Hi, all, and happy Tuesday.
I’ve done a deep dive, over the last couple of days, into my grandfather’s service in the First World War. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to get interested—I’ve known forever that he was a veteran, but had never looked further into it.
It turns out that Grandpa, whose name was Wallace Broecker, was present at two major battles in France. The first was the Second Battle of the Marne—the last major German offensive on the Western Front. The second, as I mentioned last week, was called the Meuse-Argonne. This battle was, according to Wikipedia:
…a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. The Meuse–Argonne offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million French, Siamese, and American soldiers. It [was] also the deadliest campaign in the history of the United States Army, resulting in over 350,000 casualties, including 28,000 German lives, 26,277 American lives and an unknown number of French lives.
Grandpa was in the Quartermasters corp, so he likely didn’t take up arms in these fights, but we honestly don’t know for sure. We do know that between the two battles he was in 38,000 American soldiers—some of whom he knew—were killed. Tens of thousands of soldiers from other nations died as well. We know he saw and experienced things—traumatic and unimaginable— that affected him deeply and permanently. We know that for the rest of his life he refused to speak about his experiences, even when pressed. My mom and her siblings were forbidden from bringing up the war or touching his packed-away uniform.
We know he won medals; we don’t know for what. They are lost. The VA tells me that most of their records from that time were also lost, in a fire. So there’s a lot of mystery, and much that will never be known to us.
Here’s what I do know: we stand at a moment in history in which we, too, are being asked to fight. Our battle, thankfully, is not in literal trenches, nor, we can hope, must it involve loss of life. But its stakes are exactly the same as the ones Grandpa and millions like him faced. We are tasked with saving democracy and freedom. Literally. In that way we are the same as every American soldier who’s come before us.
General Pershing, the man in charge of the American Expeditionary Forces, told his troops—including my grandfather—that the Meuse-Argonnes offensive would be over in 48 hours. Instead it stretched on for 47 interminable, violent, exhausting, and terrifying days. The Americans serving under Pershing were lightly trained at best. Many of them had never seen combat. Some arrived never having fired a gun. It seemed entirely conceivable that they would fail.
And yet…they persisted. They learned as they fought. They adapted. They hardened. They suffered. They banded together. They were afraid. They surely wept. They persisted some more.
And they won.
As a result of their victory the entire war, too, went our way.
What’s my point? Simply that we follow in the footsteps of regular, decent, brave Americans who risked everything, and suffered, at times, horribly, to defend the imperfect freedoms we enjoy.
I’ll be damned if we’re going to lose those freedoms on my watch. I hope you feel the same. These long years of fighting the MAGA movement may be our Meuse-Argonne—a battle far longer, scarier, and more grueling than we were ready for—but remember that in the end we can prevail. And we will. We have to.
We owe those who fought before us no less.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
The Supreme Court’s new “code of conduct” isn’t good enough. It contains mere suggestions—suggestions that we know several of the justices are happy to ignore. Americans want REAL, enforceable ethics standards for the Supreme Court now. Congress needs to pass S. 359 the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act and create the strongest possible enforceable code of conduct for our highest court.
[If Democrat add:] I’m also really disappointed that Democrats pulled the motion to subpoena Harlan Crowe and Leonard Leo. Why are we backing down? We need to get to the bottom of how much influence those two have over our highest court. Please ask the Senator to push Senator Durbin to go forward with the subpoenas. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
The Supreme Court’s new “code of conduct” isn’t good enough. It contains mere suggestions—suggestions that we know several of the justices are happy to ignore. Americans want REAL, enforceable ethics standards for the Supreme Court now. Congress needs to pass H.R. 926 the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act and create the strongest possible enforceable code of conduct for our highest court. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
[From Climate Hawks Vote]
Ten days ago, the House of Representatives passed its annual appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior and related agencies. It’s got a lot of bad stuff in it – drastic cuts to the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and more. It also contains mandated offshore oil drilling lease sales. No.
Let’s call these three Democratic Senate leaders and demand no mandated lease sales. Call Senate Leadership (best between 9-5pm ET):
Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) (202) 224-6542
Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (WA) (202) 224-2621
Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (IL) (202) 224-2152
If you’re not sure what to say, here’s some talking points.
My name is _______ (if you’re a constituent of the Senator you’re calling, add that here).
I’m calling to ask the Senator not to support any funding bill that calls for more federal oil and gas leasing, which would lock in decades of oil and gas pollution, climate destruction, and toxic impacts to frontline communities. Will the Senator commit to standing strong against any House appropriations bill that mandates more federal oil and gas leasing?
Feel free to add in your own words why it’s important to move away from fossil fuels.
