As we prepare for a Trump presidency, I would like to suggest that we all take a deep breath and relax. Consider, if you will, this article from Truthout about the limitations of political protest. Stay calm and read on:

Instead of unity and centralization, what is realistic, instead, is a process of knitting together horizontal relationships and alliances made visible by intersectional analysis. A multitude begins to emerge and gain the capacity to act together with the accumulation and re-enforcement of these horizontal, coalitional ties.

One can find numerous hints in the culture of today’s US movements of the kinds of composition that develop from intersectional consciousness and coalitional practice: at the Standing Rock pipeline, acting against climate change and defending indigenous rights have become inextricably linked; campaigns to raise the minimum wage have crossed the boundaries of migrant communities and intersected with struggles against racism; powerful segments of the Black Lives Matter protests and, even more clearly, the platform of the Movement for Black Lives pose gender, sexuality and economic justice as essential for racial justice; and many elements of the 2011 Occupy movement attempted to make race a central component of the protests over social inequality -- with some success, most notably at Oakland.

Some food for thought as we retreat from our Giving Thanks holiday and go forward to our Holiday Christmas Season:

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/38506-the-power-of-the-movements-f...