Shelter in Place, San Francisco, California, July 21, 2020
Our hydrangea in the back still sports a lovely crop of flowers that, from a certain angle, form a valiant and united army of pink. I hate making my daily commentary either political rant or self-pitying whine, so I’ll just dedicate this stalwart blooming bulwark to the moms in Portland who stood shoulder to shoulder last night, facing what their Governor is now calling “Trump’s Troops,” as she demands that this cobbled military force stand down and leave the state.
I remember vividly the very day in high school over 50 years ago when, after lessons on the rise of Fascism in Europe, I assured myself that it could never happen here because we’d recognize the signs and all rise up to stop it. I am reminded of that revelatory (and naive) moment now as historians and experts point to the incremental assault on democracy that has inched forward for four years now, until we’ve reached this moment, where the president musters a makeshift police force against his own people and thumbs his nose at local government officials and the constitution. We may not all join these brave mothers in the streets - today, at least - but there is something we can and MUST do - VOTE! And do everything we can to get those who see these actions as an affront to do the same. This is not about political differences. It is neither red nor blue. It is about heeding history, upholding decency and law.
May the number of outraged mothers and grandmothers grow in force and may they hold the line. And may we all do what we can to uphold and represent the values they protect.