The Battle of 17

July 4, 2017 and it might as well be 1776—we are fighting our basic battles all over again and the foe is not a monarch in another country, but right here, right now.  Basic human rights are in question; remember life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?  Remember a free press?  All in doubt.

Who would have believed that in the 21^st century, instead of the flying cars, robots and living to 200 we would be fighting for health care, a living wage, woman’s rights, and equal treatment under the law for all?  We were always a nation of immigrants and yet we have travel bans and laws that label immigrants as a danger to our society. 

Our environment is under attack as global heat rises, hurricanes and earthquakes and all manner of disasters increase in frequency and unpredictability.  The new normal is an emotional, erratic, angry and immoral President with a team of sycophants behind him.  Facebook is constantly SMH about the daily events.  All my life the New York Times and the Washington Post have been the journalistic standard for reporting the news, for ferreting out the facts and sharing them with the country.  Today, they have been labeled as “fake news” and not even allowed to be present at press conferences and White House meetings.  WTF?  How does that even compute?  During times of crisis I have turned to NPR, CNN and MSNBC for up to date information on what is going on; all these are now in the same fake boat.  What, pray tell, is REAL news?

What frightens me is the whole “new normal” concept.  We are swallowing this, we have allowed and continue to allow this to continue.  Why are we all not marching in the streets?  Where are the torches and pitchforks when we need them to remove the monster that inhabits the White House?  No matter what he does, there are those that continue to support and praise him.  “He has to fight back” with those tweets about Morning Joe; “He doesn’t always use the right language, but I agree with his positions and he has accomplished a lot in six months”.  What positions?  What has he accomplished? 
Trying to rid the country of immigrants?  Removing health care for millions?  Helping the wealthy get wealthier?  Incurring the wrath of the rest of the world towards America? 

I would like to believe those who say the pendulum will swing back around.  I think it depends on how far out it’s swinging now—and how much damage will be done until it does swing back.  My plan is to continue to resist, speak out and hope upon hope that others continue to join me.  Happy Fourth of July!