Revolutions; Bicycling to Resist

Soon the environmental policy of the country will be run for the interest of massive economic gain for the very few and for the very short-term, at the expense of the very many, and of the entire future. There may be nothing the American Resistance can do to stop this, although countries around the world continue to be committed to saving the future of the life we know on earth by reducing carbon emissions and other greenhouse gasses. When America abandons recent reduction targets, and emits and pollutes more than ever, even the effort at carbon reduction of other countries may be neutralized by the Republican-Trump team. Even if Americans of goodwill cannot stop the cataclysm, we can move to show that we wish the earth, and earth’s nature to endure. That might encourage the world to stay on the path of sanity, and if we get out of this political nightmare, there may yet be something of the climate salvageable. To do this, the American Resistance should make collective and individual plans to curb emissions and sign on to the Paris Climate Accords as citizens of the world. That’s what I plan to do, and become healthy and happy doing it, by bicycling to resist.

The public infrastructure of the necessary commute through roads and highways are not designed to make bicycling commuting easy. Cars and trucks are dangerous to bicyclists. Work schedules are indifferent to daylight and weather. But they are there, and the infrastructure as it exists can be used to meet healthy, sane, and community building goals. My commitment (gesture really) is to bike to work at least two times a week, all year, all hours, and in all weather. I would like to get rid of my car altogether, but Children need to be picked up from school, and family living requires some compromise, and the requirements of working in a capitalist society makes fleeting grasps at freedom and integrity challenging enough, indeed. With my will and the help of God, this will become habit and character changing in me, and I can advance towards my ideals.

As I have begun, I am realizing that biking as an act of social consciousness is also an act of personal liberation and mindfulness. When I push my pedals through the sun and dark, heat and snow, I lose myself in the motion of wheels. I feel the stress of the day fall away from me. I sense the smile and laughter on my face. I say hello to others I meet on the street or path. I come home to my family in a better mood, and in better health. It reminds me that I am of the earth and that the earth is of me. When I meditate on the fact that I am on the earth, I respect it more. I notice that on days I bike, I also wash and reuse plastic bags and containers.  I slow my life down and see the purpose in it. I am grounded, and I am changing. Just like the revolutions of the wheels of my bike. And, hopefully before long, the Revolution of the powers of our world.

Make America Safe from Hate; Why I am Against a Trump Presidency

The November 2016 election is a watershed moment in American History. The current political order is preparing to endow an egotistical fraudster, race baiting White Nationalist, and inveterate misogynist with the highest office in the land. This, when the very clear alternative is more popular in the explicit voice, through votes, of the people. I come to this statement with the conscientious resolve to demonstrate an example, and as a leader in my family, work and community. I am obliged to state clearly what my position is. It is at times like this that everyone must decide and speak, so that we may continue to clearly contest the future. The study of past collapses of democracies prove the urgency and moral necessity of doing so.

1, Trump's ideas and actions are abhorrent, and have incited and revealed exclusion that I have set my life against. He began his campaign with a vicious attack an the entire Mexican nationality, which is a culture I am deeply fond of, and among whom I know individuals that I deeply care about. The preconditions of genocide are being set now, and I oppose them. Trump has committed himself to making our country practice torture, and worse. Horrifically, America has a history of waterboarding and other unconstitutional actions. These should not characterize America, but Trump has glorified such crimes against humanity. I say, not in my name.

2, Trump lacks a commitment to the nation and inspires others to feel same. He has not paid taxes, and yet aspires to direct the budget of the nation from all those who do. He has not contributed, throughout his career to the public, but has always worked assiduously for his private gain. He has flaunted laws, including labor laws and tax laws, and already broken his promise to reveal his tax records before the election. Trump also has made treasonous requests for foreign countries to attack the sovereignty of the United States, such as when he asked Russia to share data with him from their illegal cyber-attack espionage. Americans who have worked their lives to keep our country great deserve better than him. Trump, during his campaign claimed that elections are not necessary, and he refused to even acknowledge any result other than his own seizure of power, a priori. Any acquiescence to his ascension is appeasement and capitulation. I stand opposed.

3, The will of the people has been thwarted by an undemocratic process of the electoral college, which must be fixed. Twice in 16 years a president has been selected by the losing side of a popular vote. If this is left to stand, it will erode the legitimacy of our government in the eyes of the people it is supposed to govern. Our Supreme Court will be filled to interpret the Constitution in the interests of a small group of Americans, through a Trump nominee, while the nominee of broadly mandated President Obama is left foundering. The Republicans of the House of Representatives had fewer votes in 2014 than the Democrats, yet they rule. Trump received fewer votes than Hillary Clinton, yet he is President-Elect. There are solutions to the problems of gerrymandering and the electoral college; A Constitutional Amendment, promotion of election reform laws by states, and explaining the freedom of electors are among them. I intend to campaign for upholding the majority rule of elections, a pillar of democracy.

4, The generations of the future scream for action and justice, from earth’s climate, to the threat of war, and the security of a culture of rights and prosperity and generations of the future scream to me for justice and action. Trump has already begun to appoint climate change deniers and polluters in position to take over our government policies, just when the world was beginning to make steps to address climate change, and just when climate change is beginning to make clear the devastation to come, and when all who study it know that the tipping point for catastrophe is at hand. Trump has an agenda to expand nuclear weapons throughout the world, after decades of slow delicate progress in nuclear disarmament, and several near misses of nuclear armageddon. No one is safe from nuclear war, and Donald Trump is too ignorant to understand how to keep us safe. Economic inequality is beyond all historical precedent, when in history each expanding gap has preceded an economic collapse. Trump is not interested in reducing the constraints on economic and political power of the 1%, especially his own. The pain and burden on the vast majority will be extreme, and is entirely avoidable through good governance.

5, The reasons for revolution exist now, and have existed before this election, and the conditions that exist now make it is an opportunity for change that must be struck. Joins me and the millions of others who will make America safe from the hate of Donald Trump. The public demonstrations, the online publishing, and the face to face conversation we all have in peace is the soil of our resistance. Our communities of understanding and mutual care is the plant of national cohesion, and love and reverence for humanity is the fruit of our passion and effort in this revolt. It won’t be easy, quick, or direct. It may become dangerous to act, but it will also be dangerous to stay still. For myself, I choose to act, and so I do with this message. Together, we can do this. We can make a better tomorrow, and indeed, we must.

I take inspiration from the words of the beloved poet and recently passed Leonard Cohen. This citizen of the world was committed to liberty and justice for all.  In his song “Anthem” from his album The Future, he writes -

“I can't run no more

with that lawless crowd

while the killers in high places

say their prayers out loud.

But they've summoned, they've summoned up

a thundercloud

and they're going to hear from me.”

Let them hear from you!