To the Editor:

“Are you ready to make some good trouble?” Rev. Katrina Hebb asked protestors at the “Good Trouble Lives On” rally sponsored by North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement held July 17th. 

Slogans included “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty!,” “Good Trouble is my Civic Duty!,” “Be Bold, Brave and Courageous!” and “Find a way to get in the way!” 

What is the definition of “Good Trouble”, Resistance”, and “Get in the way?” Block traffic? Harass people in public spaces? Deface buildings with graffiti? Encourage those like the person who murdered Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in front of his wife and children? 

The photo promoting the Sept. 20 Potsdam rally shows protesters holding signs with the words “Fascism” and “Dictators” directed at Trump and his supporters. Such derogatory ideological labels smears half of the nation’s US citizens who dare questioned the liberal narrative.  This is a tactic taught by radical Saul Alinsky to attack the person instead of responding to their argument, to avoid a civil debate challenging a Leftist’s position. 

I see Trump is criticized for being a billionaire. Does the same outrage include billionaires Oprah, Perry Tyler, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, Taylor Swift, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson, Rhianna, Kim Kardashian, and others too? What of multi-millionaires like the Clintons, Bidens, Maxine Waters, and Pelosi? Or the Obamas who own four mansions, one in Hawaii, protected by Secret Service paid by our tax dollars? Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders too, with three houses, worth 3 million, putting him in the top 1% income bracket in America? Are they “more equal than others”?

North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement seems motivated by political nostalgia to relive their 1960’s glory days. A self-indulgent political group boasting their former protest street cred to appear relevant today.

There is nothing benign about their slogans “Good Trouble” or “Find a way to get in the way”. It’s Orwellian double-speak. Whether intended or not, such hyperbolic innuendos inspire the weak-minded to interpret them as a green light to commit violence. I suggest the group instead encourage their followers to write to their representatives and vote as the democratic peaceful method to make change, rather than promote bullying by civil discord. Civic engagement indeed!



Ron Shirtz

Rensselaer Falls