kayray.org

I am simultaneously ashamed of (less than) half my country for electing this dangerous fool, and incredibly proud of (more than) half my country for vocally resisting the evil machinations of Trump and his henchmen and puppetmasters.

The day of the Women’s March, two Saturdays ago, I watched in awe as people all over the world demonstrated with peace and strength and unity, and I felt hopeful for the first time since the election. I’m not able to join such protests because of my disabilities, but my cousin, brother, sister, and aunt all marched and protested, and added my name to their signs so that I could be with them.

And then a week later the malevolent Executive Order to ban Muslims from entering our country made me feel helpless, disgusted, and furious all over again. This cruelty and bigotry is revolting. Who among us is not descended from immigrants? What right have we to deny Muslim families the hope for a better future that our ancestors enjoyed? There is no “…unless they’re Muslim” on the Statue of Liberty:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Almost immediately our wonderful strong brave citizens of all faiths showed up at airports in thousands to peacefully protest. My brother in NYC joined the protest there (have I mentioned how proud I am of my family?) and since I could not march, I donated to the ACLU.

I have been phoning and mailing our representatives and I understand that they’re receiving an unprecedented amount of anti-Trump, anti-Bannon, anti-fascism communication so I’ll continue.

According to The Washington Post, the State Department has temporarily reversed the Muslim ban: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/state-dept-reverses-visa-revocations-allows-banned-travelers-to-enter-us/2017/02/04/0ab5880a-eaee-11e6-bf6f-301b6b443624_story.html?utm_term=.964fa419d6bf But of course that’s only temporary.

If you, my dear listeners, have been protesting and resisting, please keep it up! We must stay strong, we must be vigilant. We /must not/ let hate, bigotry, racism, selfishness, ignorance, greed, and misogyny prevail. This country is better than that.