Saturday March 24, 2018; 9:19 AM EDT
Today is March 24, the day we march.#- I'm in NYC, and will march with the kids from Central Park West to 43rd St and 6th Ave. Inspired, completely by their purity of purpose. They aren't trying to win any battle other than getting the military guns out of our society, and getting guns out of the hands of kids who rage against other kids. #
- If you want change, you have to be focused like a laser on two things:#
- So many causes led by adults falter on these two elements.#
- An example of a cause that is magnificently focused is #blacklivesmatter. It's in their hashtag. They don't care about teaching whites a lesson, or teaching whites what it feels like to be black, or to popularize the concept of white toxicity, or whitesplaining, what they care about is simply -- black lives. Anyone of any race with an ounce of empathy can get behind that. #blacklivesmatter is ready to accept help from anyone. And why not? If you're focused on a goal, in this case, saving black lives, why would you turn away someone who might be able to help?#
- For #2, the kids have it exactly right. Vote. It's always been the paradox of gun rights vs gun control in the US, that a small minority controls the majority because they vote. I said this over and over during the Occupy movement. If the result of Occupy is a "message gets out there" you will have accomplished nothing. But if we vote our cause, then we will achieve a lot. Everything. #
- The kids are right. If, when they turn 18, and many of them will before the next election, they vote, this will make change. All the voter suppression that the Repubs can muster can't snuff out a movement of this magnitude. We will win. And we will also have a template for winning that can apply to other acts of government.#
- One of the kids said something so wise it makes my skin crawl. "Our parents don't know how to use a fucking democracy." Oh man. That is so true. They give up before they even start. The kids, bless their souls, see right through it. I love these kids with all my heart.#
- Let's go out and make some change today.#