This is a weird time to be an American. My homeland is in turmoil. There’s a constitutional crisis going on as the Executive branch (the president) wrests power away from the Judicial and Legislative branches.
It all stinks of authoritarianism, dictatorship, oligarchy, and greedy narcissism.
The past 90 days have turned the USA inside out. There is economic upheaval, human rights violations, takeover by DOGE, and dissolution of many good things that the federal government funded like medical research, equal opportunity, and national forests. The list of the horrible things is long and grows every day.
I disagree with all of it. But I am afraid to speak out too loudly.
I would like to live my comfortable, peaceful life as it is. I am traveling to the US to visit family this summer. And I wonder…how’s that going to go?
Because people who speak out or try to defy what is happening are being harassed, imprisoned, sued. Law-abiding people in the crosshairs of pet programs are being disappeared. There are EOs to address punishments against authors, law firms and others that have spoken against the President.
Will it make a difference to the outcome of the crisis if I add my voice in protest online? If I boycott unethical American companies? How much trouble will I stir up by living my Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion values?
What happens if I speak my mind and shout that the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestine is evil? Or that I hope Ukraine cedes no territory to Russia?
I don’t think I’m anyone special. My voice is one among many and it isn’t even very loud. But it’s quieter than it could be. Because their fear tactics are working on me.
But I am also furious. I will not be complicit.
