Protest in Pink
If anyone was putting their faith in the Democrats doing something to stop, or at all impede, the bulldozing rush to fascism that is overtaking our country from the government on down, I have great news: some congresswomen wore pink at Trump’s address to Congress. Thank god that we have such bold and intelligent leaders working to keep all of us and the notional existence of American democracy safe. Everyone knows that no despot can stand to see their opposition wearing color-coordinated outfits. Honestly, after that, the battle is essentially won. Trump is done. Fascism is defeated. We can all rest easy and resume our lives with freedom and the privilege of living in a functioning and logical society.
That’s not to say that all the Democrats were party to this monumental act of protest. Some Democrats, namely Representative Al Green, for some reason decided that it was appropriate to express his opposition to the president and his actions verbally. Honestly, the very idea that a politician, meant to be representing us, supposedly fighting for our interests, would dare to publicly say what Trump is doing and how it is negatively impacting people. The nerve of that man. Thankfully, all of the Republicans and ten of Green’s fellow Democrats were brave enough to censure him. Since when does a US representative have the right to tell a president that he doesn’t have a mandate to cut an overwhelmingly popular program like Medicaid. Does he think he’s allowed to speak freely in this country? That he’s supposed to be some sort of alternative to passive?
Doesn’t Green know that the only legitimate way for a politician to express opposition, if they’re a Democrat, is to sit quietly, wearing a somber expression, quietly, and, if they are particularly brave and bold, wearing outfits in matching colors, quietly. You have to follow the rules. Just because Republicans don’t doesn’t mean Democrats don’t have to. Republicans don’t have the luxury of sitting quietly through presidential addresses. They have no choice but to hurl insults and slander. And if they followed the rules, they’d never get anything done. It’s a pretty simple system once you understand it: Republicans are entitled to violate rules, norms, and laws because they have to in order to get things done, and Democrats have the privilege of wearing pink, red, mauve, or whatever other color they choose, and sitting quietly, because they have to.
Can you imagine if the Democrats actually exercised their power to oppose fascism? It
would be catastrophically uncouth. Just picture it: Democrats, using their power and authority to stop unconstitutional actions; finding creative uses of the law to protect the interests of the people and stop the nation from imploding; actually being disruptive, even putting their bodies on the line, as if any of it matters. I for one can’t fathom it without feeling a bit in a tizzy. One day we have state representatives saying loudly that something is untrue and bad things are happening, the next thing you know, Congress looks like the Serbian parliament. Wouldn’t that be awful…?