Let's See Who is Stronger

A short post...

I didn’t want to tell you what I did in the days after the Presidential election because I am ashamed of it. Not because it was unreasonable, but because I am an activist living in a red state, and I know better.

I drove North into the woods with my checkbook a few days after Trump won.

I was going to buy some land in a blue state and have a place to run and hide. I wanted to be close to the Boundary Waters so I could canoe my way to safety if I needed to.

I am not on a national radar, but you can bet your next paycheck that every elected Republican in this state knows my name. And under the “anything goes” administration we are now facing, I know I could face backlash. I could face physical or financial consequences.

I was scared.

I talked to a few real estate agents and drove about nine hours wondering what I was doing. Nothing was right and everything was wrong — I drove in circles. I went to places I knew and places I didn’t know.

I drove back home without using my checkbook.

While in this blue state, I passed Trump flags and FJB signs. I listened to local radio cheer the election results. I bought gas at filling stations with MAGA hats for sale. I saw a huge barn with TRUMP written across the loft.

What is the point of running? It is a blue state with more protections, but the rural areas are very similar to Missouri rural spaces and how am I helping anyone by running? What about my grown kids and my grandkids in Missouri?

I am a straight, middle-aged white woman and MAGA passing at that. Wouldn’t I be better suited using my privilege to stay and fight in Missouri?

Yes.

Cascade River State Park, Lutsen, Minnesota.

I haven’t told my older kids what I did after the election. Don’t worry. They don’t read my Substack, so they still won’t know.

My youngest knows I go into nature for a few days when things go wrong or I am overwhelmed by the work. My husband often tells me to go when he sees things are weighing on me.

The trip provided clarity.

The fascists want me to give up my home state. They want me to run to places and people that agree with me. They want us cornered in spaces, packed into populated areas, just like they want us to cede the less populated areas.

How much easier would it be to win when all of the liberals are contained to a few urban areas in a few states. The Electoral College would be a slam dunk and corporations could run amok in rural spaces — you get a CAFO and you get a CAFO.

I will not run. I will not compromise. I will not collaborate. I will be the opposition.

I know this is a lot for all of us, but I have decided I will do one thing a day to stop the fascism creeping in. I know that all things no good and terrible will go through the states, so I will start in my own backyard.

Yesterday, my State Senator sent his monthly newsletter expressing his opposition to the abortion amendment Missourians just passed. He said he would actively fight to overturn the will of Missouri voters. I spent about two minutes sending an email in response:

It was short and to the point, and I shared it on social media to encourage others to do the same.

We can’t do everything, but we can do one thing. One thing. Every day. I can’t run away, but I can stand up.

There is nowhere to run anyway, and I have spent the better part of a decade doing the work. I can teach others to do the same.

Let’s do this. Let’s see who is the last one standing. Let’s see who is stronger.

Let’s f’king go.

~Jess