As my teacher of kinders friend recently lovingly reported, one of her 4-yrs olds said “I can feel my heart beeping!” I say this morning when waking up to your essay on this important day, thank goodness for kinders and thank goodness for reminding us to feel our hearts beeping together.
A wonderful post, and useful reminder of why we don’t give up.
I have often said to my limited audience that the election of Barack Obama was the embodiment of the American ideal. The backlash is quite threatening and disgusting but I guess not really surprising.
Well said, Dan. At the risk of sounding a trifle negative, in MLK's day the President of the US and many of both parties in Congress recognized that racial discrimination was a moral obscenity. Getting the moral arc of the universe to bend toward good is more difficult now when the President and the entire GOP apparatus unabashedly rejects this belief. But I too am encouraged by the trends in public opinion.
What a wonderful post, Dan! My granddaughter is only 3. I cannot imagine her contemplating segregation when her life is so full of loads of different types of people. At this point in her life, she still thinks of her friends just as friends. I wish all of us retained that perspective our whole lives.
This is very inspiring. I would love to ask Dan to help me understand how protests actually help (not being cute - really want to know). My husband made the remark that it seems like protests don't actually accomplish anything tangible. We all go out again and again, but what really changes? So help me see how continuing to do this will make a difference? I want to DO something and I feel so helpless, but gathering with oaktag signs just seems like an empty gesture. I know they work - but how do they work?
MLK himself often said that without public protests, nothing would change. Whatever might be in the heart of a politician, it is often the site of a mass of marching potential voters that awakens them to the fact that if people are willing to protest, they will be voting.
It also moves more citizens to get off the couch themselves. And to call and write their elected representatives.
It sometimes takes longer than we would like, but it does make a difference.
And please don’t discount the big emotional boost this can give you. It makes you feel empowered rather than powerless, and it gives you a feeling of connection with those you’re protesting with.
MLK on protests: “We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts,"
"Protest cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it,"
“Protests force recognition of unmet promises.
And finally, "A protest is the language of the unheard. "
I would love to hear Dan's take, but I feel compelled to share my take on this in the meantime. I understand the frustration about the lack of obvious or direct change from protests. Yes, they are symbolic, but they have potent power to offer social proof of the opposition, inspiring others to recognize and join the opposition, helping grow the ranks. And they help people practice and build courage for many other challenges that we need to undertake to weaken pillars of power. Without the recurring, widespread (even in red regions), and growing protests, Trump could have more effectively sold the idea that he had fully consolidated power.
Thank you Dan , for sharing your insight and experience on this special day. The wonder and logic of children like your son, in their astonishment of racism and injustice in our country is like a lightning bolt of clarity and sanity in these most horrid times.
Thank you Dan! Being in Minnesota right now is both a blessing and curse. This was a great reminder why we are standing up.
As my teacher of kinders friend recently lovingly reported, one of her 4-yrs olds said “I can feel my heart beeping!” I say this morning when waking up to your essay on this important day, thank goodness for kinders and thank goodness for reminding us to feel our hearts beeping together.
A wonderful post, and useful reminder of why we don’t give up.
I have often said to my limited audience that the election of Barack Obama was the embodiment of the American ideal. The backlash is quite threatening and disgusting but I guess not really surprising.
I remain committed to the American ideal.
I came here today for the cross tabs analysis but I’m staying for the essential optimism. 👍👍
Well said, Dan. At the risk of sounding a trifle negative, in MLK's day the President of the US and many of both parties in Congress recognized that racial discrimination was a moral obscenity. Getting the moral arc of the universe to bend toward good is more difficult now when the President and the entire GOP apparatus unabashedly rejects this belief. But I too am encouraged by the trends in public opinion.
Thanks Dan, needed that positivity. MN is under siege and it feels hopeless.
What a wonderful post, Dan! My granddaughter is only 3. I cannot imagine her contemplating segregation when her life is so full of loads of different types of people. At this point in her life, she still thinks of her friends just as friends. I wish all of us retained that perspective our whole lives.
Thank you for your lovely thoughts.
Thank you for this more positive outlook! It is definitely needed in these dark times.
MLK Jr, an honorary founding father don’t you think? Thanks for the piece. It speaks to me.
“The true patriots descended from those who arrived on the Mayflower.”
If everyone who claims ancestry dating back to the Mayflower were right about it, the Mayflower would have been ten times bigger than the Titanic.
It’s funny that T’s own heritage, his wives and his children cannot make those claims of being True Americans. What does he believe it makes them?
Good one!
This is very inspiring. I would love to ask Dan to help me understand how protests actually help (not being cute - really want to know). My husband made the remark that it seems like protests don't actually accomplish anything tangible. We all go out again and again, but what really changes? So help me see how continuing to do this will make a difference? I want to DO something and I feel so helpless, but gathering with oaktag signs just seems like an empty gesture. I know they work - but how do they work?
MLK himself often said that without public protests, nothing would change. Whatever might be in the heart of a politician, it is often the site of a mass of marching potential voters that awakens them to the fact that if people are willing to protest, they will be voting.
It also moves more citizens to get off the couch themselves. And to call and write their elected representatives.
It sometimes takes longer than we would like, but it does make a difference.
And please don’t discount the big emotional boost this can give you. It makes you feel empowered rather than powerless, and it gives you a feeling of connection with those you’re protesting with.
MLK on protests: “We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts,"
"Protest cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it,"
“Protests force recognition of unmet promises.
And finally, "A protest is the language of the unheard. "
I would love to hear Dan's take, but I feel compelled to share my take on this in the meantime. I understand the frustration about the lack of obvious or direct change from protests. Yes, they are symbolic, but they have potent power to offer social proof of the opposition, inspiring others to recognize and join the opposition, helping grow the ranks. And they help people practice and build courage for many other challenges that we need to undertake to weaken pillars of power. Without the recurring, widespread (even in red regions), and growing protests, Trump could have more effectively sold the idea that he had fully consolidated power.
Thank you Dan , for sharing your insight and experience on this special day. The wonder and logic of children like your son, in their astonishment of racism and injustice in our country is like a lightning bolt of clarity and sanity in these most horrid times.
This was great. Really appreciate people making moral cases and not just strategic ones 💐
Thank you Dan. This was lovely and much needed, a reminder of what we Americans can be and can do.
what a light in this dark time.
Loved this post. Thanks for brightening my day.