As awful as this has been, I feel the distant groundswell of possibility. This Supreme Court rollback of rights has been looming for years. We've all known this is where we were headed. Finally, it's underway. The intention of the reactionary majority has been revealed. Better to expose what we're truly up against if we intend to keep our democracy. It's upon each and every one of us to do what we can to push forward and ensure the pendulum swings back, sure and steady in the direction of justice and equal rights for all Americans.
Thank you Amy, excellent. Yes we must push forward to stop this reactionary element of America. I have attempted many times both verbally and in writing, to get action from the Left. I have found a general refusal to "get involved" which would produce conflict. The belief seems to be "stay in my comfort zone and it will be safer." BS. If our Revolutionary Patriots would have remained in their comfort zone, we would still be British citizens. Since the latest SC leak of news on Row vs Wade has come out, and this week about Louisiana legislature considering making abortion a crime of murder from day one of conception for the patient, I have been asking many people with daughters or granddaughters in the child rearing generation to speak out against these potential actions against the rights of women. Terrible in this great democratic and free America of ours. We MUST stand up and let our voices be heard, but verbally and in writing, and it NOW.
100% Amy. And I do feel like the Democrats are finally changing the messaging and finding great candidates like Tim Ryan that will hopefully succeed. It
I'm a day late to this conversation, but I feel, like Amy, that this moment is rife with possibilities. I encourage you to read this op-ed (from 2020) about how, in 2010, marginalized Latinx voters in AZ with the fewest resources and the most to lose stood up to the "Show Me Your Papers" law and built a movement that ultimately resulted in flipping AZ and helping Joe Biden win. It's so powerful and explains beautifully the important role grassroots movements play in fighting voter suppression and registering, activating and actually turning out voters in marginalized communities. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/21/opinion/sunday/latinos-arizona-battleground.html
The first word Elijah Cummings spoke to Congress, a short poem
"God's Minute"
God's Minute.
I only have a minute. Sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, I did not choose it, but I know that I
must use it.
Give account if I abuse it. Suffer if I lose it.
Only a tiny minute, but eternity is in it.
It was quoted often by Dr. Benjamin Mays, president of Morehouse College, inspiration to Martin Luther King. Not all of us are as easily called to action as were Dr. King and Representative Cummings, but this week calls to us to take a fraction of one of those seconds to do something .
The book in which I read it, We're Better Than This, the memoir of Elijah Cummings magnificent life, which was cut off before its completion by his death, and finished by his wife, Maya, and my high school classmate and co-staff member on the newspaper, The Shield and co-author James Dale (who was truly called to listening) was excellent. I should note that my favorite high school English teacher, passed away early to her own cancer, would turn over in her grave to see that my run-on sentences and multiple clauses outlived her.
Cummings was the child of sharecroppers who were also preachers. He rose to be chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. He was an active activist. He spoke powerfully about the importance of doing, even if "doing" meant bringing home one flower and a Baby Ruth to his wife at the end of a week's week in a factory. Read it--it's easily readable and more inspiring than intimidating to the tired, the quiet, and the timid. Thanks, Jim.
Sure, but I'm not sure what Chop Wood, Carry Water is. I know there is a Zen phrase, "After enlightenment, Chop Wood, Carry Water," but my knowledge ends there.
My college aged daughter and her friends went to a Planned Parenthood march today! She got bumper stickers for her car and buttons. They noted the many MALE anti choice protestors were there (and only a few women in the group) as validation of the patriarchal nature of the GOP and the right wing to overturn R v W. My children in their 20s are livid about this assault on their personal freedoms. Mask wearing doesn’t even compare!!!
Yes, livid is the right word. I told my 40-yr-old daughter today that the right wing doesn't know what's about to hit them, and we can all take heart in that!
Livid is correct! I will say, having marched in Plano, Tx last Tuesday evening, that there were many male marchers, marching in support of Roe. I also heard on a podcast yesterday that the largest category of abortion rights supporters is young males. There are certainly polls all over the place, but I think we have many, many men who are as incensed as we. Thank goodness!
I congratulate them. I hope many more join in as so many seem complacent and unwilling to get involved. As an activist for women's rights in the early 70's, I am so sad that we are having to refight these issues. I am older now and tired but see no way forward but to continue to engage to protect women's and all civil rights. I hope that this is the time that will incite more people to take notice of extremism and get involved to protect our rights.
The male anti-choice protesters should consider the moment when "protecting life" fairness prevails and SCOTUS approves laws which would imprison men for getting a vasectomy or carrying a condom.
I was going to say that they should do that to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Well, if men lose their rights, maybe we will see something done. However, I doubt SCOTUS and the Republicans will take rights away from men. It is women they are after for some twisted reason.
However, if the fertilization of an egg is sacred, surely men should not be allowed to have a vasectomy. But of course, the white, so-called Christian men would object. At the same time, those "Christians" hardly practice Jesus' teachings. If they did, they would feed hungry children and "heal the sick" with universal health care. Those would be acts of Christianity.
Of course! Men have failed too many times to save humanity. Women do not see war as a solution for every conflict, and women seem to listen to one another with more compassion than men.
