Day 55. I’m healing up, and getting ready for action.

There are a lot of people starting groups to act in the face of what’s to come. I’m proud and relieved to see that I’m one of many. As we get ready to engage, I’m seeing that some of these have a broader audience than I do. That makes me think about how I can help in the best way possible.

I’ve discovered Wall-of-Us, which publishes four actions each week, along with scripts and background. I find their work well-researched and generally oriented in the right direction. Some is stuff that’s very easy to do online, like this action, tweeting at advertisers on Breitbart News, to get them to remove their ads. It’s already had some success. I did it, and it was very easy (and can even be automated)

Others emphasize working locally, and I think that’s especially important. As I’ve written before, local actions are tactics the Tea Party used to great effect in the past.

In addition to the work I’m doing here, I’m also thinking about how to best work locally, in person, to effect positive change.

Day 54.

So… I ran into a metal step today while I was rushing around trying to get laundry done before guests came over. And I opened up a gash on my leg, which proceeded to bleed through my jeans in a somewhat frightening fashion. Ouch.

Don’t worry – the jeans were salvaged. My leg is raised, bandaged and iced. I’ll never be a shin model, but hey, that wasn’t a real possibility, was it?

Anyway, this is the second time I’ve slipped on stairs (while rushing around in socks in the past week.) I think the universe is trying to tell me a couple of things. To wit:

1. Stop rushing around in socks on stairs. You will hurt yourself.
2. Slow the heck down.

I will be doing both of these things. I’ve got grippy slipper-socks and a pained leg that gives me every incentive to slow the heck down.

In my slowed-down time, I’m doing some reading.

1. I’ve been reading “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine (so men say that I’m intense or I’m insane). Seriously, I am reading it.He’s a fairly electrifying writer, and it feels like the words of a twentieth-century liberal mind being spoken from out of the past.
2. I’m also reading this Brookings paper on my favorite clause of the Constitution. As I’ve written here before, the Emoluments clause requires permission of Congress before an office-holder can receive certain benefits from foreign powers. This paper is a thorough rundown of what the clause means, including the fact that it’s been invoked by at least one president, Jackson, who asked Congress for permission to accept a gift from Simon Bolivar – and they said no.

We need demand that our leaders do the same.

Day 53.

The sun set later today than it did yesterday. This will continue every day for some time (though not forever). This gives me hope.

Tonight we lit nine candles rather than curse the darkness, and to celebrate the victory of the light.

Tomorrow is a new year. I resolve to connect with others, and to give more light. The more of us, the brighter. The more of us, the more we can hope. We cannot do this alone.

I wish you a New Year filled with light and hope, even in dark times.

Day 52.

It’s a holiday week, and many of us have been officially away from work. I’m seeing a lot of conversations on social media that, frankly, that I don’t find productive. Boycotting isn’t always effective; doing nothing is not doing something. If someone deplorable got a book deal, but you’re boycotting other authors distributed by the same publisher, I am not convinced y0u’re effecting positive change.

What is effective?

Having conversations. Especially with someone who you don’t always agree with. This involves listening more than talking; both give and take.

Reading the news to understand what the stakes are. This means especially understanding the current state of the United States’ relationship with Russia.

As we head back toward the coming year – and legislative week – let’s keep our focus on what’s important.