Nothing Like a Wrecking Ball Wreaking Havoc
Photo by Micah Williams on Unsplash A humanist’s personal reaction to Trump’s Executive Orders and her thoughts on how to respond
Another four years under the Trump administration. I’m admittedly having a very difficult time swallowing this pill, just like millions of my fellow Americans. Neither ready nor interested in “round two,” if I’m being honest here, as I’ve yet to fully recover from “round one.” If only I could call 9-1-1…
“It’ll be a fast four years.” “It won’t be as bad as you fear.” “Project 2025 is being blown way out of proportion.” These were reassurances that left me wondering what will come with the 47th presidential term. I fear the worst—discriminatory, unjust, and inhumane actions—and hope for the rise of millions of hands ready to help humanity. Should I reread The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank? How can I be a bigger cog in a wheel that succeeds at creating resistance against all this utter mishegas? Should I stop watching the news? No, do not do that, I logically remind myself. It seems that whatever plan of action I creatively devise, I smell defeat. I am terribly worried about those who I know and love, as well as those I don’t know, but who are about to be targeted in my city and across my county, state, and republic.
As a public school teacher, I harbor a sense of responsibility for the students in my high school—nearly 1,000—who no longer feel safe and supported, and come to me for consolation and explanations. I genuinely want to nurture and protect them. As I brace myself for this looming darkness that now feels fast-approaching, I wonder if I will be able to continue sparking hope again and again for our youth. President Trump signed, on day one, an Executive Order entitled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing. I am intentionally avoiding using all caps when speaking of these orders, as the current White House website has established a habit of now doing, for most of us are all too familiar with the obscene level of decibels and hostility that “in caps” represents. Now, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, along with our Attorney General, have the authority to bulldoze “Federal employment practices, union contracts, and training policies or programs.” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) measures and practices rolled out under former President Biden through Executive Order 13985 have been declared by the current administration as “forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs.” How affirmative action and DEI can be viewed as toxic and “immoral” blows my mind.
Discrimination, racism, and genocide all have roots in the development of this republic, with tragic events going back as far as our Pre-Colonial Era, such as the Salem Witch Trials and The Gnadenhutten massacre. What better way for us to right the wrongs of our past than implementing policies and establishing practices meant to, at a minimum, acknowledge the trauma, help heal the millions wounded, and diminish the chances of revival or recurrence. Instead, ICE raids are occurring in cities across America, inciting panic in immigrant households, public schools, and community agencies, and intensifying xenophobia.
As a teacher, I interact with transgender students on a daily basis at school, and as a parent, I have raised a transgender child. Although my child is now a young adult, I see the fear and worry firsthand with every single late-night text message sent by my child from a college campus a couple of counties away. Last night’s text message revolved around news of a wicked executive order entitled Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, which accuses medical professionals of “maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child’s sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions.” Of all the advancements in modern medical history, I can personally attest to how essential both the utilization of blocker shots, like Lupron Depot, and implementation of prescribed gender-affirming hormones are for transgender individuals. My decision to provide such care, which is my right as a parent, had a profound, positive impact on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of my child. Now, my heart breaks for all the transgender children who are younger than my child, soon to be barred from access to receiving appropriate gender-affirming care that they need, after realizing that the gender that they were assigned at birth doesn’t align with their actual gender that they discovered as they developed through childhood into adolescence. Our current administration will now ignore conclusions that are based on actual medical evidence and expert analysis, which is appalling.
Members of the armed service, in addition to children, are also now targeted by the Trump administration’s anti-transgender campaign. As I sipped my coffee this morning, I spoke with my husband—a veteran and Sergeant First Class in his 25th year serving in the Army—about the Executive Order signed two days ago. “Furious” best describes my reaction to the wording in Section 1 of Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness, “A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.” There are approximately 1 million active-duty troops and just over 767,000 reserve troops in our U.S. military and, while there is no official number with respect to the right to privacy, reports indicate that there may be somewhere between 2,000 and 11,000 transgender individuals currently serving, both active and reserve. To say that transgender, non-binary, and gender fluid service members don’t exhibit humility or selflessness is an outrageous statement. All enlisted personnel take an oath to defend our Constitution; being transgender does not diminish one’s loyalty, break their promise, or weaken the level of their commitment. But, if the current administration doesn’t see value in adhering to practices that align with DEI as an attempt to better our military, perhaps we should not be surprised by the intent of this harmful order, either. A lawsuit was filed yesterday by six transgender service members on the grounds that the new restrictions deprive them of equal protection as guaranteed by our Constitution. I’ll be one of many who hopes to learn that the court eventually rules in their favor, in support of liberty and justice.
What can I do? The age-old question that rattles around in our heads, stirs our conscience, and often keeps us up at night. Connecting with other like-minded individuals is one thing; last week the American Humanist Association (AHA) shared some opportunities that help humanists find community and meaning. And the AHA has recommendations for getting involved in making a difference. Civic involvement is definitely key and happens to align with the Ten Commitments, so consider a run for a school board seat or inquiring with your local, political committee to see what seats—town clerk, city common council, or county district legislature—you could possibly campaign for in your next local election. And coming together to combat Christian Nationalism in favor of maintaining separation of church and state matters, too. Become a member of (or donate to) the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), to help combat anti-reproductive freedom efforts and protect communities in danger, such as LGBTQ people, refugees, and immigrants. And at the least, learn more about being an ally in the support for Trans Equality by checking out suggestions from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Activism may be a small step, but an essential one.
During the most difficult of days, let us be reminded of what writer, lawyer, and orator Robert Green Ingersoll said, “Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself… When you go home, fill the house with joy so that the light of it will stream out the windows and doors and illuminate even the darkness.” And listen to, comfort, and support your friends, family members, and others around you who are at-risk of having their lives upended by the policies and actions of our three branches of government, which are now flaming red. Oh, how I dream of an epically gargantuan fire extinguisher.