It would help all of our sanity if we had 1 victory - an indictment of any Republican law maker for something other than a sexual crime (there are may of those). Just give me 1.
You are right! A significant part of what’s so very painful right now is the lack of consequences for the previous (criminal) administration and the fear that the Garland DOJ lacks the teeth (or spine) to bring any.
Sharing great inspiration from our friend Jessica Craven on the discipline of hope and her famous links, this one for Women's March rallies on Saturday May 14. Find your way to support!
“I choose the discipline of hope over the ease of cynicism.” YESYESYES!!
Hope is a discipline...It is harder, more effortful, and more demanding to refuse to give up. But that refusal itself is a muscle, and as we use it it strengthens. Hope, once small, becomes larger and more established. It begins to exist separately from circumstance. It becomes habit. This is why, when people ask me how I keep such a positive attitude, I can honestly say “I practice.”
Hope is an action. A practice. A discipline. And a self-fulfilling, self-perpetuating one, at that.
You are a treasure, Ellie, as is Jessica! Darnnit, I won't be marching due to a busted knee that now requires total replacement, but I'm finding ways to be involved: talking about it with others, helping inform open-minded young relatives, directing some of my limited extra funds to down-ballot candidates in other states.Even though we sometimes feel smugly safe in California, I support Adam as well. Can't afford not to! Love to all this Mothers Day weekend. Stay strong and ever hopeful.
I can’t march either as I need both knees replaced and one hip and repair of one foot. My oldest granddaughter said she is driving up to DC on May 14 to march. Then she has to drive 4 hours home in order to be on time for her shift at a memory care facility. I wish I could go with her, but even with my walker I can’t walk very far due to the pain.
Thanks Ellie! The script for calling our Senators to pass S 1975 the Women’s Health Protection Act and to support S 1141 the Judiciary Act to expand the Supreme Court makes it easy! We need to call our Senators daily!
I was 11 when my mother died because she didn’t want the baby she carried. She already had 4 children. She was white, middle class and very very young and ashamed. Too young to die and too ashamed to ask for help.
My anger this week is mixed with so much sadness…. It will mean more death of women and girls. And the “ right to life” movement just brings shame. And death.
I am so very sorry you lost your mom. That must have hurt and confused you then. I lost my mom when she was 90, and I miss her daily. A friend told me I was allowed to miss my mother forever.
This STUPID court decision is going to cause so much harm. More children will lose their mothers. These reactionary people don’t care about children because they don’t want to help care for the children who are already here. They are just anti-abortion as a way to punish women .
You are so right! What they care about is punishing POOR women and punishing BROWN women. They know that whether legal or not, women will try to avoid having unwanted children. They have no interest in life or children. Republican brainwashing at its apex!
I am so very sorry for your loss of your mother. Mine was 91 when she died and I was 64. I am almost 73 now and I miss her every day. What has happened to Roe must hurt you more deeply than anyone can ever understand. God Bless you. ♥️
It's so depressing to read about Susan Collins and her naivete regarding Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. I think the rest of the free world knew they were lying when they swore that they saw Roe as settled law/precedent.
Susan Collins is a liar. She knew. We call her "Spotlight Susie" here in Maine. She plays moderate for the national stage, and wrings her hands, and votes Republican.
Former Mainer here. She had us hoodwinked back in the day. But that was when Snowe was around to keep her in line. Back in the day when we voted person over party. Those days are long gone. Collins drinks the Koolaid. And....she endorsed LePage for another run at governor. Monster supporting monster. That's all you need to know. Collins is a shape shifting lizard.
Mainer here, too. A good friend has said for years that Susan Collins only votes against her party when it costs her nothing!
BTW, early in her political career, Collins said she would only serve 2 terms as Senator. She was just elected to her 5th term. Another example of her mendacity.
Easier said than done. We had a great Democrat, Sarah Gideon, running against her. Late in the race, Collins' ran ads saying Gideon was "from away," and using footage that highlighted Gideon's darker skin tones. It was vile and creepy. And it worked.
That is awful! You all must vote her out of office. Use her voting to affirm those far right justices against her. Either she is not very intelligent, or she knew exactly what she was doing. Either way, she blew it and look at the results. I know which she is. She had to know that those justices would overturn Roe.
She's not up for reelection til 2026. She's a senator, and she won her 5th term in2020. It was a travesty. It had looked like a race Gideon could win. If you are thinking Maine Democrats did not work hard enough for Gideon, that is not the case.
This travesty has finally gotten me off my butt to get going on work for the midterms. I think the horror of the Courts position on Roe will help us get more folks to the polls. And hopefully we have enough people working to protect the polls and votes so they can count.
I'm 77 years old but saw that my county is down 100 poll watchers. Election day is over 15 hours long and it's going to be a struggle, but I'm signed up for training Tuesday. I can't let this pass!
Thank you. Good to know. Those of us in swing states need to know where help is most needed. I wonder if someone is setting up a data base of opportunities. For ex, where poll watchers are needed. Does anyone know if such a thing exists? If not, can anyone think of a good org to organize such a thing?
Contact the Arkansas (or any other estate) democrats. They can steer you in the right direction. Be persistent; they are going to be “fielding” a lot of these kind of calls. Good luck!!