Get Smart! 📚
Interested in the Supreme Court? Court reform? The new “code of ethics?” You should come to the next SCOTUS Coordinating Call hosted by United For Democracy. It’s tomorrow, November 15 at 12:30 pm ET. These calls are extremely informative and, quite frankly, fascinating. Highly recommend.
Register HERE
Spread the Word! 📣
It’s really important that we all know what’s happening in Ohio, so that we can help to fight it. In case you haven’t heard, the Republican party is announcing their intention to basically disregard the will of the people and pass a law that enables them to go around Issue 1. David Pepper has an excellent explainer and also a couple of actions we can all take—but especially if we’re in Ohio. Please read and then share it. This is very, very important.
Give 💰!
I was so inspired by Run For Something’s wins in school board races across the country last week that I’ve signed up to be a monthly donor to their “50 State School Board” fund. I would be thrilled to hear that others signed up, as well. It’s only a small donation, but every little bit counts, and monthly donations help organizations plan out a long-term strategy.
I think RFS is doing some of the most important work ANY political organization is doing—especially their school board work. It’s good for public schools, for LGBTQ kids, for our democracy, and really, really good for building a bench of great candidates AND winning upballot races. So please, give if you can.
Win Races—Learn! 🗳
Please join Activate America for their big webinar “One Year Out: Activate America’s Assessment of the 2024 Electoral Landscape and What It’s Going to Take to Win.” They’ll present reasons for optimism and what activists like you can do to make 2024 a year to celebrate.
It’s this THURSDAY, November 16th, from 5-6 PM Pacific / 8-9 PM Eastern.
Win Races—Text! 🗳
Black Voters Matter is rounding out election season by sending texts to Tennessee and Louisiana residents for their runoffs. Join them today at 6pm ET/5pm CT for their last Texting Tuesday event of 2023 so that we can finish election season with a bang! The links to register for Texting Tuesday and sign up for Impactive, their texting platform, are below. Don’t worry—they’ll tell you how to use them.
Register for Texting Tuesdays: Link
Impactive Computer Link: Desktop/Laptop Impactive
Impactive Phone App Link: Impactive App (BVM Campaign Join Code = 905083)
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
Here are some excellent reasons to ditch gas-powered leaf blowers this fall. Hint: the racket they make is not their only problem. 1
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[H/T][Text SIGN PUIXGY to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]
As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor S 1206 / HR 2725 the Do No Harm Act.
Religious freedom means that everyone should be able to practice their religion or no religion at all, so long as they do not harm others. And this bill is an important step to fulfilling that promise.
The Do No Harm Act will ensure that a federal law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which was designed as a shield to protect religion, is not used as a sword to harm others. Our country is strongest when we are all free to believe or not, as we see fit, and to practice our faith without hurting others.
As you know, passage of the Do No Harm Act is more critical than ever. Unfortunately, RFRA is being misused to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people, women, religious minorities, nonreligious people and almost anyone else – all under the guise of religious freedom.
For example, the law has been misused to allow discrimination against workers, undermine people’s access to healthcare, and deny children in the foster care system the loving homes they deserve simply because families don’t meet the agency’s religious litmus test. The Do No Harm Act would serve to prevent dangerous rulings and policies like these in the future. Please co-sponsor it now! Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Jessica, I wrote a similar, very brief, and not quite as powerful piece on my FB feed on Veteran's Day, with a photo of my father, who was part of an expeditionary force in 1945 to free Italy from the fascists. I also wrote that I'll be damned if I give in to the neo-fascists and anti-democratic forces here. Fortunately, there are millions of us. And with any luck, we will toughen and learn to fight, and fight to win, like your grandfather and his brave comrades.
It is said by members of my family that Mussolini had wanted my grandfather to join his group to cement his power. When my grandfather refused, he became an enemy of the state; he and his family were no longer safe in Italy. So, he sent his two older sons to America and then a year or so later put the rest of his family (his wife and eight children!) on a boat to join them, leaving the vast majority of their possessions behind. Yes, Jessica, we owe those who came before us no less.
Benito Mussolini: "Advocating government by dictatorship, he formed a political group in 1919 that marked the beginning of fascism. A dynamic and captivating orator at rallies, he organized the March on Rome (1922) to prevent a socialist-led general strike. After the government fell, he was appointed prime minister, the youngest in Italian history. He obtained a law to establish the fascists as the majority party and became known as Il Duce (“The Leader”)."
"Fascism, Philosophy of government that stresses the primacy and glory of the state, unquestioning obedience to its leader, subordination of the individual will to the state’s authority, and harsh suppression of dissent. Martial virtues are celebrated, while liberal and democratic values are disparaged. Fascism arose during the 1920s and ’30s partly out of fear of the rising power of the working classes."
https://www.britannica.com/summary/Benito-Mussolini