
There’s a novel I read, One Second After, about a high energy EMP (electro magnetic pulse) missile fired above the US by a country with which we were at war. EMPs kill no one directly. Instead, they cause all electronic activity to cease. In other words, computers stop computing, cars stop moving, cells stop working, and what we know as civilization comes to a grinding halt. The message of that book was intended as a wake up call to readers to be vigilant, to be resourceful, and above all else, to be armed. I had a lot of issues with the book, most notably its notion that a gun-toting, militaristic, us vs them view of the world is what will save us from the dark forces that lay beyond.
We are now in our own form of EMP attack. Our computers and cell phones still work, and our cars still run. No shots have been fired. No one has been incarcerated. The EMP is that we have elected to the highest office in this country someone would seek to disrupt, through a constant barrage of misinformation, conflicting statements, outright fabrication, and an onslaught of accusations against mainstream journalism, the normal electrical activity of our brains. It’s a form of brainwashing, plain and simple.
The day after the inauguration, I, along with half a million others, marched in DC. We were joined by well over 600 other marches in countries around the world. Both the numbers of people involved, as well as the positive emotional energy being expended, was mind-boggling. Many marchers came from cities holding their own marches. But they took trains, planes and automobiles in order to march here, in the nation’s capital. They stayed at hotels, in the homes of family and friends and people who simply opened their doors to marchers. Many others left their homes before dawn, came to DC, then left after the march was over in order to get back home.
There were countless signs, held by marchers. Some were clever beyond belief. Some induced laugh-out-loud reaction. Some were thought-provoking. But the one sign that will stay with me forever is “I used to accept the things I could not change. Now, I will change the things I cannot accept.”
For me, if this march is to mean anything at all , it will be the words on that sign. My hope is that we, as a country, have woken up. We no longer trust that our votes will result in electing the best candidate. We no longer trust that our government will do the right thing. We have come to realize that we, alone, will keep our government functioning in the best interest of all of us. For that, like the book One Second After, we have to be vigilant, and we have to be resourceful. And, above all, we have to continue to use our voices.
Yesterday, a reader of my blog sent me a forward from an organization called Jewish Women Together. There was nothing religious in the message, or nothing that would be of interest solely to Jewish women. Instead, it was information to members about how, exactly, to do what that sign said, to change the things we cannot accept.
While I’m showing the entire message here, the heart of the message is as follows: Make your voice heard. Call (not write) your senator and your congressman. Tell him or her exactly what you think about a bill, an action being taken by the administration, or a person being considered for a cabinet position.
Here is the message:
Start with the power of our own voice,
Because as we have learned from every study –political, marketing, psychology – the biggest effect on how people come to decisions is when they hear from someone they know.
Not just consumers and voters – but also elected officials –react to what they think people want.
And now technology gives us the chance to extend our reach: Person to person, or on Facebook (or Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc)
That’s our goal:
To connect with as many people as we can reach with message that is both persuasive and informative – and short.
Not with political jargon but VALUES:
We speak not as political insiders or pundits –but as concerned Americans, Jewish women, parents and grandparents–
Our concerns are what’s best for our country, for our children and grandchildren
Examples:
1. Senator Jeff Sessions
I strongly oppose Sen. Session to be Attorney General: a man who voted against the Violence Against Women Act, against the Equal Pay Act, against the Hate Crimes Bill, and actively opposed every effort to protect voting rights – that right which is fundamental to our democracy.
I do not believe a man with this record is qualified to be Attorney General of US. I’m proud to join leaders like John Lewis and Corey Booker in opposing him.
2. Congressman Tom Price
According to his own testimony, Rep. Price is determined to repeal the Affordable Care Act – and not tell us what will replace it. What will this mean for people preexisting conditions or parents of children with preexisting conditions?
When asked about continuing contraceptive coverage, he said:
‘Bring me one woman who has been left behind. Bring me one. There’s not one.’
But Congressman Price does care about his own economics: he traded more than $300,000 in health care stock while chairman of the House health committee and introduced legislation that could benefit such companies.
Short version:
I oppose Cong Price for Secretary of HHS – based on his own testimony. He tells us he is determined to repeal Affordable Care Act but refuses to tell us how to replace it or what will happen to children with pre-existing conditions.
