Sunday Thought: On being a warrior. - Robert Reich
Posted by Sia on July 13, 2025, 9:17 am ADMIN
Sunday thought: On being a warrior
Robert Reich - Jul 13
Friends,
With the national and international news bringing anguish almost every day, I think it’s important to keep a tally of what is still good and beautiful in our lives and in the world, lest we succumb to despair.
A major part of not submitting to Trump’s tyranny is living our lives to the fullest — hopefully and cheerfully, in the face of him and his regime.
I had breakfast recently with a friend who defends immigrants.
I expected her to be overcome with anger and sadness. Instead, she was as happy as I’ve ever seen her.
“What gives?” I asked her. “You seem almost, well, joyful.”
“Not exactly joyful,” she laughed. “But I’m in a good place.”
“How can you be when you’re surrounded every day by people whose lives are being ruined by the orange menace?”
She gave me a long, intense look.
“Because,” she said slowly, “I’m fighting on the front line.”
“And that puts you in a good place?”
“The very best place.” She smiled.
I was beginning to understand. “You’re a warrior!” I said.
“Yes. And I’m so thankful to be doing this now, at this moment in history.” Her smile broadened.
Exactly.
Those of us who have the time, energy, stamina, and courage to stand up against this regime’s brutality are among the most fortunate of people.
I think about the joy I felt in demonstrating with thousands of others on June 14. Maybe you felt it, too. The connections to others. The feeling of doing something. Of having agency. Of exercising our power.
Others of you engage in boycotts. Or nonviolent civil disobedience. Or you make so many phone calls to members of Congress you jam the switchboards.
You attend your senators’ and representatives’ town halls, yelling your questions. You don’t take BS for answers.
You’re organizing and mobilizing voters for the 2026 midterms, as well as more immediate elections.
You’re doing whatever you can to protect immigrants, public servants, judges, candidates for office, LGBTQ+ people, and anyone else endangered by Trump and his lackeys.
In all these ways, being a warrior for democracy enables us to remain hopeful and strong in these cynical times.
Being a warrior for justice — for the rule of law, for equal political rights, for human rights — enables us to find meaning and purpose in these dark times.
Being a warrior against brutality, bigotry, and cruelty enables us to lead honorable lives in these dishonorable times.
Being a warrior against tyranny enables us to be on the right side of history.
There's that winning ticket again, known by Republicans as 'Trannies and illegals.' Two less-than-crucial identity groups to fuss over while the working class, farmers, and ordinary middle-class people get away from us again.
Fighting Trump is essential; but we need to pick better fights. It doesn't necessarily help those groups, either.-greenman
Immigrants, women and 'queers' have been used as scapegoats since time immemorial.
The Jews wrote it in their scriptures, and used that as an excuse to enslave, conquer and kill their neighbors or "heathens" along with their children... because God told them to... also to kill homosexuals along with promiscuous women... in order to keep "evil" out of their God-ordained society/country.
And yet, billions flock to see the glorious depiction of God and Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel... painted by Michelangelo, who was a homosexual.
They are convenient scapegoats, like the Jews and homosexuals were for Hitler.
Women and minorities make good scapegoats because they don't typically have the power or wherewithal to fight back.
There has to be 'enemies' of the state in order for him to claim emergency powers and take control while feeding his own and others' fragile ego and 'victim' status.
I just think Dems should concentrate on their strengths and their traditional base, and not obsess over minorities perceived as 'politically correct.'
That's a recipe for disaster, IMO..-greenman
I agree, but....
Posted by Skye on July 13, 2025, 10:05 pm, in reply to "Oh, I agree"
I think one of the strengths of the Democratic party IS it's belief in championing equal rights and protections under the law for ALL people, regardless of gender or race or sexual orientation.
The only area where I think they maybe took it too far was in trying to protect trans people participating in women's sports, and possibly in allowing trans, gays and lesbians to push for their acceptance in public schools? I don't know if or how often that has actually happened or to what degree, but possibly it has?? I suspect that, like late term abortions, it doesn't happen very often if at all... but just the appearance of defending such things is off-putting to people who don't identify with or want their young kids exposed to such things. And of course there are parents who don't even want their kids to learn about sex education in schools, or who don't want them to be taught certain scientific subjects like evolution, if that goes against their religious beliefs, but it's impossible to avoid every sensitive subject in public schools. If some parents are that worried about what their kids are exposed to or learning, maybe they should not have them in public schools?
You will never be able to please everyone, but someone has to defend basic human rights, education, basic health, safety and welfare, and equal rights and justice under the law.
I think the Democrats do need to do a better job of saying exactly what they do or do not support and defend and why... but no matter what they do, the opposing party will always lie and try to show their efforts in a bad light. They just need to tell the truth, stand up for what they believe is right, and be willing to correct or dial back their stance or policy where warranted, such as with the trans people in women's sports. Certainly a lot of people do not want that, nor do they want sex changes or hormone treatments (for those with supposed gender dysphoria) supported with tax dollars. However, it could be argued that in some or many of those cases, it is in the interest of basic human decency and compassion to care for people with legitimate medical problems as such, whether it is mental or physical health problems.
When you throw those issues out into the political arena, for politicians to make political hay out of, and that most people cannot even relate to, understand or agree upon... it's like telling the general public that they should be able to run the hospitals, science labs, libraries and schools according to their religious or personal preferences. It just turns into a big mess.
Good points!
Posted by Sia on July 13, 2025, 11:50 pm, in reply to "I agree, but...." ADMIN
Ed Zachary
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on July 13, 2025, 4:14 pm, in reply to "Oh, I agree" ADMIN
The felon made men trans competition in sports seem like a national epidemic, when if involved what? Seven or eight people?
Same with kids trans in school unknownst to parents. Not happening anywhere, but he said it and his base believed it.
It divided and separated Democrats and their embrace of inclusion chased away too many voters.
In the first Biden debate, Biden looked weak because he was too dumbfounded by some of the outrageous things Trump said. He was astonished ANYONE would say such things. The public didn't pick up on that. All they saw was Biden appeared weak. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
on July 13, 2025, 9:17 am
