Some Americans, roughly a third of us, have chosen the Dark Side: fear, greed,violent domination, regimentation, -- meanness. They/we have chosen not to work through their shadows, the trauma hidden in the psyche. They/we choose instead to locate the "enemy" "out there," in people of color, poverty, and lack of power -- immigrants and other marginalized groups, mainly, but also anyone who disagrees with them. These/we Americans hate and want to destroy these "enemies." They/we will destroy every vestige of democracy to do so. They/we are like a snake eating itself out of anger, spite, and terror of its own, self-created monsters.
The other two thirds of Americans, if they want to live in a freer, more democratic state, have to organize and regain power. It will take courage to stand up to the brutality of a police state. It will require that we overcome differences to work together to reinstate a democracy.
The times will be hard, because the fearful, our brothers and sisters, have already erected walls, fences, and weapons. Courage, community, and clarity of vision are the tools we need and have to use.
The work is there, waiting. The consequences of denial or forfeit of action will be dire, for we all will enter a long night of shadow.
