2017: Prepare for the Worst, and hope for the Best

2017:  Prepare for the Worst, and hope for the Best.

We are not sure what 2017 will bring and there is lots of fear right now  Should the worst case scenario play out, remember, we  have lived through this before, some more so than others. My mother was arrested during the McCarthy era. (Do some research on the McCarthy era…this wave could hit again).  She was brought before the House of Un-American Activities (HUAC), for associating with African Americans, which was illegal at the time. In fact, one of her notorious black friends became the first African American Judge in the USA. My mother was also accused of being a Communist as she was a schoolteacher and helped to organized a… gasp… Union, for teachers.  I grew up understanding the government’s persecution, as the Civil Rights struggle was fresh in my generation’s life, for those of us who cared. At eleven years old, I organized my first demonstration against racism and the unprosecuted KKK burnings of African Americans on crosses. No KKK arrests. 

Those of us who chose to speak out, to take educated action,  knew that standing up for what we believed were inherent American civil liberties meant potentially facing death, in addition to being added to the FBI’s undesirable list (released after the Freedom of Information Act law was passed).

Because of this history, many of my generation were strong enough to fight against the government to help stop an illegal and immoral war in Vietnam that was perpetrated for economic gain for this country (oil, opium trade). Most, if not all wars the USA invests in are for money.  For example, the USA did not lift a finger to help Tibet when it was overrun by Communist China because there was no money to be made in Tibet.  The above mentioned activists continued to work with others for civil rights; Martin Luther King, the Young Lords (Puerto Ricans), American Indian Movement, Gay Liberation Front, Women’s Liberation Front (remember women had to fight for ALL of their rights) and many more. Those of us who carried forward the tradition that Freedom often must be earned (sadly), not awarded by the power brokers, faced tear gas, arrests, beatings, and jail. In some cases, the government sanctioned secret assassinations (250 on the Pine Ride Sioux Reservation in South Dakota) of community grass roots leaders seeking civil rights and fair elections.

Revolutions, or any change, are always initiated by small number of people who educate the majority.  As people are educated, or polarized, the public eventually joins… one way or the other. While some press forward, some need to retreat.  Some will protect only themselves, and others will fight to protect all. Everyone’s challenge point will be different. Some actually will choose to join the “other side” to protect themselves or family. There will be heroic act both of bravery and betrayal. People, when pushed, can surprise you….either way. This is history, then and now, here, and globally. Life fluctuates, like weather.

Trump’s latest Tweeted comment about protests, that they are being perpetrated by “professional demonstrators, incited by the media” may be a hint of what is to come.  Perhaps many do not know that since 9/11, laws have been passed that make it easy now for Martial Law to be instated and for the Federal Government to take control of roads, transportation, water, agriculture and many other facets, all in the name of National Security.  This did not exist, to this extent, even in the McCarthy era.

This is not about being dramatic; rather it’s about being pragmatic. For those of us who HAVE fought before, on USA ground, for our rights, we have outlook and experience.

In the days of slavery, the Quakers ran an underground railroad to move freedom-seeking slaves to the North. In Hitler’s regime, many hid Jews and homosexuals and help them escape extermination.  In the 1970’s, many hid activists, for years, so the government would not assassinate them (as detailed in the FBI Freedom of Information Act files). People were brave, people took action with small but important deeds and people chose to do nothing. There is always a varied range of reactions when crunch time comes.

For those of you who are outraged, having never experienced what has happened so many times before in history (all over the world), you have a big learning curve coming. Do you hide? Do you just protect your family? Do you stand with those being targeted? Do you organize? If so, publicly or secretly?  Do you work through the system, and risk being identified and persecuted?  If you are interested, look up the Hollywood Ten and the Rosenbuerg case (1951) as examples of choices people had to make in the past, in this country.  I am not adding links, if you are not motivated to do your own research, you are already making a choice.

The time for outrage is over. Power struggles and oppression have happened before, everywhere.  Each time this has happened, not everyone has been affected… it depends on who is targeted. Now is the time to consider your choices. When the Vietnam War was in full swing, Buddhists prayed, and some burnt themselves alive… on the news.  Others helped people flee, some went to Vietnam to take care of the wounded, on both sides. You will have to consider your family, your friends, your willingness to take a stand or not. Consider how far you are willing to go, for yourselves, for your friends, or if you need to hide and/or leave.  Rioting and vandalizing businesses, many of which may have supported Clinton, will not win over public opinion. 

Turning on each other is a typical reaction when one cannot, or does not want to cope. Let’s not do that. Find your position, make decisions on your own stance, respect others for doing the same. Listen to each other and learn different points of view….after all that IS what democracy is: diversity and tolerance. When something has gone too far in your moral outlook, take action, not reaction. Education, educated action, and a clear headed strategic response is what will move people to new thinking. And we need People because in the end, it is the Public that will count, not individuals.  Strategy and tactics are needed, both personally and publicly. Pull yourselves together. Plan, talk, meditate, pray, strategize. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  Winter is upon us. And winter can be a season, rather than an era.