Resistance 101: Rest
"Tomorrow's great revolution begins with good sleep tonight" -me
Author’s note: I hope you enjoy this brief departure from my usual article structure. This is a continuation of the “Resistance 101” series, and a quick pause for rest and reflection.
We are in for a long, exhausting summer.
As I’ve been writing about authoritarianism over the past several months, I have made some grim predictions:
Expanded use of state and local resources for immigration enforcement
Use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs, i.e. Flock) to ramp up arrests
Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division run by someone who seeks to dismantle it
With time, all of these predictions have been correct. Yes, I’ve definitely missed the mark sometimes as well (we aren’t living under martial law… yet). However, my “batting average,” based on research into existing/proposed policy documents, historical precedent, and a few educated guesses, is fairly high. (My brother can also confirm that I predicted the U.S. strike on Iran within a 2-hour window based off a pizza tracker, although that is a topic for another day.)
That’s why, when my wife recently asked me “So… what do you think will happen next?” I wanted to collapse into a pile on the floor instead of answering her question. The past 6 months have been excruciating to witness, yet the receipts suggest it is only a small fraction of the damage that will have been inflicted by the time this is all said and done.
Yes, it is still critical to resist. Do not comply. Spread kindness. Support public media. Call and email your elected officials. Protest in every way that is available to you. We know that early resistance is critical, and it is not always futile.
However, it is important to note that we are witnessing an authoritarian regime in its infancy. This will not only continue; it will get much worse. If you’re tired now, you will be absolutely exhausted a year from now.
That’s why my message for the day is: Rest. If the brutal destruction of everything we value as Americans is a situation that you’re following closely, as I am, take a “news break” for a day. Spend some time in nature. Write something semi-humorous without fully proofreading it. Remember that you cannot volunteer your talents, resources, and connections if you’re collapsed in a pile on the floor. You cannot resist authoritarianism if you’re fighting simply to resist gravity.
Take some time to celebrate our beautiful country this week! Enjoy the company of friends and family. Try not to discuss “Alligator Alcatraz” with Uncle Jim (I’ve been told there’s a whole universe of other topics out there).
Next week, I’ll get to that “So… what do you think will happen next?” question that I’ve been avoiding. But first? Just a quick rest.