Our Darkest Hour

We Will Face This Time, Together

Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour”

We have been overwhelmed by a Trumpian blitzkrieg on America’s government, institutions, and politics. They are taking to heart Steve Bannon’s admonition, that when one has their opponent on the floor, put your foot on their throat.

Washington, DC has been occupied, lock, stock and barrel. Elon Musk and his acolytes are storming government agencies, leaving confusion, chaos, and fear in their wake. A few brave souls have stood up, or walked out, rather than comply. Millions more now await their fate: Are they to be fired outright, are the promises to pay them for months after resignation legitimate?

Meanwhile, a blitz of bullshit and inanity has once again burned out the eardrums and retinas of the ‘mainstream media’ as they sit, now in the back of the briefing room, or in the hallway, wondering just how all this happened. They never dare look in the mirror to gaze upon their own complicity. Some are in league with the regime, to ensure their tenuous places covering the center of power, or to ensure their oligarch bosses may maintain their position in the gang’s good graces.

In their place, the agents of ‘non-traditional’ media have risen and moved forward. What happens at the White House is not news as we’ve known it. It is propaganda, pure and simple, designed to distract, enrage, and obscure the worst of their acts with just enough gold dust to give the whole scam the veneer of ‘legitimacy.’

The would-be defenders of the Capitol, the Democrats, are prostrate. Their flacid responses to, and questioning of Trump’s worst nominees (Kash Patel comes to mind) reminds Americans of all political persuasions, of that party’s unwillingness or inability to stand and fight for anything or anyone other than a narrow umbra of interests of which voters have routinely and repeatedly rejected, either with their votes or their apathy.

Those ‘leaders’ who speak of ‘common ground’ are admitting their willingess to coloborate. Beltway Democrats are too conflicted, scared, or focused on preserving what they have to be a qualified opposition.

There can be no accomodation. There can be no cooperation. If you believe that Donald Trump, Elon Musk, or any of those around them are willing to ‘make you a deal’ you’re so blind as to be unfit for the fight.

Further, when given the opportunity to put their best players on the field (read my piece on Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez) they refuse to do so in the name of ‘seniority.’ They have seniority in spades, as their leadership, official and otherwise, came of age in the 1960s and 1970s.

“When the people rise in masses in behalf of the Union and the liberties of their country, truly may it be said, ‘The gates of hell shall not prevail against them.’” - Abraham Lincoln, February 1861

Where does that leave us, the masses who might rise on behalf of the Union? First, we must understand our position, and that of our opponents. Throughout history, I’m not sure I’ve read of an empire intentionally dismantling itself, but that is our state. Tens of millions of Americans, perhaps hundreds of millions of humans around the world will be directly affected, and hurt, by the actions we’ve seen these past two weeks, and those we’ll see in coming days.

During his first speech to the House of Commons, Winston Church declared that he had nothing to give but “blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” For now, Washington, DC and its battles are beyond us. We must dedicate our time, toil, and tears not to doomscrolling, but to ensuring those around us are united. We must build the capacity to fight when the time comes. We must identify, promote, and support those new and young voices in our midst who will help lead us into the future.

When we see Trump’s goons on the horizon, we will lock arms and defend our cities, towns and communities. We will do all we can to protect our neighbors. We will defend our ability to speak out and our children’s ability to learn what they should and read what they would. Every library should be a redoubt.

None of this is easy. None of it is fast. We find ourselves in our own Dunkirk, on the beaches, the enemy at our backs. We will reestablish ourselves, soon, as patriotic Americans ready to do all they can on behalf of our neighbors and countrymen. For now, we must understand what we face, but never, ever lose the belief that we will prevail.

News and Notes:

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