The next meeting will be on Feb. 15 at 1 pm at the Crawford County Democratic Headquarters.

We look forward to bringing everyone together!

Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 6 PM at Headquarters for a special opportunity to meet Jennifer Day, Democratic candidate for Kansas Secretary of State. Jennifer is running to ensure our elections are safe, secure, and accessible to every eligible Kansan, and that voting remains a fundamental right — not a partisan weapon. Jennifer brings experience as a businesswoman, community leader, and former state representative, with a strong commitment to protecting election integrity, expanding voter participation, and supporting Kansas businesses. This casual meet & greet is a great chance to hear directly from Jennifer, ask questions and connect with fellow Democrats. We’ll be serving sodas and snacks, so stop by after work and stay awhile — we’d love to see you there!

— Emily Walters

Confessions of a 2024 skeptic

By Mark Peterson, PhD

During meetings of the County Democrats leading up to the 2024 election, I listened to my colleagues express far greater alarm than I did about the prospects for a Trump second term, or “Trump 2.0.”  Of course I was troubled by the prospect of Trump 2.0, but we had survived Trump 1.0, and there were three other twice-elected Republican presidents I had lived through, and their second terms were less horrifying than their first.  I am writing now to confess to you that I was wrong, and many of your warnings were right.  Moreover, I suspect that few people back in 2024 anticipated the horror we have lived through this past year.

I will begin with recent events because they demonstrate a Trump policy that was not clearly evident during his first term or the 2024 campaign: the shootings by ICE agents of three people, two of them (Rene Good and Alex Pretti) fatally in January.  While each of these shootings represent tragedy that should alarm anyone, the response by the president and his administrators has been even more horrifying.  First, assertions about the conduct of the victims and their killers were made by Trump officials almost immediately, long before it was possible to evaluate the first trickles of evidence.  Second, characterizations of the victims as “domestic terrorists” were also made almost immediately, and with absolutely no evidence.  And third, the administration prohibited any agency not under Trump’s authority (such as state and local officials) to gather and examine evidence.  How is it possible for a legal system to function when the gathering of evidence is conducted by the same organization (Homeland Security) that employed the ICE agents, and NO OTHER agency is allowed to evaluate that evidence?

I begin with this example not simply to reflect on recent tragedies that have troubled me deeply, but to identify patterns of egregious abuses of power.  There are many others.

Which leads me back to early 2025, where we find an example of Trump encroaching on powers I thought were delegated to Congress.  For example, President Trump appointed an immigrant (Elon Musk) to find and root out “waste, fraud and abuse” in government programs and spending.  (While I have no objection to immigrants or eliminating “waste, fraud and abuse,” my confidence in Musk was compromised when he announced his mission by brandishing a chainsaw.)   As Musk ravaged budgets of various programs, did he ever identify or disclose any “waste, fraud and abuse?”  NO!  Did he ever ask Congress to approve these cuts?  NO!  (Excuse me, but doesn’t the Constitution give Congress primary power regarding budgets?)  Instead, what Musk and Trump achieved by firing people en masse and with no consideration of their knowledge and experience was the loss of that expertise and institutional memory.  It may take another generation to rebuild that expertise, assuming we elect people who have interest in such competency.

Other developments I didn’t anticipate way back in 2024 concern foreign policy.  Back then did you anticipate that Mr. Trump wanted to make Canada the 51st state or (perhaps?) Greenland the 52nd?  Silly me, I did not, though I was aware that both Canada and Denmark (hint to Trump 2.0: Greenland is a territory of Denmark, not Iceland) are members of NATO.

Speaking of NATO, is Mr. Trump aware of Article 5, in which all members of NATO pledge to defend any other NATO country that is militarily attacked?  And is Mr. Trump aware that Article 5 has been activated just ONCE, and that the country that was attacked (and NATO defended) was the United States, shortly after the 9/11 attacks by Al-Qeada? Apparently not.  If Mr. Trump decides to invade Greenland or Canada, does he realize that other NATO countries will be obligated to defend Greenland and/or Canada against the United States?  I hope we don’t find out.

