"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I am so saddened as I listen to the eloquence and sad truths expressed by the President and Vice President this morning and from Members of Congress on the House floor today; the people who need to hear these words will never hear them. The Trumpists will continue to spread the Big Lie and bow their knees to the Big Liar and listen only to their Facebook & Fox "friends". Even a year later when we have overwhelming evidence of the depravity of the former president and his supporters a huge majority of the base of that party continue to claim to believe that Big Lie; continue to support that Big Liar.
To my friends who are dedicated, as I am, to a progressive America -- in the tradition of Lincoln, TR, FDR, Ike, JFK, LBJ, Carter, Clinton, and Obama: we should not abandon our progressive principles But the Republic -- government of We the People -- must come first. That means joining with the Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan, and Bush supporters who will reject Trumpism.
We must join with those unlikely allies to preserve our basic (small-r) republican values. Who would think Terrell Shaw would ever be metaphorically arm and arm with Dick Chaney's daughter or Bill Kristol or Mitt Romney or famously right-wing Adam Kinzinger. But I must. I will join with anyone -- anyone -- who will defend (small-r) republicanism against the Trumpists, however much I disagree on the usual, and very important policy.issues.
I will continue to fight
to protect our environment;
to make voting easy and secure for every American;
to make of society open and safe for all regardless of color, orientation, religion;
to make heath-care unrelated to wealth,
and more.
But for any of that to matter we must defend "the Republic for which [our flag] stands."
How many times in the last 74 years -- almost every day of my teaching career -- have I, with head uncovered and hand over heart, promised to do that?
The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day.
What shall be our legacy? What will our children say?
Let me know in my heart when my days are through
America, America, I gave my best to you.
- from American Anthem by Gene Scheer
Greetings. You’re home. I’ve been looking back at your posts and enjoying the great pictures from your trip. WOW. A wonderful future gift to your grandchildren. Next you might make some short videos — “The Adventures of Granny and Grandshaw!” It is amazing what inexpensive technology makes possible.
ReplyDelete“The Republic -- government of We the People -- must come first.” Amen. The Founders stressed this principle.
"Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” and throughout history no idea has been more powerful than the idea of democracy. Public education should instill this truth. The idea of democracy remains a motivating and powerful idea today.
Someone needs to figure out what a “For-democracy” movement could look like and then articulate a vision of and a plan to make that movement a reality. Someone needs to write a book, and yes, Terrell Shaw, that someone is you.
Fate has delivered to you Marjorie Taylor Greene — a gift that keeps giving. Greene is challenging the sane people of Rome to do something. Something. The village idiot has dynamite and is intent on blowing up the place and somehow she has supporters sending her money and egging her on. Your book could be an allegory using farm animals. The ass could play a Mitch McConnell character, getting pretty darn worried that this upstart — Margorie — is getting them all in trouble.
You could go on Oprah’s show and explain it to the nation.
Retired teacher and political activist Terrell Shaw is here today and he is explaining how his congressperson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, has inspired him to write: “Rome: A More Perfect Union Of The Sane.” I’m hearing that this is the most profound story using talking animals since Animal Farm. Please read us a section:
“Sane citizens of Rome, I come to you today as a sane member of this republic. I’ve been annoyed that among us there is the Walking Dead — Tuckerites , Q-Anons, the Fox News zombies — but now I’m getting afraid. These deluded beings have leaders barking absurd notions and they are producing explosive grievances and volatile hate. They act like they don’t care if they blow up the whole place. Sane citizens of Rome, only a coalition of the sane can save us now.”
And those citizens who were sane did form a coalition. Their slogan was: “Sane citizens unite, we have nothing to lose but our misconceptions, our shallow thinking, our lack of understanding and — hardest of all — our partisanship.” And this coalition saved the republic. The End.
This Oprah-blessed book would include a well thought-out plan that would motivate your readers to form a coalition and to transform the politics throughout Marjorie Greene’s congressional district so that the district will send a representative to Congress of “We the People.”
Importantly, “We the people” does not include the idiots who are trying to sow hate and destroy the republic. “We the people,” according to the Constitution, are the citizens who want and who are working for “a more perfect union.”
If members of Congress owed their election to “we, the people” communities and were accountable to such communities, Wow, Congress would be transformed. Work would get done. Problems would be solved. Our republic would be saved.
In 2020 our Democratic candidate for OH-10 amazingly raised and spent $2 million and still got walloped by Republican Mike Turner — first elected in 2002. Throwing money into the current political industrial complex often is useless.
How would a coalition of the sane spend $2 million to repair our system of representative democracy so that this coalition of the sane is represented in Washington?
Wow. These are my disjointed thoughts, sort of a workshop. I honestly believe that the right vision and plan could inspire and empower a grassroots “For-democracy” movement that would transform our politics. I’m challenging myself to write a series of post to attempt to develop such a plan. This might be the first post: “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Marjorie?” Or maybe, “Only a Coalition Of The Sane Can Save Us Now."
Thanks, Mike.
ReplyDeleteWe are working hard to elect Wendy Davis to Congress. She is a very practical, down-to-earth problem solver who worked with people of all stripes to make Rome's city government accessible and responsible to the people of our fair city. If ever there has been a clear contrast in an election between a showhorse and a workhorse we have it in this race. The embarassment that purports to represent our district now serves on NO committees, offers NO solutions, spends her time shouting at and defaming her opponents rather than seeking ways to solve the problems that confront us. Wendy Davis listen to anyone, talk with anyone, and try to hammer out good faith agreements to better fulfill the six goals of the Preamble: an ever improved union, justice, peace at home, peace abroad, general welfare, and liberty for all.