Is Everyone in the Picture?

Everybody squeeze in! Smile! Do we have every face in the photo? A new cell phone (the iPhone 17) is being advertised as able to automatically include all individuals in the frame of a group “selfie.” What an appropriate capability just before No Kings Day on March 28. The symbolism is striking. Families, organizations, strangers, and friends surge forward together, a population of diverse races, ages, genders and cultures, a moving image of true democracy. How proud the ancestors would be who came here seeking space to be independent, to be free to be. Even those who were forced to travel here or shoved from ancestral lands can celebrate that now their descendants should be able to claim personhood and chances at a fulfilling future, no matter what the haters believe.

As gigantic crowds surge forward speaking as one, the voices of those who preach division, fear, and resentment are drowned out for a while. Their lies deflate under the sun like vampires, even those lies disguised as gospel, flaming into ash because they aren’t as immortal as they think they are. They’ve missed the joy of being a winning team made powerful by talents, dreams, cooperation, compassion, and hard work. They’ve been indoctrinated to believe happiness is a quantity that can be used up, as they use credit, until there’s a shortage. They cling to their selfishness like Tolkien’s malevolent ring of Mordor. They want ever more stuff even when others have none. Little do they remember that happiness expands as it’s expressed. The more of us breathe free, the more freedom there is to breathe. People who love and respect one another as valuable human beings gain inner strength and collective intelligence the haters can’t comprehend.

Those who pushed aside the wise, the temperate, and the qualified to allow violent tantrums to replace diplomacy assumed the rest of the world would cower before them. They naively believed their “dominance” over the planet meant they could destroy at will with no repercussions. But the world is actually tipping. Lush lands are drying into deserts. Plains are burning. Sophisticated cities are drowning. AI is gaining the ability to displace humans. We need fine, creative, logical minds to help us survive. Once friendly nations, abandoned to danger and disaster, feel betrayed by us. A wounded animal is resentful and dangerous.

Our beautiful grinning group photo (with those who couldn’t attend the march still participating emotionally) is proof that humans aren’t ready to give up the planet and society we once envisioned as paradise. We stand against fires and floods and oppressive government. We keep a firm grip on our good humor and perspective. Can we rebuild what’s been broken? Of course, and better than before because we’re growing ever wiser. No one has to pay us to show up. We’re struggling to defend the soul of our earthly home and its inhabitants. We’re determined to honor our own spirits. We come together to celebrate and reinforce the best of humanity. We the people are the governed whose proper consent has not been sought. We’re ready for an immense, ongoing group hug. And then we work.