If the Supreme Court completes its process and overturns Roe, we need to learn from those who oppose abortion. We need to organize and vote like they have. Continue demonstrating. Be single issue voters. Only vote for those who are clear in their support for women to have control over their bodies. The opponents of women fought for nearly 50 years to achieve their goal. And they plan to fight to make women's lives worse, more limited. We will make women's lives better. If it takes 50 years to restore Roe and more, I won't be around to see the success. But we will succeed.
What terrified me in this interview was the push of a “minority religious opinion” onto the masses. One person interviewed, a Catholic Deacon Lawyer was already thinking ahead towards those who will be crossing state borders in search of an abortion. Paraphrased “ how do we keep those people from leaving?” I don’t believe they see it as a state by state issue. This is a thinly disguised veil we all should see thru. I find this terrifying. I won’t be around to see 50 years in the future but I pray our actions today leave a safe future.
I used Ballotpedia.com as a starting point to check out the positions of all the candidates on the primary ballot, then went to their websites to see what they said about Issues, and I voted for those who specifically mentioned they defend women's rights, human rights, voting rights and all our existing constitutional freedoms. Here's hoping...
This week has caused so much stress for me that it’s hard to even put words to what we are in the mist of.
I’m from Florida need I say more.my hope is that the Democrats are now motivated to vote with a little help from calls letters and getting registered. I am doing my part and more.
Alice, I feel your pain here in a red, Fl county ! Rep Anna Eskimani is my adopted Rep. She is our Mallory McMorrow and her energy will give you hope ! And I think those bullying Republican men fear her..😜
You are so right! We have to hold hope and determination along with the anger and utter disgust at this right wing push to take ultimately so many rights away! But this can be used to move people to be involved!!!! That’s our job!!🌎🇺🇸♥️
This is an issue that should be mobilizing young people to vote. I have been donating to “studentsforjusticevote.org” it is also a 501C3 — so tax deductible —- can donate from your IRA.
My oldest granddaughter votes for the first time this year. She lives in the red state of Arkansas. I'm visiting her next week. I told my daughter I wouldn't "talk politics", but I just can't let this go.
I’ve been working through The Civic Center and sending postcards to high school students to help them register to vote. I’m hoping the young become politically active as they did in the 60’s. When, and I really do think it’s more “when” than “if” with this latest Supreme Court move, things will begin changing.
May 7, 2022·edited May 7, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
As someone who has spent the better part of the past decade deeply involved in climate activism, I am more familiar than I care to admit with despair and hopelessness. In the face of mounting evidence that the grim consequences of our addiction to fossil fuels are occurring sooner and proving potentially more catastrophic than expected, my colleagues and I have often found ourselves bereft of hope when, time and time again, governments around the world failed to take the necessary steps to begin addressing the problem. Still and all, here is what I have learned. That hope itself is curative. No matter how long the odds or monumental the disappointment, the instant I force myself, if only through sheer will, to set aside my despair and reengage hopefulness, I begin to feel better. However bleak the status quo at that moment, the very act of hoping and dreaming of a BETTER one lifts my spirits. No matter how Pollyannish or naive my optimism may appear right then, it lifts me up, restores me and refuels my determination. So I'll do as I've always done. Acknowledge, but then metabolize, my dismay and replace it once again with a defiant sense of hopefulness. Because it always works.
This op Ed could be the difference between success and failure-https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/02/opinion/democrats-rural-america.html?referringSource=articleShare
"What much of the party establishment doesn’t understand is that rural life is rooted in shared values of independence, common sense, tradition, frugality, community and hard work. Democratic campaigns often seem to revolve around white papers and wonky policy. In our experience, politicians lose rural people when they regurgitate politically triangulated lines and talk about the vagaries of policy. Rural folks vote on what rings true and personal to them: Can this person be trusted? Is he authentic?
While these defeats ought to prompt real soul-searching within the party, some political scientists and many mainstream Democrats have taken them as proof not that their own strategies must change but rather that rural Republicans are too ignorant to vote in their own best interest. It’s a counterproductive, condescending story that serves only to drive the wedge between Democrats and rural communities deeper yet."
Yes. "rural life is rooted in shared values of independence, common sense, tradition, frugality, community and hard work."
Show those values at work in our urban and suburban communities, and in our political talk, and you'll make headway.
Messaging. Messaging. Messaging. We need to let rural people know that it's the Dems who are for their interests, for the interests of regular folks, and not the GOOP! We can't keep writing people off as a "basket of deplorables" and just continue chatting to one another. It's so frustrating to see Joe Biden, a real man of the people, not commandeering as many media as possible, as often as possible, to do more "telling." So far as "showing" is concerned, that seems more difficult. How do you propose doing that? By example, I suppose. But still, it ultimately amounts to "telling, "does it not? Although: more strong Democrats with deep rural roots running on the local level might help.
Well, in my little village of Round Lake, in upstate NY, a fellow gathered other interested folks to plan, and plant, 7 trees for Arbor Day. It produced plenty of good feeling and showed a willingness to work together. Discussions were quite mindful of the costs (frugality, natch!).
