Thread by @VMadge

In another life, I was a sailor. Plying the tropical waters of the Bahamas with my wife and two preschool children.
One day, we found a hurricane bearing down on us at a small settlement of perhaps 50 people and half a dozen boats. We scrambled about in a controlled panic

to set storm anchors and strap down everything we could. We became an organism, working together for the good of us all. There was never a question of us vs. them. It was all for one and one for all.
The hurricane was heading directly at us.

We had no idea what would happen as the winds began to howl, the old structure we were sheltering in creaking and moaning with each gust and the bands of rain slamming into the roof like cascades of marbles - loud and ominous. We huddled near the radio, trying to keep

the children calm, while our stomachs churned with anxiety. What would become of us? Would our babies be OK? We rode it out in a sleep deprived stupor, jolting awake when the roof shuddered in another powerful gust.

The next day, we awoke to a windless calm and bright sunshine, with puffy white clouds in an azure sky. Our children stomped about in the deep puddles of warm water left behind by the storm laughing and squealing, as we surveyed the damage.

Among us were wealthy folks with expensive motor yachts, owners of the resort, the workers and modest travelers like ourselves. We were all as one, hugging and back slapping and laughing, glad to be alive. Food and drink seemed to appear from nowhere, but from everywhere.

There was no concept of ownership, no reservations about sharing everything, without hesitation, while we celebrated escaping death, with the music blaring and people dancing. We were all just happy to be alive.
The rich among us insisted we use their satellite

phones so we could let our loved ones know we were OK. We became a tribe that day, without labels, with only joy and love in our hearts. Our children became everyone's children. We became brothers and sisters. It was a magical, remarkable, rare expression of humanity.

Black, white, old, young, rich, poor - none of that mattered that day. It was beautiful.

What am I getting at? That when we find ourselves facing a powerful force over which we have no control, the prejudices and the judgments melt away.

People intuitively come together for the good of us all.

I feel that is what is needed right now. We face an evil force unlike most of us have ever seen in Donald Trump. He intends to destroy the nation in his rise to absolute power. He has said so.

Will we keep our labels and spew hatred at one another? Or will we see the common threat that will destroy our nation and rule us from on high?
It is up to us, we the people, to join in a chorus that is too loud to ignore, demanding that the @HouseDemocrats open hearings

to finally expose Trump for the grifter that he is, and all the damage that he has wrought, and his dark intentions to eliminate our democracy, taking control as a leader for life - with the tacit approval of the GOP.
Should we fail to get them to listen, we will

watch the fall of democracy in America. Once power is transferred to a dictatorship, it will only be taken back by violence. Be our heroes!
@RepAdamSchiff @SenSchumer @RonWyden @glennkirschner2 @tribelaw @ProjectLincoln @RepJeffries @RepValDemings

@threadreaderapp pls unroll

@threadreaderapp unroll pls