Are We Really Terrorists?

Last week, Mitch McConnell and his Senate Republicans, when asked by the press about the current happenings, swiftly walked away answering, “We are late for lunch.” All we could think of when viewing that clip was those who were not stopping for lunch as they protested the injustices in this country and those who are so impoverished that they could not afford lunch.

Jane Elliott, an American anti-racism activist, asks in her training exercises, “Would you like to be a black person in this country?” and then follows with, “If you don’t want to be treated that way, why are you allowing it to happen to others?” She further teaches that racism is a learned response. We are not born that way. We see many in our government who have learned racism well and so well that they turn their heads but cannot hide that feeling.

This week, in defiance of the Trump regime, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser renamed a street and a park in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement. This action also recognized peaceful protesters, those supporting the protests from their homes, and all those who have lost their lives in the battle for peace and justice. We all watched as Trump’s show of strength revealed his profound weaknesses. The barriers, fences, troops, chemical agents, and acts of intimidation were merely symptoms of his fear. We later found that he had asked for 10,000 troops to guard the scared President as he holed up in his crib – oops, bunker!

Trump’s actions have led us to think that he has been crafting a plan for a second civil war all along. Since taking office, he has been in a constant state of competition, conflict, or hostility with different people or groups. This is the definition of war. During his reign, he has sustained efforts to deal with or end what he sees as a particularly unpleasant or undesirable situations or conditions. This is also the definition of war. As he assigns others to fight his battles, Trump acts like a scared, caged animal and labels the peaceful protestors as “terrorists” while trying to hold them in captivity. He continues to build a fortress around his White House while spending the taxpayers’ money to do so. First in the form of troops, fences, and now cement barriers, he builds walls wherever he goes. Next, maybe a mote around the White House with crocodiles to further protect him. A primitive idea but just up to his speed and a return to the DC swamp idea.

Imprisoned in his own body and mind, Trump seeks to imprison others while those who are disenfranchised continue to struggle. He and his entourage flew to rural Maine this week to visit a company that makes nasal swabs for COVID-19 testing. Trump and his team, per usual, refused to wear masks, unlike the factory workers. So, consequently, all of the swabs being processed while Trump was there were considered contaminated and had to be destroyed. What is wrong with this guy?! We cringe as he is now directing the Republican Party to hold their convention in Florida at full capacity with no distancing and no masks allowed. If they agree to do this, so be it. We surmise that these behaviors will not go on without consequences.

This country has been on the verge of a revolution for several years. People who have been oppressed and have suffered from political incompetence are ready to change the current system in favor of a new, fair, and just social order. People are tired of a government that does not represent them. So, what comes next? The peaceful protests continue and we maintain our support for these protestors. As the week unfolded, we asked ourselves how we could further support this movement. We felt that it was not enough just watching it on television or our computers. After some thought, we went online and joined the NAACP in support of the Black Lives Matter efforts. This was the first item on our list while we continued to seek other means of supporting this significant movement.

As we continue our search, we have some suggestions:

Be willing to discuss racism with others. It is time to take this topic off the table and put it safely into conversation.

Find groups or workshops to join and begin to collaborate.

Consider joining the NAACP or become a member of any other group that is currently forming to educate and confront racism.

Support businesses that promote the anti-racism effort and proudly align with it.

And VOTE! Not only for the next President but for all levels of government from top to bottom. Remember, our local politicians start somewhere so you want to support or stop them at their beginning.

Each week as we write this blog, we think of those of you who are in our reader’s circle. We think of the work that you are doing or have completed in your lifetime. Your occupations include academia, the arts, education, finance, fundraising, health care, local and federal governments, nonprofits, sales, science, and more. Although you may not realize it, all of you have changed the world in some way. Please do not stop contributing because this world needs you. Your acts of support can be as simple as joining in a conversation, joining an organization, taking a workshop online, or getting in line to vote. We need all of us to do something. And if we do, we will continue to make a difference – together – for each other.

Thank you for being our faithful blog readers. Our intention is to offer encouragement and hope in a world that is now like one we have never seen before.

Be Kind, Be Strong and Support Those in the Movement