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2025. A new beginning. Each month I strive to find the right words that reflect both what I am personally feeling and what seems appropriate to the moment at large. I want to write something that ideally inspires and motivates - but in all honesty, it’s especially challenging right now, when it feels like the old-world order is no longer in play, and we don’t know what havoc tomorrow is going to bring. Until Tuesday, I was focusing on the trauma surrounding the upcoming changes in governance, and now, as a former Los Angelean, it's these apocalyptic fires that are ravaging some of the most beautiful and iconic parts of Southern California. It's impossible to ignore the thinking around what would be - or will be - the federal response when Biden is no longer in charge. Originally, I was looking for some hopeful quote that could synthesize our times, but everything felt so hackneyed and used a zillion times over. “Hope” on its own seems bulls**t and passive right now - for me, it feels like we need a lot more than hope. And looking away isn’t a terrific option either - the forces that have co-opted American politics and cohesion, are already fixing their sights on Europe. And as long as Europe and NATO hold together, we will feel whatever seismic shifts happen. And now Mother Nature has weighed in...as if to say, Have You Forgotten Me? I'll admit, this is a hard one. My intention is not to be a bummer - I’m a realist…and sometimes even an idealist. If you’ve read past newsletters, you know I fight dearly for things I believe in - it’s why I DO politics. I can’t look away, and I can’t stand idle in the assault on freedom and justice. I don’t really understand cynicism, and while of course I make tons of mistakes or said things I wish I could take back, I do my best to show up. And so, in the quest for a proper quote, I kept returning to my favorite author and his most successful book. … I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.― J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye was a book that railed against corruption, and hypocrisy and cynicism. This book and this quote have resonated for several generations - hypocrisy and cynicism is at the heart of western culture. Its narrator, Holden Caulfield says the above in a moment of great insight, suggesting that beneath the biggest cynic (that would be him) is a disappointed idealist. He is saying, despite everything, he wishes to save the children - the innocent - before it’s too late. It’s commonplace to say we fight for the next generation - but frankly, if not that, then I’m not sure what we are here for. Why we fight, and why we care. We all contribute in ways large and small, and we can only do what we can manage. So please accept the following as some humble suggestions. I’ll outline below lessons I’ve been collecting from people a lot smarter than me with far greater platforms, for things you can do when and if you are ready. One is as simple as supporting alternative news sources, given that our traditional media is sadly no longer a reliable source of news. One is calling your representatives - even haranguing them - they work for you, after all. One of them is inviting you to run for a position on the Executive Committee for Democrats Abroad Portugal, or even volunteer or join a global caucus. You will be hearing a lot more on this in the coming weeks. 2025 is worrisome, but in the end the future is what we make of it. I hope you will remain engaged. I hope you will stay in the fight, because it has only gotten more urgent. We aren’t the first generation to fight for freedom, and with any luck, we won’t be the last. And while the election obviously destabilized me, and I’m fearful of tomorrow, I don’t intend to step away from fighting for what I believe in. Another quote from another icon: Love has never been a popular movement. And no one's ever wanted, really, to be free. The world is held together, really it is held together, by the love and the passion of a very few people. Otherwise, of course, you can despair. Walk down the street of any city, any afternoon, and look around you. What you've got to remember is what you're looking at is also you. Everyone you're looking at is also you. You could be that person. You could be that monster, you could be that cop. And you have to decide, in yourself, not to be.― James Baldwin I’m not entirely clear on where to go with this as it reflects our present moment. But I do know this is the guidance that every spiritual leader that has ever lived or that generations have worshipped has given. But this Love is not passive - on the contrary, Love is fierce, and resolute, and fearless. Love protects and defends and fights. Love demands Truth and rigor and muscle. And Love is not a zero-sum game; it is universal and inclusive. Okay - this last one is a bit overused. But it’s a great one, and to the point: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.- Theodore Roosevelt Please read on and seriously consider getting involved. The world needs you.
Please monitor our website for upcoming events. Most will be regional and in-person, but both in Portugal and DA Global will be inviting speakers over the course of the year. UPCOMING: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and DAPT ELECTIONS In March, date TBD we will be holding our annual general Meeting to update members on successes of the past year. Today, this seems ironic given recent election results, but to be honest, if our job in Portugal was delivering the Democratic vote - we did that in spades. We will be excited to let everyone know. More importantly, we will be holding elections for a new Chair, Vice Chair and nine other positions. Please consider running for office. There will be PLENTY of information coming your way regarding running, how to vote and more, but IF you are considering running and have any questions, please email us at [email protected].
So again, while many of you need to take a break from all things political or even from the States - and it's surely to get darker, others have already been reaching out for ways to channel their anger, disappointment or fear. While we organize ourselves on a global level, here are a few basic moves you can take: Call your Congresspeople: Tell them not to certify Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Pam Biondi, RFK, Jr. or any of the other unqualified goons Trump is submitting. They are not only unqualified, they are dangerous to our Health, our National Security, and our Rule of Law. Call and tell them not to certify the election based on the 14th Amendment's Insurrection Clause, as explained here or here. Call to object to the outsized role an unelected billionaire is playing in the make-over of our government. Stand by to call to object to tariffs if they go through with them. Or to biased and bigoted immigration policies. Call to object to family separation. Call to object if they try and defund the FBI. Or the CDC. Or Disaster Aid. There will be plenty of reasons to call in the next many months. The Senate or just call the switchboard and ask for your Senator: (202) 224-3121 Support Alternative and especially Local News Sources - Mainstream media has been taken over by corporate interests - it's not just your imagination. It's frankly always been this way - it's just gotten more pronounced as norms have broken down and now that media writ large is in crisis, due in part to the rise of social media and the dumbifaction of the American public (yes, I know that's not a word). IMHO, some of the best sources are via substack. Here are some of my personal favorites - if you have others, I would love to have others to share: • Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance • Letters From an American - Heather Cox Richardson This one hits the mark for both Kuo (above) and Ben-Ghiat below: Lessons in Fascism • Meidas+ • The Power - Carol Cadwalladr This one is especially good: How to survive the Broligarchy But also and always: • If you are podcast listeners, I highly recommend listening to Tim Miller on The Bulwark. It isn't always what you want to hear, but as a millenial former Republican and technically NeverTrumper, he's smart, informed, irreverent and always interesting. And he's got great taste in music. Go off-line and create communities of resistence - We are all in this together. The threats are real and probably going to get worse. They will likely impact us in ways we aren't yet imagining. We need to remember that we are bound by a shared believe in democratic values and institutions, that we are driven by concern for our neighbors and future generations. Don't be afraid of speaking about politics - let's not relegate it to the refuse pile because it scares us.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: REQUEST YOUR 2025 BALLOTS!! Remember that every year we must request our ballots. Although it is not an official election year, some states will drop you from voter rolls if you don't request your ballots. In addition, there are many special elections - and more may come up. Please request your ballot here.
As always, we are here for your suggestions, your complaints, or just to have your ear. Please feel free to reach out. Democratically yours, Sally DeSipio Chair, DAPT |
