action ideas place resist

Symbols of the Resistence

To learn about ways to save U.S. democracy from an anti-democratic regime, I read “Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World,” by Srdja Popovic. Popovic helped lead a nonviolent student movement called Otpor! to overthrow Serbian president Slobodan Milošević. Though I have read the book three times, I didn’t understand how, in a practical way, people could use…

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action history ideas pragmatic historian

Defenders of Democracy

Do not capitulate to the authoritarian in advance. I have heard this advice from pro-democracy experts numerous times over the past few months. It’s critical advice when faced with an incoming President who promises to be a vindictive dictator from Day One. In the United States, all of us hold the freedom of speech dear, especially the freedom to criticize our government officials, and this is one area, among many, where we should not capitulate.…

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