It’s 88-degrees in Boulder and my French Lilacs are blooming - too soon and with a scent I wish I could bottle. So, in the spirit of spring and renewal…
WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
250 years ago, a scrappy young country chose life, liberty, equality and the pursuit of happiness - and said no to kings who wasted our time, talents and treasure on endless wars and egregious systems that enriched the few and enslaved the rest of us.
We have faced this test before:
With the British Empire
With the wealthy enslavers of the Civil War South
With the rich industrialists of the Gilded Age
Through two World Wars - giving us the New Deal and a new world order
Now with a global network of billionaires and corporate bosses with Trump as CEO king
Each time, Americans have made a different choice - fighting for a better life for themselves and for their children.
This gives me hope.
THE REAL BATTLE RIGHT NOW
This isn’t about left vs. right. It’s a choice between two worldviews:
Might makes right - defined by domination, extraction, wealth & power
Neighborism - focussed on dignity, care and our shared humanity
While Minnesota may have fallen off the front page, drones still surveil people on the streets. Families are hiding immigrants in extra bedrooms. Small children are being sent to detention camps. Citizens who stand up are being flagged as domestic terrorists. The same technology that guided bombs in Gaza is now mapping DHS raids.
Even reading this can feel traumatizing - but please don’t turn away or turtle up.
Because there is another way.
WHY LOVE WINS
At a recent protest at CU Boulder, a student carried a sign that made me tear up:
Thomas Friedman recently wrote that Minnesota may be more important than Iran to America’s future.
In fact, every religious tradition across time has pointed to one central commandment: love thy neighbor
You may think that love is weak sauce in a world where might makes right but in answer to that very question James Talarico makes the case that love is the greatest power.
If you are still reading this, I believe you believe that too.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
There are so many things you can do this week, but here are just a few:
Call your senators about the SAVE Act - yes Republicans are still trying to disenfranchise 21 million voters (including married women who took their husband’s names!) as well as end digital registration and mail in voting
Support Immigrants in our communities by getting involved in organizations like Casa de Paz, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, AFSC or the Immigrant Partnership Team (Colorado IPT)
Try Resist & Unsubscribe Scott Galloway’s effort - an economic boycott focussed on media companies and big tech.
But the ONE THING that will matter most: show up this Friday (3/27). We’ll sing, learn, laugh and make a plan for No Kinds 3 (3/28)
If you bring 2 friends, you can form your very own “power trio” to support and sustain you! RSVP at this link.
Gif by joebonamassa on Giphy
FORWRD Spring Revival
This Friday, March 27
Time: 5:15-7:30 (come early for snacks & socializing!)
Location: Annika’s House (1915 Orchard Ave, Boulder)
We’ll sing, laugh, learn and GSD!
Please RSVP at this link
(We promise it will be better than CATS - if you are a child of the 80’s you get it!)
Share this with your friends or post on social!
C’mon Y’all! Here’s one more chance to RSVP at this link.
“First week of Iran war cost $11.3 billion”
