To Minnesota with love
Making the instigator-in-chief flinch
The citizens of Minnesota have stood up heroically to the cruelty, viciousness, and mayhem that Donald Trump has unleashed on their state.
Still, the daily onslaught against freedoms in our country can wear us down. Let us pause to give one another credit for the many efforts at resistance. Let us also notice when the instigator-in-chief flinches at our pushback.
We should not give the authoritarians comfort by sitting out the fight. Instead, we should be like members of a chorus who drop out quietly during a sustained note and come back in after taking a breath.
One of the problems we face is the brainless mockery that abounds on social media and makes it hard to have a serious discussion. Right-wing trolls and bots are ready to pounce, substituting laughing emojis for arguments.
MAGA is built on hate. Its adherents have done all they can to pull our country apart. They demand an America that erases, excludes, and removes people unlike them. They are relentlessly vicious and ignorant, and refuse to respect the diverse perspectives and traditions that have enriched us. They expect freedom for themselves while refusing to respect the Bill of Rights for others.
If they don't like comparisons to Nazi Germany, they should stop defending Trump's secret police.
Like the brave people in the Twin Cities, voters across the country are making it clear they have had enough. The radical right's hatred and attempts at racial and religious supremacy only diminish America. We will remain a diverse country whether the bigots and bullies like it or not.
Possibly the most astonishing evil we are witnessing is cruelty toward children. How can anyone not have a pang of conscience when confronted with the consequences of their own fanaticism? Such cold-bloodedness is a sure sign they are in a cult.
Meeting our country's challenges requires a minimum level of respect and intellectual honesty. Descending into tribalism is no sign of strength.
We are going to defeat this monstrous, corrupt regime. The courage and decency on display in our streets show we are capable of so much better than a political arsonist who poses as a firefighter. We will not let him erase the proud history of the struggle to make this country live out the meaning of its creed.
The Democratic Party is the only major party defending the fundamental American values which have been trampled by the Republican Party under Trump. Democrats, to be sure, are not perfect. We are always struggling to confront inequities. But we are defending working people against those who would divide us for their own gain. The polls reflect this. Democrats have a good chance of winning the midterm election despite Trump's efforts at stealing it through intimidation and lies.
A close election is the easiest to steal. Let us make sure it is not close.
We have a strange tendency to argue over who is entitled to speak. When Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs expressed horror at the ICE shootings in Minneapolis, some responded "Who?" and others suggested he stick to basketball. Wemby, as he is known, is a French player whose father is of Congolese origin. He is 7 feet 4 inches tall; was the top NBA draft pick in 2023; was Rookie of the Year in 2024; and at age 22 has already played in two All-Star games. But even if he were mediocre, he would have as much right to express his views as anyone else.
MAGAs love to dismiss the contributions of people of color. It is fine to clap back, but it is more important to set a better example. Black people have wisdom borne of surviving four centuries of racial injustice on this continent. The thuggery of ICE and Border Patrol agents recalls the slave catchers of old. The persistence of hatred is disturbing, but history teaches us that we will overcome.
Greyhound announced in February 2020 that it would not consent to warrantless immigration checks by Border Patrol agents on its buses. A 2020 story has resurfaced about a bus driver telling an ICE agent, "Gargle my balls." Pardon me for quoting such a vulgar comment, but I think it vividly illustrates the innate courage of many people in standing up to police-state tactics. We cannot win by being complacent.
Don Lemon's defiance in response to his arrest for committing journalism also shows the right spirit. This proud black gay man demonstrates that the struggle makes us stronger.
Richard Rosendall is a writer and activist who can be reached at [email protected].
Copyright © 2026 by Richard J. Rosendall. All rights reserved.