It Takes A Nation of Millions

I'm writing this on my phone sitting on my front porch thinking about where are as a country.

Yesterday we saw millions take to the streets and say “Hey Hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go.” Standing there, surrounded by people moving in unison to declare their frustrations was good to see.

We need more of it and I'm glad it is happening. But I was left with some questions. “What does that look like?” was the biggest one. I saw proud boys in the crowd. Police integrating. Warning signs.

A lot of media right now is about the rise of fascism, at least what I'm consuming. Andor or Metaphor ReFantazio or Pantheon or Common Side Effects. Parable of the Sower (I'll fix the formatting later, forgive me my sins you amateur copy editors).

Maybe I'm doing escapism wrong.

But I do get the feeling that Americans are still divorced from the reality of change. People see police as protectors. Politicians as allies. But why aren't police fighting for us if they are protectors? Or politicians marching with the people if they are the people we hired and paid to ensure this doesn't happen?

America has been hard charging toward this since the Patriot Act, but we've had so many major milestones in the post-Carter era. It is kind of fitting that we are seeing the other bookend of Reagan in a celebrity with credible claims of mental failure.

Trump has always been a grifter. A racist. A misogynist. A man desperate for validation. Now he runs the country. It will be poetic for people fifty years from now, but today it is tragic.

Times are scary, even if you're trying to not pay attention. I know it because the people I interact with who try to stay out of it are struggling to. But I do wonder how many people have really interrogated the idea of what comes next.

I think a lot of people avoid those thoughts because of fear. I understand that. But if we indulge in anxiety, where does that leave us room for hope? For action?

I know I've been derelict in my political commentary, I really had to take some time to see how things were shaking out and coming to terms with the state of America.

It's hard to accept that a world War has started. It's hard to see your country turn into an axis power openly. That the mask has come off and we are run by fascists.

But if we don't accept those truths, then we allow it. We must accept it and confront it. In our lives and in ourselves. Allowing privilege to shield you means those without it suffer.

The next decade is going to be hard, but I take solace in the knowledge that I have so many wonderful people in my life worth fighting for. Community is more important than ever.

I'm about to have a healthy dose of it, I'm flying to Colorado for a week. Then I have RocketCon. Then my nephew is here for a week. Then I'm off to Greece. So updates might be sporadic over the next couple of months, but I am glad so many of you continue on this journey with me.

Stay vigilant and safe.