Shabbat shalom!
A tip of the kippah today to Paul Revere and his fellow Sons of Liberty. Two-hundred and fifty years ago, in the quiet hours of April 18, 1775, Revere and a few of his freedom-loving friends rode through the Massachusetts countryside, sounding the alarm: the British were coming! I think I was in the third grade when we were asked to memorize Longfellow’s poem about Revere’s famous ride to “spread the alarm through every middlesex, village and farm” of the impending move by British troops to quell the revolt of the locals against taxation without representation.
His midnight mission wasn’t just a call to arms—it was a warning that liberty was under threat. That the new policies of the government were enacted without any check by the people. And that giving that sort of power to any man would clear a path toward tyranny. The story and the poem endure not only for its drama, but because it illustrates a timeless truth: freedom and Democracy require people willing to raise the alarm before it’s too late.
Today, the threats look different—but they are no less real. Many have been warning for some time of the tyranny of the orange turd, and the danger he poses to Democracy. Those that do so get labelled as “hyperbolic”, or suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome”. “The institutions will hold” they say. “The courts will save us”. Or, “he’s just playing and trolling the libs.”
Bullshit. This shit’s been getting real for some time, and the more the turd gets away with, the more he doubles down on consolidating his power. And it’s all about power and his ability to use it for whatever transaction or act of revenge strokes his maniacal ego. Remember the apologue of the the frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if the frog is put in tepid water which is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. Well, the water is boiling and Democracy may be cooked. We are now plucking people off the street and sending them to a gulag without any due process. This is worse than “taxation without representation”, we are now in banana republic territory.
Under the orange turd’s presidency, there is a clear pattern of undemocratic “executive orders” (kingly decrees) that challenge the core pillars of American democracy: the independence of the judiciary, the sanctity of free elections, the press, and the peaceful transfer of power, just to name a few. Whether through authoritarian executive orders, weaponizing the justice system and the IRS against anyone who opposes his orders, efforts to undermine voting rights, the embrace of lies and disinformation, or the treasonous effort to overthrow an election, the turd’s tenure has sparked deep concerns about the erosion of democratic norms. In less than 100 days, he and his clown car administration have: blown up the international order, sucked up to autocrats, wrecked the world economy, sowed doubt about vaccines, spread medical quackery, strangled lifesaving foreign aid, pardoned violent rioters, spewed nonstop lies, and extorted the press, law firms, and universities. Yesterday the moron even cancelled Head Start funding!
History informs us that freedom is fragile. It depends not just on institutions but on those brave enough to defend them. Longfellow used the story of Revere and friends to inspire a later generation to work to stop tyranny in his own time. The poem is not a strictly accurate historical account, but rather a patriotic and romanticized portrayal of Revere’s actions, intended to inspire and uplift the nation during the Civil War era.
As in 1775, the call goes out once again: the threat to Democracy is not just near, it is here! Will we rise to meet it? In this context, Revere’s ride offers more than just historical nostalgia—it offers a metaphor for modern leadership. Who are today’s riders?
They are Harvard University, and the law firms refusing to capitulate to the turdly king’s decrees and pressure tactics. They are journalists, Substack writers, whistleblowers, judges, civil rights leaders, and engaged citizens who refuse to stay silent when liberty is at risk. They are the thousands of us attending Tesla Takedown and/or Hands Off rallies across the country.
Like Revere, we must all understand that the most dangerous enemy is often not foreign soldiers, but complacency. It’s not noticing the tepid water is getting freaking hot! And the longer we wait, the hotter it gets, and the harder it becomes to jump out of the pot. A scary quote this week from US Senator Lisa Murkowski, “We are all afraid. … And I’ll tell ya, I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real”. Holy shit. That from a United States Senator is pretty freaking scary. But don’t be intimidated. Take arms against this sea of trouble, and by opposing, let’s end them. What can we do? Here is a link to the Hands Off organization. Sign up. Join the protests. Make phone calls. Contribute.
So through the night rode Paul Revere; And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm,— A cry of defiance, and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, And a word that shall echo forevermore! For, borne on the night-wind of the Past, Through all our history, to the last, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, The people will waken and listen to hear The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed, And the midnight message of Paul Revere.
Be safe out there. Next week I will return with my usual round-up of news of the Jews.
Brad out.
Jew News Review 