Bruce’s 55 Theses

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has it’s foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Legend has it that on October 31, 1519, a priest and scholar named Martin Luther walked up to the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany and nailed a piece of paper to the door with 95 “revolutionary” opinions that ultimately led to the Protestant Reformation.

Luther was particularly against the Roman Catholic Church practice of asking for payment in exchange for the forgiveness of sins, a practice called an “indulgence.”

In the spirit of Martin Luther, I have my own set of 55 Theses to be nailed (or taped) onto the entrance to the chamber of the United States Senate:

1. No more automatic weapons in the hands of private citizens
2. Voter suppression efforts must be stopped
3. Re-establish truth; no more counter revolutionary alternative propaganda.
4. Anti government sedition efforts will be tried in a court of law
5. Address reactionary conservatism in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government
6. Federal government institutions are to be protected and encouraged.
7. Re-establish Democracy through law.
8. Once and for all “Make America Great.”
9. Face racism and act on it.
10. Participation in tough love and altruism by encouraging grass roots activism
11. End COVID disinformation and hold the dis-informers responsible in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans.
12. Re-flip the message back at the political Right.
13. Call out any disinformation when you see or hear it.
14. Speak truth to untruth; Wash away untruth with overwhelming amounts of truth.
15. Government works; the Supreme Court must return to the Constitution.
16. The American Flag belongs to all Americans; fly yours with pride in the Constitution that it represents.
17. Subscribe to any publications that promotes journalism and reports factual information.
18. Call out authoritarianism as undemocratic.
19. Corporate America will use their money to promote and strengthen Democracy.
20. Hold the Republican Party responsible for causing COVID death and institutional disruption through an intentional campaign to spread disinformation and division.
21. All politicians will make decisions to protect their oath which is to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
22. Celebrate diversity; lionize multiculturalism
23. Encourage courage
24. Celebrate our “citizen civic sentries” that stand guard to protect our institutions; poll workers for one.
25. Encourage artistic expression
26. One person never has all the answers.
27. Listening is more than hearing.
28. Talk, email, tweet and listen
29. Educate not indoctrinate
30. Anticipate disinformation and get out in front of it; once it’s out, it is extremely hard to undo.
31. Individual actions matter…write that letter, post or hold that sign, share that humor. It all helps.
32. Celebrate the real heroes: Abraham Lincoln, Desmond Tutu…
33. Life is Beautiful
34. If it feels wrong, it is.
35. If it feels right, it is.
36. Think, but avoid overthinking. trust your soul
37. The climate is changing (Ask Boaty McBoatFace)
38. Listen to Science
39. Trust your heart, your head can be manipulated
40. Seek out knowledge and truth; listen to stories as they will educate your heart.
41. Be observant and vigilant
42. Be open to the truth of others; be willing to reconsider your own.
43. Have experiences
44. Fear is real but it is defeatable.
45. Hope conquers fear
46. Work hard, stay occupied with doing what you can do.
47. Sometimes it’s ok to just be.
48. Wear a clown nose
49. Sing in the shower
50. Write a blog or a journal. It helps to ease the moments of fear and frustration.
51. Accept change and act to make that change be the change that you wish it to be.
52. Have the courage to make change
53. Recognize the frauds, learn how to recognize them and call them out.
54. Be patient and also persistent
55. The truth will set you free.