OGT DAILY - Day Twenty Four - PEACEFUL RESISTANCE

At a certain point things just become too much.   Will there be no end to the unreasonable blind support of Republicans for fraud, bigotry, racism, degradation of law, education, ethical boundaries, etc...  the list rambles on.  

I have been feeling pretty despondent, but....

I managed to walk today and remember that we must carry on with our lives.   Not let the "regime" make us angry and crazy.   None of us can sustain this PTSD from 45.   So we must get on with our lives and live well.  As well as we can, while not capitulating.

The best thing I've read today comes from Martin Luther King's daughter on the same day that her mother's letter was barred on the floor of the senate.

Bernice King posted on her Be A King’s Facebook page 10 steps to deal with Trump and take back our democratic government. She passed on this wise advice:

1. Don’t use his name; EVER (45 will do)
2. Remember this is a regime and he’s not acting alone;
3. Do not argue with those who support him–it doesn’t work;
4. Focus on his policies, not his orange-ness and mental state;
5. Keep your message positive; they want the country to be angry and fearful because this is the soil from which their darkest policies will grow;
6. No more helpless/hopeless talk;
7. Support artists and the arts;
8. Be careful not to spread fake news. Check it;
9. Take care of yourselves; and
10. Resist!

Then, Bernice also offered this wisdom on her Facebook page:

‘Keep demonstrations peaceful. In the words of John Lennon, “When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you – pull your beard, flick your face – to make you fight! Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humor.”

‘When you post or talk about him, don’t assign his actions to him, assign them to “The Republican Administration,” or “The Republicans.” This will have several effects: the Republican legislators will either have to take responsibility for their association with him or stand up for what some of them don’t like; he will not get the focus of attention he craves; Republican representatives will become very concerned about their re-elections.’

Wise words to consider as we plan more public protests.   We must remain positive and humor filled.   We must not become the raging mob they wish to manipulate, but the savvy smiling resistors who are linked together in forward movement.