He doesn’t care about repealing provisions for birth control because he knows that women can afford it; but when it comes to his own budget, he traded more than $300, 000 worth of health stock while introducing legislation to help health care companies.”
3. Betsy DeVos
Has a consistent record of hostility to public education – worked to move public funds into private schools, including religious schools;
Is ignorant about basic federal law, such as equal rights for disabled students;
And when asked about guns in schools, cited the danger from “grizzly bears.” I don’t know of any school children killed by grizzly bears in the US but I know the children of Sandy Hook and too many others were killed by too many guns.
I oppose Betsy DeVos because I believe our Secretary of Education should be committed to the best interests of all our children; to the public education system that educates most of them; and the civil rights laws that ensure every child has equal chance.
Betsy DeVos fails every test.
*****
The day after is now over. As we move toward each day that follows, it will be with a renewed commitment to exercise our rights in this democracy that we hold so dear. Hear our voices, Mr President. No amount of your bluster or your own version of the “truth” will drown us out. We are here today, and the day after, and the day after that, and….
Shelley
January 23, 2017
Thank you. Already posted to facebook. I live in New Jersey, so my senators are fighting the good fight already.
Although I was not a fan of twitter, I actually learned to tweet so I could efficiently tweet messages to congress, especially the ones that are not in my state.
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
Thanks for the Facebook post, Shelley. And great that you have found a voice on Twitter. My Congressman is on board with all of this, but I will still continue to call him and voice my concerns about the current administration. All legislators, whether liberal or conservative have to hear us, over and over.
K. D. Dowdall
January 23, 2017
Fantastic. I shall keep this post and reblog it everywhere – beginning here! 🙂
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
Thanks, KD, and thanks for reading!
K. D. Dowdall
January 24, 2017
It was a wonderful post! K. D.
A Simple Village Undertaker
January 23, 2017
I read “One Second After” several years ago and it was the scariest book I ever read. (and I do not scare easy) After that, you lost me, but I read on, as I always do. I suppose if I survived 8 years of President Obama, you too, will survive President Trump. Thank you for the opposing point of view….
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
One of the realities that we all live with in this era is that, while we have unlimited sources of “news” and information, there are so many sources, that most people simply listen to or read whatever affirms their basics beliefs. People don’t take the time to pay attention to whatever goes against their beliefs, makes them uncomfortable, or causes them to doubt what they may have believed in. And, as long as our president continues to call mainstream journalism “fake news” the situation will only get worse. Somehow, we will have to find common ground or we will stagnate (or worse) as a country.
realestatehomepro
January 23, 2017
The Women’s March was inspirational. People from all over the country. Many, many men too. I feel reinvigorated to fight not just for me but for all of them. For the men too. Because when one group gets strong at the expense of another, humanity weakens.
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 28, 2017
That’s a great way to put it. Many people don’t realize that.
Keith
January 23, 2017
Renee, thanks for sharing this. We must shine spotlights on our leaders when they are embarking down good paths, but especially when they are not. And, in this “dawning of the age of disinformation,” we cannot tolerate leaders and their PR people blatantly lying to us about the most inconsequential of things. Because if they lie about nothing, then what will happen when a something occurs. Alternate facts is one of the biggest oxymorons I have ever heard. Thanks again, Keith
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
Sean Spicer has already shown himself to operate outside the boundaries of truth. He said, “Our intention is never to lie to you.” But his words tell a far different reality.
Keith
January 25, 2017
Renee, I agree with your comment and disagree with Spicer’s. Of course, he intentionally lies to us. If he and his boss want his presidency to be treated with legitimacy, then my strong advice is for them to stop lying, beginning with their boss, who treats the truth as a commodity. Keith
Donna Cameron
January 23, 2017
Thank you for another great post and for continuing the call to action. I saw the same quote, “I used to accept the things I could not change. Now, I will change the things I cannot accept,” at the Seattle March and had the same reaction to it. Another that blew me away and that I intend to spread far-and-wide was: “They thought they were burying us. They didn’t know we were seeds.”
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
I saw that one, as well, Donna. My three-year-old granddaughter was at the Seattle march. We are raising a new generation of women who see that they, alone, will set limits of what they do in life.
mercyn620
January 23, 2017
So we have entered ‘the Orange Era’. Hopefully it will last four years – at most – maybe less. And you are right, so many people previously ignoring politics or figuring their vote doesn’t count have received a wake up call. Great post.
