Declare Yourself

Let Them Know We're Here

I went to pick up the poster commemorating Democracy Summer, the program started by Jamie Raskin (my brother) from the framer’s. Made by Shephard Fairey, the artist who created the iconic Obama piece, the work celebrates the program’s mission to train young people in the nuts and bolts of a working representative government. It also teaches the grassroots organizing necessary to achieve it.

The kids (including a plethora from our own family) who participate, love it — as they travel to different congressional districts volunteering for candidates committed to things like access to health care and school lunches and level playing fields. Or, as MAGA likes to call it, socialism.

Anyway, at the store, the clerk hefted the wrapped frame up between us, laid it flat, pulled back the brown paper so we could check out the job. About my age (sixty-ish) her face literally fell as she read ‘Democracy’ out loud.

(Honest to God, it was like watching someone recognizing a friend’s name in the obits.)

We both stood silent.

‘Yeah,’ I eventually uttered.

Then I began digging through my purse to fish out one of the RESIST buttons I carry to give out when applicable. (Think of me as the Johnny Appleseed of Defiance.) For the record, pinning on an accoutrement (or wearing a sandwich board) with a bible verse — say from Matthew 25: 31-40 - also identifies one’s values. I believe that declaring ourselves is important.

‘For later,’ I said, pushing it across the counter.

She palmed it like a drug deal, whispered. ‘I’ll wear it with pride.’

Neither of us said anything else.

The brilliant Timothy Snyder argues that ‘obeying in advance’ only helps pave the way for fascism. We must continue to reach out, to build community and stand tough with others who believe in decency.

Even when it’s scary.

Which it is.