New Plan
Part 1
Introduction
I consider myself an amateur historian. I love diving into a rabbit hole and connecting threads of history to current affairs. My own family history and the intersection of race and religion constantly fascinate and frustrate my 21st-century sensibilities. In 2015, I dived into the world of politics when Bernie Sanders convinced me that my voice was needed. When Hillary Clinton aimed to break the glass ceiling, I was for it! When we moved 1000 miles away from our security net and into a different world, I launched headfirst into the local groups and 18 months after picking my town, I was elected Town Meeting Representative for Precinct 1. Two years later, I launched a crazy plan to unseat a Trump Republican from the Massachusetts State House by running for the seat as a write-in candidate! Politics has become part of my identity. Teaching others how to empower themselves and others has given my life meaning beyond words.
But… I’ve struggled with despair and despondency over the last several months. There are moments of joy and hope, like the night when our President didn’t trip over himself to inflate his own ego like the Former Guy. The hope is quickly replaced by that creeping despair. Because a significant portion of our country loves that other guy. They are sharing memes of Biden looking terrible and screaming that Hillary and Kamala are secretly running the country and quickly turning us into their worst nightmares. I don’t know how to bridge the divide between realities.
Truth is subjective and facts are easily distorted. So many people simply do not possess the skill, desire, or ability to sift through the bullshit to hopefully come to a conclusion that can be reasonably trusted. This is a complex problem that cannot be addressed with simple solutions.
We need an overhaul of so many of our systems. Because our systems were created to benefit the wealthiest among us. Middle and Working people are rising up and saying this is not acceptable. Progressive groups are organizing and accomplishing so much these days that Conservatives are terrified. Look at their boogymen. They aren’t worried about the leadership or the old guards. They foam at the mouth when it comes to “The Squad”. We need to keep the momentum going. I know it’s hard. I know you’re tired (I dream of running away too) and looking for brighter days but we haven’t earned them yet. Imagine if Abolitionists had given up in 1860 when Republicans yet again wouldn’t include freeing men, women, and children out of bondage. We are in a moment that has been building for decades. When McCarthyism and the War on Drugs assassinated our leaders, we did not yield. When Conservatism took over the halls of power and eroded our rights, we did not yield. We are so close to achieving the vision of “Freedom, Liberty, and Justice for all”.
