This was an exciting week for me. I had my first non-blog piece published. It was for our new county party newsletter, which we are planning on getting out weekly. It’s an editorial opinion section titled Thought of the Week. Hopefully, others will be contributors, but I can fill in when needed.
It’s pretty short, so I’m going to slip it in here:
I’m finding it exceedingly difficult not to get swallowed up in an abyss of fear and hopelessness, because of this regime’s Gestapo-like cruelty. Why do so many of these people not see the harm they are causing with their callous disregard for their neighbors? There are so many unanswerable questions. I really do want to understand.
But who do I ask?
I have always struggled with my own intolerance and judgmental nature. Ironically, it’s often been aimed at those who are intolerant and pass judgment on those who cannot conform to the artificial constructs of our society.
But how is that helpful?
I can put myself between the aggressive and the vulnerable, but that just makes me a wall. How can I be a bridge instead to help safely connect them? I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to answer that, but I do know I can’t just be a wall, nor can I do it alone.
—Thanks to my editor, KG, for making me less wordy. We both liked the bridge metaphor.—
I have a friend who is certain we are headed to a literal civil war and is fully prepared to participate. She already has her walls up, and heavy artillery is mounted on top of them. Again, more literal and less figurative than you might think, as she is former special forces, and scarier than I’m willing to admit to her face. I absolutely agree with her desire to protect the vulnerable, but she believes the time for bridge building is over, and we need to advance and take back all the ground we fought so hard for once and have now lost.
With all due respect to my good friend, I really hope she’s wrong.
So here’s the thing—without that bridge, it means we all have to fight in the muddy trenches, where we all get dirty, and lots of people die. At the risk of taking this metaphor too far, I think what we need to do is push to get that bridge built while we provide cover fire for our vanguard and still protect our flank.
I hear so many people saying the Democrats may want a big tent, but that it’s not possible. They say that Zohran Mamdani and former Republican Representative Joe Walsh (now a conservative Democrat) can’t exist under that tent together. I call bullshit. So does Mr. Walsh:
Let’s go back to my war metaphor.
Think of Progressives like Mr. Mamdani and AOC as our vanguard. They will push back the invaders, taking the hits from and distracting the far-right, while trampling the roadblocks and exposing the things that no longer work.
This gives those of us in the middle the room we need to build the bridges, repair supply lines, and provide cover fire for the vanguard. Think non-violent protesting, get-out-the-vote and fund-raising activities like social media blitzes, phone banks, and door knocking, meet-and-greets like pancake breakfasts, and all the old and new things that campaigns do.
As for the old school and more conservative Dems, they would be the ones guarding our flank, helping to protect the most vulnerable, and making sure we don’t lose any more ground. Their knowledge of history is invaluable if we don’t want to keep making the same mistakes.
One final thought. Having a bridge makes it easier for the hostages and deserters to flee or come home
I have no idea if this metaphor works in practice because I’m not a big picture person, but I like the concept. You can’t win a war without building bridges…just ask any good strategist or even a tactician.
Ok, I think that’s enough of that metaphor. Suffice it to say, I am loving that I get to be part of the solution. It gives me purpose and hope. Despite all its flaws, I love this country and I am still willing to fight to protect it. I just don’t want to ever have to carry a gun again.
Take care, my friends, and have a gentle day.
Baby Gay When You're Fat and Gray - All Grown Up 