I select these issues to make a broader point.  While many people oppose Trump because of the cost of living, I am more deeply troubled by issues that represent violations of basic freedoms (such as freedom of speech), institutions (such as the checks and balances system, and an effective bureaucracy), international agreements (such NATO) and the role of the U.S. as a global, military hegemon guided by a man with expansionist military ambitions and armed with nuclear weapons.  Moreover, Mr. Trump seems to be embarked on a mission that will produce far more long-term damage and more horrific consequences to our government and Constitutional protections than the price of eggs, regardless of how much I enjoy omelets.

And so how does this story fit into my larger narrative and shock regarding our days of woe since January 20, 2025?  Mr. Trump has displayed an astonishing contempt for civil liberties, limited powers of government, and international norms as well as logic, evidence, cooperation, and especially, a disdain for decency and anyone who dares to oppose him.

And how does this relate to my introductory comments?  First, back in 2024, and despite warnings many of you suggested to me, I was wrong about Trump 2.0.  I did not anticipate Trump’s extraordinary abuses of power.  I did not anticipate the incredible hatred Trump has attempted to cultivate between and among us in the United States, and abroad, as revealed in a quote from Trump reported in Bob Woodward’s book, “Fear: Trump in the White House.”  In Trump’s words: “Real power is — I don’t even want to use the word — fear.”

How do we respond to this politically?  In many ways we are already doing this in terms of letter writing and phone calls to public officials.  We have also responded with protests, five of which I have attended here in Pittsburg, and many others that have proliferated like Spring flowers across the country.  One study of the Vietnam era found that antiwar protests had an impact on the willingness of “elites” (primarily members of Congress and other high ranking government officials) to speak out against the war, and that their critical comments about the war had a significant impact on public opinion, which (in turn) ultimately led the U.S. to withdraw from Vietnam.

While I celebrate that, we should be mindful of other polls during Vietnam.  One poll taken often during the Vietnam War measured people’s view of the “Most important problem facing the country.”  During Vietnam, the war was most identified as “the most important problem.”  One of the few polls that did not identify the war as the number one problem was taken shortly after the Kent State shootings, in which the National Guard shot 13 students, killing four of them fatally during antiwar protests.  One might assume that such slaughter would lead people to conclude that the shootings represented the “most important problem.”  That was not the case.  Instead, more people viewed “Student Unrest” as the most important problem facing the country, blaming the protesters, some of whom could be seen throwing objects at National Guard soldiers.  This is a lesson to remember today.

And so as we contemplate our hopes for a better world — as well as our means to achieve those hopes — let us remember those hopes in the spirit of the First Amendment for “the right of the people peaceably to assemble,” and for us to stay informed and active.  Back in 2024, I should have been more attentive to your warnings about Trump 2.0.  I belatedly thank you for your warning and apologize for being a slow learner!  If you keep teaching me, perhaps our hopes and dreams for a better nation — as well as the means to achieve our goals — will be realized.  Thank you!

Minnesota is drawing attention,

And not for a reason that’s good.

In Trump’s pursuit of illegals,

The people aren’t responding like he thinks they should.

It began with the first influx of ICE.

All the thugs on the street

Were ready to shoot or to beat

Anyone who didn’t play nice.

“Normal” was the first victim we could see.

Then when “normal” ceased to be

They replaced “normal” with “chaos”.

It’s the context that works best for their boss.

“Decency also died early.

“Cruelty” and “fear” took it’s place,

Leading to what happened surely,

An innocent mother, shot in the face.

Who throws gasoline on a fire?

It’s what sending more ICE agents will do.

As the flames reach increasingly higher,

Trump will try something new.

The one thing he has left to do,

Then America as we know it is through.

In the midst of the chaos he’ll enact

The far reaching Insurrectionist Act.

— Mike Sand

By J. T. Knoll

The concept of kindness has been showing up more than usual in my reading lately. Or else it’s been here all along and I’m attending to it more.

My most recent discovery was a reference in the Donna Leon Guido Brunetti mystery “Aqua Alta”. Guido’s wife, Paola, an English professor, quotes Henry James as saying, “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind.”

According to my etymological dictionary, the adjective kind (gentle, compassionate) is derived from the noun kind (genus, species), which, in turn, is derived from kin (related, family). This, it would appear, means that the original meaning of treating someone with kindness would be treating him or her as family.

