Why I Can't Look Away

These days, anyone paying attention knows that history and science are being rewritten by people with an agenda. In the name of wiping out “woke” and anything they view as DEI, the sycophants hired by the current regime are not only dismantling democracy, but also working to instill fear in the average citizen.

Some folks deal with this constant bombardment of bad news by tuning out altogether. I understand that. Sometimes, for mental health, stepping back is necessary. But as a grandmother with a cause—because I want my grandchildren, and everyone else’s, to have a chance at a better future—I can’t look away for long.

Some things still mystify me:

• How can anyone with a science background support a regime that allows a climate report to be altered by a non-scientist who’s connected to the very industry that stands to profit from the change? (Guardian article)

• How is it justifiable for the Secretary of Defense to change retirement policy so that transgender service members with 15–18 years of service lose early retirement benefits? If they’ve served honorably, why should they be treated differently? (AP News article)

• Why is it acceptable for a high-ranking official to amplify the view that women should not have the right to vote? Pete Hegseth recently posted a clip of Christian Nationalist Doug Wilson making that argument, captioning it with: “All of Christ for All of Life.” (Guardian article)

Since January, this regime has also removed women, people of color, and LGBTQI+ individuals from federal websites. (NPR article) After public outcry, some pages were restored, but much has been lost. Thankfully, a group of librarians is working to preserve the deleted or altered information. Their progress is documented through American University’s data rescue project.

I know these examples are just a fraction of what’s happening, but they matter. Looking away might be easier, but history shows us that silence only helps those who seek to control the narrative. For my grandchildren’s sake—and for the sake of truth—I will keep paying attention.