Looking west

For the past few months I’ve been closely following the activities in an eagles’ nest in Big Bear Valley, California. I’ve held my breath as the 3 eaglets hatched, waiting nervously for the third one to finally make their appearance, and witnessed their rapid growth fueled by a steady supply of fish and other game provided by their incredibly attentive parents.

When a historic snow storm caused the death of the largest of eaglets I mourned the loss, despite my understanding that nature is fragile and must be allowed to run its course. I was saddened about that fierce little life having been snuffed out by a late season storm, but rejoiced to see the other two eaglets thrive under their parents care.

Last week, over a 5 or 6 day span, both of the young eagles fledged, or flew the nest. Seeing them make their first forays into the greater world was both gratifying and sobering. Their spread wings were able to support their explorations, but what hazards, natural and manmade, might they encounter? Would they beat the odds and survive to adulthood?

As the nest emptied, I accepted that it was time to let those remarkable birds, who represent this country, go and turn my eyes toward activities closer to home. It’s almost summer after all and there’s plenty of wildlife, including eagles, closer to home.

But then L.A. and political demonstrations drew my attention once more to California.

In sharp contrast to the now empty nest of bald eagles, the streets of L.A. and San Francisco* have been occupied with protestors demonstrating their support of immigrants and against the actions of ICE. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the current president is committed to ridding the country, without due process, of “illegals.” ICE has become increasingly aggressive in their actions and families and communities are being divided as masked men in unmarked cars hunt for “undesirables” in our neighborhoods.

The worst president in American history has declared that what is happening in our streets is an ‘insurrection.” He claims that his authoritarian action of delivering nearly 5,000 National Guardsman and Marines has saved the city of Los Angeles from burning down. He’s a liberator, probably in his own mind on par with those who marched through Europe to end WWII.

Speaking of WWII, have you seen the article in the Guardian UK about the current unrest in the U.S. which states, “The raids appear to be spreading as ICE ramps up its efforts to meet a reported quota of 3,000 detentions a day set by Stephen Miller, the ghouliest of ghouls Trump’s White House deputy chief of staff.”

You know who else had quotas? Hitler.

Citizens just aren’t having it. They’ve responded by taking to the streets to exercise their Constitutional right of free speech. They’re standing up for the people who provide the labor that, among other things, keep food on tables across the country. Americans are placing themselves between ICE and the immigrants they are seeking to remand to private, for-profit detention centers.

The facilities where they will be held have a history of exploiting detainees. If you’re unaware of the documented issues in these places, read this article from Georgetown Law for some context.

I truly feel we are at a critical juncture in this country.

On Saturday, 6/14, people who are in agreement with my own perspective on the events occurring in this country, will be gathering and marching to demonstrate their refusal to comply with the current regime.

The map above illustrates the magnitude of the planned day of protest. There are hundreds of events scheduled, domestically and abroad, to occur this Saturday. In the immediate Capital Region there will be marches and protests in Troy, Albany, Guilderland and Bethlehem.

I’m going to try to get to at least two of them.

As citizens nationwide demonstrate their disagreement with the present regime, there will be another event occurring in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

A military parade featuring more than 6,000 soldiers, along with a procession of military equipment and weapons, is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. This flex of weapon power is estimated by NPR to cost taxpayers between $25-$45 million.

I suppose that’s just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the $59.4 billion undocumented workers contributed to the federal government in 2022 according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Still, isn’t there something obscene about this expense at a time when millions of Americans are on the cusp of losing healthcare, educational opportunities and SNAP food benefits?

It’s going to be a busy weekend. Which event will you be attending? Which side of history do you want to be on?

It’s time to fly.

X👑

*Along with numerous other cities across the country.