My FBR party yesterday was a great idea, and I loved seeing everyone's posts about how they contribute to the resistance. However, it got me thinking about two polarizing opinions on HOW we resist, and I'd like to address those. 1/
One point of view seems to be that resisting by retweeting, hosting and joining FBR parties, and sometimes trolling Trump himself or arguing with trolls and conservatives online, are all excellent ways of resisting. 2/
On the opposite end, others are very critical of anyone who isn't constantly active offline. You'll hear both "We should be in the streets every day!" and "Marching solves nothing, you have to vote!" 3/
This is a complicated subject, and I think it connects to various trolls and bad actors on both sides, as well. Let's start with the "You aren't doing enough!!" side. 4/
Did anyone follow RoguePOTUSStaff at any point? They haven't tweeted much at all since last year. At first they seemed to be a source of sanity and insight into what's really going on in the WH, but over time they got darker, more dismal, more nihilist, and more suspicious. 5/
Some people believe they never worked in the WH and were lying about everything. Some thought the account was run by Steve Bannon. (If I recall, they did go silent after Bannon was ousted.) Either way, the account became very toxic and not just unhelpful, but damaging. 6/
They kept posting tweets that suggested our country is already lost because resisters aren't smart enough to figure out the game plan, or we aren't dedicated enough to be in the streets 24/7, or somehow we're blind to what's really happening. Really negative stuff. 7/
So this really does seem like a right winger who started out inspirational and encouraging, then gradually became darker, in an attempt to undermine the Resistance from within by demoralizing activists. Very much Bannon's style, whether it was in fact him or not. 8/
Let's look at the opposite end, the more optimistic accounts (or trolls) who encourage resisters to be patient and have faith. Louise Mensch and "Team Patriot" are the most famous of these. 9/
These sorts of people constantly reassure everyone that Mueller and others have a secret plan, that there are all sorts of questionable actions in play behind the scenes. This can be just as dangerous as demoralization, because it can lead to complacency. 10/
"Don't worry, Mueller's got this!" can be comforting, but it can also make us less inclined to heavily pressure our MoCs to protect Mueller's position. If we think someone else is coming to rescue us, we don't stand up ourselves. 11/
I don't claim to have all the answers, but given the criticism on all sides and my doubts about the intentions of many of those critics, I think it all comes down to doing what you can. 12/
You can't resist 24/7. The closest you can come is if it's your job, like journalists or campaign staff. And many on the left suffer from oppression or other burdens, whether that's microaggressions for women and minorities... 13/
...chronic illness, depression, anxiety, lack of funds to support causes, burdens in your personal, professional, or family life, or even other causes that can seem to compete with resisting. 14/
I had to stop focusing on national news last spring, because the community college where I teach had proposed a budget that cut the early childhood education department entirely. I spent weeks organizing with students, writing letters, protesting, & attending budget meetings. 15/
In the end they kept the program, although they made major cuts to it. But my time was worth it, because providing well-educated preschool teachers for our community is IMPORTANT. I like to think that part of my job is preventing future Trumps! 16/
Early childhood education teaches cooperation, sharing, empathy, problem solving, critical thinking, perspective taking, social skills, and love of learning - all things we desperately need as a society to counter the toxicity currently at the heart of this corrupt regime. 17/
So although I wasn't doing as much to write my MoCs or keep up with national news, I was putting my energy where it most needed to be. Something similar happened a couple weeks ago! A huge upset in my personal life meant I had to focus on my family and self care. 18/
Ultimately, what you should do is what's most important IN THAT MOMENT. You can't change the world with your hair on fire. It's okay to prioritize. Yes, it's okay not to be striking from work and marching in the streets every day! 19/
On the other hand, just snarking at or about Trump online doesn't do much more than make you feel better. Arguing with trolls is an even bigger waste of time. I'm not about to judge others for "not doing enough," but if all you're doing is RTing things, is there a way... 20/
...that you take it to the next step? Take the time to write your MoCs. Do they stand with Trump? Make it clear that you don't support them! Are they standing up against this administration? Thank them and encourage them! 21/
I know I had a FBR, and I will follow back almost anyone who follows me (after vetting for trolls, bots, or spam), but if all I see on your TL is retweets of FBR parties, I probably won't follow back. Follower count alone isn't worth anything. You have to have a message! 22/
To sum up, retweeting, encouraging other resisters, and growing the Resistance are important. And for some, that may be all they have the energy or the spoons for! And that's okay. But if you CAN, it would be great to do more. Maybe at some point we WILL end up in the streets 23/
And maybe we'll have our own "American Spring" or something along those lines. It may require us to be physically present. It might require a general strike. But to all those who demand continuous, spontaneous protest - I don't believe it's the only way to achieve success. 24/
This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we have to encourage each other. Pace yourself, but keep moving! Save your energy for when you really need it, if you have to. Think about the next step you can take. Don't wait for someone else to fix this... 25/
Remember, WE are the ones we've been waiting for! WE got this, together. ❤️ 26/End.