And, er, the guy's a Democrat. Not wearing a Democrat's hat, but showing his values. But... it's not easy finding a link describing the event (Facebook seems to have made its interface worse recently).
Nice. But you gotta wear the hat! ( And hey, I think we're neighbors -- I'm in East Chatham, NY). Yes, and easy linking to events like this would be helpful.
Anat Shenker-Osorio hosts a Wednesday meeting every other week on progressive messaging. Maybe someone can post a link for the specifics. In the meantime...
Messaging is key. But the party seems adverse to trying. We are a big tent but given how rabid the other side has gotten there is much that unites us that we can point to…
From a recent webinar from a messaging group, I learned about the "3-V Sandwich." VALUES- begin by stating those we share; VILLAIN - name the one/ones who are working against those values; VISION - paint a picture of what the good proposal would look like. (Sounds easy and delicious, no?)
There is amazing work underway to counter the decades long disinvestment in rural progressive power building! Rural Democracy Initiative https://ruraldemocracyinitiative.org is funding locally based, authentically rural, grassroots organizations that are experiencing big wins in down ballot races.
Rural young people swing the most from election cycle to election cycle. Moving the rural vote just 3% in states like OH means winning statewide races! We must invest in rural and small town organizing if we want to elect Democratic State Legislatures, Governors, expand our Senate majority and keep the House!
At local post office here in Brooklyn, New York, I was buying postcard stamps to send messages to voters when PO Staff asked, “Which state?”. I gave her a puzzled look. She replied, “Pennsylvania?”. I smiled and said” yes”. She said, “Keep them coming”. Every little bit helps when the situation is this bad. Our small actions are not going unnoticed!
I had an illegal abortion in 1963. That was 10 years before Roe v Wade made access to abortion safe and legal. Those were the days of “back alley” abortions and mine was no exception. I will spare the gory details but suffice it to say, I almost died.
There was no way I could have a baby at that time of my life, either financially or psychologically. I was desperate to do whatever it took to end the pregnancy. That desperation led to a relentless pursuit of ultimately dangerous measures. But my desperation surely pales in comparison to that of a woman being forced to carry the fetus of her rapist or a family member who assaulted her. I can’t even imagine the horror of that!
During the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings, the visceral feelings of anxiety and fear I experienced from an unwanted pregnancy came roaring back. I spent the next 18 years working to elect pro-choice Democratic women to office. We made huge strides but we knew that someday a Supreme Court might compromise or even overturn Roe. However, the brutality, the lack of compassion or understanding, the misogyny and the hatred of this decision is appalling. It’s good to know that marches are being organized around the country but we’ve marched our feet off and still ended up here. Women have enormous financial power. Let’s find a way to use it and MAKE THEM PAY!
If Republicans take the Senate in November, do we think they’ll hesitate for an instant to overturn the filibuster and pass a federal ban on abortion. My 18 year old granddaughters may face fewer rights than women in Ireland, Turkey, Mexico and countless other countries. Let’s hope young people realize the stakes and come out to vote like never before.
ALL women should be able to make the decision of whether and when to have a family. Without that right women don’t occupy an equal place in society. Access to reproductive health care is a basic human right. We must reframe this issue as access to human rights. Someone famously said “Women’s Rights are Human Rights”. What a different place we’d be in had SHE become President.
As awful as this has been, I feel the distant groundswell of possibility. This Supreme Court rollback of rights has been looming for years. We've all known this is where we were headed. Finally, it's underway. The intention of the reactionary majority has been revealed. Better to expose what we're truly up against if we intend to keep our democracy. It's upon each and every one of us to do what we can to push forward and ensure the pendulum swings back, sure and steady in the direction of justice and equal rights for all Americans.
Thank you Amy, excellent. Yes we must push forward to stop this reactionary element of America. I have attempted many times both verbally and in writing, to get action from the Left. I have found a general refusal to "get involved" which would produce conflict. The belief seems to be "stay in my comfort zone and it will be safer." BS. If our Revolutionary Patriots would have remained in their comfort zone, we would still be British citizens. Since the latest SC leak of news on Row vs Wade has come out, and this week about Louisiana legislature considering making abortion a crime of murder from day one of conception for the patient, I have been asking many people with daughters or granddaughters in the child rearing generation to speak out against these potential actions against the rights of women. Terrible in this great democratic and free America of ours. We MUST stand up and let our voices be heard, but verbally and in writing, and it NOW.
100% Amy. And I do feel like the Democrats are finally changing the messaging and finding great candidates like Tim Ryan that will hopefully succeed. It
Yes! Thank you! So well said. No time to lose hope. Undreamed of possibilities lie ahead. I’m realistic but hopeful and determined.
Well stated - thank you.
I'm a day late to this conversation, but I feel, like Amy, that this moment is rife with possibilities. I encourage you to read this op-ed (from 2020) about how, in 2010, marginalized Latinx voters in AZ with the fewest resources and the most to lose stood up to the "Show Me Your Papers" law and built a movement that ultimately resulted in flipping AZ and helping Joe Biden win. It's so powerful and explains beautifully the important role grassroots movements play in fighting voter suppression and registering, activating and actually turning out voters in marginalized communities. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/21/opinion/sunday/latinos-arizona-battleground.html
The first word Elijah Cummings spoke to Congress, a short poem
"God's Minute"
God's Minute.
