Oy Vey.
Well, here we are. If you had told me a year ago that a 70 year old sociopathic narcissist would be elected president of the United States of America, I would have laughed like many of my peers did at the idea. Over the last few days of soul searching, combing social media, and listening to my fellow Oregonians, I realized there is nothing funny about what is going on now. It takes my PTSD to a fundamental new low thinking that because of anger that so many have toward a broken political system, millions voted for Trump not because they agree with him, not because they like his bigotry or ego, but just because they could. To shake things up. To make the establishment mad. Imagine one is standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon and one’s mind wonders for a moment what would that feel like to fall down that natural wonder. A lot of people loved being in the position of cat’s paw and put pen to paper for Trump just to see what that might look like. They did not think of the children who worry at school that their undocumented parents would be deported by the time they got home. They did not think of the POC who will be stop and frisked and become hashtags. They did not think that their mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces, or themselves who would suffer from emboldened and accepted misogyny. They did not think of the LGBTQ community that who now have to worry about all kinds of new violence for living authentically. They did not think of the refugees that will be denied safe haven from the wars we cause and stoke everyday. They wanted change, by any means necessary. And now, like so many people that have to live with ignorance and hate on a daily basis, we will all have to work even harder to help be the change we want to see in the world. As a woman, as a veteran, and as an American, I have never been more fearful to be alive. I have also never been so hopeful. Earlier Tuesday, six members presented a letter to the Army Corps office requesting the agency deny Energy Transfer Partners the easement permit it needs to complete the DAPL pipeline. The letter, addressed to U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, urged the Corps to "lead by moral example." Army Corps staff assured IVAW that our efforts — along with the protests and mass actions of thousands across the country since August — had been recognized by the agency. The Drop the MIC tour is off to a great start; yesterday was Chattanooga’s turn to generate idea’s on how to reclaim their resources and friends were made. Momentum has only picked up for #VetsVsHate to rally against the “whitelash” so prevalent in our culture. We will be the boots on the ground against Trump before he runs the VA into the ground like so many of his other business ventures. Remember friends, the revolution is not free. If you haven’t paid your dues or you still haven’t shared or given to our generosity fundraiser, there has never been a more important time for you to do so. In the army I learned to always place the mission first. To never accept defeat, to never quit, and to never leave a fallen comrade. Help your other battle buddies who have done an about face on US militarism rise to the challenge of doing it today. Please share the fundraising link far and wide if you can’t donate, and if you can donate, know that we can’t do this work without your support. Because of you, and the work and sacrifices you make, we’re going to take this this journey together. You are not alone, Not now, not ever, Penny Dex