The Women’s March after the Inauguration was an extraordinary gathering of people throughout the world. We would be fooling ourselves if we didn’t think that the words and actions of one Donald Trump inspired the voices and actions of millions. When the a man on the verge of becoming the most powerful person in the world admitted his sexual misconduct on video (unknowingly or not) the world took notice. Now that he is in fact in that position of power we will soon find out the type of resistance he will meet as he continues to spout more egregious rhetoric and signs executive orders that many find potentially harmful. My guess is resistance will remain civil and disobedient as the political and military machine that is the United States Government rolls on. Sure there will be some who go “rogue” but a massive movement outside the legal system seems highly unlikely.
In terms of what we want to change or remedy in the world, we live in a time where all we know to do is march, sign petitions, call our representatives and boycott consumer labels. Civil disobedience will continue to play its role but anything and everything we do will be within the confines of the law. You see we live in a culture where we’ve fused our morality with legality. If it’s legal then it must be moral. Until we can separate the two and until we are willing to act upon our moral compass despite the law, then absolutely nothing will change. At the end of the day we are worried more about legal consequences than justice. So we go on negotiating from a position of weakness as the powerful continue on with business as usual. We ignore the fact that those in power often go above the law or ignore it altogether. What’s really sad is we police ourselves. Activists are always pointing out that activities should remain within the confines of the law. If we have to ask for permission to resist what we perceive as injustice then what’s the point?
There is a place for marches, protests, boycotts and sit-ins.
There’s also a place for breaking the law when that law is unjust or a means to an end. What does that mean; a means to an end? Those kind of statements make people nervous. Usually the kind of people who confuse morality with legality. Usually the kind who think breaking the law equates to violence. Usually the kind who, when it comes right down to it, prefer the status quo over justice. Finally, these are usually the kind of people who have something to lose financially. These types of folks have no line in the sand and if they do it continues to move.
Many on the political left and a few on the right have worked themselves up in a lather over a Trump Presidency. Some of it is justified and some of it is because they are becoming uncomfortable. In my experience nothing significant happens socially until enough folks become uncomfortable. I guess you could say we’re off to a good start. The true leap of faith will be when we draw lines in the sand and cease equating morality with legality.
When that occurs actual resistance can begin.
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The line should be drawn where we feel psychic, not financial pain.
Reminds me of Hemingway’s remark about certain types of fiction: “Never confuse motion with action.”