I only have a minute. Sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, I did not choose it, but I know that I
must use it.
Give account if I abuse it. Suffer if I lose it.
Only a tiny minute, but eternity is in it.
It was quoted often by Dr. Benjamin Mays, president of Morehouse College, inspiration to Martin Luther King. Not all of us are as easily called to action as were Dr. King and Representative Cummings, but this week calls to us to take a fraction of one of those seconds to do something .
make even a bit of a difference.
What an inspiring call to action.
The book in which I read it, We're Better Than This, the memoir of Elijah Cummings magnificent life, which was cut off before its completion by his death, and finished by his wife, Maya, and my high school classmate and co-staff member on the newspaper, The Shield and co-author James Dale (who was truly called to listening) was excellent. I should note that my favorite high school English teacher, passed away early to her own cancer, would turn over in her grave to see that my run-on sentences and multiple clauses outlived her.
Cummings was the child of sharecroppers who were also preachers. He rose to be chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. He was an active activist. He spoke powerfully about the importance of doing, even if "doing" meant bringing home one flower and a Baby Ruth to his wife at the end of a week's week in a factory. Read it--it's easily readable and more inspiring than intimidating to the tired, the quiet, and the timid. Thanks, Jim.
OK if I put this in Chop Wood, Carry Water today?
Sure, but I'm not sure what Chop Wood, Carry Water is. I know there is a Zen phrase, "After enlightenment, Chop Wood, Carry Water," but my knowledge ends there.
It's my daily actions email! Here, look it's in there! https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/chop-wood-carry-water-510?s=w
Political actions.
My college aged daughter and her friends went to a Planned Parenthood march today! She got bumper stickers for her car and buttons. They noted the many MALE anti choice protestors were there (and only a few women in the group) as validation of the patriarchal nature of the GOP and the right wing to overturn R v W. My children in their 20s are livid about this assault on their personal freedoms. Mask wearing doesn’t even compare!!!
I’m old but I stand with the young
Old you may be, but your voice is strong and steady. I like hearing it on this forum and on others.
Yes, livid is the right word. I told my 40-yr-old daughter today that the right wing doesn't know what's about to hit them, and we can all take heart in that!
I hope and pray!
Livid is correct! I will say, having marched in Plano, Tx last Tuesday evening, that there were many male marchers, marching in support of Roe. I also heard on a podcast yesterday that the largest category of abortion rights supporters is young males. There are certainly polls all over the place, but I think we have many, many men who are as incensed as we. Thank goodness!
https://news.gallup.com/poll/245618/abortion-trends-gender.aspx
I congratulate them. I hope many more join in as so many seem complacent and unwilling to get involved. As an activist for women's rights in the early 70's, I am so sad that we are having to refight these issues. I am older now and tired but see no way forward but to continue to engage to protect women's and all civil rights. I hope that this is the time that will incite more people to take notice of extremism and get involved to protect our rights.
The male anti-choice protesters should consider the moment when "protecting life" fairness prevails and SCOTUS approves laws which would imprison men for getting a vasectomy or carrying a condom.
I was going to say that they should do that to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Well, if men lose their rights, maybe we will see something done. However, I doubt SCOTUS and the Republicans will take rights away from men. It is women they are after for some twisted reason.
However, if the fertilization of an egg is sacred, surely men should not be allowed to have a vasectomy. But of course, the white, so-called Christian men would object. At the same time, those "Christians" hardly practice Jesus' teachings. If they did, they would feed hungry children and "heal the sick" with universal health care. Those would be acts of Christianity.
Very true! They are punishing women, not men.
Of course! Men have failed too many times to save humanity. Women do not see war as a solution for every conflict, and women seem to listen to one another with more compassion than men.
Amen! Women should be heads of state everywhere and the majority in every government!
It would help all of our sanity if we had 1 victory - an indictment of any Republican law maker for something other than a sexual crime (there are may of those). Just give me 1.
You are right! A significant part of what’s so very painful right now is the lack of consequences for the previous (criminal) administration and the fear that the Garland DOJ lacks the teeth (or spine) to bring any.
Yes, definitely! One would give me back my hope for Justice.
Sharing great inspiration from our friend Jessica Craven on the discipline of hope and her famous links, this one for Women's March rallies on Saturday May 14. Find your way to support!
“I choose the discipline of hope over the ease of cynicism.” YESYESYES!!
Hope is a discipline...It is harder, more effortful, and more demanding to refuse to give up. But that refusal itself is a muscle, and as we use it it strengthens. Hope, once small, becomes larger and more established. It begins to exist separately from circumstance. It becomes habit. This is why, when people ask me how I keep such a positive attitude, I can honestly say “I practice.”
