The Senior Revolution
We broke out of the nursing home. Where is everyone?
Today was perhaps the beginning of the resistance. Lots of protests all over the country, decent turnout, lots of energy. It was good to see.
I went to a protest in Encinitas, CA, and I estimate around 2000 people showed up over the course of 1.5 hours. People waving signs, lots of cars honking (Thank you), and a few people flipping us off as they passed. Not very many though. It’s clear something is brewing, the excitement and community was real
However, as I looked around, and later confirmed from pictures from all over the country, it seems like 90% of people were over 50 (and that’s being generous, maybe it was 60). Yes, Generation X and older showed up.
But… where the heck were everyone else? Was there a new Khardasian show today?
Where were the students, the parents? Where were the 18-50 year old people at? That’s a HUGE gap to be missing, and we need to change that. I’m not sure why to be honest, or how to change it, but we must.
Perhaps they don’t consume as much news as the older generations?
Perhaps they don’t understand the extent of this disaster?
Perhaps they don’t care (say it’s not so)
Perhaps they don’t know what’s going on at all, and haven’t felt the consequences yet?
Perhaps they need a leader
Whatever else happened to day at these demonstrations, this was pure grassroots. There WAS no leader. No rousing speeches (probably a few exceptions), no organization apart from “show up”. A few us us today took it upon ourselves to start marching around our stoplight as it changed, so at least we felt like we were marching. I mean, it was great, but it also seemed a bit.. random.
The news I watched tonight showed a lot of people, but I did not hear a single major speaker. I heard lots of great intent, and some kids wrapping, while hundreds or more people looked on.
Where are the democrats? Why are they not helping? Why are they not spending money on the 18-50 years old? Find them, advertise where they get the news, spend some of the money we all gave/give. Get people excited. Get out the protest for real. We need the young whippersnappers.
Today was awesome, but it’s just a small start. A spark to ignite the larger resistance. It was not a message to the GOP. It was a message to ourselves. A message that YES, we are here, and YES we care, and YES we WILL show up.
Now, we need someone to take the reins and lead this thing.
(Danish version)
I dag var måske begyndelsen på modstanden. Masser af protester over hele landet, god opbakning, masser af energi. Det var godt at se.
Jeg deltog i en protest i Encinitas, Californien, og jeg vurderer, at omkring 2000 mennesker dukkede op i løbet af halvanden time. Folk viftede med skilte, masser af biler dyttede (tak for det), og et par enkelte gav os fingeren, da de kørte forbi. Men ikke ret mange. Det er tydeligt, at noget er på vej — begejstringen og fællesskabet var ægte.
Men… da jeg kiggede mig omkring, og senere så billeder fra hele landet, virkede det som om, at 90 % af deltagerne var over 50 år (og det er pænt sagt — måske var det 60 år). Ja, Generation X og ældre mødte op.
Hvor pokker var alle de andre? Var der et nyt Kardashian-afsnit i dag?
Hvor var studerende, forældre? Hvor var folk i alderen 18 til 50? Det er et kæmpe hul at mangle, og det skal vi ændre på. Jeg ved ærligt talt ikke hvorfor, eller hvordan vi ændrer det, men vi er nødt til det.
Måske følger de ikke nyhederne på samme måde som de ældre generationer?
Måske forstår de ikke, hvor alvorlig krisen er?
Måske er de ligeglade (sig det ikke er sandt)?
Måske ved de slet ikke, hvad der foregår, og har ikke mærket konsekvenserne endnu?
Måske har de brug for en leder?
Uanset hvad der ellers skete i dag ved disse demonstrationer, så var det ren græsrodsbevægelse. Der var ingen leder. Ingen brændende taler (måske et par undtagelser), ingen organiseret struktur ud over “bare mød op”.
Et par af os tog initiativ til at marchere rundt om lyskrydset, når lyset skiftede, bare for at få det til at føles som en rigtig march. Det var fedt — men det føltes også lidt… tilfældigt. Nyhederne, jeg så i aften, viste mange mennesker, men jeg hørte ikke en eneste stor tale. Jeg hørte masser af gode intentioner, og nogle unge der rappede en sang om Trump, men det flytter jo ikke rigtigt noget.
Hvor er Demokraterne? Hvorfor hjælper de ikke? Hvorfor bruger de ikke penge på at nå de 18-50-årige? Find dem, reklamér dér hvor de får deres nyheder, brug nogle af de penge, vi alle sammen har givet/donerer. Gør folk begejstrede. Få protestbevægelsen i gang for alvor. Vi har brug for de unge vildbasser.
I dag var fantastisk, men det var kun en lille begyndelse. En gnist, der kan tænde den store modstand. Det var ikke en besked til GOP. Det var en besked til os selv. En besked om, at JA, vi er her, og JA, vi går op i det, og JA, vi vil møde op.
Nu har vi brug for, at nogen tager tøjlerne og leder det her videre.
