What a great day @dannyboy! What a wonderful experience for you both! You guys look so happy!
While on my long walk with my friend I mentioned several times that she needs to follow Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow on Instagram and I suggest you do to - for real talk on what to do next, how to make sense of the election results, how to be a change agent. I’m proud that she’s from Michigan but I’m even prouder that I know her and she’s been a voice of light for me for many years. (She will be governor. If not even higher office)
follow her here and instead of doomscrolling on the news - hopescroll through her “ask me anything” reels
https://www.instagram.com/mallorymcmorrow?igsh=MW42eXoyYjF2Zzk5NA==
This has been troubling me. Elon Musk is clearly a gifted individual. He already won the capital video game.
I think he has the potential to be a generous person and assist people. I am confounded as to why with all
of his intelligence he won't expand to an interpersonal challenge of helping most people have enough and
perhaps thrive as brilliantly as he has been permitted.
Today with @Dannyboy was an important day for me, not the least because I got to revisit the birth of the American Revolution with someone I have admired ever since he joined our community. Dannyboy is a remarkable guy on so many fronts, and I discovered more today. He just received a big award as a social studies teachers' teacher and trail blazer. He inspires so many kids, and has inspired me.
Yes, the power of getting together with you guys does call for a reunion gathering for sure. I think it would be a thrilling experience with huge numbers of hugs. And it would help solidify the love so many of us feel for each other here.
Added to being able to spend time with Dannyboy, was the timing of such visit - right after this election that shocked us and is now alerting us to what is at stake and what we must now do.
We walked the Freedom Trail where the American Revolution began, when the Boston colonists stood up to the strongest empire in the world.
While he and I chattered away about the forum, about you guys, the election questions that people have been pondering here, and so many things, we walked on the bricks and past the buildings where Paul Revere, John Adams, and our forefathers walked. I felt the determination of those people who said, "hell, no!" to King George because they were already living free in every other way.
Laurance Tribe, Constitutional law professor and scholar, said last week that it will be hard to take the freedom from Americans. We are a decentralized country of 50 states, each with its own constitution, and legislatures, and even further broken into city, town and county governments. He said we need to get involved in our state, city, and local governments to shore up those rights now. In New England, we still have a Town Meeting form of government, where citizens meet and decide bylaws. Local rule is all over this country. We need to support our local leaders, and even consider becoming a local leader.
Finally, fear is what dictators want the people to feel. They are using fear already and for a few days it worked. They want the people to be isolated and trembling with fear. IN that way, no one will challenge them. Everyone will capitulate to them.
But I feel a shift away from fear and towards action already. I feel a strength coming. I feel that shift in myself. I hope people here will check with those organizations that are already pulling together ideas and plans for protecting our rights.
https://www.mobilize.us is a great place to start. Also https://www.indivisible.org
I've always felt fortunate to grow-up and live in the Boston area with its rich history in the birth of our nation. So, many memories growing up of the re-enactments of Paul Revere's ride and the firing of cannons at dawn on April 19th. I often tell my conservative friends that this country was founded by liberals 🤣
It is great to see people of this forum get together to talk about where we are and where we are going.
The lanterns were seen and the message was relayed because the lanterns were light in the darkness.
-We- Can be the Light in the darkness for others.
I so love this -- such a simple, yet powerful message that applies to all of us in general, but especially now. So happy you both got to spend this time together!
@jeanne-mayell I love that you say a turning toward our local communities and government. And also turning away from fear. It is 100% the same way I’m feeling. Be involved and take care of yourself of your local community. Be aware of the looming darkness (fear) but don’t dwell on it. Focus on the light.
@Andy Thanks for your uplifting message!
Although I saw years ago that we'd become more local oriented, I didn't realize until now how important it is that we start working to strengthen our state laws, enshrining rights in our constitutions, to ensure our freedom from a wannabe dictator.
For example, when it comes to reproductive rights, ten states had abortion rights on the ballot in this past election, and those rights passed in seven, several voted to enshrine those rights into their constitutions. https://news.sky.com/story/abortion-in-the-us-post-election-how-has-it-changed-in-states-where-measures-were-put-on-ballot-13249312
Many other states already had such rights in place. https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/
Another thing we need to ask of Biden and our Congressional Representatives: Reform the Insurrection Act so that the power it gives a president to turn the military on the people cannot be abused. Congress needs to remove the clause that allows the president to deputize militias, for example. And Congress needs to sign off on such measures.
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/28/1241141939/insurrection-act
For those who joined Bluesky or have considered doing so, please have a look at this.
https://america2.news/without-sky-social-media-and-the-end-of-reality/