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In reply to the discussion: BREAKING: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops... [View all]frazzled
(18,402 posts)I was just thinking that this morning: that all of us need to inform ourselves about the rules for cooperation/noncooperation with immigration authorities, and with laws and rights, so that when we are standing on the subway platform and an individual is confronted by an authority, we can step in to help.
I was thinking this because I'm sensing a new sense of solidarity among people, and we should begin to use this solidarity in useful, sometimes courageous ways. Let me explain.
Last night we were riding the El train to go to a symphony concert. Now, normally, no one EVER strikes up a conversation with strangers on the train (except the guys asking for spare change, etc.). Last night, that wasn't the case. First of all, one of a pair of older African American men sitting across from us says to me, "those are nice boots!" I say, "well thank you so much," and we start to have an incredibly genial conversation about suede, and how they weren't very expensive, etc. And they get off and then a young woman stands to help a foreign woman in a headscarf (so presumably Muslim) who is wondering how to get to the commuter rail station. All of a sudden, everyone in the car is up pointing to the map and helping her with instructions. She is clearly unbelievably gratified by the care she is receiving, and she says "I'm not from here," smiling.
And that is why I woke up this morning with the sense that we can and must be the protectors of our fellow citizens in the event they are confronted by authorities or by individuals with hatred in their hearts. Their is a new sense of comity among the public, at least there is here in my city, and we should build on this by becoming informed citizens who stand between the disadvantaged and possible danger.