Raising my hand, standing up, speaking out.

I like to be liked. I like people to agree with me and approve of me. I'm not unusal in that, I know. So, starting an opinion blog in the current political environment may seem out of character to those who know me well.

In fact, I have received some concerned communications from my oldest friends asking me cautious questions, like, "Are you sure you want to make this so public? I know you didn't watch the news for a long time. You know what's happening, right? You know people can be negative and vicious, right? Are you afraid of what might happen to you?" The answers to all those questions is, "YES."

There is fear in me about retaliation, criticism, and what could happen in the future if the incumbent wins the Presidential election. That fear of personal harm hurts less than the ache in my chest from trying to hold in the feelings and thoughts I have about what is happening in my country.

In hindsight, I think I have been preparing for this time for many years.

For most of my adult life, I've had a horrified fascination about Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, perhaps because it was recent enough in history that it could be photographed and I had seen Survivors stand witness to the atrocities. I couldn't understand how people could suspend their humanity and do the things they did. I could understand how people stood by and let it happen, of course. They didn't want the same things to happen to them.

I understood the bystanders, but it set up an internal question that nagged me over decades. Would I be a bystander in a matter of life or death? Consider how hard it is to stand up for someone in a less critical situation, say, on the job. If standing up for someone at work would cause your to lose a promotion, even lose your job, would you keep your mouth firmly shut? If speaking out on racism would mark you for verbal attacks, would you be silent? At what point would the consequences of being silent be outweighed by the consequences of action?

I have worried about that a lot and often.

Now, I think I have been preparing for this time, this fight, this danger to our nation for many years.

I have fear, of course I do, but the fear of another four years of Donald Trump in his bully pulpit is far greater than the fear of speaking out. We have to release the Republican Party from the thrall of this President. We have to stop the encouragement of racism, hatred, violence, distortions of truth, and outright lies that rain down from the top of the current administration.

I am not physically strong enough to walk with protesters, do not have the talent to produce art that will change hearts and minds, the money to drive political campaigns, or the energy to found a movement, but I will do what I can do. I can write the truth. No exaggerations, no labels, name calling, or sarcasm - the truth to the best of my knowledge and experience.

I can raise my hand, stand up, and speak out.

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Raise your voice, too. Become a member of this site, so your comments can be published. Ask questions, raise issues, criticize if you will, but join me.