On December 23, 1776, American patriot Thomas Paine published this essay: ‘The (American) Crisis.’

The first line is ‘These are the times that try men’s souls.’ (At the outset I would like to make a simple amend to say “these are the times that try (wo)men’s souls.).

The essay in its entirety can be read at tinyurl.com/Paine-crisis.

Here are several of Paine’s core principles:

1. the necessity of perseverance

2. the value of freedom

3. the importance of unity

4. the dangers of tyranny

5. the need for action.

If we are to survive this constitutional crisis this is no time for despair. Rather it’s a time for perseverance, unity, and action —to preserve our freedom from tyranny and the rights we have under the Constitution.

If you have been observing what’s going on since Trump took office, please do not, for a minute, take that freedom and those rights for granted.

If you value your freedom — if you value your rights — find a way to use your voice. Find a way to band with others in protest. (Re)Educate yourself about the dangers of tyranny: About the Roman Empire under Julius Caesar, Nazi Germany, Stalin’s Soviet Union, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Russia under Putin, North Korea under Kim Jung Un … the U.S. under the three stooges — Trump, Musk and Vance.

Find a way to do something. Anything! Write letters. Call your legislators. March. Make signs. Send emails. Talk to others. Go to your local select board meetings. Find an action. Participate in a protest.

Find a way to do something. Anything!

Several years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Poland. Beautiful country. Amazing food. Gorgeous amber.

During my time there I got to walk the perimeter of the Warsaw Ghetto. An area of 1.3 sq. miles. Given the German mandate it became home to as many as 460,000 Jews. If I did the math correctly that translates into ~60 sq. feet per person. That’s smaller than the area of your bathroom… maybe.

While in Poland I also had the opportunity to go to Krakow. Another gorgeous city. In fact, Krakow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known especially for its medieval old town. But within the confines of this gorgeous city is the Krakow ghetto which held over 50,000 Jews.

From Krakow go about an hour east and you arrive at a place forever emblazoned in the heart of any human soul. To Auschwitz.

If ever there is an experience to bring a person to their knees it’s visiting Auschwitz. To understand the horror… to understand the magnitude of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man… takes experiencing it firsthand.

I’m absolutely certain even Trump’s most diehard followers, even Trump’s most loyal minions, would turn tail and run at the sight of what happened in these places.

Unless, of course, they see it as “fake news.”

Judy Wiger-Grohs

Middlebury