A FEW WORDS FROM PARIS

I do not wish to reevaluate the Obama presidency, nor is it necessary for me to repeat here a selection of the hideous things Trump and his minions are trying to ram down our throats.  My attention is focused on evidence of popular opposition and information about what each of us can do to strengthen that opposition and keep it alive, at least until the mid-term elections.  That is the purpose of my Friday Lists, the third of which I shall assemble tomorrow, despite being here in Paris.

I. M. Flaud yesterday posted a fascinating report by a Mennonite Pastor of a visit to the office of Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.  Here is the report:

“Just got back from a visit to Senator Pat Toomey's Johnstown office with 15 other Borough of State College & Penn State area people to talk about the immigration ban.
Here are my takeaways;
1. Everyone we spoke with was rattled. They have never experienced this much constant feedback. The phones haven't stopped since the Inauguration and they admitted they can't check voicemail because there is no pause to do so.
2. Letters are the only thing getting through at this point [Note: I've heard that postcards are better because they can impound letters for five weeks to check for contaminants]. Regional offices are a much better mail destination because the compile, sort, and send everything. DC mail is so backed up right now it takes twice as long to send things there.
3. Toomey's staff seem frustrated with Trump. They said his barrage of Executive Orders are not how government is supposed to work, and was what they hated during moments of the Obama era. One of them said, "we have a democratic system and process. Trump needs to stop behaving like a Monarch."
4. Our representatives are listening because people are raising their voices. This feels like no other political moment in recent time for them.
5. Toomey's staffers are far more empathetic than I assumed. Also far more technology illiterate (one asked me how to use twitter, and how we already knew about Toomey's published statement). They resonate that the immigration ban feels immoral and unAmerican.
6. Regional offices are not designed to handle this volume of unrest.
7. Personal stories matter. Tell the stories of people being impacted by arbitrary religious and ethnic legislation. Staffers want to know.
8. Don't stop. Do whatever small part you can do to keep raising your voice to your representatives. Not just this issue, but every way marginalized people are being (or will be) exploited under this President."

This is very good news, and judging from my inability to get through to the offices of Senators Burr and Tillis, I imagine it reflects the situation nation-wide.  Keep in mind that the people flooding and jamming the phones are almost certainly a tiny fraction of the constituency.  This battering on the doors of Senators and Representatives is clearly a cost and energy efficient way to have an effect.  We must somehow find the energy and commitment to keep it up for months, and then for years.  It is one of our best hopes of changing the direction of American politics.  Subtleties of argument and nuances of analysis are mostly irrelevant here.  Over time, the relentless barrage will have an effect, because it is like nothing people in politics have ever seen.

The silencing of Elizabeth Warren by the Senate Republicans was a gift, as was the refusal of House Republicans to support a Democratic-sponsored resolution noting that the Nazis targeted Jews in the Holocaust.  Every little bit of stupidity helps.

And now, a plea to my readers:  Please take a moment to post a comment mentioning some of the things you have been doing in the struggle.  These testimonials encourage others, stiffen their spines, reassure them that they are not alone.  Keep it up!