Act Two
Scene One
On Day One, an aide slid the next in a long line of dubious executive orders under Trump’s waiting right hand. A discrete whisper let Trump know the subject and nature of the decree. “Oh, that’s a good one,” the 47th president of the United States opined, raising one approving eyebrow.
He then set about one of his favorite tasks in office. Affixing his boldly stylized signature to a state document. This Good One rescinded protections guaranteed under the 14th amendment for persons born on American soil. It would cause the entire administrative branch of our government to do what he therein instructed.
Three days later, a federal judge temporarily blocked implementation of the order. The portion of We the People concerned about the results of Election 2025 trumpeted the decision as A Big Win. Judge John Coughenour assured himself of a mention, maybe a biography, in Wikipedia for calling the order “blatantly unconstitutional.”
The issue is headed for the Supreme Court.
Job 1.21 proclaims that what is given also can be retracted.
The 14th amendment was adopted on 09 July 1868. “Usually considered one of the most consequential amendments, it addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law… The amendment, particularly its first section, is one of the most litigated parts of the Constitution, forming the basis for landmark Supreme Court decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education (1954) regarding racial segregation, Loving v. Virginia (1967) regarding interracial marriage, Roe v. Wade (1973) regarding abortion (overturned in 2022), Bush v. Gore (2000) regarding the 2000 presidential election, Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) regarding same-sex marriage, and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023) regarding race-based college admissions. The amendment limits the actions of all state and local officials, and also those acting on behalf of such officials.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
The amendment is particularly vulnerable to the leanings of the Roberts Court. The overturning of Roe in 2022 made it clear no precedent is sacred or safe from aggressive conservative pressure. Justice Clarence Thomas already has signaled a desire and intention to revisit and revise previous decisions rendered regarding 14th amendment protections and provisions—specifically and ironically Brown and Loving. Legal scholars and optimists may hope that the high court will refuse an opportunity to reconsider the historic rights of persons born on American soil. I submit believing that the chief and three of his justices are not salivating over the incoming plea for opinion is just plain silly.
In the 1950’s my family would play card and board games. Monopoly. Risk. Yahtzee. Bridge. Poker. Checkers. Chess. It was fun. It was serious. It was foundational to an understanding and appreciation of chance, strategy, and fair play.
When my 73-year-ol baby sister viewed the reporting of Trump’s glib assessment of the rogue executive order as “a Good One”, she huffed— “Those aren’t blackjack cards the aide is dealing!!!”
Says who?
Me. You. Her.
Now we just must expend the time, energy, and simple loving kindness to help our “uncommitted,” semi-conscious, or clearly deluded family members, friends, and acquaintances understand how implementation of a policy attack on the 14th amendment affects the cost of a dozen eggs, a gallon of gas, interest on a credit card, and insurance premiums on a mortgage or car loan.
Heads up.
Wallets out.
Hearts strong.
Vision clear.
Do not just survive Project 2025.
Resist every day in every legal way.
Prevail.