Hope is an action. A practice. A discipline. And a self-fulfilling, self-perpetuating one, at that.
https://twitter.com/ElizLanders/status/1522239615230427136?s=20&t=55Hhknyv4yU8kX36aOzeZA
https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/chop-wood-carry-water-56?s=r
You are a treasure, Ellie, as is Jessica! Darnnit, I won't be marching due to a busted knee that now requires total replacement, but I'm finding ways to be involved: talking about it with others, helping inform open-minded young relatives, directing some of my limited extra funds to down-ballot candidates in other states.Even though we sometimes feel smugly safe in California, I support Adam as well. Can't afford not to! Love to all this Mothers Day weekend. Stay strong and ever hopeful.
I can’t march either as I need both knees replaced and one hip and repair of one foot. My oldest granddaughter said she is driving up to DC on May 14 to march. Then she has to drive 4 hours home in order to be on time for her shift at a memory care facility. I wish I could go with her, but even with my walker I can’t walk very far due to the pain.
Thanks Ellie! The script for calling our Senators to pass S 1975 the Women’s Health Protection Act and to support S 1141 the Judiciary Act to expand the Supreme Court makes it easy! We need to call our Senators daily!
That is perfect! Thanks for reminding us. I'm going to print it out and try to look at it every day.
I was 11 when my mother died because she didn’t want the baby she carried. She already had 4 children. She was white, middle class and very very young and ashamed. Too young to die and too ashamed to ask for help.
My anger this week is mixed with so much sadness…. It will mean more death of women and girls. And the “ right to life” movement just brings shame. And death.
This moment must be so hard for you. My heart goes out to you, Renee.
Oh - that's awful. I'm so very sorry.
I am so very sorry you lost your mom. That must have hurt and confused you then. I lost my mom when she was 90, and I miss her daily. A friend told me I was allowed to miss my mother forever.
This STUPID court decision is going to cause so much harm. More children will lose their mothers. These reactionary people don’t care about children because they don’t want to help care for the children who are already here. They are just anti-abortion as a way to punish women .
You are so right! What they care about is punishing POOR women and punishing BROWN women. They know that whether legal or not, women will try to avoid having unwanted children. They have no interest in life or children. Republican brainwashing at its apex!
Renee, I could not ❤️ your words. How incredibly difficult this all must be. Sending you much love and a huge hug.
I am so very sorry for your loss of your mother. Mine was 91 when she died and I was 64. I am almost 73 now and I miss her every day. What has happened to Roe must hurt you more deeply than anyone can ever understand. God Bless you. ♥️
It's so depressing to read about Susan Collins and her naivete regarding Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. I think the rest of the free world knew they were lying when they swore that they saw Roe as settled law/precedent.
Susan Collins is a liar. She knew. We call her "Spotlight Susie" here in Maine. She plays moderate for the national stage, and wrings her hands, and votes Republican.
Mainer too, Susan Collins is only interested in herself, Spotlight Susie for sure. She doesn’t listen to the voices of Maine women…it’s infuriating.
Former Mainer here. She had us hoodwinked back in the day. But that was when Snowe was around to keep her in line. Back in the day when we voted person over party. Those days are long gone. Collins drinks the Koolaid. And....she endorsed LePage for another run at governor. Monster supporting monster. That's all you need to know. Collins is a shape shifting lizard.
Mainer here, too. A good friend has said for years that Susan Collins only votes against her party when it costs her nothing!
BTW, early in her political career, Collins said she would only serve 2 terms as Senator. She was just elected to her 5th term. Another example of her mendacity.
Vote her out!
You all need to vote her out!
Easier said than done. We had a great Democrat, Sarah Gideon, running against her. Late in the race, Collins' ran ads saying Gideon was "from away," and using footage that highlighted Gideon's darker skin tones. It was vile and creepy. And it worked.
That is awful! You all must vote her out of office. Use her voting to affirm those far right justices against her. Either she is not very intelligent, or she knew exactly what she was doing. Either way, she blew it and look at the results. I know which she is. She had to know that those justices would overturn Roe.
She's not up for reelection til 2026. She's a senator, and she won her 5th term in2020. It was a travesty. It had looked like a race Gideon could win. If you are thinking Maine Democrats did not work hard enough for Gideon, that is not the case.
I am so very sorry. I hope that you can get her out next time.
Spotlight Susie, what an accurate name for Susan Collins. What a contemptible woman!
I knew and I’m no political genius. Susan is a fool, pure and simple. But a fool in power, one of many, sad to say
Yes. I certainly did. Anytime a right wing Republican’s lips are moving he is lying!
This travesty has finally gotten me off my butt to get going on work for the midterms. I think the horror of the Courts position on Roe will help us get more folks to the polls. And hopefully we have enough people working to protect the polls and votes so they can count.
I'm 77 years old but saw that my county is down 100 poll watchers. Election day is over 15 hours long and it's going to be a struggle, but I'm signed up for training Tuesday. I can't let this pass!
What State and County? People from other states want to help swing states.
Bentonville, AR. My daughter is a Democrat, but has to be very careful about expressing her views.
Thank you. Good to know. Those of us in swing states need to know where help is most needed. I wonder if someone is setting up a data base of opportunities. For ex, where poll watchers are needed. Does anyone know if such a thing exists? If not, can anyone think of a good org to organize such a thing?
Check out Sister District Action Network https://www.sisterdistrictactionnetwork.org/
Thanks!
