The power of the powerless

So often after reading the latest headlines about the state of the world – and predominantly our current administration’s effect on it – I feel both perplexed and confused. I think many, if not most, of us who are not engaged in simply trying to make ends meet, feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the current situation. A constant bombardment of news telling us about the latest cutbacks, firings, tariffs, U.S. invasions and bombings, ICE killings, lies, misinformation, smear campaigns and Justice Department attacks on anyone who opposes the current president. And although the courts may rule against the current president, it’s unknown whether he will choose to obey the law, circumvent it or simply counter-sue and obfuscate. And the state of the poor, the immigrants and the powerless. They are either being actively persecuted or marginalized by cutting off any assistance as it is deemed for the lazy or unemployed.  

I was amazed to find out there’s a disorder (irony intended) for this onslaught of bad news and its effects on some of us. It’s acronym is TDS or Trump Derangement Syndrome. I get it! It’s like a madman’s yelling making you go mad. Whether intentional or just a product of Trump’s rhetoric and spurious, spiteful storytelling, it can create anxiety, fear and chronic stress.

And for the life of me, I can’t understand why anyone would want to support this disorder-causing disorder. Is it because we’re too busy, don’t care, are overwhelmed or feel powerless? Obviously, many people support (and elected) Trump and choose to either ignore this disorder or must think it’s better than ... What? Having a government that is based on two or more party rule (vs. one), that resembles a democracy and not a plutocracy or is founded on our Constitution with a balance of powers? The only other explanation I can fathom is the Christian Right, those who drive the conservative Project 2025 agenda and tolerate or endorse a para-military Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the ends of containing ethnic minorities and intimidating, arresting or killing those who do not support ICE. They are people whose vision of America is a white nation under God – but only the Christian god – and under their morals and ethics.

Why would you want to live in a country where there is little to no tolerance for diversity, little to no inclusion and pretend it’s a country under God? What type of God is this? Not one I’d pray to. It’s sure not the one of Christian verse. No compassion there, no mercy that I can see. Mostly just might is right, and my way or the highway, freedom for the strong. And, of course, money is king. I don’t think Christ was a banker nor did he espouse fighting.

Recently, Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, delivered a speech in Davos to the World Economic Forum. If you have not listened to it, please do, it is remarkable what an educated and well thought-out leader can convey. What caught my attention was his reference to Vaclav Havel, the Czech political dissident who spoke about refusing to participate in the “automated” rituals of false ideology – symbolized by a green grocer refusing to hang a propaganda poster – citizens create cracks in the system’s power structure.

Unless you like the current state of affairs in the U.S. and think we’re headed in the right direction not only for ourselves, but our children and future generations, then you need to seriously pay attention and consider not going along with what’s happening in our country. You need to speak out. Write your congresspersons, go to rallies, talk about what you see and, most importantly, don’t be afraid to not hang that propaganda poster in your window. Ones like ICE recruitment posters that say “Destroy the Flood” and “We’ll Have Our Home Again” are a direct nod to those that would have this country be a white nationalist autocracy. This is not the America that emerged from colonial rule in 1776. This is what we broke away from. Resist.

– Tim Thomas, Durango