Read the Signs!

On January 21, 2017, Republican politicians got a dose of reality. Washington, DC saw a crowd that the Trump administration would have liked to have seen at the Inauguration. In Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles, and in pouring rain in San Francisco, the people marched. Roads had to be closed, traffic re-routed and yet the people marched. The crowds were noisy with conversation, full of ideals, and united in sending their message. Here in Doylestown hundreds of men, women and children gathered and sang. It was an old song and everybody knew the words. This land is our land.

MAKE AMERICA THINK AGAIN was a sign that drew cheers. Someone in the crowd said, “If you didn’t vote before, you know now that every vote counts!” Did everyone know that the moment Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States at noon on Friday, the LGBT, climate change, health care, and civil liberties pages disappeared from the website of the brand new Trump White House? A few days before the House made a concerted effort to abolish rules governing the passage of new bills. Part of that move was to be able to prevent transparency, communication, and rules that governed open hearings. Is it going to be that easy? The crowds marching today said no.

Another sign read SILENCE IMMOBILIZES. Build the wall? Poor people coming to America to find jobs and hope matter. Illegal immigrants work hard, pay all kinds of taxes everywhere and have to put up with hateful dialogue that demeans their character and their motives. When you see hatred, say something. When Muslims are attacked, speak up. When people of color are demeaned and killed, speak up. When members of the human family need you? RISE UP. HEAR ME ROAR.

KNOW YOUR REPS, REP YOUR CAUSES! There was no sign of any people from the Pennsylvania Legislature. The Republican majority in Harrisburg feels that their seats are so permanent that they can leave them to their children. One Representative to Congress had already proved a seat could be passed on with very little attention paid to philosophy. But the public eyes are watching now. People today made it very clear that there will be no second chances. If the Republican Majority in Pennsylvania tries to pass any more laws that further gun violence, diminish control over our air and water, allow gas and oil companies to avoid extraction taxes, and to demand legislative control over the health care decisions that women must make, they had better keep the help-wanted pages handy.

WOMEN ARE FAT PIGS, SLOBS, AND VOTERS. A President of the United States that built a record of rude grabbing of women, mocking disabilities, mocking claims of sexual harassment, “mansplaining”, and tweeting bully behavior is on notice. The signs, many of which cannot be recorded in a family newspaper, left no doubt. Notice has been given. The women that Trump groped and the people he disrespected are not alone now. They have the support of millions of sisters, brothers, husbands and fathers. Special hats helped people get the message.

SCIENCE +FACTS +EVIDENCE. Numerous signs everywhere reflected the impatience that so many feel regarding the displacement of research and evidence in politics. Disavow the Office of Education? Deregulate freely? Run Atomic Energy without a degree or any experience? Refuse to fund Planned Parenthood? Allow guns everywhere without any rational control? Challenge NATO, the United Nations, and China? Despite all the protests and all the anger, the reality is that the Appointed Leaders can simply act with Presidential Authority. What do they care? Retired generals and billionaires apparently don’t breathe the air, drink the water, or have to parent children that can be sent off to war on an aggressive whim.

OBAMACARE IS HEALTHY. Know a cancer survivor? A heart attack victim? A child with a disabling disease? Love them now. This week the American Congress, dominated by Trump and the Republican Party, began the process of rescinding the ACA. If you think returning health care to the control of the huge insurance companies is a good idea, give Mother a big hug and tell her you will pray that the surgery she needs will be covered by somebody. Will there be a substitute? Don’t count on it. The R’s think they can get away with it. Perhaps. They should read the signs.

NASTY WOMEN KEEP FIGHTING. Call and write and protest? Of course. And then? In 2017 start by electing a school board that runs on policies that serve all children. Demand an end to gerrymandering! In just two years, promise to send the unrepentant Forever Legislators home. Make a list of all the places you can help and start helping. And voting. A turnout increase of just 2% could have prevented several years of pain.

It is clear that President Trump did not spring full-blown from the forehead of fate. Republican conservative philosophy has been moving hard right for years. Everything that is happening now, including the election of Donald Trump, has happened via the Republicans. Whatever your reasoning: tribal loyalty, religious or economic conservatism, placing jobs over regulation by government, believing fake news, or ignorance about how Republican policy actually affects you; if you voted Republican you are part of the problem. If you didn’t vote at all in 2016 you are part of the problem. The signs say, “Change your mind and move back to rational politics”.

The American constitution is built on concepts of checks and balances but balance has been lost in American politics. Change has to happen and until then, a lot of awful stuff is likely. Get ready, get involved, do the work. There are more friends out there, more sisters and brothers with you, than you might have thought possible before today. Just read the signs.

Ann Melby Shenkle

January 21, 2017

Doylestown