“Even his griefs are a joy long after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured.” ― Homer, The Odyssey on Goodreads
Americans are flocking to the movie theater and IMAX theaters to watch Christopher Nolan‘s film adaptation of the Homeric tale, The Odyssey. From ancient Greek literature, it is an epic about Odysseus’ journey to return home after the Trojan Wars.
Serendipitous in the modern era? A homecoming to a time when humans lived together with the world’s biota in harmony and reciprocity?
A modern drama as people battle the cyclopes of our political time?
Last night I wrote to key players in an army set to strip America of her democracy, to replace it with autocratic rule: Republican Representative of Virginia. Here is my battle cry hymn:
Americans we are on an Odyssey like none before in our nation’s history, except perhaps the Civil War. But, I think this time is much more perilous because so much is at stake. While this government is causing havoc everywhere and distracting us from the stabilizing work to keep our children healthy and stabilize climate so they have a future, everything is hanging in the balance.
We are the Odysseus of our time. Let us not fail our kids and grandkids.
Freedom, Nation’s Capitol. Photo by Susan L Feathers, 2013
Dear Senators and Representatives of the Republican Party,
This moment requires members of the Republican House and Senate to act decisively to protect the civil rights of citizens and adhere to Constitutional laws. Under your watch, the nation has never been more at risk of becoming another form of government: autocracy.
We the People have patiently waited for you to stand up for democracy. There is no more recent and brazen example as the persecution of Minnesota leaders and citizens. Pam Bondi’s request for voter roles is a clear violation of state’s sovereignty under law. Other cities have endured violations of civil rights by ICE but in Minnesota the worst of the far right ideologues of your once great old party are persecuting people it labels with a host of unamerican labels from elected officials right up to the White House.
We are not dealing with a “strong executive” but with people in key positions of power who have publicly stated their hatred of immigrants and their hatred of Democrats. Whatever happened to a nation in which both Republican and Democratic administrations were adhered to by citizens of all political views because all our leaders followed the rule of law and Constitutional laws.
My view is that we learned who DJT was in his first administration in which he pushed against the laws of our nation but was held in place by our guardrails against a despot: Supreme Court and Legislature. Now we have a stacked court of right leaning judges who have given immunity to a leader who is exactly the kind of person our founders wrote about who if he got into power would destroy the Republic. That is what we are witnessing, and, I have to say, is doing so with a lot of facilitation by you and your colleagues.
I am 80 years old, and I have never seen anything like we have in Donald Trump: an erratic, unstable human being; a person ignorant of our country and the world al large; a man whose mental health is deteriorating in plain view. We have never been more at risk in national security.
The killing of two Minnesota citizens by ICE who were protesting (their civil right) and the cowardly way in which Homeland Security reacted by calling them both insurrectionists is how dictatorships operate. Each family has a right to a full investigation. Life is not cheap in America under normal conditions.
I am begging you and your colleagues to stand up for the Republic! Protect our 250 years of striving together to make the best country we can. My God, the world is turning away from us. But do you know what I hold each of you most responsible for? Breaking the trust of the American people in such ways that you have weakened and endangered us. STAND UP!! Think about your legacy.
Sincerely,
Susan Lee Feathers
Devoted Patriot of American Democracy
Teacher, Writer, Active Citizen
Freedom, Nation’s Capitol. Photo by Susan L Feathers, 2013
Susan Feathers 