EDITOR’S NOTE: When a reader sent me this letter to the editor, I reached out and asked if they wanted their name printed, and that I would post it anonymously. The reader was grateful and said to sign as below. Some publications won’t accept anonymous letters to the editor or anonymous quotes, but at the Pioneer, we know our community is very small. There are people that don’t feel safe to speak out and fear retribution. Yes, really. But people need to feel safe to exercise their First Amendment rights. We want our readers to know that we will post your letters, comments, stories anonymously because everyone has the right to be heard and to feel safe. Send us your letters, stories and your truths – editor@tillamookcountypioneer.net. Have you or someone you know been impacted by the government chaos? Please share your story with us.
I will not be drawn into debate over this post. I am aware of the arguments of people who disagree with the statements below. I am posting this for all those who may be living in fear in this moment so you know you are not alone.
I want to share this piece in solidarity:
This is where I stand. The 45/47th President, his power hungry cronies taking positions of authority in his Cabinet and administration, and the majority of Republicans in Congress are a real and active threat to me, my way of life, and all or most of the people I love.
Some people are saying that we should give Trump a chance, that we should “work together” with him because he won the election and he is “everyone’s president.” This is my response:
I will not forget how badly he and so many others treated former President Barack Obama for 8 years and Biden cleaning up his mess…Lies about his legitimacy and hatred for his principles and his attempts to work within the system.
I will not “work together” to privatize Medicare, cut Social Security and Medicaid.
I will not “work together” to subvert the Constitution by illegitimately pushing unfit Cabinet nominees through on recess appointments without the advice and consent of the Senate.
I will not “work together” to persecute Muslims.
I will not “work together” to shut out refugees from other countries who seek asylum.
I will not “work together” to lower taxes on the 1% and increase taxes on the middle class and poor.
I will not “work together” to help Trump use the Presidency to line his pockets and those of his family and cronies.
I will not “work together” to weaken and demolish environmental protection.
I will not “work together” to sell American lands, especially National Parks, to companies which then despoil those lands.
I will not “work together” to enable the killing of whole species of animals just because they are predators, or inconvenient for a few, or because some people want to get their thrills killing them.
I will not “work together” to remove civil rights from anyone.
I will not “work together” to alienate countries that have been our allies for as long as I have been alive.
I will not “work together” to slash funding for education.
•I will not “work together” to take basic assistance from people who are at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
I will not “work together” to get rid of common sense regulations on guns.
I will not “work together” to eliminate the minimum wage.
I will not “work together” to support so-called “Right To Work” laws, or undermine, weaken or destroy Unions in any way.
I will not “work together” to suppress scientific research, be it on climate change, fracking, or any other issue where a majority of scientists agree that Trump and his supporters are wrong on the facts.
I will not “work together” to criminalize abortion or restrict health care for women.
I will not “work together” to increase the number of nations that have nuclear weapons.
I will not “work together” to put even more “big money” into politics.
I will not “work together” to violate the Geneva Convention.
I will not “work together” to give the Ku Klux Klan, the Nazi Party and white supremacists a seat at the table, or to normalize their hatred.
I will not “work together” to deny health care to people who need it.
I will not “work together” to deny medical coverage to people on the basis of a “pre-existing condition.”
I will not “work together” to increase voter suppression.
I will not “work together” to normalize tyranny.
I will not “work together” to eliminate or reduce ethical oversight at any level of government.
I will not “work together” with anyone who is, or admires, tyrants and dictators.
I will not support anyone that thinks it’s OK to put a pipeline to transport oil on Sacred Ground for Native Americans.
I will not “work together” to legitimize racism, sexism, and authoritarianism.
This is my line, and I am drawing it.
I WILL stand for honesty, love, respect for all living beings, and for the beating heart that is the center of Life itself.
I WILL use my voice and my hands, to reach out to the uninformed, and to anyone who will LISTEN:
That “winning”, “being great again”, “rich” or even “beautiful” is nothing… When others are sacrificed to glorify its existence.
Signed: “A concerned citizen in solidarity”
