Gentle snowflakes are wafting down in beautiful Bucks County, PA as I type these words. Estimates of up to a foot by the end of it all. No surprise, since a huge swath of the country is experiencing extreme winter weather conditions. The temp here is 10 degrees. Gratitude for waking up in a cozy home with a day of random activities ahead. Two Zoom meetings, writing this article about the devastating goings on in this country, putting away all the stuff my Hyundai has accumulated over the years, in preparation for selling it. I just bought a new car yesterday. 2025 Subaru Crosstrek. Walking in the winter wonderland and then maybe a nap. This is the joy.
My emotional temperature is variable. Heart racing fear, fist clenching rage, self protective numbness, with the occasional laughter and giddiness. I don’t like being at the mercy of other people’s words and actions. Why should we need to protect ourselves from our own government, one ruled by intimidation, deliberate disinformation and violence? As a child of the 60s and 70s, I witnessed the hatred fueled violence of the Civil Rights Movement, the Kent State Massacre, the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK, the Viet Nam War and it seemed so far distant from my stable suburban NJ home. I knew, even then, that was history unfolding and that somehow, the ‘grownups’ would take care of it.
Now we are the grownups who are responsible for quelling the unfolding horror. But what to do? Peaceful protest has been met with murderous rage by masked ICE agents, bolstered by the administration insisting that Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti were a threat to the valiant agents. This said with a smirk. Journalists who dare to challenge the dictatorial edicts and gaslighting coming from the Oval Office and press room are met with verbal attacks. What I envision is that each one ask the same question that got turned away OR stand up and as a group, turn their backs, or better yet, walk out of the room. I’m not sure if there is enough courage among them to do that.
That is the outrage.
Last night, I listened to a Facebook Live with historian Heather Cox Richardson who was talking about Pretti’s murder. She made this pointed statement: “Elected Republicans could stop this tonight, if they wanted to. 16 voting with the Democrats.” It would take 23 of them to impeach and remove DT. What are they afraid of? If fear is the reason they are refraining from doing their jobs to defend the Constitutional rights of those living here, that is the ultimate reason to do it. Others have ‘met the moment’ by standing up and speaking out, at their own peril.
I have family members in Minneapolis who are peacefully protesting and they know what is at stake. They have a strong social conscience. They are helping neighbors. They are bonding together with other peacemakers. In my prayers each night, I ask for a bubble of protection around them.
When I contemplate what is at stake, as do the cousins I referenced, I don’t have the luxury of ignoring it, saying that it isn’t happening here and feeling helpless to do anything about it. ICE has come to this area and disappeared people. There are some in my community who cheer that outcome. I am appalled and disgusted. There are people I know, some in my own family who support this administration no matter what. I wonder what it would take for them to disavow him. I want to have my words compel them to take off their blinders and see him for who he is.
Yesterday, I met someone who has a blended, four child ‘yours, mine and ours’ family with his wife who is of Mexican heritage but is a US citizen, born here. Two of the children are theirs together, one is his and one is hers. His son is Black. In our intense conversation, he spoke about their fears. He spoke about the love that guides his choices and sustains his family. He spoke about his spiritual faith and his absolute sense of right and wrong. We hugged before we parted ways and I wish for safety for his family as well.
From the heart thanks to the peaceful protesters, to the clergy who traveled from all over the country (I know some of them), to bear witness, for having the courage of your convictions as you and all those daring to speaking truth to power, face danger. May the ancestors and angels surround you. May all of the peacemakers, living and on the Other Side, stand with you and protect you.
Troubadour Carole King offers her new song One Small Voice to carry us through.
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Image: ICE and Border Patrol agents on Nicollet Avenue on January 24, 2026. This follows the shooting death of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti. Pretti is the second person killed and third person shot by federal agents in Minneapolis this month.
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: Flickr
