Well, as expected, Trump has started his presidency with a flood of executive orders. Some are appalling, many destructive, some obviously illegal, and others just silly. The word “retribution” comes up again and again. I read this week that his Justice Department is now firing employees who worked on the criminal investigation case led by Jack Smith, which focused on Trump. Retribution.
Silly: Expecting Canada to become a U.S. state is silly, as is renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. I could go on.


Going after migrants who come to the U.S. to create a better life for themselves is a major action being taken now by the Trump administration. The news is full of stories about individuals with no documentation who are given the choice of leaving America without their families, or leaving with their families. Think about how a child is affected by losing his mother who has been deported, or a child going to live in another country when all he/she knows is a family here, friends here, a school here, and a life here in the U.S.
I’m reminded of my grandmother who was brought to the U.S. as a five-year old and who didn’t have legal status much of her life until she married an American well into her adulthood. https://www.cjshane.com/blog/my-grandmother-and-the-border
Last I heard, those American Indians were here first. The Europeans are arguably the real “illegal immigrants.” And Trump is going after American birth-right citizenship, too.

What about those pets of people who get deported from the U.S.? Here are guidelines for the trauma involved, how to plan in case this happens, and what to do to make sure the dog or cat is cared for and not just left out in the cold to starve.
https://www.visaverge.com/news/what-happens-to-your-pets-after-ice-raids-and-deports-you/
I’ve read that a lot of people are acquiring guns. That’s not my idea of a good solution. I don’t agree with some who think we’re headed for a civil war. Others are planning to leave the U.S., and some Americans have already left. Much scarier to me is the possibility that we could be entering a period similar to Germany in the 1920s and 1930s when Nazi fascism rose. For a lot of Germans during that period, the tyranny crept up until it was too late to leave and too terrifying to speak out.
Before all else, we’re going to have to make an effort to keep our spirits up so we’ll know what to do when we’re called on.

Remember the song: “Only two things that money can’t buy, True love and homegrown tomatoes.”

Supporting those of us engaged in what the Buddhists call “right action” is another way. For example, I give a financial contribution to World Central Kitchen whenever I can afford it. WCK is a group founded by chef José Andrés. WCK shows up when and wherever folks need a hot meal, regardless of politics. https://www.wck.org
We’ll get through these dark times together.
What are you doing to get you through the dark times? Feel free to leave a comment below.