It has been an unnerving few weeks.
Watching Trump assemble his cabinet, with Sleasy-anne Conway smiling hostility through her lovely white teeth in front of the camera and Mad-eye Bannon hulking in the shadows behind it, evokes in me the feeling of a soft-shelled crab at a convention of hungry gulls.
We’re about to find out how resilient our democracy is, if the center will look beyond its own self-interest, and whether or not the Left has any real strength of character and capacity for willful solidarity. That is an awful lot of weight hanging from a very thin web.
Our level of vulnerability, all of us, because of the Internet, is frightening. People and organizations that know how to perform identity theft, character smears, the placing of false information and data, or the disappearance of the same, seem capable of doing it at will. Meanwhile, most of us only use the keyboard as a tool to function and work. We are sitting ducks (or soft-shelled crab) with little ability to protect ourselves. It almost doesn’t matter whether it is bad guys from the Dark Web, Russians, NSA, or FBI agents doing the dirty because most ordinary people are completely vulnerable to all of them.
Given our level of vulnerability, imagining the federal and state government as active enemy instead of protector, or even well meaning but bumbling bureaucracy, is just plain scary. I am tempted to back away from any and all social media and everything but the most essential uses of the Internet, but that would mean silence and isolation at a time when we need voices and solidarity.
One step, one day, one venture at a time.
Peace, and courage, brothers and sisters.
Hey Soft Shell, this crabby is so thankful for your voice. Your description of Kellyanne Conway was dead on. Terrifies me. Need to hear that others feel the same.
Thanks so much, Lethal.
Thank you for this, Cam!
You’re welcome, Patty, and for checking in.
Cam, We need your voice now more than ever! Please continue to provide us with a vision of how things can be if enough of us get together and push for it.
Thanks Joe, for the encouragement. Together!
Always illuminated by your sharing’s – the seeds of thoughtful reflection. Kudos Cam! Seconding Joe’s comment.
Many thanks, peace crow!
Thanks Cam, for your words reminding us of the realities we face. Yes, we must use our voices and embrace solidarity against that which can harm us!
Thank you Shirley, the more friends and colleagues we know we have, the less lonely the task seems.
I feel for you having wanted to retreat into the wilds of Maine and never see another digital device again. But take heart. There are many more people wanting to take action for our rights that we may ever have imagined. The other night I posted something on Pantsuit Nation https://www.facebook.com/groups/pantsuitnation/permalink/1268493116581621/ and had 16K likes with 400+ comments. I NEVER thought that would happen. People are concerned and want to get beyond their fears–myself included.
The link didn’t work for me, but I am thrilled you received such a response. I’m looking forward to the march in DC to gain a sensation of the same thing. Peace to you, my friend.
I too am very frightened and anxious, but I have spent my time doing things for the #Resistance which makes me feel a bit better. I have been calling senators and congressmen and helping to get the word out on social media. This weekend I will attend an organizational meeting for a community action group. Small steps but if enough of us work together it may have an an effect.
Amen Sister! Thank you.
Thank you again, dear Cam.
Diana, Bradleigh, and Jules Joubert, “The Sweet”
Back to you dear.