Why the rallies?

 While I was on a vacation with a group of girlfriends, three of us went to a No Kings gathering.  It was the weekend when thousands of similar rallies, marches, and gatherings were happening around the country and the world.  The one I went to in Henderson, NV was very well attended, and also well managed.  Lots of clever signs, lots of supportive honking from passing cars (only one person flipped us the bird and one gave us a thumbs down from his Tesla tank), a peaceful crowd, and a beautiful day.  It felt really good to be there to lend my voice and presence.

After that weekend of protests, my brother posed the question: Why do we do it?  These gatherings most likely won't change anyone's mind.  I have thought a lot about that question since then.  And here is what I've come up with:

For one thing, we don't actually know if anyone's mind is changed or not.  Like teachers, we often don't get to know if we've had any effect on someone whose orbit intersected ours.

For another thing, I believe we participate as a way of saying "I know that what is happening is wrong and I'm not afraid to stand up publicly and say so."  It's a way of demonstrating and living our own values.  

And of course there is also the solidarity factor, the sense of community these gatherings inspire during a divisive time when so many of us are discouraged and disturbed.  It's good to know that other people, a lot of other people, are in agreement.  It can help keep depression at bay; very important since depression leads to despair and inaction, which are a win for the other side.

I don't think these acts of protests are necessarily about changing anyone's mind.  Whatever we Democrats/liberals/lefties have been doing or say has clearly been unsuccessful, since this toxic narcissist was elected a second time.  I think it is Trump himself who will ultimately change the minds of the people who support him: the farmers who voted for him and now can't find anyone to pick their crops or are losing their farms, the people whose health insurance becomes unreasonably expensive, the parents whose children contract polio, the true conservatives who become sick of T's bluster and self-aggrandizement, or are becoming shocked by the unnecessary violence of ICE, or are horrified by the destruction of the East Wing of the White House.  True fanatics may refuse to budge, but it's clear that a lot of people are already regretting their vote and thinking more deeply about the need for change.  Things may have to get even worse before enough people change their minds, but I believe that change is inevitable.  Here's hoping. 

In the meantime, I'm going to keep attending rallies and marches and protests.  It may not be much, it may not make a difference, but I can't do nothing.  Not now.  The danger to true American values - no, make that true human values -  is too real and too grave to stand aside and hope for the best.