Editor’s note: This commentary is by David Roth, a Burlington resident and entrepreneur.
The Gus J. Solomon U.S. Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, has been the subject and target of much attention recently, and only a few days ago was witness to the egregious use of federal power that harkens to much darker times and much darker regimes – or maybe presages what’s to come here.
Judge Gus Solomon was my great-uncle – an extraordinary icon who convinced me as a very young boy that politics was a noble calling and that justice mattered more than anything. As so many Jewish immigrants of his time, Gus knew oppression firsthand and was determined to use his life and his power and his bench to bring justice to those who deserved it most. He would be horrified at what happened in Portland less than two weeks ago.
Gus reviled unfettered abuse of power as was on display as camouflaged federal troops in unmarked vehicles scooped up protesters on the street just like they did in Chile under Pinochet, or in Argentina under Videla, or in Zimbabwe under Mugabe, or in Venezuela under Chavez, or in Germany under Hitler — or in America under Trump. History weighs heavily on the actions of all those men, and upon the conscience of us all right now, because ostensibly, we are the only democracy on that list. Look at the photos taken the night of July 17 — look at the federal, armed, military force used to disperse protesters in Portland – and then focus on and contemplate the “used to disperse protesters” part of my sentence. They came for them. They could come for us. They could come for anyone.
Although I am not sure how the near-term could look bleaker, I am provided succor by history – which argues convincingly that these times of trial will resolve themselves into history, and that we will emerge a changed and different people. How changed? How different? Nobody knows, but times of crises forge new leaders and new ideas (they always have!), and this time of crises will be no different. The heroes of today and tomorrow will be those who oppose the normalization of hate that has occurred so blatantly over the past few years. Hate breeds violence and is borne of something profoundly sad and pathetic. James Baldwin wrote in “Notes of a Native Son”: “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” Hate and pain elected Donald Trump and begat more hate and more pain that is now tearing our nation apart.
So what do we do? What do we say? My answer to that is clear: Do something! Say something! Write something! Take a philosophical stand and/or an actual stand and make it clear on what side of history you firmly stand – as I am doing here and now. Donate to a progressive political candidate, to the Southern Poverty Law Center, to the Rothko Chapel or to any organization that fosters peace and tolerance – give of your time and money and make it clear that the man currently in the White House does not represent us and that the politics of hate will not define us.
Do not be tempted to shrug and say “what can I do?” for that is how the hate and the pain and the degradation continue and intensify. We cannot become numb to the pain.
Make no mistake, we are the employers of the federal troops that swept up protesters in Portland like they were cleaning up the day’s refuse. We cannot allow those who would abuse the public trust to retain power one moment longer. Uncle Gus Solomon would not.