Contact the Arkansas (or any other estate) democrats. They can steer you in the right direction. Be persistent; they are going to be “fielding” a lot of these kind of calls. Good luck!!
That should have read “those of us NOT in swing states” ; )
Interesting that we now have to be very careful expressing that we vote a certain way or hold certain political views.
Yay for you!🙌🙌🙌💪
Good for you! That is wonderful.
Yes, if they can count. Repubs have been mobilizing for decades. May a tsunami sweep away the evil…
Yes please! NOOOO Speaker GOP!!!
If the Supreme Court completes its process and overturns Roe, we need to learn from those who oppose abortion. We need to organize and vote like they have. Continue demonstrating. Be single issue voters. Only vote for those who are clear in their support for women to have control over their bodies. The opponents of women fought for nearly 50 years to achieve their goal. And they plan to fight to make women's lives worse, more limited. We will make women's lives better. If it takes 50 years to restore Roe and more, I won't be around to see the success. But we will succeed.
I listened to a NYT podcast yesterday that interviewed ProLife supporters.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000559817562
What terrified me in this interview was the push of a “minority religious opinion” onto the masses. One person interviewed, a Catholic Deacon Lawyer was already thinking ahead towards those who will be crossing state borders in search of an abortion. Paraphrased “ how do we keep those people from leaving?” I don’t believe they see it as a state by state issue. This is a thinly disguised veil we all should see thru. I find this terrifying. I won’t be around to see 50 years in the future but I pray our actions today leave a safe future.
I used Ballotpedia.com as a starting point to check out the positions of all the candidates on the primary ballot, then went to their websites to see what they said about Issues, and I voted for those who specifically mentioned they defend women's rights, human rights, voting rights and all our existing constitutional freedoms. Here's hoping...
This week has caused so much stress for me that it’s hard to even put words to what we are in the mist of.
I’m from Florida need I say more.my hope is that the Democrats are now motivated to vote with a little help from calls letters and getting registered. I am doing my part and more.
I am from Fla but now live in Georgia. I adopted Georgia and Florida via Jess Cravens post on Friday https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1R9fi9jBVmVlWJUTQCNSyEg_PV0Z-WIHu7xCEOcyQ4ig/mobilebasic
And writing postcards for Activate America https://www.mobilize.us/activateamerica/event/458420/?utm_medium=emailblast&sourceid=1041199&emci=3ba8b3bd-2dcb-ec11-997e-281878b83d8a&emdi=45705c93-32cb-ec11-997e-281878b83d8a&ceid=5748956
I can’t sit still my anger is being directed to educating others.
Alice, I feel your pain here in a red, Fl county ! Rep Anna Eskimani is my adopted Rep. She is our Mallory McMorrow and her energy will give you hope ! And I think those bullying Republican men fear her..😜
https://annaforflorida.com/
You are so right! We have to hold hope and determination along with the anger and utter disgust at this right wing push to take ultimately so many rights away! But this can be used to move people to be involved!!!! That’s our job!!🌎🇺🇸♥️
This is an issue that should be mobilizing young people to vote. I have been donating to “studentsforjusticevote.org” it is also a 501C3 — so tax deductible —- can donate from your IRA.
To Students For Justice Vote, add support for:
Voters of Tomorrow
https://votersoftomorrow.org/
Students Learn Students Vote Coalition
https://slsvcoalition.org/
My oldest granddaughter votes for the first time this year. She lives in the red state of Arkansas. I'm visiting her next week. I told my daughter I wouldn't "talk politics", but I just can't let this go.
Thank you. Inside a family, it's very hard. It's important to show that you are a witness to your values.
I’ve been working through The Civic Center and sending postcards to high school students to help them register to vote. I’m hoping the young become politically active as they did in the 60’s. When, and I really do think it’s more “when” than “if” with this latest Supreme Court move, things will begin changing.
Done! Thanks!
As someone who has spent the better part of the past decade deeply involved in climate activism, I am more familiar than I care to admit with despair and hopelessness. In the face of mounting evidence that the grim consequences of our addiction to fossil fuels are occurring sooner and proving potentially more catastrophic than expected, my colleagues and I have often found ourselves bereft of hope when, time and time again, governments around the world failed to take the necessary steps to begin addressing the problem. Still and all, here is what I have learned. That hope itself is curative. No matter how long the odds or monumental the disappointment, the instant I force myself, if only through sheer will, to set aside my despair and reengage hopefulness, I begin to feel better. However bleak the status quo at that moment, the very act of hoping and dreaming of a BETTER one lifts my spirits. No matter how Pollyannish or naive my optimism may appear right then, it lifts me up, restores me and refuels my determination. So I'll do as I've always done. Acknowledge, but then metabolize, my dismay and replace it once again with a defiant sense of hopefulness. Because it always works.
Beautiful . . . "hope itself is curative." I will remember that.
💛
This op Ed could be the difference between success and failure-https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/02/opinion/democrats-rural-america.html?referringSource=articleShare
We can’t give up!
"What much of the party establishment doesn’t understand is that rural life is rooted in shared values of independence, common sense, tradition, frugality, community and hard work. Democratic campaigns often seem to revolve around white papers and wonky policy. In our experience, politicians lose rural people when they regurgitate politically triangulated lines and talk about the vagaries of policy. Rural folks vote on what rings true and personal to them: Can this person be trusted? Is he authentic?
