This Sunday morning I got up early and made a cup of coffee and turned on the local news for the weather, and was astonished at what I was seeing. That ‘No Kings’ protest held nationwide on Saturday, they were showing the turnout in Pittsburgh.
Thousands showed up, lining the streets from the Hill District to a gathering at the City County Building downtown that had to be 10,000 people.
I was expecting hundreds, not this. It was gratifying to see, exciting, humbling. I felt guilt too, not being part of things. I also felt a little depressed, as I couldn’t help but wonder if all this clamoring for democracy was falling on deaf ears.
When I googled my question, I got this (courtesy of that infernal AI):
Yes, protests can make a difference. Throughout history, protests have been a driving force behind social and political change, exposing injustice, demanding accountability, and inspiring people to work for a better future. While not all protests are successful, research suggests that when organized effectively, they can influence policy, shift public opinion, and even impact elections.
Pretty generic stuff, but still made me feel a little hopeful. I will NEVER understand how we wound up with a convicted felon in the White House again, even if his campaign was largely funded by that Nazi Elon Musk. The sad fact is, the majority of voters in this country are assholes.
Sorry, that’s how I feel and I’m tired of keeping silent. There was no excuse for voting that crook back in office a second time, let alone the first.
Well, I didn’t get on here to write mean things about Trump and his minions. I just hope that common sense eventually prevails and we get our country back on track to something resembling a real democracy again.
A few weeks ago I started a blog titled “I miss feeling patriotic”, but felt so down writing it I threw it away. Seeing this protest brought back some of those proud feelings for our country again, at least. I hope it helped other’s spirits too.
I didn’t participate either. I watched a bit of Trump’s parade but found it so boring, I turned it off.
ReplyDeleteGigi Hawaii
DeleteThe massive turnout for protests gives me hope. Or at least, I don't feel so alone.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer, well said.
DeleteI read that it was, overall, the largest protest ever held in the US. That's worth a lot!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that, I love it--thanks DJan :^)
DeleteSystematic efforts over many years to undermine public education and take over the news media have produced this mess and hopefully there will be real learning from it.
ReplyDeleteCeci
Thanks Ceci. I'm not sure I follow, but I appreciate your input and hope you're right.
DeleteWe live 20 miles or so from Saturday's KC march location and cannot manage the walk ...so we didn't go. BUT our daughter and her husband did... with signs and flags! We were concerned for their safety BUT it turned out to be a great experience for them... friendly people etc!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome to hear, thanks for sharing Bettina :^)
DeleteI don't want to get my hopes up like I did watching the huge and energetic rallies for Harris (then the Felon got "elected"--maybe?) so I went just to feel like I was doing SOMETHING, ANYTHING. John and I chatted with like minded people and there was a lot of positive energy.
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean. Thanks Margaret, I look forward to reading your blog about it. 👍🙂
DeleteThis post hit me hard honest, raw, and deeply relatable. That moment of seeing the crowd, feeling both hope and guilt, says so much about the state of our democracy.
ReplyDeleteYou’re not alone in feeling disillusioned, but also not alone in still caring. The fact that you started writing, even through the sadness, means something. Don’t throw that blog away.
We need more voices like yours.
That protest mattered and so do your words. Keep speaking up.
Asep, thank you so much for your kind comment. You sure have a way with words. 🙂
DeleteWOO HOO!! Loved this post and glad you wrote it. Proud to be your sister.
ReplyDeleteVery nice of you to say, thanks Shawn. 🙂❤️
DeleteDug, your hatred of Trump only further harms your health. It is an addictive process that is fed by watching the liberal news (Ceci is right). Again, a true friend would call that out. Try not watching the news at all for a week and observe your own withdrawal from rage. For that week, watch instead the many videos by Eckhart Tolle to create more space between you and your anger. Your blood pressure will thank you. Respectfully, John.
ReplyDeleteThank you John, I appreciate your advice but I don't watch the news regularly. That's why I knew so little about the No Kings rally in Pittsburgh. As for Trump, I don't sit around filled with anger or hatred, more like disgust. I'm just biding my time until his maga movement is over, one way or another.
DeleteThe protests DO matter - and it’s important that in Europe we see and hear the voices of everyday Americans, and not the sycophants that Trump surrounds himself with . History teaches us that if we do nothing , we are complicit in what happens next .
