Imagine

The following is written by my mother, my best friend and advocate always, love you mom –

Imagine: Thoughts on the Anniversary of An Insurrection   

by  Kathleen Amoia

I think there are many reasons we are at this inflection point in our democracy. Some are the result of anger at government failures in the face of major societal changes, some self-indulgent ignorance, some opportunist power grabs, some racist and misogynist. Another reason, I believe,  is a general failure of imagination that includes most of us.

Too many of us are playing with the idea of losing our democracy as if it has no intrinsic value to our daily lives. Too many play with the idea of secession as if it could be an easy and successful separation, no harm, no foul, a mulligan of sorts. Many are considering forever contesting election results without proof of fraud, of denying the vote to major segments of our citizenry without imagining the pushback, considering letting elected officials go unpunished for treason without imagining what that means for good governance and the rule of law. Many rant and rave over manipulated petty outrages of no  consequence while ignoring growing authoritarianism, a three year pandemic, and the existential threat of climate change. Do look up, imagine the proverbial asteroid (  democracy, voting rights, climate change). It is right over our heads.

We flirt with fascism and the power grabbers are thrilled. Imagine them without constraints on their greed, their ability to corrupt the courts, to buy every election forever. Imagine another fascist inclined president whose sycophants have learned how to pull off a coup. Imagine what would have happened if Pence had in fact been killed and the fascist in the White House had declared martial law and just remained in power. What then? What would fighting, blood in the streets, vigilante justice, mob rule  look and feel like? What is it like when a nation, afraid and weary of death, destruction, and economic chaos , turns to the strongman and accepts whatever he demands in exchange for peace. And yes, promises the trains will run on time. They won ‘t. Imagine and don’t think for a minute it could not happen here.

Imagine we are halfway to being Russia on steroids. We are bigger, we are armed to the teeth, and we are being taught to hate each other. We are richer, there is more to be grabbed by the corrupt and those they favor. Let’s imagine it all until it scares us sufficiently to get serious about the work that has to be done to save this fragile democracy. Let’s imagine what would be lost and perhaps never regained.

Let’s imagine we like most of our fellow Americans and the democracy we were blessed with, imperfect but so much better than fascism. Let’s protect the vote and use it to elect decent, informed men and women who want to lead for the right reasons and have the innate decency and courage to do so.

Imagine that!