To the editor:

Two days after writer and speaker Caroline Myss, who had an unbearable trip to Moscow to engage at a conference for healing, peace and kindness, returned, she started whining to an elderly man seated next to her about all of the hardships she had faced on her journey — delayed flights, hotel reservations canceled and having to sleep on a stranger’s floor. When she was done, the elderly man was silent for a moment and then introduced himself as someone who worked with the Dalai Lama.

He said gently that they both believed that when a lot of difficult and chaotic things were going on all at once it was to protect something fragile and beautiful that was trying to get itself born.

This story reminds me of those haunting words Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on Nov. 6. She quoted an adage a historian once wrote, “Only when it is dark enough do we see the stars…” She called upon all of us to be those brilliant of billions of stars. Let’s not give up and throw up our hands. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, as she has said many times. She also has stated many times that this country does not belong to who occupies the White House. It belongs to we the people.

Since then, more than 4 million people attended the nationwide, peaceful Hands Off protest this past April. For every person who stood up that day, six stayed home for fear of arrest. However, that sparked something. Just a few weeks ago, another gathering in every state across the country dubbed as the No Kings Day sent a very powerful message that we the people will not accept a dictator in the White House. Many gray-haired attendees showed up in wheelchairs and with walkers protesting for the future of their children and grandchildren.

The next time we are called to peacefully protest against this so-called regime that has taken over our Democracy, can we reach 24 million? It’s time for we the people to roll up our sleeves, hold our signs high and make our voices heard.

Kathy Antinone

Steubenville