What Democracy Looks Like

 I went to the yesterdays No Kings in America protest. And, even more amazing, my 89 year old Mother, who has never protested anything like this in her life, went with me. She has been politically active in her life. Always from the inside. She was, for example, part of the Sullivan County NH campaign committee for Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Sullivan County campaign chair for him in 1980.

So always within the system. Never from outside of it.

For two hours she sat in a folding chair and, sometimes with a sign in front of her and sometimes no sign, waved at the people driving by who were honking and waving at us. Standing and walking hurts so her just walking from the car to where I set up her chair was painful and then walking back to the car after.

I ran around talking to people and getting pieces of people's story, when not standing next to Mom saluting cars that were honking and waving. I was in the Army many moons ago and still know how to render the hand salute properly.

After two hours Mum said she needed to go so we did. It was, in my view, a wonderfully uplifting experience. I got to chat with wonderful people who care deeply about our Nation and all of our People.

For example, there was a lady who, when the, very few, people going by were expressing displeasure at what were doing in some fashion or another, would shout at them "We still Love you". And when I asked her about that she grinned and said "Kindness really freaks them out". And also, that they are still our fellow citizens and neighbors.

I also talked with a lot of Veterans who had sworn the same oath that I did, on December 7th 1982, and thought the oath once taken never lapses. Which I also believe.

And this, my friends, this is what being in a Democracy, in our country an Elected Representative style of Democracy, looks like. It looks like people joining together to tell their Government and their Elected Representatives that their Actions, Attitudes, and Behaviors are Unacceptable. To tell them that This Will Not Stand.

For, in the end, We, Each and Every One of Us, is Responsible for how our Government and our Elected Representatives behaves.

Us.

Because, in the Preamble to the United States Constitution the first three words are "We The People". That means Me. And that means You.

There is no escaping that.

So, what are you doing to defend Our Democracy?

Peace ✌