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
Thanks. We are at a critical time in our history. We have a president who simply can’t be trusted. May we all wake up to just how serious this is for everyone.
Andrew Reynolds
January 23, 2017
Amen! If the march is to have any meaning, it is in changing us and pushing us to do things. I just finished collecting all the address, emails and phone numbers for my elected representatives.
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
Hurray for you, Andrew! We all have to keep calling and writing, over and over.
Retirementallychallenged.com
January 23, 2017
Wouldn’t it be great (and maybe it’s already being done) if the Women’s March Facebook page could be repurposed as an action-a-day site so everyone who signs up could learn one thing they can do that day… then the next, and so-on. So many of us who marched (my husband and I did in San Diego), want to keep the momentum and passion going. As I quoted in my blog post about the march (from a sign that I saw along the route): “we are the storm.”
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
I am putting my faith in the women who created the march and in all of the powerful women who supported it. They see the numbers. They hear our voices. I expect that a new era of activism will result.
Retirementallychallenged.com
January 23, 2017
I just read of another marched planned for April 15 to say, “Yes, in fact we do want to see your taxes.”
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 30, 2017
I’ll be there!
just carla
January 23, 2017
Reblogged this on just me, coloring outside the lines.
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
Thanks for the reblog!
just carla
January 23, 2017
Thank YOU for the excellent posts!!!
kidsownhaircare
January 23, 2017
So much bias, Trump was voted in fair and square by the majority, hes the one whos going to make any positive changes. You all need to wait and see what he does before you judge. Why would you want the democrats in when theyve done very little for the Country for past 8 years.
Not all woman think this way thankfully.
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
I am grateful to you for your civil comments, disagreeing with my post. We all need to listen to others and react in a civil way. Because I suspect that you and I get our news from different sources, I choose not to address any of your comments. But I will ask you to ask yourself, after Trump’s first administration is over, if your life has improved in any way by his being the president. Are you safer? Are you economically better off? Do you have a more optimistic outlook? Don’t give answers that you hear in the media that you listen to. Give them based on your own life. Thank you.
Gail Kaufman
January 23, 2017
I am totally with you but am getting discouraged. I read about damning executive orders quickly signed, dismissive remarks about marches and the press being shut out; all of this within the president’s legal right. What actions do you truly believe will change the things we cannot accept? Does the stronger-in-numbers rule still apply in this new administration where the shield that blocks out popular opinion seems impenetrable?
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 23, 2017
Don’t get discouraged.In spite of how it may seem, no president has absolute rule. Executive orders are a very small part of legislation, and the wheels of government turn very slowly. It’s not presidents who have the power. It’s the people. There is no shield. We brought down a president during the Vietnam era (Johnson did not seek a second term), and we caused the US to bail out of Vietnam. When people start calling their congressmen in record numbers to protest the actions of this administration, their reps will listen. They have to. Their offices are at risk. It will take an umbrella organization to organize people. I do believe this will happen.
Gail Kaufman
January 23, 2017
Thanks for the reminders and encouragement, LBL.
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 24, 2017
We are all going to need to support each other at various times throughout the coming years.
Linda
January 25, 2017
Honestly, LBL, I don’t know where to start! I marched in New York, where we have somewhat progressive politicians. I am proud of most of them. But the march was just that, a march. I have to start to do something about the federal appointees. Thanks for the reminder!
Life in the Boomer Lane
January 25, 2017
That’s exactly where I am. If we do nothing more, then the march was just a march. I, personally, am committed to action. I have started to call politicians, especially those GOP senators who have broken party ranks and are advocating for a slowdown in the unraveling of Obamacare. Even liberal Congressmen must be contacted on a regular basis so that they appreciate how many people appreciate what they do. I will participate in whatever actions I believe will bring change. I will speak through my blog, I will join organizations, donate money, support the Washington Post and New York Times. I will certainly march again. This is MY country, just as much as it is the country of the president, his advisers, and his appointees.
Marie Christine
February 24, 2017
Thanks so much for posting. Blogs like this keep me hopeful!
https://goldisfromaliens.com/2017/02/24/2017-and-the-return-of-the-flask/