P is for People Power

October 18, 2025

"Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment."

~ Mahatma Gandhi*

I have felt a little "puny" (southern for kind of sickly or unwell!) the last couple of days, so I did not make it downtown for the No Kings Protest event this morning - did make it, however, to the Mt. Lebanon/South Hills event.

Lots of folks dressed in yellow with great meaningful and witty signs, and many with costumes. MANY American flags.

I saw some familiar faces and had some good conversations. Heard about many things that people are doing in addition to showing up for mass protests - delivering food and groceries to immigrants who are afraid to leave their homes, Republicans who do not support Trump talking with other Republicans who voted for Trump, building bridges and relationships, registering voters and rallying people to vote in the upcoming election.

I noticed a couple of overarching themes in the gathering, from signs and speeches and conversations.

First, there was overwhelming affirmation of our love of our country, our treasuring of the principles on which the country was founded.

Second, folks did not talk about annihilating people who thought or felt or lived differently than they do. They emphasized that they want ALL people - regardless of party affiliation - to have the opportunity to live happy lives, to have access to good education and housing and health care. There was no getting pleasure from the thought of fellow Americans being harmed or suffering.

Rep. Chris Deluzio spoke - he mentioned something that I think about often - that the principles on which our country was founded are aspirational in nature, values and policies that we continually work toward, often taking two steps forward and one step backward. Our nation is not perfect, but until recently it has felt to me that we were moving (though much too slowly) toward making the words shared by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. true - the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.

There were at least 2500 No Kings events scheduled for today - and predictions of millions of people showing up. Leading up to this day of mass protest across the country and in other parts of the world there were many conversations about whether or not such protests make any difference, have any value whatsoever. There were many skeptics - saying it is all words and symbols with no action or demands.

My feeling - any time that people come together to affirm the value of community, of working together, to celebrate what we do still have and what we want to regain or institute for the first time is valuable. Neighbors seeing neighbors. People meeting one another for the first time. Embracing the fellowship, in this case, that is focused on building toward justice and compassion for all. And I also know that many many people in attendance at the mass rallies are working their butts off acting and doing to make such progress.

I also think it reaches out to people who are perhaps afraid to speak up, or who are skeptical of the messages, or who think we "hate America" - we are here for everyone, c'mon over, don't be afraid.

Finally, the huge numbers of people showing up send a strong message to those whose misuse of power we are protesting - millions of people do not like what you are doing!

The first photo in the reel below shows a delightful and exuberant woman who was blowing bubbles out into traffic and crowds, so happy to be there. Love her sign - not fully visible - you may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one.

We are not the only ones who want health and happiness and well-being for all other humans.

*https://donellameadows.org/archives/an-early-morning-conversation-with-gandhi/