General Discussion

Fritz Walter

(4,291 posts) Wed Jun 27, 2018, 06:46 PM Jun 2018

30 days to reunite families. Or what? GENERAL STRIKE!

Tuesday night, a federal judge ruled that the current, so-called administration has 30 days to reunite families, even less time for younger children.

The deadline was set Tuesday night by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw in San Diego after President Donald Trump’s order ending his policy of separating families gave way to days of uncertainty, conflicting information and no word from the administration on when parents might see their children again.

“This situation has reached a crisis level,” Sabraw wrote.

So, what happens when that deadline passes? Harsh words? Finger wagging, or — dog forbid — fist waving?

Here’s my suggestion, FWIW: we call a general strike. Or — to draw from the example of Mahatma Gandhi — day(s) of prayer and fasting. “Our resistance must be active and provocative!”

Can you imagine a day when we all refuse to show up for work? We refuse to shop or dine out? We refuse to spend a single penny — cash, credit or debit, including on-line transfers, payments, or automated transactions? For that matter, we all stay home, stay off Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other virtual escapes from reality?

Sure, that’s a sacrifice by 21st Century standards, but consider what’s at stake here. If we could send such an unprecedented, bold message to corporate and governmental overlords, how could they ignore it? Especially if they realize that this is a sample, a preview of what might happen between now and November.

Yes, it would require sacrifice. Getting docked for a day’s pay, missing a visit to Starbucks or other favorite retail stop. But, considering what others are enduring, is it so much to ask?

Let’s put “civil disobedience” into the frame of the civility discussions now underway.

Gandhi, ML King, perhaps even Joshua bar Joseph (AKA Jesus) would look at us in pride.