A couple of weeks ago, I read a media account about a Pennsylvania man who’d sent an email to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), urging the use of “common sense and decency” in an upcoming case. Within hours of sending the email, DHS issued a subpoena to Google for the man’s information. Two weeks later, two DHS agents and a local police officer visited his home to interrogate him about the email.
When my husband and I discussed the incident, he admitted to worrying about similar reactions to the sentiments I express in these daily rants….
A few days later, in a conversation with my younger grandson, we addressed the issue from another angle: not whether citizens have a First Amendment right to criticise the government (we absolutely do, as the ACLU evidently reminded DHS after that interrogation), but whether patriotic citizenship implies a positive duty to speak truth to power, to defend American principles when they are under attack. We concluded that such a duty exists, even in situations when speaking up may involve a measure of risk.
I thought about those conversations when I read one of Robert Hubbell’s recent newsletters. Hubbell was clarifying his previous reaction to the way in which Anderson Cooper had departed from Sixty Minutes. His criticism wasn’t about the departure; it was about Cooper’s muted explanation of the reasons for that departure. Hubbell went on to make a point that directly addressed the immense importance of speaking up at times like these.
Here’s what he wrote:
We live in a fraught moment in which we have three choices for responding to Trump’s attempt to end democracy: capitulation, remaining silent, or raising our voices.
In reality, there are only two choices because capitulation and remaining silent are the same. Both advance Trump’s agenda, even though they involve different degrees of cooperation. But, in the end, dictators count on most people shrinking into the shadows. When good people remain silent, it becomes easier for the dictator to target those who raise their voices.
Let’s use Mark Kelly and the five other members of Congress who participated in the video about the duty to refuse illegal orders (Sen. Slotkin and Reps. Crow, Goodlander, Deluzio, and Houlahan). They made a brave choice. Rather than remaining silent as the US military murdered helpless civilians clinging to a shipwreck, they spoke out. Their leadership by example illustrates why they were good soldiers and commanders, and why they are good members of Congress.
As expected, Trump directed his ire at the six legislators, going so far as to seek indictments against everyone in the small group. They might still be indicted; they might still lose their retirement rank and pay. They remain at risk for speaking out.
Let’s imagine an alternate scenario. Suppose the day after Trump accused Kelly and others of sedition and called for the death penalty, the 93 additional members of Congress who are retired military veterans released the same video. And then the next day, 100 retired generals and admirals released the same video. And the next day, another 100 retired generals and admirals made the same video. As the number of those speaking out mounted, Trump and Hegseth would have retreated into sullen silence.
But because good and honorable men and women have chosen to remain silent, they are abandoning their colleagues during the most important fight of their lives. The other retired military members in Congress and retired generals and admirals are leaving Kelly and the others exposed to enemy fire, even though they have the capacity to provide cover merely by ending their silence.
Anderson Cooper quietly left CBS as it was being censored at the hands of Bari Weiss, paid for by Larry and David Ellison, to please Donald Trump. Anderson Cooper remained silent when he could have spoken the truth. That was a choice. Just like it is a choice for retired military members of Congress who send private text messages of encouragement to Kelly and the others but lack the courage to speak the same truth. Their silence is a choice.
The simple but profound act of bearing witness to the truth by standing on a roadside or an overpass with a protest sign is a choice. It is the right one. It is a choice that inspires others. It tells them there is strength in numbers. It tells them not to lose hope.
Kelly, Slotkin, Crow, Goodlander, Deluzio, and Houlahan made a choice.
Their retired military colleagues in Congress made a choice.
Anderson Cooper made a choice.
We are being called upon to make a choice. Let’s make the right one.
I couldn’t agree more!
A plaque put up in a building at West Point in 1943 says in part “Our American code of military obedience requires, should order and the law ever conflict our officers must obey the law”. The plaque has the heading “Loyalty to the Constitution”. This is the point the six legislators have made. My question is where is the proud former Marine, Todd Young? Liked to brag as I recall when he was getting into politics. Now supports hegseth not the military members damaging their careers by murdering civilians.
Indeed. The question goes begging: What are these spineless wretches so afraid of? Investigation by Patel’s FBI, or what’s left of it? No worries. Patel is shmoozing with our hockey players … on our tax dollars. Speak up while he’s being distracted.
Talking of speaking up; See Heather Cox Richardson’s blog post today. It is about House Joint Resolution 140 and opening up a million acres of pristine wilderness to mining. Our scout troop makes a trip to this area every few years. For most kids it’s the trip of a lifetime to spend a week in this untouched landscape. Contact your senators and tell them you oppose HJR 140.
Here’s a story from this morning’s Denver Post that speaks to the subject of this blog:
https://enewspaper.denverpost.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=4e8a17cb-cef3-4d6c-9dd7-ea3d93d2a0e4&share=true
Not sure what Cooper got in his severance package at CBS, but corporations today use gag orders with their dollars. When Ball State got rid of their progressive president six months after his arrival, he was paid an extra $500,000 to keep quiet about why he was leaving.
They did the same thing several years ago when they let go of a large swath of employees. I was told there were legal stipulations to the buyout package and the acceptance of the money.
I refer to this as silencing the whistleblowers. It was escalated under Obama’s presidency. He prosecuted more whistleblowers than any previous POTUS. Now, if you are a whistleblower in this country, where are you going to go to get the most coverage for your story? Will you even go to our lame oligarchy-owned media?
Look at how they treated Julian Assange, who consistently held truth to power. Look at the efforts Edward Snowden went to get his message into the right hands with Glenn Greenwald.
We all know we’d make the right decision under those circumstances, but when the monied interests and the justice system works against you, then what?
As well as the excellent quality of today’s letter, I am also struck by the fact that you have a really good relationship with your grandchildren, and that warms my heart. You and your husband have obviously done a good job of parenting and grandpa renting, and that is a truly hopeful message.
The fact that it is risky to criticize the Trump administration is exactly why we should speak up. It should make every American’s blood boil to know that they make it risky. If you are not already supporting the ACLU, do so today. That organization is fighting every day for YOUR civil rights.
That’s why you’ll find me at the March 28th No Kings rally. I urge everyone to go to your local protest.
Private piety without public witness gets you nothing. Speak out!
Who is organizing the March 28 “No Kings” rally, and where is it going to happen in Indiana?
I have had several emails mentioning it, but when I go to the website and put in my zipcode, I get told that there are “no rallies planned within 25 miles of Indianapolis.”
CGH,
The website is Indivisible.org, but Indy hasn’t got their march posted yet. Only a handful in Indiana have posted their marches yet.
Silence is often seen as consent. Speak up. Show up. That’s both sane and savvy and, even occasionally, risky, but remaining on the sidelines, nope, not a choice at all if you want to matter, and for the right reasons.
Many people are risk averse, but when they see and hear others standing/speaking up for their rights it is encouraging that they’re not alone and that there’s strength in solidarity. The trump regimes transgressions are more evident today than previously that the majority doesn’t approve of.
Thanks for your bravery, speaking(writing) out regularly and showing us how it’s done.