This post quotes Susanne Jalbert, who has spent most of her adult life promoting goodwill and democracy on behalf of the US government, from Russia to Iraq and Afghanistan.
She is now bringing her passion home to the USA, which, too, needs help in sustaining its democracy. I am turning the blog over to her post as how as Americans we can support democracy through civil action as individuals. The core of what she wrote:
"What More Can We Do?
In March 2025, through a LinkedIn post, Hussein Hallak admonished, “Stop waiting for politicians to save you.” He offered these immediate actions, which I’ve tweaked a bit.
-Vote with your wallet.
-Tell 5 people and have them tell 5 people
·Stop pretending someone else is going to figure it out.
·Join new social media platforms.
·Support independent media. Back those who tell the truth.
·Defend key institutions. The courts, the agencies, and the regulators.
·Flood the system with truth.
·Expose the manipulation with facts, break down false claims, and arm people with facts they can’t ignore."
This is the link to her post.
https://mobidrive.com/sharelink/p/2r4TzUWjywBG6EAGnGoTjf4Ee3JY4hu3hbi8pOHbzneG
This is an attempt to copy a download from her link to pdf file, which ignores the format, but I will try to get it in a better format. Until then, you do get the essence of what she wrote...
A Call to Ac on with Deeds and Civil Resistance 2.0 It may only take 3.5% of the popula on to topple a dictator – with civil resistance ~ Erica Chenoweth[1][2] In Chenoweth’s syllabus for Civil Resistance: How It Works, she explains that “civil resistance is the applica on of unarmed civilian power using nonviolent methods such as protests, strikes, boyco s, demonstra ons, without using or threatening physical harm against the opponent. Because civil resistance can have profound social, poli cal, economic, and cultural impacts, it is essen al to understand the causes, dynamics, outcomes, and consequences of civil resistance campaigns. Such ques ons have clear prac cal implica ons for those seeking to wage nonviolent struggle, those hoping to be er understand global change, those seeking to assist such movements—and those who would seek to undermine them.” There are many ways to resist. DO NOT post his face, share his photos, or pass on his videos. For instance, Bernice King suggests that "when you post or talk about him, don’t assign his ac ons to him, assign them to “The Republican Administra on,” or “The Republicans.” This will have several effects: the Republican legislators will either have to take responsibility for their associa on with him or stand up for what some of them don’t like; he will not get the focus of a en on he craves; Republican representa ves will become very concerned about their re-elec ons." Ac ons: · Call out the Republicans in conversa on and in social media posts · Say “The Republican Administra on” · Say “The Republicans” U.S. Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, 70, brought her grounded perspec ves on her life and the law to the Miami Dade College audience on February 12, 2025. She wisely focused on the goal of her speech to upli young students who will shape the course of society.[2] It was her call to ac on for young people, but as I read her words, I realized that it is a call to ac on intergenera onally. “Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a poten al ac vist, every minute a chance to change the world.” ~ Delores Huerta, American Civil Rights Ac vist, Defender of Farmworkers’ Rights TURN YOUR OUTRAGE AND FEAR INTO ACTION AND LEARNING from Tu Sco ’s newsle er 06/17/2025 With everything happening around the country, you can use 5calls.org to reach out to elected officials — it is an easy app with scripts and numbers linked up. Standing up for No Kings on June 14 was a massive inspira on and con nuing to join other meaningful protests is also important. The podcast We Can Do Hard Things has great episodes with Jessica Yellin and Amanda Doyle on current poli cal power moves. What you can do today: · > Make one call/week through 5calls.org or any advocacy tool you trust. · > Use your voice on digital pla orms or in-person to speak out against injus ce and misuse of power > Shop women-owned brands at The Women Owned Directory, We Are Women Owned, and Women-Led Wednesday. What More Can We Do? In March 2025 through a LinkedIn post, Hussein Hallak admonished, “Stop wai ng for poli cians to save you.” He offered these immediate ac ons, which I’ve tweaked a bit. · Vote with your wallet. o See: h ps://spendingspotlight.org/#choose-issue o Tell 5 people and have them tell 5 people · Stop pretending someone else is going to figure it out. · Join new social media pla orms. · Support independent media. Back those who tell the truth. · Defend key ins tu ons. The courts, the agencies, and the regulators. · Flood the system with truth. · Expose the manipula on with facts, break down false claims, and arm people with facts they can’t ignore. Ac on imbues hope. Desmond Tutu said, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." With pressure and oversight from Congress, the administra on must recommit to the independence of USAID, reopen its headquarters and reinstate funding for all employees and assistance ac vi es while simultaneously undertaking efficiency reviews. “When aid stops, America doesn’t just lose influence; it costs lives, forfeits credibility, and jeopardizes na onal security. And that’s a cost Americans cannot afford.”[3] “We should support reform – not retreat.”