ReplyDeleteThank you for publishing this post - you and your followers clearly are voices of reason
I went to a Protest at the weekend - pleading with the UK government to please wake up before we ( and by that I mean Putin / Trump / Netanyahu) blow us all up
And to think I was trying to be positive in my reply 🤦♀️
Siobhan x
Thank you Siobhan and it's good to hear from you it's been awhile. I was wondering how you were doing. I appreciate what you said here, I've been trying to avoid blogging about current events, but sometimes it seems necessary. And I thought your comment here was very positive and that's awesome that you attended your own protest. Thanks again my friend. 🙏🙂
DeleteIt's funny how things can be interpreted differently by different people. I thought Ceci's comment was about Fox News consistently pushing a false narrative and how the GOP has systematically gone after schools and banning books to the point that people can no longer think critically. John, however, thinks it's about the liberal media, and, "bless his heart," he's always concerned about your health telling you what you should and shouldn't eat and now he's worried about you watching too much liberal news! Tisk, tisk!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I appreciated this post and agree with everything you said. I'm heartened by the turnout at these rallies versus the turnout for the Tank Parade. I miss feeling patriotic too. I got rid of all my patriotic shirts because I don't want people to think I'm one of them. I'm still hopeful that there will be a turning point in this country back toward decency and democracy. I generally think our president ignores and disregards all criticism but seeing the news from this weekend hopefully hit him where it hurts: his ego! And the politically motivated shootings and murders in Minnesota should give him pause as well.
Bobi, this was awesome, thank you. I was also somewhat taken aback by John's interpretation of Ceci's comment, I'm glad I wasn't alone here! I feel just as you do, particularly towards that tank parade and Minnesota Democrats assassinations, but I doubt they gave our wannabe dictator any real pause. He's deranged. Geez I just love your words here, thanks again. 🙂👍
DeleteBobi nailed it. The GOP has been trying to hamstring public education since the 1960s (I have copies of the original documents saying so). They champion charter schools as one tool in their quest to prevent everyday people's children from getting a proper education. Since kids working in 7-11 can no longer make change, I think their plan is working. John is just one more foot soldier carrying their water.
DeleteNina
Wow--this would explain a lot. I want to read more on this, thank you Nina. 👍
DeleteI don’t think you should pull your punches when you talk about that vicious, vindictive moron who currently occupies the White House.
ReplyDeleteLet the one or two of your readers who are captured by the MAGA cult read the truth of what’s really happening for a change.
Of course, those same people might ask: “What does that random Australia know about American politics?” I won’t bother to answer that.
I’d better shut up now.
Australian
DeleteThank you Peter my friend and you know plenty! 🙂👍👍
DeleteIt was amazing to see and hear how well attended the No King protests were. I have been concerned, based on the number of voters who chose to sit out the election, that there would be a sense of complacency. Clearly not!
ReplyDeleteI chuckled at John's comment because most of the mainstream media in both the USA and Canada are owned by Postmedia or other right wing organizations.
Thank you Maebeme, and I'm glad you brought that up, how well attended they were. Also there were no reports of vandalism or such, it was really inspiring. As for John's liberal news comment, I tried to ignore it as he's entitled to his own opinion I suppose, but We have plenty of right wing news here already. My local paper The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the only paper in town, is owned by Block Communications, a Conservative leaning outfit.
DeleteThe No Kings protests were held on flag day and I know at ours we were reclaiming the American Flag. I have not felt that patriotic in a long time. I had stopped at the dollar store and they had some smaller vinyl flags. Wasn't what I had in mind, but ours were lightweight and worked just great. So well that when I was driving home I stopped and bought more. I lined my walkway with them for the weekend and we like them so much, they are staying. We are proud Americans and we want our American Founding Fathers principles back.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel less because you weren't there. We all can only do what we can do. I had this talk with a cousin today. What she can do is vote. And that is our most American right to exercise!! Others can provide moral support and prayers. And some of knuckleheads can make posters and wave at passersby. Thanks for your support.
Thanks Miss Merry and I enjoyed seeing all your own no King rally photos on your own blog. I'm very much hoping I can get out there and join you guys at the next one! 👍🙂
DeleteWhoo, boy, Doug. It sure did.
ReplyDeleteThank you Deb, I sure hope so.
DeleteGreat post, Dug. You said what most of us are feeling. I'm so proud that the "No Kings" protests brought so many out. Feel bad that I didn't attend, but was told (after the fact) that there was one close by that I could have attended. Now I will try to keep up to date on ones close by and will try to be there. Yes, we have to DO SOMETHING... even us old folks... to let people see (other countries , especially the UK and Australia) that there are many many of us are against everything that this idiot President is trying to do... and undo. Common sense, common decency, and the spirit our nation was built upon ( best stated by the Statue of Liberty) must prevail. I think perhaps protests and getting everyone out to vote when the time comes will make the difference.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I agree with you..I’m not a trumpster
ReplyDeleteBeth