this moment. The Right Reverend showed what a religious leader can and should do, and what true courage in speaking truth to power can and should look like at this time in history.
As the week progressed, there was further evidence we the people are going to be alone as there was more bending of the knee to autocracy and authoritarian rule. Another big box business, Target, bent the knee by doing away with its diversity, equity, and inclusion program. The big surprise of the week was, or maybe it is par for the course as there were Jewish people who collaborated with the Nazi’s, the capitulation of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
When Elon Musk, during a speech he was giving, gave the Nazi salute. As we’ve come to expect of legacy media, they bent over backward to say it was not a Nazi salute. Then the ADL made a statement to the effect the Seig Heil was an, “awkward gesture,” even after Musk did it a second time. Only after much public pressure did the ADL backed away from their original statement, but it is too little too late. We all now know where the ADL stands.
However, there were other acts of courage shown by a wide spectrum of people and groups this week to show there may be resistance left in us yet.
After #47 released an (Un-Constitutional) executive order saying essentially a clause in the 14th Amendment was null and void, a Federal Judge ruled against birthright citizenship (along with 22 states suing to stop this executive order), temporarily blocking the order from going into effect. How long it holds up is yet to be seen since we know the U.S Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has been compromised. SCOTUS has bent over backwards and found convoluted ways to support anything #45, now #47, in the past. Will they blatantly go against the actual language of the Constitution itself written in black and white—All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside?
At least two judges also stood up to #47 when it came to the J6 Insurrectionist’s full pardon or commutation of sentences. They refused to dismiss the cases with prejudice, which would have meant a full exoneration of the charges. Other judges, unfortunately, did as they were told, but at least stated doing so did not change what happened that sad day in history, breaking our tradition of a non-violent transfer of power.
Although Target joined the ranks of the cowards bending the knee, choosing profits over people to #47, others did not. Costco once again showed itself a corporate and community leader in not bending the knee; its Board overwhelmingly voted in support of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. GoldmanSachs and JPMorgan also defended their own DEI policies. JPMorgan though is a mixed bag, as its CEO Jamie Dimon, told us to “get over it” in regards to #47’s tariff plans.
Other acts of courage and resistance shown this week include Canada and Mexico who have stopped taking U.S. orders for steel due to the threat of tariffs. Mexico refused to allow a deportee plane to land at any of its airports. A Denmark member of the European Parliament literally told Trump to F-off about taking Greenland. Both Chicago Public Schools resisted and Grand Rapids police issued a statement of non-cooperation with ICE raids. Lastly, at least one Inspector General, who was basically told he was fired, let the Republican Whitehouse know it does not have the authority to summarily fire him as a Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed position.
In small ways, anyone posting on social media, blogs, and independent journalists reporting against the policies of #47, is showing resistance. We are exercising our First Amendment rights and will continue to do so as long as we can.
It is this last part that has me wondering, and most fearful, “for as long as we can.” How long will churches and its membership withstand pressure to conform? How long before judges stop using actual law to thwart the policies of the Republican Party? How long before education, business, and law enforcement leaders are beaten down to compliance? How long before those of us on social media are harmed in such a way as to not be able to voice our resistive thoughts to the American public?
Where do you stand? At this time in history the question is, are you good people who will stand up and stand strong for democracy and the Constitution?
I hope so as we need you to help in getting into, as John Lewis said, “Good Trouble,” to stand for what is right and just.
The time has come to make a choice as being silent and being silent means being complicit in #47 and the Republican assault on democracy.
What choice will you make for yourself, your children, your grandchildren, and your generations to come?
It truly is up to each of us, and most importantly, up to you.
The time to choose is now!
Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man 