DEAR DONALD...ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT

 Dear Donald,

I'd like to talk to you about the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The one you are about to swear to uphold. You have been around in our country seventy years and have been quoted as saying, "I was a great student. I was good at everything." So let's just call this emphasis learning.

Of course, I'm sure you know what the First Amendment says, but to review:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The First Amendment is really pretty simple and very straightforward, but again, to review; let's take it one issue at a time.

In our United States there shall be no law about who or how you worship or even if you worship at all. Free exercise. For all. Regardless of belief. Seems obvious and, dare I say, inclusive. And, because we are a nation of immigrants, we have a lot of religions; too many to even name them all.   In fact, Founding Father and President Thomas Jefferson emphasized this tenet when he said, "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State." Let's call if personal. Our beliefs are personal and should stay that way.

And freedom of speech and press cannot be abridged. Abridged, that is curtailed, lessened, reduced, restricted. Each of us (including Broadway actors) may give our opinions freely. And the press is not only free to cover, investigate and report anything; our very democracy depends on the information they report. I can't stop them. You can't stop them. And if you try, we will know for sure that you are trying to destroy our country, because our very survival depends on the free flow of information we can get only from an active and unafraid press.

And here's the real kicker for you. You are a public official. So anybody can say anything about you and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it. You better buck up buttercup. For a preview of what is in store please review the talk (including your own), letters, signs, effigys and often screams directed at President Obama. You didn't hear any whining from him so we will expect you to be at least as presidential.

Lastly, there is the right to peacefully assemble (parade, walk, march) and petition (protest, advocate). This is the way we use our free speech collectively. Sometimes it is hard to hear a voice when it is lost in millions of separate voices. But when those million voices speak as one, oh boy, that is powerful. Just like the Founding Fathers intended. If you've read Alexander Hamilton (Ron Chernow), you really understand how important this right and the others in the First Amendment are to the bedrock belief upon which our country stands. Or see the Broadway show, although since they are sold out for the next two years you might have to appeal to their clear sense of good citizenship to see it soon.

There you have it. The FIRST Amendment. The reason we have been able to take the diverse group of immigrants we all are and make a country. The UNITED States of America. If there hadn't been anyone to unite we could have just called ourselves, oh I don't know, the Confederated Tribes of Natives.

Now that you have reviewed the First Amendment of the Constitution, I expect you will want to revise your Twitter strategy. As President sworn to uphold the constitution you will want to model the appropriate behavior...just like President Obama did when confronted with speech or press that was hurtful or with which he disagreed. Let's try that here shall we?

Your Tweet:
"The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior."

Revised in light of your presidential leadership recognizing the First Amendment:
"The cast and producers of Hamilton exercised their  First Amendment right to free speech tonight in a heartfelt message to Mike Pence."

Your Tweet:
"The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!"

 Revised in light of your presidential leadership recognizing the First Amendment:
"Glad the Theater is a safe place to exercise the free speech we all recognize. Keep it up!"

Your Tweet:
"Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!"

 Revised in light of your presidential leadership recognizing the First Amendment:
"Future V.P. Pence grateful to be publicly recognized & honored with cordial and sincere information on the people's concerns. Good  ideas!"

Thanks for your attention. I'll be happy to share my thoughts about our great, shared country anytime.

Sincerely,
Marcia Banta
U.S. Citizen

I was a great student. I was good at everything.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/donaldtrum733749.html

I was a great student. I was good at everything.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/donald_trump_7.html

I was a great student. I was good at everything.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/donald_trump_7.html

COLD ANGER

It's time for Cold Anger and a lot less Hot Anger.

Hot Anger is, well, hot. Flammable. Easily co-opted by others for their own causes. Even turned against us. Hot Anger is directed at a target we cannot obtain. It's the easy joining of friends to parade our anger when we feel helpless. The destruction of what is in our path because the real cause of our anger is beyond our reach.

Trump is President-elect. Barring jail, while possible since he is in court for both fraud and rape, his taking office is immutable. Spending time trying to undo over two centuries of the peaceful transfer of power will only lead to failure. Or perhaps lead to the destruction of the country we want so desperately to save from what will certainly be a cruel and chaotic four years.

Cold Anger is that roiling in the pit of our stomach, present constantly and not allayed since November 8th. Cold Anger tells us we must act. Cold Anger is sustainable. Cold Anger looks at the situation, parses it for possible alternatives, organizes like minded others and takes targeted action. Cold Anger changes what it sees in front of it, one task at a time. Cold Anger parades only for a specific, attainable objective.

Right now we are in that restless grief that knows there is a next step, but cannot see that step clearly. I am there too.

Here is what I will do first. I will commit myself to helping others stay safe. This is on me. I can choose to do this without permission or agreement from others

I will speak up. I will speak against racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, and every other act that threatens another citizen based on their race, country of birth, color, religion, sexual preference or gender identity. I will act to stop any of the above, right there, as it is happening. Verbal or physical. If I need more training to understand how to intervene effectively, I'll get that training.

I will have this conversation and encourage others to have this conversation with friends, neighbors, book clubs, bowling leagues, golf games, card games, potlucks, dinner parties, social media, any gathering of people who care about America. I will be insistently polite, but I will not be afraid; I will not be silenced.

Second, I will pay attention. I will know what is happening and know the facts. I will understand the options for alternatives when I disagree. I will not hide in everyday life. I will not retreat just because I am not the first affected, the first to be attacked, the first to lose my American rights or benefits. I will not bury my head until it is my ox being gored.

Third, I will constantly be on the lookout for those who believe as I do, for allies. While I can do much as an individual, we are not just stronger together, we are more effective at producing change together. And I will not just look at traditional allies. As the Trump Presidency proceeds, more and more of his supporters will understand the con for which they fell. It is not too soon to begin talking and gathering strength.

I will not wait for a "leader". I will gather real people, join our minds and hearts and trust that leadership will emerge; whether sooner or later.

All of the above is a big ask. Consult the pit of your stomach to know if it is worth the effort.