My headline sums up the views of George Conway (co-founder of The Lincoln Project) talking with The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell in the YouTube video below.
Mr. Conway is a brave, über-articulate man; a (formerly Republican) lawyer with a brain and a heart who uses them exceptionally well, and speaks like ordinary folk. These days he is especially apprehensive due to the events we see unfolding in the U.S., spearheaded by the increasingly unhinged Trump and his minions.
It’s 57 mins., 38 secs. Well worth it. Watch and listen.
What can we do? Don’t despair. I know it’s tempting to curl up in a ball under the blankets and – what, just let it all happen? Let your country, the United States of America, be destroyed from within? Let my country, Canada, be annexed and plundered by a madman? NO. No, no, no, no, no. NO.
We, the People. We have the power. Listen to Patti… and the People.
“People Have the Power” is a rock song written by Patti Smith and Fred “Sonic” Smith, and released as a lead single from Patti Smith 1988 album Dream of Life. Here are the lyrics:
I was dreamin’ in my dreamin’
Of an aspect bright and fair
And my sleepin’ it was broken
But my dream it lingered near
In the form of shinin’ valleys
Where the pure air recognized
Oh, and my senses newly opened
And I awakened to the cry
And the people have the power
To redeem the work of fools
From the meek the graces shower
It’s decreed the people rule
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
Vengeful aspects became suspect
And bending low as if to hear
Well, and the armies ceased advancin’
Because the people had their ear
And the shepherds [Incomprehensible] the soldiers
And they laid among the stars
Exchanging visions, layin’ arms
To waste in the dust
In the form of shinin’ valleys
Where the pure air recognized
And my senses newly opened
And I awakened to the cry
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
Where there were deserts, I saw fountains
Like cream the waters rise
And we strolled there together
With none to laugh or criticize
There is no leopard and the lamb
And lay together truly bound
Well I was hopin’ in my hopin’
To recall what I had found
Well I was dreamin’ in my dreamin’
God knows a pure view
As I lay down into my sleepin’
And I commit my dream with you
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the earth from fools
But it’s decreed the people rule
But it’s decreed the people rule
Listen, I believe everythin’ we dream
Can come to pass through our union
We can turn the world around
We can turn the earth’s revolution
We have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the earth from fools
But it’s decreed the people rule
But it’s decreed the people rule
We have the power
We have the power
People have the power
We have the power
🌤🌤🌤
Crossed Eyes and Dotted Tees 
A song, created for a time like this – though has there been before a time quite like this? In Germany, 95 years ago, there were good people throughout the land. And a strong literary and philosophical tradition. it was all turned upside down by a wily crude man with an instinct for power. He was able to summon numbers of his own kind. But there was no nuclear button. PEOPLE, UNITING, BENT ON PRESERVING THE GOOD. Can we do it? We better.
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I am sooo hoping that this “wily crude man” (your description is too kind!”) is stopped. I am hoping good people everywhere will refuse his illegal orders… especially if it comes to the military!
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We’re having to learn the forms our resistance can take. Living in the Niagara region, one learns how the native tribes spread out through the woods and repelled the American forces from the edges as the army çame on in their battle formations. And the U.S. was repelled. But 1812 isn’t now. Big-time cooperation, smarts, energy – can we gather it all? Is there a role for we oldsters (not including youthful you and John). Maybe WORDS are going to matter?
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Well it’s been said that “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and that may be true in the early days of a conflict, and keeping people motivated later on as well, but… I’m frightened, Rosemary, I must admit. The echoes of Germany in the 30s are too strong to ignore. You’ve got me thinking. To be discussed.
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WE WILL RESIST! That’s my hope, my prayer, and we’re not fighting the Cyborgs (scary as is their “Resistance is futile” catchphrase”). These are human assholes!! And we will stare them down. And with words, summon our Canadian family. Courage, my love!!!
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