While these defeats ought to prompt real soul-searching within the party, some political scientists and many mainstream Democrats have taken them as proof not that their own strategies must change but rather that rural Republicans are too ignorant to vote in their own best interest. It’s a counterproductive, condescending story that serves only to drive the wedge between Democrats and rural communities deeper yet."
Yes. "rural life is rooted in shared values of independence, common sense, tradition, frugality, community and hard work."
Show those values at work in our urban and suburban communities, and in our political talk, and you'll make headway.
Don't tell 'em. Show 'em.
Messaging. Messaging. Messaging. We need to let rural people know that it's the Dems who are for their interests, for the interests of regular folks, and not the GOOP! We can't keep writing people off as a "basket of deplorables" and just continue chatting to one another. It's so frustrating to see Joe Biden, a real man of the people, not commandeering as many media as possible, as often as possible, to do more "telling." So far as "showing" is concerned, that seems more difficult. How do you propose doing that? By example, I suppose. But still, it ultimately amounts to "telling, "does it not? Although: more strong Democrats with deep rural roots running on the local level might help.
Well, in my little village of Round Lake, in upstate NY, a fellow gathered other interested folks to plan, and plant, 7 trees for Arbor Day. It produced plenty of good feeling and showed a willingness to work together. Discussions were quite mindful of the costs (frugality, natch!).
And, er, the guy's a Democrat. Not wearing a Democrat's hat, but showing his values. But... it's not easy finding a link describing the event (Facebook seems to have made its interface worse recently).
Nice. But you gotta wear the hat! ( And hey, I think we're neighbors -- I'm in East Chatham, NY). Yes, and easy linking to events like this would be helpful.
RuralVote PAC
https://www.ruralvote.org/
DemCast
https://demcastusa.com/get-involved/
Anat Shenker-Osorio hosts a Wednesday meeting every other week on progressive messaging. Maybe someone can post a link for the specifics. In the meantime...
https://www.asocommunications.com/
thanks!
Messaging is key. But the party seems adverse to trying. We are a big tent but given how rabid the other side has gotten there is much that unites us that we can point to…
From a recent webinar from a messaging group, I learned about the "3-V Sandwich." VALUES- begin by stating those we share; VILLAIN - name the one/ones who are working against those values; VISION - paint a picture of what the good proposal would look like. (Sounds easy and delicious, no?)
--but dammit, we're not good at pointing!! that's the. . . oops, point!!@!!!
There is amazing work underway to counter the decades long disinvestment in rural progressive power building! Rural Democracy Initiative https://ruraldemocracyinitiative.org is funding locally based, authentically rural, grassroots organizations that are experiencing big wins in down ballot races.
Rural young people swing the most from election cycle to election cycle. Moving the rural vote just 3% in states like OH means winning statewide races! We must invest in rural and small town organizing if we want to elect Democratic State Legislatures, Governors, expand our Senate majority and keep the House!
At local post office here in Brooklyn, New York, I was buying postcard stamps to send messages to voters when PO Staff asked, “Which state?”. I gave her a puzzled look. She replied, “Pennsylvania?”. I smiled and said” yes”. She said, “Keep them coming”. Every little bit helps when the situation is this bad. Our small actions are not going unnoticed!
Love this! I wondered what the postal workers must think when these cards pass thru their sorters.
Today is a horrible, no-good, very bad day!
I had an illegal abortion in 1963. That was 10 years before Roe v Wade made access to abortion safe and legal. Those were the days of “back alley” abortions and mine was no exception. I will spare the gory details but suffice it to say, I almost died.
There was no way I could have a baby at that time of my life, either financially or psychologically. I was desperate to do whatever it took to end the pregnancy. That desperation led to a relentless pursuit of ultimately dangerous measures. But my desperation surely pales in comparison to that of a woman being forced to carry the fetus of her rapist or a family member who assaulted her. I can’t even imagine the horror of that!
During the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings, the visceral feelings of anxiety and fear I experienced from an unwanted pregnancy came roaring back. I spent the next 18 years working to elect pro-choice Democratic women to office. We made huge strides but we knew that someday a Supreme Court might compromise or even overturn Roe. However, the brutality, the lack of compassion or understanding, the misogyny and the hatred of this decision is appalling. It’s good to know that marches are being organized around the country but we’ve marched our feet off and still ended up here. Women have enormous financial power. Let’s find a way to use it and MAKE THEM PAY!
If Republicans take the Senate in November, do we think they’ll hesitate for an instant to overturn the filibuster and pass a federal ban on abortion. My 18 year old granddaughters may face fewer rights than women in Ireland, Turkey, Mexico and countless other countries. Let’s hope young people realize the stakes and come out to vote like never before.
ALL women should be able to make the decision of whether and when to have a family. Without that right women don’t occupy an equal place in society. Access to reproductive health care is a basic human right. We must reframe this issue as access to human rights. Someone famously said “Women’s Rights are Human Rights”. What a different place we’d be in had SHE become President.