[4] As a concerned ci zen, speak up, speak out, and act! Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Silence in the face of evil is evil. Ac ons: · Boyco the disruptors. Buy nothing from them. · Change the narra ve on social media. · Support USAID with ar cles that explain its humanitarian purpose. · Call or write your representa ve – NOW! The situa on is evolving in real me. Stay informed. Stay in touch with your representa ves. While addressing the NAACCP, Former vice President Kamala Harris remarked, “While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter of our American story, this chapter will be wri en not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office — nor by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be wri en by you, wri en by us — by we the people.” These are figh ng words – resistance words – for advocates. I’ll close with a bit of prac cal advice from author Imani Perry that “we cannot be moved by the hysteria of the moment.”[5] “The very act of trying to look ahead to discern possibili es and offer warnings is itself an act of hope.” ~ Octavia Butler Life in these UN-united states is puzzling at best and frightening at worst. Let’s make life in these United States be er for everyone. Stay calm, remember and live our values. Rise to the call for ac on. As ac vist Jane Fonda said in closing her poignant speech while receiving the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for her remarkable life’s work and contribu ons to society, “Let’s make it so!”[6] Respec ully, Susanne E. Jalbert, Ph.D. Home: P.O. Box 112, Winter Park, CO 80482 E: sejalbert@aol.com. T: 970 726 9440 LinkedIn (not currently active on social media) "Corruption in high places is only a boil on the body politic; it will recover. Women always are the wielders of the soap." ~ Mable Walker Willebrandt, known as the First Lady of Law, a prominent Los Angeles, CA lawyer who served as the United States Assistant Attorney General from 1921 to 1929 [1] Erica Chenoweth, formerly at DU now at Harvard, and others join together to discuss historical and contemporary strategies for protes ng, democra c backsliding, global comparisons and more. 'We have everything we need': Harvard poli cal scien st on resis ng Trump 2.0 [2] h ps://www.theguardian.com/commen sfree/2017/feb/01/worried-american-democracy-study-ac vist-techniques. Erica Cenoweth is the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment & Academic Dean for Faculty Development at Harvard Kennedy School & Faculty Dean of Pforzheimer House at Harvard College. She is the co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. [3] h ps://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/educa on/ar cle299935679.html#storylink=cpy [4] h ps://www.americanprogress.org/ar cle/how-trumps-a ack-on-usaid-undermines-american-leadership-and-security/ [5] h ps://www.usglc.org/newsroom/usglc-statement-on-the-further-dismantling-of-usaid/. The U.S. Global Leadership Coali on (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based influen al network of 500 businesses and NGOs; na onal security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic, military, and community leaders in all 50 states who support strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a be er, safer world. [6] h ps://www.nymes.com/2025/01/30/books/booksupdate/imani-perry-black-in-blues.html?utm_source=substack&u
A Call to Ac on with Deeds and Civil Resistance 2.0 It may only take 3.5% of the popula on to topple a dictator – with civil resistance ~ Erica Chenoweth[1][2] In Chenoweth’s syllabus for Civil Resistance: How It Works, she explains that “civil resistance is the applica on of unarmed civilian power using nonviolent methods such as protests, strikes, boyco s, demonstra ons, without using or threatening physical harm against the opponent. Because civil resistance can have profound social, poli cal, economic, and cultural impacts, it is essen al to understand the causes, dynamics, outcomes, and consequences of civil resistance campaigns. Such ques ons have clear prac cal implica ons for those seeking to wage nonviolent struggle, those hoping to be er understand global change, those seeking to assist such movements—and those who would seek to undermine them.” There are many ways to resist. DO NOT post his face, share his photos, or pass on his videos. For instance, Bernice King suggests that "when you post or talk about him, don’t assign his ac ons to him, assign them to “The Republican Administra on,” or “The Republicans.” This will have several effects: the Republican legislators will either have to take responsibility for their associa on with him or stand up for what some of them don’t like; he will not get the focus of a en on he craves; Republican representa ves will become very concerned about their re-elec ons." Ac ons: · Call out the Republicans in conversa on and in social media posts · Say “The Republican Administra on” · Say “The Republicans” U.S. Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, 70, brought her grounded perspec ves on her life and the law to the Miami Dade College audience on February 12, 2025. She wisely focused on the goal of her speech to upli young students who will shape the course of society.