What To Do In A Dictatorship

Sometimes, ridicule works just fine.

Here’s an article that might be helpful to us all. “What to do if the Insurrection Act is invoked: With the Insurrection Act looming, now is the time to learn how it might unfold and the strategic ways to respond — including the power of ridicule,” by Daniel Hunter, in Waging Non-Violence. 

In the piece, Mr. Hunter looks at what we can do as individuals should Trump invoke the Insurrection Act, in effect declaring martial law. He offers a variety of useful suggestions ranging from refusing to become violent (Trump will almost certainly try to instigate armed strife. Our refusal to go along with that will infuriate him) to the calculated use of ridicule and humor. 

Maybe not everything Mr. Hunter says will be valuable to everyone, but his article is doubtlessly an important foundation for those of us who wish to consider nonviolent responses to this most dreadful of modern administrations.

How Much Danger Are We In?

Sometimes, when I’m writing these things, I worry about just how much trouble I could get into because of them. Trump and MAGA are not known for their mercy. They have consistently sought revenge on anyone who, they think, has not shown them sufficient deference.

I tell myself that I’m relatively safe. No one reads me, for one thing. So it’s not like I’m a serious thorn in their side. And even if I did have a massive audience, what does that matter? People are protesting and writing and speaking out all over the country, and the Trump/Musk administration still just does whatever it damn well wants to. 

But, still, maybe there is some small danger. Dictatorships have long memories and short tempers. They do remember their critics, even the smallest, even decades later, and act accordingly.

However, I’m hoping that there is safety in numbers. If we all of us…all us Democrats, Progressives, Centerists, and Never-Trump Republicans…continue to speak out and continue to protest, then we will number in the millions. Maybe far too many for even the most efficient secret police to track and imprison. 

And maybe…maybe…in the end…

In our teeming multitudes, each of us alone but joining so many others…

We, and not they, will inherit the earth.