RIPPLES

 

“I am broken. I am down for the count.” Lord knows that there are days I could be tempted to say that- especially migraine days and any day that I have to listen to the Rump or the Muskrat. I cannot stay there. I will not stay there. Putin and Rump expect Americans to stay there, to act like Russians. Or at least the stereotypical Russian. Submit. Endure. After hundreds of years of totalitarian rule, it’s a coping mechanism.

I’m not Russian. I don’t judge them. What would I do in their situation? The American situation is new in comparison. It doesn’t go back to Catherine the Great.

 I am American, and Americans resist. Americans don’t look around and ask “What are other people doing?” but instead “What am I doing?” What about that well known slogan “Just do it!”?

Perhaps I inherited this belief from my mother, who marched for the Equal Rights Amendment in the late 1960’s. (That was one of my earliest memories of her.)  I thought the proposal dated from that decade, but no! It’s 100 years old! But we’re still fighting. And fight, we will.

When I get down, it’s because I notice the people who look around. Why are we looking around? We need to look within! Yes, each person can only control one person, and perhaps persuade their entourage. But, we know about the ripple effect.

Today, I am calling Senator Chris Murphy, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative John Larson, all Democrats, to thank them for their hard work.

What triggered this decision? Similar action from Lorie L., a writing buddy. Ripples exist. Let me know if they reach you.

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