Life can get disheartening. We protested for the pro-choice (note: not pro-abortion) movement, yet women throughout the USA continue to lose choice (and the pundits ask why the birthrate is declining. Duh!). The huge and impressive, nationwide “No Kings” rally was quickly followed up with the “Supreme” Court granting even more kingly powers. We protested ICE and its cruel handling of alleged illegals (and many innocents), yet the mercilessness continues.

The behavior of ICE is eerily reminiscent of the study conducted by Phillip Zimbardo. Also known as the Stanford prison experiment, this study randomly assigned students (who happened to be men) to the role of prisoner or guard. The assigned guards quickly conformed to the expected guard role of being cruel and abusive, and this behavior increased to the point where the study had to be discontinued. Are we living this reality? Does the “Supreme” Court no longer believe in the Constitution?

We need to continue to speak up, not acquiesce into learned helplessness, which seemed to happen to the assigned prisoners in the above-mentioned experiment, and I believe some in power are hoping that will happen to the masses in this beautiful country. We definitely need to vote, as one particularly poignant protest sign stated: “Let’s grab ’em by the ballot box!”

Fight for our freedom to speak out and hold differing opinions (and discuss them respectfully — am I being naïve?). Democracy demands that each of us do our part.

Regi Robnett
Portland