The pivot to “joy” as resistance—”we are going to meet Donald Trump and his cronies head-on with one of the greatest tools we have: joy… Joy and community are resistance in this moment”—is touching but misguided. Protest sign-making parties (“a great low-key, friendly way to dip their toes in”) could build real community, yet they’re aimed at growing “more powerful than Trump and MAGA authoritarianism.” Weaponizing joy as a tool for a political comeback? No thanks.
They ask—”Will you chip in $9 to help fund a sign-making kit?”—and boasts of (“more than 2,540 events… on track to be the largest nonviolent demonstration in U.S. history”) certainly show commitment, but the recurring mobilizations against “dark times” keep people in a state of constant destabilization and fear. They warn their followersL don’t listen to the other side: it’s dangerous. Dangerous to who? Those who fear finding common ground?
But despite the repeated warnings, the prophesied end-of-times never appear:
- Trump “doesn’t allow free speech,” yet massive No Kings rallies and protests continue freely across the country.
- Trump is a “Nazi” or “fascist,” yet he is beloved by Israel for brokering the Abraham Accords and strong support against threats.
- Trump will “end democracy,” yet he follows his campaign promises after winning fair elections, with no suspension of rights or martial law.
- Trump is an “authoritarian king,” yet he faces constant opposition, media scrutiny, and court challenges without silencing critics.
- Trump will “imprison opponents,” yet political foes speak out daily, organize rallies, and face no widespread political prosecutions.
- Trump causes “endless wars,” yet Middle East tensions trace back decades, and his prior term avoided new major conflicts while advancing peace deals.
- Trump cover up “the Epstein files,” despite releasing files that implicate both parties, and no new cover-ups have emerged under his watch.
- Trump will “destroy the economy,” yet voters chose change after prior inflation and costs, and criticisms overlook shared policy roots.
- Trump threatens “immigrant communities,” yet enforcement follows laws long on the books, with similar actions under previous admins.
- Trump is a “threat to vulnerable people,” yet his policies focus on border security and economic relief that many see as protecting citizens first.
Here’s the truth: these groups don’t question their own leaders, and they resent when we do. They let missteps pile up until safety and prosperity suffer, as in the Biden years, leading voters to choose a different path. Now, with a president following his elected roadmap, all they offer is criticism. If they’d turned that scrutiny inward and worked with their own leaders to do a better job, they might not have lost the faith of the American people.
I’m tired of accusations from the left pinning violence on others while ignoring their own role in generating it—they hold no consistent standard for conduct. We’re in this together; challenges aren’t one side’s fault. Let’s drop the “kings” framing that turns neighbors into enemies and talk honestly about shared struggles.
I don’t hate the people I disagree with. I disagree with the people I disagree with. Try it sometime.
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