[2] It was her call to ac on for young people, but as I read her words, I realized that it is a call to ac on intergenera onally. “Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a poten al ac vist, every minute a chance to change the world.” ~ Delores Huerta, American Civil Rights Ac vist, Defender of Farmworkers’ Rights TURN YOUR OUTRAGE AND FEAR INTO ACTION AND LEARNING from Tu Sco ’s newsle er 06/17/2025 With everything happening around the country, you can use 5calls.org to reach out to elected officials — it is an easy app with scripts and numbers linked up. Standing up for No Kings on June 14 was a massive inspira on and con nuing to join other meaningful protests is also important. The podcast We Can Do Hard Things has great episodes with Jessica Yellin and Amanda Doyle on current poli cal power moves. What you can do today: · > Make one call/week through 5calls.org or any advocacy tool you trust. · > Use your voice on digital pla orms or in-person to speak out against injus ce and misuse of power > Shop women-owned brands at The Women Owned Directory, We Are Women Owned, and Women-Led Wednesday. What More Can We Do? In March 2025 through a LinkedIn post, Hussein Hallak admonished, “Stop wai ng for poli cians to save you.” He offered these immediate ac ons, which I’ve tweaked a bit. · Vote with your wallet. o See: h ps://spendingspotlight.org/#choose-issue o Tell 5 people and have them tell 5 people · Stop pretending someone else is going to figure it out. · Join new social media pla orms. · Support independent media. Back those who tell the truth. · Defend key ins tu ons. The courts, the agencies, and the regulators. · Flood the system with truth. · Expose the manipula on with facts, break down false claims, and arm people with facts they can’t ignore. Ac on imbues hope. Desmond Tutu said, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." With pressure and oversight from Congress, the administra on must recommit to the independence of USAID, reopen its headquarters and reinstate funding for all employees and assistance ac vi es while simultaneously undertaking efficiency reviews. “When aid stops, America doesn’t just lose influence; it costs lives, forfeits credibility, and jeopardizes na onal security. And that’s a cost Americans cannot afford.”[3] “We should support reform – not retreat.”[4] As a concerned ci zen, speak up, speak out, and act! Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Silence in the face of evil is evil. Ac ons: · Boyco the disruptors. Buy nothing from them. · Change the narra ve on social media. · Support USAID with ar cles that explain its humanitarian purpose. · Call or write your representa ve – NOW! The situa on is evolving in real me. Stay informed. Stay in touch with your representa ves. While addressing the NAACCP, Former vice President Kamala Harris remarked, “While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter of our American story, this chapter will be wri en not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office — nor by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be wri en by you, wri en by us — by we the people.” These are figh ng words – resistance words – for advocates. I’ll close with a bit of prac cal advice from author Imani Perry that “we cannot be moved by the hysteria of the moment.”[5] “The very act of trying to look ahead to discern possibili es and offer warnings is itself an act of hope.” ~ Octavia Butler Life in these UN-united states is puzzling at best and frightening at worst. Let’s make life in these United States be er for everyone. Stay calm, remember and live our values. Rise to the call for ac on. As ac vist Jane Fonda said in closing her poignant speech while receiving the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for her remarkable life’s work and contribu ons to society, “Let’s make it so!”[6] Respec ully, Susanne E. Jalbert, Ph.D. Home: P.O. Box 112, Winter Park, CO 80482 E: sejalbert@aol.com. T: 970 726 9440 LinkedIn (not currently active on social media) "Corruption in high places is only a boil on the body politic; it will recover. Women always are the wielders of the soap." ~ Mable Walker Willebrandt, known as the First Lady of Law, a prominent Los Angeles, CA lawyer who served as the United States Assistant Attorney General from 1921 to 1929 [1] Erica Chenoweth, formerly at DU now at Harvard, and others join together to discuss historical and contemporary strategies for protes ng, democra c backsliding, global comparisons and more. 'We have everything we need': Harvard poli cal scien st on resis ng Trump 2.0 [2] h ps://www.theguardian.com/commen sfree/2017/feb/01/worried-american-democracy-study-ac vist-techniques. Erica Cenoweth is the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment & Academic Dean for Faculty Development at Harvard Kennedy School & Faculty Dean of Pforzheimer House at Harvard College. She is the co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. [3] h ps://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/educa on/ar cle299935679.html#storylink=cpy [4] h ps://www.americanprogress.org/ar cle/how-trumps-a ack-on-usaid-undermines-american-leadership-and-security/ [5] h ps://www.usglc.org/newsroom/usglc-statement-on-the-further-dismantling-of-usaid/. The U.S. Global Leadership Coali on (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based influen al network of 500 businesses and NGOs; na onal security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic, military, and community leaders in all 50 states who support strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a be er, safer world. [6] h ps://www.nymes.com/2025/01/30/books/booksupdate/imani-perry-black-in-blues.html?utm_source=substack&u
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