I’ve got an idea for the 2016 holiday season. As you know, the country is undergoing a very drastic and scary time because of the stunning electoral victory of all-around shitbag, “the workingman’s billionaire” (?!?!!) Donald J. Trump. I forgot where I read that quote, but the very idea of a workingman’s billionaire is just mind-boggling. They must have forgotten how he refused to pay some of the said workingmen/women for work completed and the fact that he is one of those who reaps the benefits of what is coordinated societal production. Refer to the “Global Working Classes” post for an understanding about sort of pyramidal, grotesque socioeconomic organization under which we live.

But back to my idea that opened this post, an idea for the 2016 holiday season. What if all of us who are committed to resisting Trump and his administration agree to forgo receiving Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa or other unmentioned year-end gifts but instead accept a donation made in your name as your gift. Instead of giving a gift or gift card, make a donation in that person’s name if they feel the same outrage over the outcome of the election. If this is done en masse, this could have quite a regional or national impact and would be a huge manifestation and demonstration of popular discontent and resistance. We could turn a ‘season of giving’ into truly giving for the good by giving resources to those persons and American and global institutions that will be hurt and damaged (or destroyed) by the Trump regime. One of these institutions might be Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press. You might remember that Trump has penchant for suing or threatening to sue people and during his campaign he threatened  “that if elected president he will change the nation’s libel laws in order to make it easier to sue news organizations” (CNN.Money.com, 2/26/2016). Other threats to free expression and dissent may take less civilized shape in the form of threats from individuals and groups that support Trump, as some of his rabid supporters physically assaulted and made death threats to journalists (Jewish journalists are often the target). (See Newsweek, 10/7/2016, by K. Eichenwald).

Imagine, then a gift to someone you love being a donation to the American Civil Liberties Union or The Committee to Protect Journalists, where you could donate at https://www.cpj.org/about/donate.php. Perhaps you can make a donation in your co-worker’s name, a parent, sibling, or your spouse. We don’t have to stop at these organizations, of course. One to which I will donate a gift in someone’s name is CHIRLA, or the Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights Los Angeles. Here there name says it all and they have been around doing exactly as they are named for since 1986–they’ve been around the block. You can get more specifics on the actions they take and how you can donate at https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=118896.

I cannot list all suitable organizations to whom to donate, of course. I will stop with these three suggestions. The point is that we can use our gift dollars to fight Trump and help people, create solidarity with others, and even to become connected with persons and organizations that will facilitate and articulate our struggles in the time ahead. And your gift of this form is still a gift to the person you love or like.

So my Christmas wish is that we donate to the fight against Trump instead of giving gifts and cards that may simply not be used, be disliked or returned. A donation would truly be a meaningful and practical gift.

Bring your gift dollars to bear against the Trump regime. It could make a yuge difference. Stay connected to the struggle.