Resistance Is Necessary

Years ago, when I was involved in the anti-nuke movement, there was a saying that struck me as off-kilter. Later as a family systems therapist, I understood the problem with it. Lately, though, I keep coming back to it as the thing to do and the thing we’re left with. The saying is “If the people lead, the leaders will follow”.

From a systemic point of view, it’s best when leaders lead and people have some say in following, much as a parent should parent and a child, who knows less about how the world works, should have input into decisions about their lives and ultimately submit to their parents’ reasonable authority.

Such a system is based on trust, builds people’s character, and ultimately produces healthy, thriving individuals who can cope with others and life.

Alas, that’s not the system we find ourselves in. In this case very few people have power, and they have a very different view of the way the family of America should go than the majority of its members think.

Sometime this weekend, Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal appeared in my town for a town hall. It was taped and appeared on YouTube. Murphy gave an overview of the situation in which he said that “historically…democracy is not natural. Out of all the time here on earth, there has only been 250 years when democracy has existed and – for whatever its faults, it’s still the closest to freedom for people we have ever gotten. The founding fathers knew that there would be challenges and they prepared for it the best they could, with checks and balances and an awareness of human nature. They knew it was an experiment and it is fragile”.

In listening to him speak, I was reminded of a scene in Animal House when John Belushi says, “It’s not over til we say it’s over! When the Germans invaded Pearl Harbor….” One of the other members of the frat asks another “When the Germans invaded Pearl Harbor?” The other responds, “Let him go, he’s on a roll”.

It’s not the best start to a movement, but it’s the one we’ve got.

Yes, a majority of Electoral College votes were won by That Guy. Yes, his party holds the majority in the Senate and a majority in the House. On a popular vote basis, though, this is not a majority, and those with the power want to destroy huge parts of the family America.

Given how badly corrupted the system is, we may not be able to save democracy, but given that living is better than non-existence, we have to try and we have to start where we are.

We have watched while one branch of government gave in to the madness. The Supreme Court is full of people who want us to have a king. The Executive Branch wants to be worse than a king. The Legislative Branch is all tied up in knots because of its cowardice and corruption, but that, at least, is close to a balance of what America looks like.

The “Fourth Estate”, the Press, was supposed to protect us, but that, too, has bent the knee in front of king money and its power.

That leaves … us (the people) to lead the leaders (congress members who want democracy). If we can right the ship of the Legislature, we may be able to save democracy, but if we’re waiting for experts, we’re it.

Last week I went to one of those 50 protests in 50 state capitals. It wasn’t organized by a “legitimate” group. Other, bigger organizations weren’t even sure that it wasn’t a way to lure liberals to be caught. There were ways to check it using other those organizations, but it took some looking.

To my mind, that’s what gives it strength and grassroots legitimacy. It was just people of different thoughts shouting to anyone who would listen. And it has made some difference.

Phone calls have jammed up switchboards, people felt excited when Democrats came out to demonstrate.

Murphy and Blumenthal came to see us. Momentum happened because we started the ball rolling. Our energy gave them energy, which fed us. Let’s keep the ball rolling until it feels like it’s a movement. Let’s get going.

Have the Germans invaded Pearl Harbor? It doesn’t matter. Are we ready? It’s what we’ve got. It’s our “shock and awe”.

Absolutely join other resistance organizations, but in these early stages, we have to respond with what we have.

Absolutely, if you feel led, then start leading. If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

Resisting With Peace,

John