Time to make good trouble by Ruth Neuwald Falcon

I have spent more than two decades immersed in my grandparents’ experience of trying to escape Nazi Germany and my mother’s attempts to save her parents. I have long known that much in my character can be explained by that history, including an irrational sense of responsibility, the feeling that if I only did the “right thing,” disaster would be averted. I know that doesn’t make sense — I am not that powerful — but, oddly, it is making more sense now than in the past.

If everyone did what they could to push back against the actions of the current regime, then complete disaster might be averted. If we all take whatever large or small actions we can, those in charge will not be able to operate with impunity. That’s the point of millions of people in the street. We are not helpless if enough of us participate. 

I read someone the other day, forgive me for not remembering who, who said there is no United States to ride to the rescue now, the way there was in the past. Now, there are only the people of the United States who are the only chance to prevent — what? There are already concentration camps here. There is already the cruelty that haunted my nightmares, as a child and an adult. Am I brave enough to keep speaking and showing up? Am I strong enough to mentally and physically survive what I know is happening?

Jen Rubin, at the conclusion of Coffee with the Contrarians this morning, said exactly what I needed to hear:

“If John Lewis could have the beatings within an inch of his life, if he could keep fighting… if he could maintain a level of optimism and fight, you have no right to quit on America. You have no luxury of despair and despondency.”

And in his Monday newsletter, Robert Hubbell wrote:

“We will be honoring the legacy of John Lewis, who taught us that refusing to obey in advance, refusing to surrender, and resolving to march forward despite our fears is the only path to saving democracy. John Lewis and his fellow civil rights marchers “failed” to make it across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, but they touched the hearts and minds of a nation in turmoil in their effort. We are called to do nothing less.

“Our presence at a Make Good Trouble rally has the same ambitious goal—to touch the hearts and minds of tens of millions of Americans who are ready to say, ‘Enough! Not on our watch! We will not let democracy slip away!’

“We must regain momentum on July 17 by taking control of the political narrative… We do not know whether July 17 will be the tipping point, but we will never know unless we follow John Lewis up the incline to the top of the bridge. The path forward lies on the other side. Let’s cause some good trouble! Our democracy deserves nothing less from us.”