Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man

In the last week we have seen two elected Minnesota Democrats and their spouses shot in their homes by a white Christian nationalist fanatic. Two of which we shot dead.

In the last week we have seen two elected Democratic officials arrested and detained. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla from California was roughed up, handcuffed, and detained solely for trying to ask a question of Kristi Noam, Secretary of Homeland Security, at a press conference. 

The second was Brad Lander, currently the New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate for New York City. He was roughed up, handcuffed, and detained doing his Constitutional right in requesting a copy of an arrest warrant when masked “ICE Agents” were kidnapping law-abiding immigrants at their immigration hearings.

In the last week we have seen the Republican White House refuse to call Governor Tim Walz, a sitting Governor, when tragedy struck his state to offer help. We have also seen a White House representative, J.D. Vance, go to California and what appears calculated, mention a U.S. Senator by a racially profiled name that isn’t even close to the Senator’s actual name.

In the last week we have seen the Los Angeles Police Department and the National Guard, in what appears quite purposefully, escalate violence against non-violent, peaceful protests.

In the last week we have seen “ICE agents” using military grade equipment to terrorize neighborhoods in Los Angeles, again while kidnapping people off the streets.

In the last week we have seen “ICE agents” show up at Dodger Stadium, be refused entry by the Dodger’s, then lie about being at Dodger Stadium even when there are videos, including live media coverage they were, in fact, at Dodger Stadium.

In the last week, we have seen U.S. Citizens being disappeared for daring to question men and women who are armed, masked, unidentifiable, and arrive in unmarked cars, when they are abducting people off the streets. Those abducted are immigrants here legally, are receiving no due process, and most often have no history of criminal activity. 

We have reached, in many ways gone beyond, the point where we need to stand together, peacefully and non-violently, against tyrannical rule and lawlessness perpetrated upon us by this White House and other elected Republicans from Washington, D.C., to Statehouses, to local government officials. 

We must record, report, and peacefully resist to the best of our ability to maintain our democracy, our rights, and our freedoms. This could be attending mass protests, spending our hard earned wages at companies who celebrate all of us, writing or calling our elected officials, sending letters to editors of our local newspapers, and participating in general strikes when they start being called. 

We have reached the time in which we must not look away from the violence and cruelty being done to any and all of us. History must know who helped save democracy, those who bent the knee of complicity or remained silent, and those who actively worked against the American people.

Please always remember there are more of us decent law-abiding people who care about people, human rights, civil rights, freedom, and democracy. Together we can, and will stop this, no matter how long it may take. The sooner we act to stop this madness, the sooner we will get our country back on the track set in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and basic human decency.

Join the peaceful and non-violent protests and resistance before its too late. Join now.

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I’ve often said we all need to be involved in saving democracy in the ways which fit our lives and our comfort levels. These can be blogging, reposting on social media, calling your elected officials, letters to the editor, donating to organizations, and/or marching in the streets. Nothing is too little or too much. Here are some ways to get involved whether from the comfort of your own homes, or on the streets, over the next few weeks:

• Call your U.S. Senator to demand they vote against the “big beautiful bill” that will harm most everyone living in the United States. The switchboard number is 202-224-3121. They will connect you with the correct senators. If you get their voicemail, which I do often, make sure to leave your name and address for your call to be registered as received.
• Call your U.S. Senator to demand they fight the Republican administration’s defiance of the court in following laws and the Constitution. The switchboard number is 202-224-3121. They will connect you with the correct senators. If you get their voicemail, which I do often, make sure to leave your name and address for your call to be registered as received.
• Call your congressional members and let them know as one of the people they represent, it is past time for DOGE to be dismantled. Call this number and the switchboard will connect you to your representative or senator: 202-224-3121. Even if you don’t know who your members are, they will find them for you based on your address, which they will ask you to provide.
• Call the White House switchboard to express your disappointment in what is happening and that DOGE must go: 202-456-1414 (switchboard) or 202-456-1111 (comments). I recommend the switchboard myself.
• Sign up for General Strike and commit to participating.
• Download the app Five Calls to help let your elected officials know you are paying attention and don’t approve. Website: https://5calls.org/ 
• Join a local group of Indivisible.
• Participate in the action items of50501: 50 Protests, 50 States, 1 Movement.
• Continue to boycott companies who have bent the knee or no longer believe in equality. Don’t buy from national chains or companies, such as Target, Amazon, Tesla, Walmart and any others who are bending the knee and capitulating to authoritarianism and the billionaire class.
• Write letters to your local papers expressing your disappointment and tell your stories of how the Republican administration is harming your families.
• Please say thank you in some way to the universities, law firms, companies, and organizations not bending the knee and capitulating to the Republican Administration.
• Watch for and attend the next big nationwide protest when announced.
• Do something, anything, peaceful to fight back!