Are you ready?

Over the past eight months or so, I have watched the country that I grew up in dissolve into an authoritarian dictatorship. Everything I have ever believed in is under attack. Christian Nationalists standing behind our cardboard president have been enacting the most heinous and hateful agenda ever brought against the United States. They do not and have never loved America.They have despised everything that the majority of us believe it stands for. And now they’re using the power of an autocratic president to destroy it piece by piece. Are you ready to watch it happen?

The shot that killed Charlie Kirk may well be the sound heard round the world again. Whatever the motivation of the person who shot that man does not matter. This death by assassination will be twisted into a reason for Donald Trump to seize the lives of everyone who oppose him. It will be used to justify Donald Trump’s aggressive effort to take over and use the military against American citizens. It will be used to demonize anyone who does not agree with the right-wing radical Christian nationalists. Are you ready to submit to their rule?

There is no doubt that the majority of Americans oppose everything in the Trump agenda. As the days, weeks, and months go by, we can see how what they do is affecting every area in American culture, life, and finance. People’s lives are being destroyed, people’s finances have been wiped out, and people are dying because of what they are doing. But everything will only get worse unless someone steps up to the plate and swings back at what they’re throwing at us. Are you ready to step up to the plate?

There have been massive protests, marches in the past few months. It is clear that many, many people care and are concerned with what is happening. Huge crowds marching in the street peacefully, however, will never change this country. All it does is point out to those in charge who needs to be targeted. Donald Trump and his Christian nationalist supporters know that their ideas are not popular. They do not care. They do not fear the crowds that peacefully march because they do not believe those crowds will ever stop them. Are you ready to prove them right?

The time has come for more than large peaceful crowds. The time has come for citizens to take action. The first actions that must be taken is for citizens to stop ICE agents when they start to pick someone up. It is not nearly enough to just confront them and ask them questions like, where are they taking them and who are you and show me your badge. 20 or 30 citizens can easily overcome 4 or 5 ICE agents and stop them. It only takes courage and a willingness to give of yourself. Some people will be harmed. But if this doesn’t stop, hundreds of thousands of Americans are going to be harmed at the hands of ICE and Trump’s goons. Many will die. This is only the first of many. Are you going to stand by and watch or stand up to ICE?

Much, much more has to be done to take the power away from Trump and his minions. I don’t know what activities may be planning or underway. I know that nothing can be broadcast or explained or it would be stomped upon by the right wingers. Therefore, the only thing I can do now is to say that if you are planning something, it needs to be done sooner rather than later. If you are not planning something, then you are way behind the curve. The current regime will not be stopped. It will have to be overthrown. Are you willing to take part?

I am an old man. I am retired and disabled. I have no money and no vehicle. My wife and I, however, do have a decent life. We don’t depend on Medicaid or any of the other services that so many poor people do. We own our land and our home. It would be nothing for the both of us to simply sit here and let everything pass and do nothing. And say nothing. But I risk my freedom because I want our country to be better than it was before Donald Trump. I want my children to live in a country better than the one I live in. Before Trump, it was becoming better. Now, however, it is dissolving into something entirely different. It is dissolving into a cruel, hateful, fearful, autocracy, and worse. I cannot just sit here in my little house back in the woods and say nothing. Can you?

I spent my life, or much of it, trying to do things to help other people. I stuck my neck out over and over. I gave up my finances and my time. I gave my heart and soul to one effort after the other. And I ended up holding the bag. I ended up with Debt. I lost several jobs. And I cracked my heart into little pieces for nothing. Every single time, it turned out that there were too many cowards in the crowd. People who speak a good speech will have no guts to do anything. While aggressive evil people push their way into our country, the rest are nothing but cowards and watch it happen. Are you one of them?

I know more than likely I am just pissing in the wind. I’m likely to get my shoes and pants wet. But it wouldn’t be the first time. I wonder, maybe if this time I will be proven wrong. Maybe this time enough people will have enough courage to stop the evil that is taking over this country. I’m going to stand up against it any way that I can. What about you?

Ted Gresham, September 11, 2025