Against Tyranny

Robert Reich joins with Timothy Snyder in expressing resistance to American tyranny today on Substack. Canadians who know the US and who may have lived there as students or employees share the concern and try to learn how to deal with the impact on themselves. Threatening the media is not on for a government. It is, in fact what the first amendment states – rather than the right to say anything that one likes. The role of government is not to prohibit freedom of expression, but to affirm it.

We Canadians are anxious and annoyed but not frightened. When the American ambassador wishes that he didn’t have to associate with “nasty” Canadians, we see that as his problem, not ours. Here are Reich’s recommendations that can apply to us as we deal with our own issues in a different kind of war.

·       It doesn’t work to try to appease an authoritarian. We need to watch our own national and provincial government in this respect.

·       Individuals can’t protest alone, though some inspire us. We need to join and support groups to do so.

·       Confronting authoritarians requires courage. We have to speak out when we disagree with others. At the same time we must be respectful that others have the right to different views. There is a difference there. It doesn’t mean attacking them.

·       It doesn’t stop. While we are tired of the ongoing TV reality show, we have to keep track of the daily changes in activity.

·       Small actions are necessary. Writing to our elected representatives is important. Positive letters of support when appropriate are helpful to counteract the ongoing negative and hateful ones. Kindness works.

·       Be happy with reliable results because tyrants rely on people to give up.

·       Stay active and involved. Speak up, join with others in appropriate actions, talk to elected representatives, support companies that do the right things and protect the most vulnerable among us.

And this is how Reich concludes today. His latest book details many aspects of long lives that we share. He talks about the courage of his past generations, and I’ve lived about 16 years longer, so my own memories as a child during the Second World War are greater. But the message is the same.

“It is up to us to preserve democracy and protect social justice. Our predecessors in this struggle — generations who have sacrificed for these values — demand it. Our children and grandchildren deserve it.”