Nobody Wants to Live Through History, Yet Here We Are

It’s impossible to be unaware of the events in California and spreading across America. It’s actually almost all I can think about. Like a lot of people, I’m doing my best to remain engaged with my personal present moment in life, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m feeling pretty crushed right now. 

47 and his federal administration have made it abundantly clear that they have no great attachment to the constitutional laws of the United States of America. That’s been clear since 47’s coronation (sorry, inauguration.)

47 has unleashed ICE to enact government directed terrorism. They have a recently tripled daily quota for catching immigrants. It’s barbaric and what’s even worse is that it’s only the beginning. 

The people of L.A. have exercised their constitutional right to protest. 47 chose California to start this fight because it's a blue state that flourishes with an immigrant driven economy. Watching 47 give interviews, he seems excited, gleeful even, to send the National Guard and Marines into an American city, referring to L.A. as “occupied”. He is searching for and creating legal loopholes to enforce martial law. 

This is not the behaviour of an American President, this is an authoritarian regime. That’s the thing about coup, we imagine a coup to look like armed fighters storming a central building and taking power, but usually I think they look just like this. Built on years of systematic propaganda and appealing to the basest instincts in humanity. 45 has become 47 and here we are.   

I’ve made my home in the UK but the US will always be part of me. My heart hurts to see what’s happening and to be virtually helpless to do anything about it. I think a lot of people are feeling like that. I’m the third in (at least) four generations of people who have been deeply involved in the study and/or practice of military action, strategy and history. I’m genetically programmed to try to find something to “do”. 

Unfortunately we aren’t all fit to fight on the streets (pity) but I think now is the time to figure out what we can do. If you’re looking for inspiration, I highly recommend reading the phenomenal book “Resistance: The Underground War in Europe, 1939-1945” by Halik Kochanski. This astounding piece of work is a huge, mind bending compilation of the many creative ways people from all walks of life resisted fascism during World War Two. It’s guaranteed to give you something to start with. I’m also including a few links below that might be helpful. 

47 has thrown down the gauntlet for his birthday military parade. In his own barely coherent words “If there’s any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force. I haven’t even heard about a protest, but you know, this is people that hate our country, but they will be met with very heavy force.” To me, it sounds like a challenge. Maybe it's an opportunity to show up in every major city across the United States except for Washington D.C. Time will tell. 

As for myself, I’m writing, as ever. In the next couple of days my second monthly email newsletter will be sent out. I’ll be sharing more there, so please sign up if you’d like to be included. 

All the best, 

Erin 

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Resistance, The Underground War in Europe, 1939-45 by Halik Kochanski. A necessary read in the face of modern politics.