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Method 33. Fraternization: “Stay connected” or steer clear? (link: https://leighopkins.com/2019/04/11/method-33-fraternization/) One of the hard questions many of us have been asking ourselves: “Should I stay friends with Trump supporters?” My gut says save yourself the heartache, but nonviolent action theory says YES – and so does Stephen King. King has also called Trump a “nut job” and wrote that the president’s access to the nuclear codes “worse than any horror story I ever wrote.” So there’s that. I asked friends on Facebook to tell me about a conversation they had with a 45-loving family member or friend that went WELL, and here’s what I got: "It would be an imaginary tale." "I think all of my in-laws voted for him. It’s put a strain on our relationship" "Oh I’ve unfriended both friends and family members over this floridfacedfatfuck" "My brother 🙄. We don’t talk about it. My mom is just anti-democrat but falls short of Trump-loving. I will way that she is appalled, surprised, and receptive when I show her news not available on Fox" "I WOULD have a conversation, but have to spit whenever that name is mentioned. It always seems to go back to what Obama did or didn’t do." "every time i’ve tried it’s just turned into a never ending tire fire." "When can I stop laughing? They’re all gone." I’m fessing up. I’m writing about the importance of building bridges, but I fully admit that I screen all of my contacts on social media for any whiff of Trump. I know that my uncle has called Trump “the best president of my lifetime,” and I admit that I don’t mind so much that I haven’t seen him since the election. It’s not like these conversations are out of my comfort zone – I’m a liberal lesbian Democrat and I managed to work with the Bush administration – but this is something different. So here’s a gut check: the research shows that keeping the communication lines open is vital component of successful nonviolent resistance. Gene Sharp’s research showed that an effective alternative to boycotting soldiers and police is to:https://leighopkins.com/2019/04/11/method-33-fraternization/ #noborders

Greetings from "fuel stop" NY. #roadtrip #hotdogheights #ilovenewyork

As Trump tweets videos of his new border wall, I thought I’d share this lovely story: in 2002, my parents drove across the country to visit Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ in the Sonoran Desert – about 2 miles north of the Mexican border. My dad’s a biologist, so after hiking the desert for a few hours, my parents decided to swing by the national park service’s visitor center. They’re talky people, my folks, and after chatting up the park rangers, they were offered an interview. “You’re the kind of people we’d love to have as volunteers.” The next thing they knew, my parents were driving out of town with jobs as volunteer rangers and a rental agreement on a house for the following winter. Three years later, they sold their house in NY and bought this sweet casita in the desert. If you Google “Ajo, AZ, NPR” you can read some incredible stories about the “water bearer” activists who are bridge building at the border. When I’m not in Philly, this is home. #noborderwall @ Ajo, Arizona

AWP Day 3: sloth. @awpfashionfeed #awp19 #portland #writinglife

Today I'm bogging (sic) from the annual Association of Writers and Publishers conference in Portland, Oregon, and because I'm sleep-deprived and over caffeinated, this will be a short post. (Link in profile.) #awp19 I've got plenty to say about the Mueller report – and maybe even a new ukulele song. In the meantime, here's what I've got to say about Method 32. It works, but it's an angry, divisive energy that has been utilized effectively by the GOP in Chief since he began campaigning. He used it at a rally last night when he called Representative Adam Schiff "little pencil-neck." And it's working. Stop by Twitter today to see what's trending, and it might make you feel better. #YouMightThinkItsOK ... but it's not. Back next week. Feel free to check out #AWP19. It's a scene!

Catching up on last week's travel before moving on to Method 32...and AWP. Desert landscape, starring teddy bear cholla and a lot of saguaros. #desert #arizona

Recent Posts

Method 33. Fraternization: “Stay connected” or steer clear?
Method 32: Taunting Officials
What’s on my Nightstand: March 2019
Method 31: “Haunting” Officials
Method 30: Rude Gestures

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