By Butch Freedman
I put it off as long as I can stand it. Reading the news of the day, that is. I take some deep breaths before I do, get ready for the gut punch. It’s almost always there these days—murders of civilians in Minneapolis, Greenland, Venezuela (remember that? Seems so long ago.), Epstein files (ditto), Ukraine (super ditto), etc., etc., etc… This morning—Ilhan Omar attacked in public and Trump says “she probably staged it.” I’m losing my mind here.
When I can take it no more, I stop scrolling. If I see one more picture of Demon Trump or Noem, or that shameful Nazi wannabe, Steven Miller, I’ll scream. Some days I do, but that’s upsetting to my honey, though she is close to screams also. And sometimes howling is all you can do, then get out of the house, take a walk, listen to music; or sit down at the keyboard and send silly laments out into the world. I need to clear my head; I need hope; we all do. Unless you’re still a Maga fool or a dupe of Fox News.
And, dammit to hell, apparently there are still a bunch of them out there—everywhere. That’s who shot a syringe full of unknown foul liquid at Ilhan. Makes you want to give up, or run away to some country that has hung on to a sense of decency and democracy, a country that doesn’t persecute minorities or start wars at the same time they proclaim themselves peacemakers.
But maybe it’s coming to a head now, Trump and his goons pushing so hard they will implode on their own, or decent people of all persuasions and political stances will come to their senses and demand it to stop. There are tiny waves of that happening already. Some few republican congress people admitting it’s gone too far, this war against legitimate protestors, this assault on free speech and immigrants, legal and otherwise. IT HAS TO STOP. Last night I listened to Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania describe his state’s preparations for invasion by masked agents of the federal government. Even he seemed shocked at what that represented — a U.S. state having to essentially defend itself against the federal regime.
The anger and resentment builds every day. Even an old retired guy like myself, who thought his days of rage were over, now understands he must join the fight in any way possible. Each of us who understand the stakes of this battle must now bring whatever talents, money, and energy they have to the resistance. Let’s use Minneapolis and the brave response that city has had to its invasion as inspiration to fight back and bring a halt to the madness and an end to the demented leader who, at this point in his disgraceful life, has nothing to lose. We can’t give up the fight; this is too important to ignore. We still have a long way to go, and probably more lives to lose, but someday I want to be able to read the news of the day and not want to scream.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s an anthem – by the boss – Bruce Springsteen that he dropped today – “Streets of Minneapolis”
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free, Bruce Springsteen
https://youtu.be/wWKSoxG1K7w