Sovereignty

Friends,

This afternoon I participated in one of the most inspiring political demonstrations in my lifetime. Some 1500 or more people lined the central Whidbey Island thoroughfare, and several hundred more demonstrated in the small towns on the island. A two-deep double line on both sides of the street stretched for more than half a mile, with more people sitting on the roadside banks. Many in the spirited crowd carried signs expressing their version of opposition to the Trump presidency’s abuse of power. 

Trump consistently plays the bully by using strong-arm force as his mode of governance. But the nonviolent crowds today on Whidbey, and throughout the nation, offered the alternative of a “Force More Powerful” demonstrating that expressions of democratic communal solidarity and nonviolence provide the ultimate political model for how we are to govern with peace and justice. Although Trump’s bully pulpit and the power of the presidency seems to have the momentum at present, I was so pleased that many people are becoming more critically aware and opposed to the consequences of authoritarian rule and are willing to take action.

But I am still aware, despite my very positive and hopeful political rally experience today, of the horrific events of the past week between the Trump administration’s oppression around immigration and the escalation of world wide violence. At moments it almost seemed surreal. In addition to the ongoing wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and Yemen (among others) the warfare between Israel and Iran opens another gashing wound on the world. And the audacity of the DC parade makes me yet again heart sick for the aggrandizement of the military and the self promotion of the presidency..  

In response to the events of the past week, I am encouraged that the successful gatherings of the populace has demonstrated our nation’s potential/ability to overcome the fear and paralysis that immobilize us and thus threaten our ability to effectively and creatively respond to the crisis before us. I am encouraged by the creativity and solidarity of communities across the nation to find their own means of joining together to demonstrate against a potential disaster of inflammatory violence. I have long wondered how committed the average American is to our democracy and the rule of law. Today was encouraging.

The overall threat we are facing has a name: the struggle over sovereignty. Who and what political system has control of the government and thus controls the freedom and welfare of our nation? The democratic model or authoritarianism? The U.S. experiment in governance, as defined in our founding documents and the Constitution, emphasizes the importance of the consent of the people through the right of democratic elections and a check and balance system. That is what we fighting to preserve now as we face the possibility of loosing all those rights.

Can our nation internalize the crucial privilege of these rights sufficiently to be able to hold out against the intensifying pressure from the Trump administration? How do we measure our level of commitment? Participation in demonstrations? When and where do we refuse to comply or oppose the injustices while we simultaneously envision and commit to the alternative of democratic sovereignty? What is the next step beyond today’s demonstrations? 

As long as our nation remains so tragically divided, however, and we are not apparently willing or able to reconcile, we are easily manipulated and controlled by authoritarian empowerment. So maybe one way to counter the threat to our sovereignty is to have the imagination and courage to personally - and ideally communally -  use our associations in our book groups, worship, and social gatherings, among others, as a base to reach out to those different from ourselves rather than feel so besieged and isolated. Who will take the first steps?

Holding you all in hopeful solidarity,
Tom