Human behavior being nothing else if not paradoxical, in every family there are members who are generally loving and affectionate but behave, from time to time, in such a way as to call upon their kin to treat them with anything but kindness. In such cases we might well remember the words of Samuel Johnson: “Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.”

As I’m prone to when a new notion comes into my head, I went looking in my quotations book and on the internet for what others have said about kindness.

Author Willa Cather says, “When kindness has left people, even for a few moments, we become afraid of them as if their reason had left them.” I can vouch for this in myself. When my dark side takes hold, my kindness leaves and I get brusque and unfeeling. People scatter. In the past I mistook this for power. It’s not. It’s cold-heartedness that scares people but does not engender respect — which real power always includes.

Reading about Mother Teresa helped me to see that kindness and firmness are not mutually exclusive. Known worldwide the Angel of Mercy for her kindness and compassion, she was also greatly respected as a shrewd and tough negotiator as she established Missionaries of Charity in cities throughout Europe and the United States.

Charitable behavior is recognized as a value to be aspired to in most all cultures and religions. Catholic St. Basil said, “He who plants kindness gathers love.” Anglican theologian Frederick William Faber: “Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.” Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama: “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” Judaism's Talmud claims "deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments."

“A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter,” humorist Dave Barry is credited with saying, “is not a nice person.” True enough, or just someone having a bad day that needs a little kindness shown them. Or maybe a teacher sent to show us the way to new behavior, as in poet Kahlil Ghibran’s statement, “I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.”

Here’s a quote from writer George Prentice that I’m going to try and remember when I catch myself trying to impress people with clever and original language. “A word of kindness is seldom spoken in vain, while witty sayings are as easily lost as the pearls slipping from a broken string.”

I also found several quotes that don’t follow the usual line of thinking on the subject: “Kindness is the cause of all anxiety.” — Psychologist David D. Burns “There is a rollicking kindness that looks like malice.” — German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. These I’ve chosen to view much the same as Christ’s parables or Zen Buddhism’s koans — obscure riddles that only reveal themselves after some intellectual wrestling. As of this writing, I’m still struggling.

When I begin to fool myself that keeping my wits about me and being good to others will excuse me from the pain of existence, I have only to remember this quote by essayist and journalist Barbara Grizzuti Harrison: “Kindness and intelligence don't always deliver us from the pitfalls and traps: there are always failures of love, of will, of imagination. There is no way to take the danger out of human relationships.”

Animal relationships either, for that matter. In closing, here’s a poem by Philip Larkin sent to me last week that speaks to the kinship we share with all beings. It’s titled “The Mower”.

“The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found / A hedgehog jammed up against the blades, / Killed. It had been in the long grass.

I had seen it before, and even fed it, once. / Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world / Unmendable. Burial was no help:

Next morning I got up and it did not. / The first day after a death, the new absence Is always the same; we should be careful

Of each other, we should be kind / While there is still time.”

What’s happened to the fervor,

Of Trump’s pursuit of peace?

In his quest to get the trophy,

We’ve seen his focus cease.

Perhaps the gift from FIFA

Left him satisfied.

His heart goes only out to him,

And not to those who died.

With this first goal accomplished,

He can move on to the next.

Instead of seeking peace he’s now

Causing strife on any pretext,

Venezuela proved so easy,

It was almost like a game.

He’s now picked half a dozen others

Where he hopes to do the same.

Mexico and Panama,

Canada and Greenland,

If he has his way with them,

They’ll all be part of Trumpland.

There is no way of knowing,

When you listen to him prattle,

Is he voicing childlike dreams,

Or preparing to do battle.

Greenland is in his crosshairs,

It’s an existential need.

It will be the easiest conquest.

So we’ll let Greenland lead.

But His Stupidness has failed to see,

That his victory will be hollow.

NATO will be the first to go,

And any other allies follow.

Our nation will have no more friends.

By most we will be hated.

And we can blame it all on Trump

As The Great America he created.

