This MAGA Hellscape is no different in intent than the genocides of the past. Fascism has again risen to bring terror to the " Immigrant, the gipsy, the Jew, the OTHER!" We must fight with whatever tools we have to counter the millions of lies this regime is founded upon, and work to bring truth, justice, sanity and stability back to our Beloved Republic. We need to be the best that we can be.
I had to wipe away tears multiple times while reading your incredibly eloquent words, Mike. Thank you. It reminds me that I am not being asked to sacrifice my life for democracy as my great-uncle Robert did in France in WWII, only to speak out, to protest, to vote. It is a small thing. Our founding fathers and our grandfathers were asked to lay down their lives. We can do this.
Thanks for posting this. I needed to hear this! It certainly was a sobering July 4th, and during the I thought back to the pride I had felt on July 4th holidays when my kids were young and we'd go to the local parade and then the regional annual youth rodeo. Not so long ago, but now it seems like a distant past. Thank you again for this and for your ongoing perspectives.
Excellent and eloquent post, Mike along with many thoughtful comments. Five years ago you inspired me to be poll worker. Now I sit on my town’s board of registrars. It enables me to share facts about elections with my Fox News watching, Trump-voting siblings. So much more work to do but I remain cautiously optimistic we will find a way to meet the moment.
"Those who did stay remained not for pay, not for comfort, but because they understood something elemental: liberty is not self-sustaining. It demands sacrifice. And that generation, shoeless, starving, and vastly outnumbered, saved the American experiment in its infancy."
You ask us to do what white American culture has abandoned - sacrifice for the whole. Prosperity religious beliefs, new age you-create-your-own-reality fantasies, and adherence to self-centered therapeutic models have crippled us. We've learned to protect our privileges under the guise of personal growth and material security, believing it is enough to claim humanitarian ideals while marginalized people of class and color do the heavy lifting.
The experience of fear and paralysis for the middle class comes from fear of losing what we've taken for granted throughout our lives. We believed we would always be protected in this American story because it was for and about us. Now, we have to confront the selfishness of a people who have allowed this to happen and step out of our own selfishness too. This is hard, but some of us are doing it. Forward.
I feel like I should stand and salute, Noma. There is so much truth in this, so much that we must face, so much that remains to be done, especially including our willful ignorance of those who have long suffered out of sight. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance, not only for ourselves, but for those who labor in the shadows. We have enjoyed, for example, cheap food because agricultural workers are exploited, and because we've allowed the inhumane treatment of food animals in factory farms, and their slaughter in unthinkably painful, traumatic ways. Keep reminding us, please.
Eloquent and inspiring. Thank you, Mike. I hope you are hired to get behind a political campaign that is on the right side of history in TX. We need your expertise and perspective. If we can turn Texas we can turn the country.
In looking at the task at hand, I believe winning Senate seats is critical. A number of them would be as close to impossible for a Democrat to win in 2026. But being an independent seems to be worth about 10 points in recent Senate races and so an independent candidacy plus a blue wave could put a lot more seats in play.
In your time in Republican and then never-Trump politics, you probably know a lot of leaders in and out of politics who could be candidates in places like TN, KY, SD, WY, LA, and AL. Who are some leaders we should recruit to run?
A profoundly written patriotic call to action, Mike. Not only did our presidents and the people of their time not give up on American democracy, Martin Luther King, jr and Bobby Kennedy did not either. I always give the example of the freedom fighters who got on buses to register Black people to vote in the deep south and risked their their very lives to do so. The defenders of civil rights, women's rights, gay rights - I grew up during this time and I think it is because of these shoulders I stand on that I continue in the fight. There are many who have taken for granted the American experiment and have not been out here fighting for it. Too much has been taken away since the '60's and too much has been taken for granted. Yes, Presidents Washington, Lincoln, FDR and Eisenhower all did not give on America but neither did enough of us. I hope enough of us have the moral courage to continue to unite and stand together for this American experiment. I have my doubts about some but not about enough of us. I refused to watch that traitor sign that disgrace of a bill. I know damn well and good who he is. My focus is on the fight. May we all be worthy of it. You know who I see as being the most patriotic these days? Latinos. Dems better be paying attention. Thanks for the encouragement in this fight, Mike.
As always, with your eloquent words, Mike, you cut through the noise and the chaos, and shine a light on what is important -- where our focus should be. I’d only add this: whatever the circumstances, each of us can take part in the fight by choosing, each day, to recognize the humanity in everyone, especially those we’re tempted to see as adversaries. In martial arts such as Aikido, Karate-do, and Judo, the suffix -do means “the way” -- a path that emphasizes discipline, respect, and peaceful resolution over violence. Aikido, in particular, teaches non-aggression and compassion, even toward the attacker -- aiming not to defeat, but to neutralize harm without inflicting it. By keeping this principal in mind, we can fight this fight in a way that does not add to the darkness, but instead sows the seeds of light and healing.
You provide important context to our current moment in history. For me, I hope to enlarge the number of family, friends and neighbors engaged in the moment and commit to some form of action of their choosing. Thank you.
We have not been asked to sacrifice anything at this point, but it’s time we all should. As you mentioned, run for an office volunteer for a campaign run an errand to someone who is afraid to leave their house or make a phone call or two to someone ill or alone. Humanity and humility makes us better people and better citizens.
This MAGA Hellscape is no different in intent than the genocides of the past. Fascism has again risen to bring terror to the " Immigrant, the gipsy, the Jew, the OTHER!" We must fight with whatever tools we have to counter the millions of lies this regime is founded upon, and work to bring truth, justice, sanity and stability back to our Beloved Republic. We need to be the best that we can be.
