On the Eve of the Trump Takeover: Look for the Helpers.

We’re here—steady, ready, willing.

It’s Sunday already and tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in January. This year the holiday, also recognized as a ‘National Day of Service’, happens to fall on January 20, the same date as Donald Trump’s official swearing-in as Assumed Eternal Potentate of These Discombobulated States Of The Rich and Powerful.

That particular juxtaposition of of these two Big Days seems incongruous, if not pretty awful, but I see it as a shining opportunity to take sides. I’m on the side of those who would rather walk on broken glass and then eat every last bit of it than acknowledge the lunatic-soon-to-be-in residence’s legitimacy as any kind of leader, and I’m grateful for such a fine distraction as the mighty and everlasting good citizen, Dr. Martin Luther King.

It’s our version of a slap in the face to all those who foolishly follow the Orange One, that vicious, ignorant man, that known criminal, that grifter, that cheat, that liar who doesn’t deserve to be in the same sentence as MLK.

The challenge tomorrow will be in how we address the two. How many of us will deliberately ignore the ceremonies giving the madman all the power in the world and will instead celebrate the life of a man who worked to give power and dignity to all Americans, no matter the color of their skin, their places of origin, or their ability to feed themselves and their families?

King was the ‘helper’ at a time when we thought we would never see one in the segregated South, where the cruelty toward Black people had only in recent years been exposed for the rest of the country to see. (It was the 1960s and those of us who thought we knew about dark politics were slowly finding out about the horrors citizens of those states had to face simply because their skin was obviously darker than those who held all the power. A hundred years after emancipation, there were still forces in the American South who wished for slave states where people could be economic chattel, reduced to nothing more than work horses, without rights, without the privilege of humanity.

In my family, the realization came about thanks to Life Magazine’s unflinching photos of lynchings and attack dogs and fire hoses and lunchroom sit-ins. It was a world that, until then, we knew nothing about.

And I mean nothing.

Those photos changed me forever. I didn’t live anywhere near there and I didn’t know any of those victims, but I have never sobbed over a magazine’s contents, either before or since, the way I sobbed over those photos coming in hard and fast, week after week after week.

Millions of us found out the same way. Without those photos and the other reports by caring, committed journalists, the Civil Rights movement might never have moved toward change. But there it was, clear evidence of the white man’s cruelty to innocent human beings, and the movement couldn’t let it go.

They made a difference. They suffered, they sacrificed, they died. Their leaders went on to do greater good, leaders like John Lewis reminding us often of who they were before, of who they were after, and what it took to get there.

We can do that again.

We must do that now.

There are helpers out there, ready to take on the Trump regime, ready to ignore their threats of cruelty, their obvious shows of power, their promises of revenge if anyone dares go against them.

We can’t let fear guide us. The opposition thrives on fear. We have to be ready to join the helpers. We have to be the helpers.

It’s going to take some effort. It’s going to take sacrifices. We’re long past thinking all it will take are votes.

We’re in for a battle now, so let’s call it what it is. A battle.

Let’s call them what they are. The enemy. Until they prove otherwise.

So let’s find the helpers. And while we’re looking, can I ask you to set your judgements aside for the duration? If they’re doing what they’re supposed to do right now, forget about who they were or what they did in the past.

Were they Republicans once? All the better if they’re now on our side. They know how Republicans operate. That’s to our advantage.

Did they do a deed that made you angry? Get over it if they’re now doing deeds that would otherwise make you proud.

Did they use words in the past that now threaten to live in infamy? Are they sorry? That’s good enough.

It’s the future that counts.

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A few of my favorite helpers. Feel free to add yours in the comment section:

Meidas Plus - A pro-democracy media outlet that consistently surpasses Fox News internet numbers. They’re a force!

The Contrarian - A new pro-democracy magazine-style outlet headed by Jennifer Rubin and Norm Eisen. With names like Joyce Vance, Lawrence Tribe, Kathleen Sullivan, Ruth Ben Ghiat, Sherrilyn Ifill, Jonathan Alter, and Andy Borowitz. With more to come. (Hopefully me…shameless plug)

Letters From an American - Heather Cox Richardson writing every day in her own inimitable way. Always worth reading.

Civil Discourse - Joyce Vance knows the laws of the land. Her insight is invaluable.

The Breakdown- Mueller, She Wrote. Need I say more?

Democracy Docket - A newsletter run by Marc Elias, the lawyer who won 60+ cases for the 2020 election. Another great go-to for inspiration and law advice.

Hopium Chronicles - Simon Rosenberg. Simon writes knowledgeably and gives us hope.

Chop Wood, Carry Water - Jessica Craven. Always a treat, often a revelation.

The Good in Us - Mary L. Trump, Donald’s niece. She’s got the goods on him.

The Hartmann Report - Thom Hartmann has such a way with words. I learn something every time I read him.

She Who Stirs the Storm - Gloria Horton-Young. A lyrical poet, a political firebrand, just awesome.

The Dworkin Report - Scott Dworkin provides much needed insight into the current goings-on.

Law Dork - Chris Geidner has been covering the Supreme Court for more than 15 years. He’s only just begun.

Today’s Edition Newsletter - Robert B. Hubbell. Pertinent politics, as well as gorgeous planetary photos.

The Power - Carole Cadwalledr, investigative journalist with the Guardian/Observer. She calls them ‘Broligarchs’ and ‘Broverlords’. She knows them well.

The Status Kuo - Jay Kuo mixes solid political commentary and legal analysis with humor and wit.

Zeteo - Medhi Hasan and his team. Striving for media accountability.

The Banter - A newsletter from Ben Cohen, Bob Cesca, and others. Consistent eye-openers

Proof - Seth Abramson. Always smart and thought-provoking.

Public Notice - Aaron Rupar. My go-to when nothing is making sense.

Enough Already - D. Earl Stephens. His outrage is perfection.

The Dean’s Report - Dean Obeidallah. Always thoughtful. Always quotable.

The Beautiful Mess - John Pavlovitz. This heathen goes to this former pastor for inspiration and solace.

Abortion Every Day - Jessica Craven. Because attention must be paid.

Open Windows - Ann Telnaes. Former WaPo cartoonist who quit for ethical reasons. Her work speaks for itself.

Lucian Truscott - I love his writing. Simple as that.

Everyone is Entitled to My Own Opinion - Jeff Tiedrich has a potty mouth. But oh, those other words!

The View From Rural Missouri - Jess Piper. Not only regional—reasonable and brilliantly written.

Robert Reich - He has worked in several administrations as both an expert and an advisor. He knows where the skeletons are buried.

Steady - Dan Rather and company. ‘Steady’ is a comfort in troubling times.

The Borowitz Report - Andy Borowitz. Because we’re going to need to laugh, too.

Constant Commoner - Me. I’m here. I’ll be working hard. Subscribe, share, join in. It takes an army.

(I’ll be adding more as they come to me. I’m not above editing until I get it right.)

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