No Kings: Passionate Perseverance Triumphs Petulant Pettiness

I did the No Kings thing yesterday in Alamogordo, New Mexico, proud to be part of an estimated seven million passionately patriotic Americans across the nation.  And I’m so glad I didn’t let fear or cynicism stop me. Because it matters when we show up.

It matters because being there brought hope, happiness, and unwavering conviction that I am not alone, despite now living in rabidly red Otero County, infamous for being the home of founders of Cowboys for T—you know who I mean, the tyrant toddler who can’t utter a kind, coherent, or truthful sentence but sees himself as some sort of cockwomble king.

I wasn’t sure I could or should live in such a place, especially after enduring racist rural Nevada for seven years, plus embattled blue Clark County for six, but now I know it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter because there are more of us than there are of them throughout the US and the Land of Enchantment, and we are proud while they are downright petty.

Yesterday in Alamogordo we were jubilant and joyful and pushing back by being seen. They—the surprisingly few who felt the silly need to gun their engines and attempt to “smoke us out” with their ridiculously roaring, oversized pickups—were patently pathetic and so very telling. Plus, they were noticeably outnumbered by vehicles honking and waving in exuberant support. It was, quite simply, delightful.

These MAGA minions are clearly not happy people, even with their wannabe dictator running a daily shit show of racist atrocities on their behalf. And they definitely weren’t pleased to see more than three hundred of us smiling and waving along White Sands Blvd as they snarled and roared past us at unsafe speeds.

Instead of feeling threatened by the juvenile jackassery (if that’s not a word, it should be), it felt absolutely wonderful and uplifting to be out there and be counted. Blowing raspberries and laughing at departing bumpers as their drivers flipped the bird took a weight off my shoulders that’s been dragging me down and holding me back for far too long.

We who know what the Constitution actually says, and what it really means to be a patriotic American, were an astounding show of merriment and mindfulness in Otero County. Probably a  bit too much for the stone-faced folks who tried so very hard to pretend like they didn’t see us. How sad for them.

Who knew that just being there transferred all the power and passion to we the progressive people who embraced pride in our flag and reinvigorated our sense of patriotic duty?

There were old folks, young folks, all walks-of-life folks. Veterans in wheelchairs and pups galore.  We even had a few frogs of our own (shout out to Portland, OR, a city I love and am so proud of). And word has it that not all of us out there waving No Kings and other signs were Democrats.

Unfortunately, there weren’t nearly enough people of color, considering the history of this southwestern region, but it’s understandable, given our proximity to an international border—and Border Patrol checkpoints on the roads leading to El Paso and Las Cruces. The fascist fact is, feds these days cannot be trusted to act with integrity or humanity when it comes to targeting anyone who doesn’t look like their white-washed version of America. Yet another reason for the rest of us to be out there in opposition to their blatant thuggery.

And maybe that’s precisely what we needed. For white people to actually show up. For the privileged to not be so complacent or accepting of eroding democratic norms and devastating desecration of civil liberties of their fellow citizens, not to mention atrocious inhumanity towards noncitizens—and children.

Several police cars were periodically seen driving by for safety, including Alamogordo Police and New Mexico State Police vehicles. They did not interfere, and thankfully did not need to despite those few angry MAGA drivers acting aggressively. And, lo and behold, a fire truck actually honked in support. How cool is that?

The signs I saw, stalwartly held in enthusiastic and determined hands of all ages, told a story of fierce folks who are more than aware of what’s going on, because they are fed up and fighting back. One clever hand-drawn message stood out in particular: Hot Women Don’t Date Racists. Can I just say, boy howdy!

The people making a marvelous show of force in Alamogordo yesterday are not choosing to be willfully ignorant like too many of their racist, misogynist, or just plain selfish head-in-the-sand neighbors in the Tularosa Valley.

And did I mention how fabulous it was to have the vigor of youth among those of us who weren’t sure we could stand alongside the road for hours holding signs against the wind?

I loved every moment of it, from handing out No Kings wristbands to dancing on the sidewalk to righteous country and rap music. I’m proud to be living in southern New Mexico, and I am in love with my nation and its persevering people again.

No Kings for We the People!