It’s day 9. My heart is heavy today.
My heart is fighting to stay lifted, holding onto George Washington’s words to the Jewish congregation at Newport. “Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.”
Weighing it down is news that in a beautiful town in rural Vermont, where my dear friends live, someone drew swastikas on the doors of their Synagogue.
Weighing it down is news that a national registry of Muslims is being considered by the Trump administration. I desperately want this not to happen, because it’s wrong. But I’m haunted by a talk the late Justice Antonin Scalia gave two years ago. The Korematsu decision (which upheld imprisonment of American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II as constitutional) was “wrong, but you are kidding yourself if you think the same thing will not happen again.”
He’s talking about now.
My friends and I, and millions of Americans, don’t feel physically safe right now in our communities, and we’re scared of our government now too.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Let’s keep the fight.
Today here is what I’m doing.
1. Calling my reps (www.whoismyrepresentative.com) to thank them for opposing Bannon and to ask them to oppose any national registry of Muslims.
2. Mailing a paper letter (I know!) to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, enclosing all of the reading materials below, stating my opposition to Bannon and any national registry of Muslims.
3. Asking you to do the same. If your rep hasn’t taken a stand against Bannon yet (Google Bannon + your rep’s name to find out), please urge them to.
Wishing you all lifted hearts and safety, under your own vine and fig tree.
Vine & Figtree 