What Shall We Do With a Would-Be Tyrant? (to the tune of “What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?”) Verse 1: What shall we do with a would-be tyrant, What shall we do with a would-be tyrant, What shall we do with a would-be tyrant, Early in the morning! Answer: Put him in the court and read the charges, Put him in the court and read the charges, Put him in the court and read the charges, Early in the morning! ...
🇺🇸 ROLL THE OLD REPUBLIC ALONG A Sea Shanty for Democracy (Traditional tune: “Roll the Old Chariot”) Here’s the original, in case you don’t know it: Verse 1 Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one — Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one — Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one — And we won’t be ruled by kings! ...
“We have to follow the law. Romans 13 is clear.” I’ve heard this argument countless times in discussions about immigration policy. Christians who would never dream of treating immigrants with personal cruelty nevertheless defend harsh enforcement policies by appealing to Paul’s command to submit to governing authorities. The logic seems airtight: God established governments, governments make laws, therefore Christians must support strict immigration enforcement. Case closed. But what if we’re reading Romans 13 in isolation from the rest of Scripture’s witness? What if Paul’s instruction to the Roman Christians needs to be held in tension with Jesus’ own teaching about how we will be judged? ...
“My Kingdom is Not of This World” – Jesus These words of Christ echo with renewed urgency today as American evangelicalism grapples with a dangerous conflation of gospel and nation. Theologian Michael Gorman recently shared ten theological affirmations that cut to the heart of this crisis. His theses aren’t merely academic observations, they’re prophetic warnings against a distortion of Christianity that threatens both the integrity of the gospel and the witness of the church. ...
I said this last week, but, wow, what a week! Democracy continues to crumble. What a time to be alive. Timothy Snyder, “Hegseth puts us all at risk”: My historian colleagues might correct me, but I do not think anyone at least in recent history has done what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is about to do: put all of the American generals and admirals from around the world into a single room (next week, in Virginia) just to say something to them. […] ...
What is fascism? The word gets thrown around a lot—sometimes carelessly, yet it refers to one of the most destructive political phenomena of the 20th century, and one we can’t afford to misunderstand today. Historical Origins Fascism first emerged in early 20th century Europe, born from the chaos of World War I and economic upheaval. Benito Mussolini coined the term in Italy around 1919, drawing from the ancient fasces, a bundle of rods symbolizing a ruler’s power. Adolf Hitler later adapted these ideas in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s. ...
Democracy is not a finished product but an ongoing experiment that demands constant deliberation, refinement, and renewal. The principles I outline here are working principles—I hold them with conviction while recognizing they must evolve through genuine democratic dialogue. Our constitutional framework in the United States of America was designed to be amended, our institutions to be improved, and our understanding of justice to deepen with experience and wisdom. The greatest threat to democracy is not disagreement about these principles, but the abandonment of our shared commitment to wrestling with them together in good faith. ...
Let’s try to define (or at least describe) fascism, shall we? Fascism: “a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition” (Merriam-Webster) Notoriously difficult to define, Umberto Eco nevertheless highlighted 14 aspects of what he called “Ur-Fascism” (PDF): ...
The following 198 methods of nonviolent action are taken from Gene Sharp’s The Politics of Nonviolent Action. (For more information and resources along these lines, make sure to visit my /resist page.) The Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion Formal Statements Public Speeches Letters of opposition or support Declarations by organizations and institutions Signed public statements Declarations of indictment and intention Group or mass petitions Communications with a Wider Audience Slogans, caricatures, and symbols Banners, posters, and displayed communications Leaflets, pamphlets, and books Newspapers and journals Records, radio, and television Skywriting and earthwriting Group Representations Deputations Mock awards Group lobbying Picketing Mock elections Symbolic Public Acts Displays of flags and symbolic colors Wearing of symbols Prayer and worship Delivering symbolic objects Protest disrobings Destruction of own property Symbolic lights Displays of portraits Paint as protest New signs and names Symbolic sounds Symbolic reclamations Rude gestures Pressure on Individuals “Haunting” officials Taunting officials Fraternization Vigils Drama & Music Humorous skits and pranks Performances of plays and music Singing Processions Marches Parades Religious processions Pilgrimages Motorcades Honoring the Dead Political mourning Mock funerals Demonstrative funerals Homage at burial places Public Assemblies Assemblies of protest or support Protest meetings Camouflaged meetings of protest Teach-ins Withdrawal and Renunciation Walk-outs Silence