I went to the one in Portland. It was such good energy- it invigorates everyone present. It gives us energy to do other things as well.
The fact that Trump doesn’t care about Oregon doesn’t mean that “doing nothing” is a better option. Don’t discourage people from taking action. If we are gathering and talking to each other we’re more likely to find and join in other efforts.
Speaking of which - what is it that you would suggest the good people of Oregon be doing to make a difference?
Depends on the bus / area.
There is real time bus tracking now in most places so you can see when things will arrive = WAY better for dealing with traffic (note traffic is a thing for cars as well)
I’m in Portland OR and of course a bus going through a bad area is more likely to have people who are “not ok” (addicts) but the vast majority of our busses are clean and climate controlled and filled with perfectly lovely friendly people.
And risk assessment is based on what is likely. My aunt smoked her whole life and never got lung cancer so my “personal experience” is that smoking doesn’t cause cancer. You see what I’m saying?
Cars are more dangerous than busses. Period. You might not like them for any number of perfectly valid reasons, and a specific bus in a specific area might be more dangerous - but the point of the post is that personal preference and accurate risk assessment are not the same thing.
Sure - but not at the 50501 events. Those are peaceful “big tent” events. Kids and elderly friendly.
Unless you want to ensure that most Americans won’t show up - which will not help us reach your goals - then please disrupt in any time/place/way EXCEPT for these planned “Big Tent” peaceful protests.
So it’s important that people who are elderly or have young children feel safe.
If you want to get in conflict with police please do that at a different event that is intended to be disruptive. Please let the peaceful protest be a place where everyone is welcomed and we can attract huge numbers of law abiding citizens.
100% civil disobedience will be needed. This is not the day for that. This is a “big tent” day. There will be plenty of opportunities to cause trouble- but if you cause trouble at this one - that I am attending with my 87 year old father - he will never come with me to another event.
So please don’t. Please disrupt a different event.
If you get overwhelmed with stimulus in general headphones - maybe just in one ear - that don’t block outside noise but can play something familiar might help.
Just gives you something to focus on that IS comfortable when other aspects might not be. Music or meditation or podcast or whatever is familiar reassuring. Also battery backup.
I am interested in protest but not in violence so made a cloth sash that says “peaceful protest” on one side and “nonviolence” on the other. Just to help keep myself identifiable as someone who is not looking for a fight.
Although more people than ever are taking estrogen and testosterone - either age related or because they are transitioning. I would imagine there could be some research done on how introducing those things results in changes compared to a control group of folks who are similar and don’t take them.
I mean I know so little that I don’t even know how much I don’t know. There is just a lot of reluctance to even ask questions for fear of being called sexist, and I am a fan of scientific curiosity.
I’m sorry. I also feel anger and fear. I am desperately looking for ways to take action that are at least potentially effective, even if there is risk and personal cost to myself. I do not feel like a “moderate”.
I also do not want to lose sight of my own value system. Trump is full of vengeful hate. I would rather be a good person who got killed trying to make things better than be still alive but consumed with vengeful hate / hurting other people.
I am not religious - but I am a pacifist at heart. The people I admire most are folks who brought about massive change through non violent means - not people who won wars.
And honestly even if the political stuff all suddenly became ok (it won’t) the billions of people who will die from climate change is inevitable- so that gives me some perspective. Like we are ALL going to die. What is the best I can do with the time I have?
I do not have answers. Maybe - as you suggest - everything I do will be ineffective. I share your fear and dread, but if I can’t continue to value love over hate then I have already lost.
I did this more when I lived on the east coast and could hop on a bus - but it’s wicked expensive to fly and get a hotel. 😛 I have done it, and would be willing to again - I just can’t afford it regularly.