I remember the first time I saw Henry Kissinger in person. As he walked by my table, the hairs on the back of my neck stiffened, a cold, remorseless air replaced the kind breeze, and the flowers wilted.
I had a similar experience earlier today when I encountered Stephen Miller at Tyson’s Mall in Virginia. Dressed in classic dad garb and driving a minivan, I took my son to the mall to return an expensive Lego set. While crossing the street towards the mall’s entrance I sensed, but did Nazi, danger ahead. Lo and behold, there was the shiny, bald head of budget Goebbels. Stephen Miller, an avowed white nationalist whose cruel, xenophobic agenda has a full green light during Trump’s second administration, was in front of me. Pee-wee German was about to enter his car. Mind you, he wasn’t in the driver’s seat. Oh, no. There were two Black SUVs with tinted windows, and he was entering the back seat. This means this man who takes pride in ripping apart immigrant families and castigating them as freeloaders and criminals is using our taxpayer dollars for a driver and security.
Generally, I’m not a confrontational person. But the sight of this ghoul enjoying his Sunday at the neighborhood mall with drivers and security as innocent fathers are being imprisoned and tortured in an El Salvador prison just didn’t sit well with me. As I made my way to the entrance, Miller was to my right, flanked by his security guard, and about to sit in the car. I saw him, and he saw me. I didn’t yell. I didn’t use bad words. I didn’t get in his face. I looked directly at him and said, “Stephen, you’re hurting families, man. You Are Hurting Families.” He heard me but didn’t make eye contact. His security guard firmly told me I “need to keep moving.”
Why? I was on the sidewalk. This is still a free country, right? First Amendment and whatnot that MAGA keeps yelling about, except when it applies to topics and speech they don’t like. I was carrying a giant, yellow Lego bag and dressed like a middle-aged dad with my son behind me. But, to insecure, terrified cowards like Stephen Miller and the Trump Administration, anyone who doesn’t look like them or follows their zealous, poioned ideology or bends the knee is a potential threat.
Up close and personal, Stephen Miller looks even weaker and smaller than he does in real life. They can dish it, but they can’t take it. They give cruelty but demand civility. They bemoan safe spaces but expect the public square to be a safe space for them.
Nah.
I am perfectly fine with making fascists mildly uncomfortable, especially when they are public servants paid by our taxpayer dollars and refuse to be held accountable for their actions. We have every right to speak up and speak out. That’s what happened on Saturday with the epic #HandsOff rally across America that allegedly drew up to 4 million people to protest Trump, Musk, and MAGA.
I’m no hero or tough guy. I’m just a concerned, tired, middle-aged dad with a minivan. But that won’t stop me from speaking my mind and confronting racists like Stephen Miller and the Trump Administration in public or in print. Remember, we have the numbers. When we organize and rise, the bullies always cower and run away.
I hope you all enjoy your Sunday.
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