Hello 52

Archie, Elizabeth, and Martha!

​​It wasn’t the “stupid white hippies”, it was the “over 90 years old!”
 
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters: "We're not going to let the communists destroy a great American city... [T]hese stupid white hippies...all need to go home and take a nap because they're all over 90 years old, and we're gonna get back to the business of protecting the American people and the citizens of Washington, D.C."

 
Why Do We Protest?
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When the leader of the free world, and I use “free” lightly, cancels life-saving research without warning, fabricates emergencies in cities to justify sending in the National Guard to intimidate citizens, threatens legislators who withhold their votes from his unhealthy bill, uses cruelty to control immigrants, ignores federal judges’ rulings, and commits many other egregious actions toward citizens, corporations, and other nations, we must do something! We are a democracy, not an autocracy. We will not be silenced while a greedy felon destroys our country!

Protesting in the streets is loud, visible, and impossible to ignore. It's our primary form of resistance, and it’s simple: make a sign, gather with other supporters of democracy, and shout and wave at traffic. The reactions vary, but they know we’re not happy. Baby boomers are leading because we have lived, cherished, and believe in a democratic nation where elections are fair, we walk freely on the streets of America, and presidents follow the US Constitution. We are responsible for setting an example and encouraging young Americans to join us. 
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People are afraid. In an autocracy, there are long-term goals, but in January 2025, many of us didn’t know what those goals were. New Executive Orders were announced daily, and many we believed were illegal. Our legal scholars said so. However, Congress stayed silent, and the lower courts followed their process, thorough, slow, and their rulings are enforced. Not this time. The Executive Branch often didn’t abide by the lower courts' rulings. This increases people’s confusion about the rules. The order of the country is off kilter. 

I’m also concerned, not for my life like the immigrants, but for the future of our democracy. So grab a sign and an American flag, and join the protesters. Talk to your children, grandchildren, and neighbors about what is happening to our democracy. 

Protests give us a sense that we're taking action on this tragedy. Observers feel positive because we’re fighting back. They might join in next time. 

We’re not going to change people’s minds, but we may influence some of the 90 million Americans who didn’t vote in the 2024 presidential election. 
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Be kind to one another.
​Here is a photo of my pink rose. 

Let me know how you are.