It has taken me a while to understand Timothy Snyder’s advice #1 for resisting tyranny: “Do not obey in advance.” I could see what it means for people in positions of authority or influence, but what about me?
I have realized that, for me, it means using my voice, my speech, as much as possible to contact my elected officials. There is no way I am going to let my thoughts about what the government is doing not be heard. If I don’t call/write/visit my electeds regularly, then that, for me, is obeying in advance.
So here is what I have been doing to maintain my sanity while using my voice. I invite you to do the same.
1. Call, visit, or send webmail regularly to an elected.
I aim for once a day, but don’t always manage that. I try to limit my missive to one issue. (But no yelling, no cuss words, no threats.)
I usually concentrate on Sen. McCormick (R-Spineless), and my messages have been either about the cabinet nominees, or most important right now, the illegal, anti-democracy unconstitutional acts of Elno Mxsk and his team of mini-me data bandits. It. Is. A. Coup.
But it can be healing to call my Dem representative, because that office is more sympathetic, and urge him to stay strong in opposition to the horror of the Mxsk-Tromup regime.
For PA residents, here are some phone numbers for our Senators:
Senator McCormick, DC office: 202-224-6324 (or look up other office #s online)
Senator Fetterman, DC office: 202-224-4254 (or look up other office #s online)
Sometimes the phone mailboxes are full. In which case, writing a webmail can suffice. Or if I am too upset, I skip calling and go straight to webmail.
To send a webmail:
Links to electeds' webpages
https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/
https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/contact/
If I can manage it, I try to go in person to the Senator's office. This takes more time and money (oy, the cost of parking!). I did this twice this week, with some friends. It was a heavy lift.
We heard from a former congressional staffer that snail mail (on paper) letters can carry a lot of weight with the staff, because they know that person went to a fair amount of bother and expense to send the letter. Of course, calling is more immediate. Staff may pay more attention to calls than webmails, I am not sure. The former staffer said that if calls start to go above 100 on an issue, they will pay more attention to that issue. However, lately electeds’ voice mailboxes have been full, so I have had to send a webmail. I need to remember to put my “ask” in the subject line, because that is most likely how the staff counts opinions.
There is supposedly an app called something like "5 calls" that makes it easier to do all this, but I haven't used it.
2. Read only the news that I need to know.
It is often more than I want to read, but I feel I have to stay informed. I try to balance it with maybe local good news, if possible. Not always possible.
3. Notice one thing in nature once a day.
Doesn't have to be a pleasant thing. One day it was the biting brisk wind, which made me glad I had a warm house to go back into. Another time it was the bright and beautiful crescent moon.
4. Spend time in person with like-minded people and loved ones.
Or talk on the phone with them. We need each other.
5. As much as it is possible, support the vulnerable with prayer, monetary donations, caring words, and whatever else I can think of. Harder to do when I am in a foul mood. I get consumed with anger.
The most vulnerable are the LGBTQ community (especially transgender people), children, people of limited financial means, immigrants, people of color, women (especially young women), federal workers. I am probably forgetting someone. There are so many who are vulnerable to what is coming/already here.
6. Work on local elections.
In my county we have had free and fair elections. This year we have important elections for judicial, school board, and municipal seats. I recommend making a connection with someone who shares your values and whose guidance you trust to advise you on how to vote on judges or the other races.
Doing this is actually part of #5. Judges, school board directors, municipal reps – all have a huge effect on the lives of vulnerable people.
7. Seek instances of gratitude
The day after we saw the axolotl at our local library, I decided to call the library to thank them for having an axolotl, to tell them that it brought joy to me and others. That phone call made me feel really good, and maybe did the same for the librarians.
8. Sing.
Haven't been doing too much of it lately, but singing is really, really good to do.
9. Remember that the opposition wants us to feel helpless and alone. Remember that we are not either of those.
- - - - - - - - - -
I am trying to draw strength from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they were told they should bow down before the seemingly powerful shiny rich god that towered over them, they refused. They knew they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. They said, Our God is more powerful than you. Our God will rescue us from the fiery furnace. And even if the rescue doesn’t happen, we are still not bowing down to you.
If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
– Daniel 3:16-18
I am not saying God is going to snatch us out of this mess. If we are to keep a democratic republic, it's up to us.
.JPG)