Did You Know?

I hadn’t planned on entering the “Madhatter’s Contest” at the LD17 Spring Picnic last weekend, but I started to feel like a bit of a drag on the fun—so I decided to join in. The challenge? Decorate a hat with the things that make us “mad.”

Right away, I thought of the famous line from the 1976 film Network: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” (Remember who said that?)  Well, let me tell you what I’m mad about.

There is a fast-moving coup taking place in our country right now.  I thought coups were accomplished by sheer physical force, but I thought wrong. This one is laid out in Project 2025 and is being implemented by a cabal of billionaires, Christian nationalists, their figurehead “king” Donald Trump, and congressional Republicans who have ceded their duty to represent the people and are, instead, participating in the coup.

So I went to work. I downloaded photos and created cards to represent the people and policies that are fueling this outrage. By the time I finished, there was hardly room left on my chapeau to pin them all.

That quote was Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch. Howard Beale also said, “First, you’ve got to get mad.”

Well, I’m mad. I’m scared. I’m deeply worried. But I’m not giving up. I’m channeling those feelings into action and fighting for our democracy. Please join us; we’re stronger together. 

Marian Hill

Editor’s note:  Marian’s hat was declared the winner of the contest!