I had to wipe away tears multiple times while reading your incredibly eloquent words, Mike. Thank you. It reminds me that I am not being asked to sacrifice my life for democracy as my great-uncle Robert did in France in WWII, only to speak out, to protest, to vote. It is a small thing. Our founding fathers and our grandfathers were asked to lay down their lives. We can do this.
Thank you so much for this
Thanks for posting this. I needed to hear this! It certainly was a sobering July 4th, and during the I thought back to the pride I had felt on July 4th holidays when my kids were young and we'd go to the local parade and then the regional annual youth rodeo. Not so long ago, but now it seems like a distant past. Thank you again for this and for your ongoing perspectives.
Excellent and eloquent post, Mike along with many thoughtful comments. Five years ago you inspired me to be poll worker. Now I sit on my town’s board of registrars. It enables me to share facts about elections with my Fox News watching, Trump-voting siblings. So much more work to do but I remain cautiously optimistic we will find a way to meet the moment.
Thank you for doing your part for democracy! You’re inspiring Donnelle 🙏🏼
"Those who did stay remained not for pay, not for comfort, but because they understood something elemental: liberty is not self-sustaining. It demands sacrifice. And that generation, shoeless, starving, and vastly outnumbered, saved the American experiment in its infancy."
You ask us to do what white American culture has abandoned - sacrifice for the whole. Prosperity religious beliefs, new age you-create-your-own-reality fantasies, and adherence to self-centered therapeutic models have crippled us. We've learned to protect our privileges under the guise of personal growth and material security, believing it is enough to claim humanitarian ideals while marginalized people of class and color do the heavy lifting.
The experience of fear and paralysis for the middle class comes from fear of losing what we've taken for granted throughout our lives. We believed we would always be protected in this American story because it was for and about us. Now, we have to confront the selfishness of a people who have allowed this to happen and step out of our own selfishness too. This is hard, but some of us are doing it. Forward.
I feel like I should stand and salute, Noma. There is so much truth in this, so much that we must face, so much that remains to be done, especially including our willful ignorance of those who have long suffered out of sight. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance, not only for ourselves, but for those who labor in the shadows. We have enjoyed, for example, cheap food because agricultural workers are exploited, and because we've allowed the inhumane treatment of food animals in factory farms, and their slaughter in unthinkably painful, traumatic ways. Keep reminding us, please.
Thanks Leigh.
Thanks for your thoughts, a good summary of the moment!
Thank you Mike, I needed this today. It is inspiring and calming.
Eloquent and inspiring. Thank you, Mike. I hope you are hired to get behind a political campaign that is on the right side of history in TX. We need your expertise and perspective. If we can turn Texas we can turn the country.
Amen from Lisa in Austin.
Thank you Mike. Wonderful words.
In looking at the task at hand, I believe winning Senate seats is critical. A number of them would be as close to impossible for a Democrat to win in 2026. But being an independent seems to be worth about 10 points in recent Senate races and so an independent candidacy plus a blue wave could put a lot more seats in play.
In your time in Republican and then never-Trump politics, you probably know a lot of leaders in and out of politics who could be candidates in places like TN, KY, SD, WY, LA, and AL. Who are some leaders we should recruit to run?
I wonder how Trump will try to interfere in the 2026 midterms. I just have a bad feeling from what he tried to do in 2020.
A profoundly written patriotic call to action, Mike. Not only did our presidents and the people of their time not give up on American democracy, Martin Luther King, jr and Bobby Kennedy did not either. I always give the example of the freedom fighters who got on buses to register Black people to vote in the deep south and risked their their very lives to do so. The defenders of civil rights, women's rights, gay rights - I grew up during this time and I think it is because of these shoulders I stand on that I continue in the fight. There are many who have taken for granted the American experiment and have not been out here fighting for it. Too much has been taken away since the '60's and too much has been taken for granted. Yes, Presidents Washington, Lincoln, FDR and Eisenhower all did not give on America but neither did enough of us. I hope enough of us have the moral courage to continue to unite and stand together for this American experiment. I have my doubts about some but not about enough of us. I refused to watch that traitor sign that disgrace of a bill. I know damn well and good who he is. My focus is on the fight. May we all be worthy of it. You know who I see as being the most patriotic these days? Latinos. Dems better be paying attention. Thanks for the encouragement in this fight, Mike.
For the first time in my life, I'll be working to defeat a Republican Representative; Valadao.
As always, with your eloquent words, Mike, you cut through the noise and the chaos, and shine a light on what is important -- where our focus should be. I’d only add this: whatever the circumstances, each of us can take part in the fight by choosing, each day, to recognize the humanity in everyone, especially those we’re tempted to see as adversaries. In martial arts such as Aikido, Karate-do, and Judo, the suffix -do means “the way” -- a path that emphasizes discipline, respect, and peaceful resolution over violence. Aikido, in particular, teaches non-aggression and compassion, even toward the attacker -- aiming not to defeat, but to neutralize harm without inflicting it. By keeping this principal in mind, we can fight this fight in a way that does not add to the darkness, but instead sows the seeds of light and healing.
You provide important context to our current moment in history. For me, I hope to enlarge the number of family, friends and neighbors engaged in the moment and commit to some form of action of their choosing. Thank you.
There is no greater act for our republics future than that! Thank you 🙏🏼
Just perfect, Mike. Thank you for reminding us what this is all about. I stand ready to resist!
We have not been asked to sacrifice anything at this point, but it’s time we all should. As you mentioned, run for an office volunteer for a campaign run an errand to someone who is afraid to leave their house or make a phone call or two to someone ill or alone. Humanity and humility makes us better people and better citizens.