So? What exactly is "Good Trouble"

Some say the phrase "good trouble" refers to taking a stand against injustice—even if that means breaking or challenging established rules. Popularized by civil rights icon John Lewis, "good trouble" means causing disruption, sparking dialogue, challenging unfair systems, and working towards a more just society.

But this is just a definition; it doesn't address the mechanics of how "Good Trouble" works or what it requires of the people who engage in it.

As anyone who has ever read my writings knows, I am fond of asking why, in a kaleidoscopic world, all our choices are Black and White. Nothing exemplifies this better than Good Trouble.

When faced with a leg rotting with gangrene, the choice is to cut off the leg or lose your life. When faced with cancer, the choice is ruinous medical bills and terrible side effects for the chance to survive. Books like Sophie's Choice pepper our literature with examples of impossible decisions without good options.

Trump isn't wrong when he says that Ukraine could have avoided a tremendous loss of life had they just surrendered, but the Ukrainians, having once lived under Russian occupation, chose to face death and destruction rather than suffer that fate again.

The difficulty that many Americans are having right now understanding the true nature of the risk they face, is that the idea it could happen here - to them, is incomprehensible. That being the case, it falls to us who see the destruction of our democratic institutions, who feel empathy for those denied due process and sent to slave labor camps, deported or disappeared, and seeing our legal system crumble before our eyes to stand up and bear the burden of civil disobedience, and the burden is real, there are consequences to good trouble - including physical danger and jail time. Here are a few examples of what is required:

Staging a nonviolent sit-in during a closed legislative session where controversial policies are being decided.

Blockading a government building to protest unjust laws or demanding legislative action.

Forget Boycotts; Occupy the facilities of major companies that are collaborating with the administration.

Engage in hacktivism by accessing and then exposing classified documents or internal data that reveal embarrassing facts and releasing hidden data.

Disrupt automated systems and business as usual by overwhelming phone systems and submitting fake applications, orders and forms.

Protecting our way of life can demand sacrifice; every generation has been called upon to serve. For us, the question is not what but whether we are prepared to answer that call with Good Trouble to protect those who come after us. For America's sake, I pray the answer is yes.