Pat Taub
GUEST POST by MARY DUNN
We are at a crossroad in the United States.
How we move forward will determine not only our future but that of our children and grandchildren. This is a heavy responsibility to carry. Like many of you, I struggle with how best to respond.
First, I questioned: what exactly are we responding to? A little knowledge of our country’s history helped put things in perspective. I have found reading and listening to podcasts which deal with U.S. domestic history as well as our international footprint has helped me understand what is occurring today. As the saying goes, ‘Knowledge is power.’ What we are experiencing is not new.
The shock may feel new, but it is not. From the birth of this nation, people without economic power have endured many horrible actions put forward against them, beginning with the genocide of the Indigenous peoples, continuing through 400 years of chattel slavery, and followed by the apartheid of Jim Crow.
Depiction of the Trail of Tears (1830-1850) when 60,00 Native Americans were forced from their homes and forced to march under harsh conditions, resulting in the deaths of around 10,000
This past weekend the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was briefly reinstated. The last time it was used was when Franklin D. Roosevelt put 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps. Suddenly that doesn’t feel like such an unfathomable thought.
We may be too young to remember the fear and harm caused by the Red Scare of McCarthyism, but it wasn’t that long ago. It sure feels like the witch hunt occurring today against those speaking out against the Palestine genocide.
Sen Joseph McCarthy, who led the hearings from 1953-1956, where 100’s of innocent people were accused, with little to no evidence of being Communists
There is a long history in this country of inhumane immigration policies, including those which inspired Hitler. These included the genocide and reservation system of the Native Peoples and the gassing of migrant workers along the southern border. Clearly, we are not in uncharted territory. I realized that this darkness has been here before. Another question is, ‘How do we choose to respond?’
Each morning I follow a routine of gentle stretching along with a cup of coffee and scrolling through news, email, and social media. Some mornings this routine is cut short to take my coffee outside to look at trees and listen to birds. But no matter how often I find I need to do this, I come back. I will not look away.
An early morning view from the author’s window
Recently I had several dialogues on social media with women I don’t know. They are white boomers like me and privileged enough to choose to engage or not. While the dialogues were respectful, they left me feeling sad and disappointed. They defended their not wanting to know. Not wanting to engage. Instead they chose to not follow news so they could “sleep peacefully at night”. Sadly, this is how we got into this mess and our kids will pay for this choice. Activism is new to me and can feel scary. But we are living in a time when discomfort needs to be worked through and overcome. Together we can do that.
Over the past two months I seen many well organized and attended “Dump Trump/Musk” type rallies. While it is important that we rise up to demand our financial security be upheld. it is equally important to center the voices of those being directly targeted. Amplifying the voices of immigrants who are impacted by family separation and deportation as well as those speaking out against the genocide in Palestine is critical. If our freedom and comfort requires our silence over the subjugation of others, then we are not free.
Mainers protesting against Trump’s policies, State House, Augusta, March 2, 2025
While our pathways may differ from each other, for me, my first step was to find a way to support those whose lives are directly impacted by our government’s policies. This included finding and reaching out to volunteer with local organizations working with families impacted by ICE. Combating loneliness by reaching out to like-minded friends and groups has been critical.
By acting together we strengthen our personal resolve and resistance to what is happening. But I, like many others, anxiously wait for substantial actions to address the threats of the time we are living in.