— Mike Sand

Liberal Ladies met on Jan. 14, with 14 attending. The following topics were presented:

Harriet discussed the tentative plans for a Day of Hunger on January 21st.  Janice mentioned the excellent State of the State speech by Governor Laura Kelly.  Instructions for resisting ICE were explored. Susy suggested a wrapping Christmas gifts fundraiser. Jan. 23 is a Protest Day of no shopping or eating out. We had a Deep Canvassing moment concerning how to respond to a person who has radically different views that counter our views. This might be a continuing feature at our meetings.  Harriet has taught several sessions of Deep Canvassing and is an excellent resource.  Delma read us a new "rant” or poem and her poems are a welcome break from our discussion of fears and concerns for the well-being of our community and beyond. Jean commented on J.T. Knoll's excellent column in the Morning Sun.  Ruth talked about her work with Lynette W. for Crawford County Health Coalition. She encouraged us to get involved. We were reminded about the Crawford County Dems. meeting on Sunday, Jan. 18 1:00 at Dem HQ.

Liberal Ladies met again on Jan. 28 at noon, at Dem HQ.  Despite all the snow and cold 11 powerful women attended.  Nancy T. talked about Mary Trump's book Too much and Not Enough.  Harriet added details about Trump’s early childhood that added to some insight about his sociopathy. He had a neglectful childhood and was molded by his father to lack empathy and unscrupulous.  Mary Trump has a daily wrap up on Substack. I suggested that we bring books of interest to meetings.  I showed my book, Invisible Women and the cover has a medley of dark male figures all over.  When the light hits it a certain way there are translucent figures of women interspersed. Sandy read us a very colorful description about a protester’s experience at a protest.  Marcia talked about a meeting for anyone who wants to attend at Jerry Moran's Pittsburg office this Thursday at 4:00.  His congenial office manager will relay our concerns.  Harriet passed out buttons and postcards (It's STILL about NO!) from Women for Kansas.  March 28 will be another No King's march.  Sally posed the prospect of folks going to Topeka in March for the rally there. Ruth gave lots of info about the Crawford County Community Coalition (CCCC).  She is working with Lynette Westoff and Matt O'Malley on the initiatives of this agency regarding food insecurity and the impact of Medicaid cuts.  Kansas is #1 of all the states losing hospitals because of all the health care cuts.

Good news!

Lynn Grant has a new grandson!

We celebrated early Jean’s (2/8) and Susy’s birthday (2/4) with cookies from Nancy T. and cupcakes from Sandy.

Our next meeting will be on 2/11. Same time, same place.   

— Susy Hammons

The purpose of the Crawford County Democrat Headquarters iThe purpose of the Crawford County Democrat Headquarters is to provide a safe, centralized meeting location, comfortable and efficient work spaces for party officers and volunteers, social support to our members and reliable information to the community. 

The office is open Wednesday through Friday from 10-4 with extended hours planned this spring. The next Action Meeting will be Thursday, 2/12 at 4pm.  These second Thursday meetings are an opportunity to plan events, campaign, fundraise, whatever we need to do. For anyone interested in becoming more involved, this is a good chance.

In fact, if anyone would like to host a meeting or small group at Headquarters, I’d be glad to facilitate.  With new chaos emerging every single day, please, know you’re welcome to come up and try to make sense of it.  Bring friends!

We are fortunate to have a place like our Headquarters and need to use it.  Volunteers are showing, now we must organize!  Contact me if you have any suggestions or ideas that you’d like to see come to fruition. Peace,

— Sally Harryman, HQ manager

sally@crawfordcountyksdems.org

Article submissions are needed from Crawford County Democrats and friends about issues and topics we should all be thinking about. Let us publish your thoughts in this Revue, for distribution to our fellow county Democrats and others across the state. Back issues of thr newsletter are also on the website at https://www.crawfordcountyksdems.org/newsletter.

Please email your thoughts or those of your caucuses and interest groups for publication in the county party’s newsletter to news@crawfordcountyksdems.org. Accompanying photographs or other ideas for illustrating your articles are also welcome. Feel free to ask questions by text or phone of newsletter crew Harriet at 620-704-8566 or Phil at 708-466-0659. Also please include your phone number with your message in case we have questions for you.

We truly are looking forward to hearing from you!