Thank You, Joan Baez-

From Joan Baez (thanks to Suzanne Herzstam for reposting):

"Here, in this world which is plummeting out of control, this country, a crumbling democracy in the post truth era where lies have become an art form, you are safe with me. I’ll pin the yellow star and the rainbow flag on my sleeve and go forth proudly in full view of the law.
And you, here tonight by the grace of God and the lucky accident of your birth, you must vow to yourselves and your families that you will not sit this one out. And then you must be true to your word.

Write a letter to your legislators. A letter on the desk is much more effective than another email lost in the ether.

Don’t just vote. Figure out who needs a ride, rent a bus, supply information and moral support, and get them to the polls, no matter if the polls have been spirited off to the tundra in the middle of the night.

I was heartened to see both Michael Moore on the far left and George Will on the far right agreeing on one thing. That the only way we will get ourselves out of the godless mess we’re in is by creating a mass movement from the grassroots on up. That means walking the talk. That means commitment. That means taking risks. That means using your imaginations and hooking up with people you do not yet know. That means learning how to organize, or finding someone who is already good at it. That means talking to your kids about truth and lies, and telling them about the Parkland High School Student movement and how your kids can have a movement, too.

All of this means all of us. We need only act out of caring for ourselves and others. We need to put empathy and compassion back into the dialogue and into practice. Gandhi said organized nonviolent action is no more than organized love. We can be an unstoppable force for good. We need only to begin.

And in this way the rich shall NOT inherit the earth. And all of us shall be safe here."

--Joan Baez