Renouncing honor Turning one’s back The Methods of Social Noncooperation Ostracism of Persons Social boycott Selective social boycott Lysistratic nonaction Excommunication Interdict Noncooperation with Social Events, Customs & Institutions Suspension of social and sports activities Boycott of social affairs Student strike Social disobedience Withdrawal from social institutions Withdrawal from the Social System Stay-at-home Total personal noncooperation “Flight” of workers Sanctuary Collective disappearance Protest emigration (hijrat) The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: Economic Boycotts Action by Consumers Consumers’ boycott Nonconsumption of boycotted goods Policy of austerity Rent withholding Refusal to rent National consumers’ boycott International consumers’ boycott Action by Workers & Producers Workmen’s boycott Producers’ boycott Action by Middlemen Suppliers’ and handlers’ boycott Action by Owners & Management Traders’ boycott Refusal to let or sell property Lockout Refusal of industrial assistance Merchants’ “general strike” Action by Holders of Financial Resources Withdrawal of bank deposits Refusal to pay fees, dues, and assessments Refusal to pay debts or interest Severance of funds and credit Revenue refusal Refusal of a government’s money Action by Governments Domestic embargo Blacklisting of traders International sellers’ embargo International buyers’ embargo International trade embargo The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: The Strike Symbolic Strikes Protest strike Quickie walkout (lightning strike) Agricultural Strikes Peasant strike Farm Workers’ strike Strikes by Special Groups Refusal of impressed labor Prisoners’ strike Craft strike Professional strike Ordinary Industrial Strikes Establishment strike Industry strike Sympathetic strike Restricted Strikes Detailed strike Bumper strike Slowdown strike Working-to-rule strike Reporting “sick” (sick-in) Strike by resignation Limited strike Selective strike Multi-industry Strikes Generalized strike General strike Combination of Strikes & Economic Closures Hartal Economic shutdown The Methods of Political Noncooperation Rejection of Authority Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance Refusal of public support Literature and speeches advocating resistance Citizens’ Noncooperation with Government Boycott of legislative bodies Boycott of elections Boycott of government employment and positions Boycott of government depts., agencies, and other bodies Withdrawal from government educational institutions Boycott of government-supported organizations Refusal of assistance to enforcement agents Citizens’ Alternatives to Obedience Removal of own signs and placemarks ...
The following 20 “lessons” are taken from Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Here’s a video of John Lithgow reading the 20 lessons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXR5HLodsT8. (For more information and resources along these lines, make sure to visit my /resist page.) 1. Do not obey in advance Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do. ...
Imagine waking up to find out that your neighbor—a legal immigrant who works hard, pays taxes, and has never been charged with a crime—was taken away in the middle of the night by government agents. No warrant. No lawyer. No hearing. No chance to defend themselves. Just gone. Then imagine the government claims they’re a danger—but refuses to show any real evidence. And instead of bringing them to a courtroom, they ship them off to a prison in another country. ...
The following statements should not be controversial, but they sadly are. What would you add to this list? Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. January 6th, 2021, was an insurrection. Congress, not the President (and much less the President’s unelected adviser), holds the power of the purse. The Judicial branch, and not the Executive branch, interprets the law and the Constitution. No one, not even the President, is above the law. ...
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” has long been one of my favorite hymns. This Advent, I’ve decided to write some additional verses. They emphasize God’s heart for the poor and the powerless. If you read the Bible looking for these themes, they show up almost everywhere. However, in particular, I’ve drawn from Leviticus 25, Psalm 113, Isaiah 58, Amos 5, Luke 1, and Luke 14. O come, Defender of the weak, Teach us their welfare first to seek. May widow, orphan, refugee Find rest within Thy jubilee! ...
In God’s economy, the most important people are not the billionaire, the business owner, or even the blue-collar worker. Instead, in God’s economy, the most important people are the widow, the orphan, and the immigrant. Which is to say, the poor and the powerless. I’ve previously gone into depth on what the book of Proverbs has to say about poverty and wealth, as well as how Christians should think about wealth. Here are some more biblical passages relevant to the topic. All quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV): ...
You Can’t Follow Jesus and Hate Immigrants You can’t follow Jesus and hate immigrants. Of course, this does NOT settle every question of immigration policy! But, if you’re a follower of Jesus, consider your overall posture toward immigrants. If you call yourself a Christian, I want you to think about this seriously. What comes into your head and your heart when you think of immigrants and refugees? Fear? Anger? Disgust? ...