Tin Soldiers

In which the last straw drops.

Friends- I have not had a good week, and the same for may of you, I suspect. Christmas was lovely, the kids were home, we all had a good time, and as soon as 2026 come online, the shit started to flow. The last straw for me was this week’s murder of Renee Nicole Good. I no longer believe our democracy will survive this administration.

Our own government, with our tax dollars, is actively engaged in a campaign to destroy our country and deprive us of our freedom.

Photo from Vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Charlotte, January 8.

This is no longer supposition. It is proven fact.

It is proven by the fact that armed employees of the United States Government murdered a woman who was simply trying to pick her children up from school and happened to get in their way.

Proven by the fact they have repeatedly lied about what happened and are now actively engaged in a coverup to conceal the truth.

Proven by the fact they are using this incident as an excuse make us back off our protests.

Proven by the fact they are immoral, amoral, fascists and are not afraid to say so, and who act like it every day. They want us silent, jailed, or dead.

Photo from Vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Charlotte, January 8.

Here is the definition of fascism, as written in a U.S Government pamphlet from 1945:

Fascism………“is government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social, and cultural life of the state.” “The people run democratic governments, but fascist governments run the people.”

……………..Anyone who is not a member of their inner gang has to do what he’s told. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law.” …….

Fascists “make their own rules and change them when they choose…. They maintain themselves in power by use of force combined with propaganda based on primitive ideas of ‘blood’ and ‘race,’ by skillful manipulation of fear and hate, and by a false promise of security. The propaganda glorifies war and insists it is smart and ‘realistic’ to be pitiless and violent.”

(thanks to Heather Cox Richardson for the quote).

We are living in a fascist state. Right now, today. This moment. And that state will continue stealing our freedoms, our rights, our livelihoods, and our voices until the democracy we grew up in no longer exists.

Unless we stop them.

Fortunately, somehow, we still have elected officials who are accountable to us. For now they are still on the payroll and still, once in a while, choose to speak up.

One of the few non-violent ways we have to fight back is to let those officials know, every day, how angry we are. Their staff keep tallies on issues- scorecards- for every communication from the public. If the public overwhelmingly is in favor of something, so are the politicians; if the public is against it, so are the politicians. It’s a numbers game.

Photo from Vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Charlotte, January 8.

SO- There are two things to do:

(1) CALL THEM. PUNCH UP THE NUMBERS. In North Carolina, Gerrymandered, Illegally in Office Senator Ted Budd’s # is 202-224-3154; And also Gerrymandered, Illegally in Office Senator Thom Tillis’ # is 202-224-6342. Call them anytime, day or night, and leave a message either on the machine or with a human. But polite but firm. Then follow up with an email—because then they know you’re tracking them, and it adds to the tally.

(2) ORGANIZE and SPEAK OUT- connect with neighbors and friends to protest when it’s called for; put bumper stickers on your car so others know how you feel; write the letter; speak at the city council meeting. Use your voice while you still can. We have a long year ahead.

For now that’s all we can do…except to dress up in an inflatable frog suit and go to the protest.

Photo from Vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Charlotte, January 8.

Yes, yes, it’s a funny photo- I had to share it!

But seriously…..we are one economic crash, one fake war, or one violent protest away from the invocation of the Insurrection Act, at which point all freedoms will cease.

I hate that’s where we are, but - that’s where we are.

When Injustice Become Law, Resistance Becomes Duty.

SO—-RESIST.

I love you all.