“On Tyranny” - Chapter 13: “Practice corporeal politics”

Snyder continues with another entry on what I call embodied politics and he refers to here as “corporeal” politics.

“Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipated on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.”

I was taken aback when I heard a pundit recently downplay the effectiveness of protesting or demonstrating. Yes, there are other modes of effective protest, but showing up, putting your time in with others to raise your voice in a collective measure to fight oppressive policies, oppressive government is not to be reduced to the merely performative. It never really is. Even if there are people who only march to get a photo-op or put something up on Instagram, they still get. Credit for taking the time to do so. And truthfully, I’ve not met anyone at any protest or demonstration who attends for some superficial reason. People protest, march, and demonstrate because their lives have been affected by legislation that has negatively impacted their existence.

The additional benefit of showing up is that you do meet people you wouldn’t otherwise. You may very well discover a sense of community that you didn’t even know you had! Conversely, you support others who need that sense of validation, of community. Being present is how we affirm our commitment. It’s how we also discover what we can contribute. Sometimes, it’s all we can do.

“For resistance to succeed, tow boundaries must be crossed. First, ideas about change. Must engage people off various backgrounds who do not agree about everything. Second, people must find themselves in places that are not their homes, and among groups who were not previously their friends. Protest can be organized through social media, but nothing is real that does not end on thee. streets. If tyrants. Feel no consequences for their actions in the three-dimensional world, nothing will change.”

This can’t be emphasized enough. Recently, thousands of people have been showing up to town halls to confront their representatives. It doesn’t matter that their responses have ranged from patronizing to antagonistic to no-shows; it matters that people showed up to hold their feet to the fire, to remind representatives of whom they work for. Showing up en masse lets the elected representative know that their on notice; if you harm your constituency, you are out. The wrath of the electorate will show itself to be unforgiving regarding such abuse.

Snyder gives a quick reprise of the rise of the Solidarity movement in Poland in 1980-81. It took a while to coalesce; the regime had earlier pitted different groups against each other until “a coalition of workers and professionals, elements of the Roman Catholic Church, and secular groups” came together and met the moment. Solidarity was legal until. 1981 when the regime outlawed it and declared martial law, but by 1989, the. Communists needed negotiating partners and turned to Solidarity. “This was the beginning of the end of communism in Poland, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union.”

In more recent years, we saw the protests of the Arab Spring and in Burma, the saffron revolution. Some would argue these were not in long run, successful, but I would argue that once out, the genie is. not so easily stuffed back in the bottle. Sweeping revolutionary changes don’t always happen overnight. Years and decades may require repeated struggle.

To be sure, some will say that all the protesting hasn’t freed Tibet from China or that the Saffron Revolution didn’t help the Rohingya and worse, couldn’t forestall the military junta that has ruled Myanmar uneasily for years now. This does a disservice to all who put their lives on the line and shows a misunderstanding of how much people will fight for change, particularly when it means a better life for all.

Again, we need to show up. In addition to calling our reps, meeting with them matters. Even if they are against what we are for. They need to see the numbers; they need to see the faces. They need to hear the voices.

The coming days are not going to be easy. Many of us are going to suffer as medical care is ripped away, as prices go up and hard - perhaps, inhumane.- choices will be forced on us. I’m thinking of worst-case scenarios and hope they don’t come to pass; but there is the old saw of prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Bibliography

Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny - Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. Crown Publishing. New York. 2017..

I don’t have to add a lot here in terms of what we will likely be called on to do. You will read, again and again, how important it is to contact your reps, to volunteer your time, to march in protest, and to help where you can/as you can.

Two places to start with:

Mobilize at https://www.mobilize.us/. I have the landing page set to my area; populated with events, petitions, and volunteer opportunities, it’s practically one-stop shopping.

Indivisible at https://indivisible.org/ is another comprehensive hub. You can sign up for updates, download their guide to organizaing, find candidates to support, and more.

If you don't have a copy of "On Tyranny", you can purchase one here:

"On Tyranny" at Timothy Snyder's website where he lists several options. Support local bookstores and buy local or check it out from your local library.

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Introduction and Chapter 1