The opposition is in session

Social media is full of posts referencing our country’s current political situation along the lines of “This is not who we are,” despite the growing evidence that this is exactly who a great many Americans truly are, a disgusting revelation.

At a recent political rally in North Carolina, President Trump heaped scorn on Rep. IIhan Omar and smirked knowingly as his supporters responded with chants of “send her back.” When even some Republican officials reacted negatively to the rally, afraid that the offensive chant might catch on and affect their electoral chances in 2020, Trump pretended he had nothing to do with it, claiming he tried to stop the crowd despite video of the event showing him basking in the moment.

This is who he is, and that’s never going to change despite the Republican talking point that the President wasn’t being racist, he was just frustrated. World leaders and Democrats condemned the President’s remarks, but the silence from Nevada’s Republican officials was deafening. They either agree with him, or, more likely, they’re afraid of his supporters’ political rage should they object to his words. Cowards, every one of them.

It’s 15 long months until election day. While national Democrats fight about whether impeaching Trump would hurt or help them in the next election, there are plenty of examples of people doing what they can to highlight one of the many crises of conscience our nation currently faces and create positive change. Instead of yelling at the TV or feeling heartsick about the young impressionable children at Trump rallies being taught to hate and fear a multi-cultural America, we can follow the lead of those who choose to denounce and resist Trump and the sycophantic Republican Party.

Comedian Jon Stewart continues to lend his celebrity and time to getting heroic 9/11 first responders the health care and support they deserve by passionately testifying in Congress and badgering elected officials into extending the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund. He’s had to do it repeatedly as the fund keeps running out of money, and he’s furious that Republican Senators keep blocking the legislation, claiming it’s too expensive, despite their willingness to enact expensive tax cuts for the rich.

Seventy Catholics were arrested this summer in the Russell Senate Office Building rotunda as an act of civil disobedience against the detention of immigrant children. Sister Aine O’Connor said their faith compels them “to be people of compassion and mercy who welcome the strangers in our midst. We are at a pivotal moment of history that demands a faithful and moral response to stop this inhumanity once and for all.”

We aren’t all in a position to be arrested for our beliefs, nor do we all have the courage to do so. But we all can do something. Six hundred people showed up at the Sparks branch library in July to attend Drag Queen Story Hour after Sparks Mayor Ron Smith tried to stop the event, telling the Reno Gazette Journal “It is absolutely ridiculous. Why would you have transgender people talking to kids?”

That same day, 25 member groups of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada met in Reno to recap their victories and losses in the last legislative session and start planning on more strategic alliances to affect state policy in 2021. And hundreds of Nevadans complete volunteer shifts every weekend for their presidential candidate of choice, with virtually all committed to voting for whomever Democrats end up selecting to run against Trump.

In November 2020 we can purge our nation of our immoral president and show the world we are not who he is, hopefully in overwhelming numbers that can’t be ignored. Until then, there’s plenty of resisting to do.