Marla Felcher

On February 13, 2017, a few weeks after the Orange Grifter moved into the White House, I sent the inaugural Good News from the Resistance to two hundred lucky souls fortunate enough to be in my Contact List. Some unsubscribed immediately. (I know who you are). Some waited a few weeks to cut the cord. But many of you stuck with me – then forwarded to your friends, who forwarded to more friends, and before I knew it, this technology-bashing Baby Boomer who vehemently refused to maintain a Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram account was writing a blog, and thousands of people were reading it. (That I embraced Facebook says more about my age than my attitude towards Mark Zuckerberg).

Over the last four years, I’ve been thanked by countless Good News seekers for helping you get through the Orange Stain. Yet, it’s you I need to thank. No matter how despondent I was, my spirits were lifted each time I put together an issue of Good News –  105 times! — and Good People — 23 times! (A famous social psychology theory explains why).

When I started writing Good News I promised to publish until the Orange Grifter was gone. My plan was to wrap up the day after he conceded to Biden/Harris. It’s now clear this is about as likely to happen as Mitch McConnell calling a press conference to apologize for his complicity. So here you have it — the final Good News from the Resistance, marking the final week of The Worst Year of Our Lives.

I’m ending with the photo I used in the very first issue – (left to right) friend Marjorie, me, and niece Ros getting ready for the 2017 Women’s March. The night before the March I threw a sign-making party; this shot was taken in the supermarket, after I scored a tub of Cheetos. Guess how I used them on my sign?

Thank you, everyone. It’s been an honor to have you as part of my life.

Remember this: No matter how much Bad News they threw at us, Good News-makers always showed up to teach us, in the words of Leonard Cohen, there is a crack, there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.

I’ll leave you with a review of the 2020 Good News stories you liked best, and the most popular Good People.

Your faithful Good News steward,

Marla

Read more Farewell, Good News Seekers

Good News from the Resistance: How’s the pandemic going for you? Here’s how it’s going for me: Each morning I spend hours reading Bad News, in search of a Good News gem. Which sets me up for afternoons of hand-wringing, outrage, and hours-long Zillow searches in Canada. Every night I plop into bed with an exaggerated sigh and ask my husband, what will become of us?  (I’m never quite sure if he’s sleeping or pretend-sleeping, because he’s really tired of the question). Then, I spend a good part of the night deep in anxious thought, wondering, is the person who does my Insta-Cart shopping the same person who delivers it?; did the speeding, coughing, mask-less cyclist who passed me while I was walking the dog have COVID?; how long can RBG hang on?; can the people I’m Zooming with see the swath of grey in my hair?

I’ve worried, I’ve screamed, I’ve melted down, I’ve felt guilty each time I’ve deleted an email that asks me to make phone calls for a progressive candidate. What I have not done is act. Other than write Good News and donate to a couple campaigns, I have done little to ensure that on November 3 there will be a Tsunami of Democracy in this country. I admit it.

This all changed yesterday, when Biden announced Kamala Harris as his v.p. The news energized me, and I sprung to action. I hope you’ll join me. And if you’re way ahead of me on the action part, thank you. Keep going.

Next week I’ll be writing letters to unregistered Maine voters. The week after that I’ll be participating in a Text-a-Thon, largely because I don’t like phone banking. Can’t stand to text? No problem, you can write a letter. Have bad penmanship? No problem, you can host a virtual letter-writing party with your friends, and have them write for you. I’m struck by the many creative ways to contribute to the Tsunami. It’s time to turn anxiety into action.

The Ask: Sign up for at least one of the actions below. You can do all of them from home! Then forward this newsletter to a friend (or two or three) and ask them to join you. There’s something for everyone here. Together we can do this. Our Democracy depends on Us.

Have fun, wear a mask, and get some sleep. See you at the Text-a-Thon?

12 Things You Can Do To Ensure a 2020 Blue Tsunami

1. Learn what Super States are, and why it’s important to focus our actions there
2. Check out the calendar of Swing Left actions in your community (there are lots!)
3. Sign up for a Virtual Activism Workshop (Aug. 16th, 25th)
4. Register for Resistance Boot Camp on August 18 to help protect the right to vote
5. Join the Text-a-Thon on Aug. 22 to help reach 1 million voters in battleground states
6. Sign Color of Change petitions to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act & more …
7. Say good-bye to Susan Collins by helping register Maine voters 
8. Register with Vote Forward to help send 10 million voter turnout letters in October
9. Call Wisconsin voters on any Sunday afternoon
10. Get in touch with your friends and family in Michigan and help them vote
11. Host a Flip Pennsylvania virtual letter-writing party
12. Gather your kids to make beautiful signs that will go where they’re needed

And last, but not least, join an Indivisible group, donate to close Senate races, and of course, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Sign Up. Show Up. Never Give Up.