Sometimes I wonder how I would have acted if I had been an adult during the Civil Rights era.  Or if I lived under NAZI occupation.  Or during the Civil War. It disturbs me to think that if I hadn’t had the advantage of growing up with modern, forward looking influences in my life, I could have landed on the wrong side of history.  But thankfully I did have those influences and now that I find myself facing a similar situation, I have an opportunity and responsibility to use my voice and privilege to do what is right.

An autocrat is in power in this country.  Historians are telling us that he is following a predictable and dangerous path.  If he is allowed to continue, the unrest and inequity that’s occurred in the US over the past few years will look like nothing.

To the extent that I have a voice and followers on social media, I am going to do what I can to say loud and clear that this is not a normal election in any way, shape or form.  We are not choosing between policies.  The “both sides have issues” argument is moot right now. We are choosing between democracy and authoritarianism.

The Washington Post series in the photo is just one of many unprecedented attempts to enumerate just SOME of the abuses of power that have occurred under Trump—soliciting foreign interference in an election–using blatantly corrupt voter suppression tactics–inciting right wing terrorists to commit violence for his benefit–allowing Russia to place bounties on our troops–praising dictators–bragging about assault on women–evading taxes and stealing tax payers’ and donors’ money for his family’s personal gain–slandering his opponent’s only surviving son–attacking people with disabilities and people with addictions and refugees and anyone else who is vulnerable–using religion as a cover for his power games—taking babies from their mothers at the border–abandoning our defenses against a deadly pandemic—doing everything possible to take away basic health care coverage.

THIS IS NOT NORMAL.  It will take an uncomfortable coalition to stop it.  I respect the Lincoln and Eisenhower and McCain Republicans who are crossing party lines to stop this.  I am grateful for the left-wing progressives who are voting more centrist than they’d like in order to stop this.  We need you and we need even more!

I know I will not influence many people but I am asking everyone to please vote against the criminality and corruption that has taken over our government. I could not live with myself if I did not speak out. This is not normal.  This is not right.  

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