Boiling the Frog

You probably know the story: If you drop a frog into hot water, it jumps out. But if you drop it into cool water and slowly turn up the heat, the frog doesn’t notice the danger until it’s too late.

Right now, our freedom is that frog. And the heat is rising fast.

Recently, the Don of Pennsylvania Avenue ordered National Guard troops and U.S. Marines onto the streets of Los Angeles to “control” protests over ICE detentions. Neither the California Governor nor the Los Angeles Mayor requested or wanted those troops. Both said the situation was under control, that LAPD could handle it. But the Don sent them anyway, deploying federal forces over local objections. He said it was for 60 days, but we shouldn’t be surprised if it lasts much longer.

Why 60 days? Because 60 days is long enough for the extraordinary to become ordinary. Long enough to turn up the temperature without enough people noticing.

At the heart of the issue are ICE agents patrolling our neighborhoods, dressed like soldiers, with their faces covered and assault rifles ready. They detain people without warrants, demand identification, and escalate tensions when citizens don’t comply. Their official aim is to catch “illegal” aliens. But their real long-term goal seems clear: to intimidate all of us.

Here’s where it gets dangerous: When the Don decides to turn these rogue ICE soldiers against other members of the community — say, Democrats or members of the press — it won’t require much of a change in their objective. They could just as easily pick up so-called “enemies of the state” as they now pick up people with brown skin. Today is just a practice run.

This is how democracies die. Not overnight, but in broad daylight. Over time, even the most extreme and absurd ideas can get normalized. The temperature rises, and too few notice until it’s too late.

Sadly, the outrage isn’t coming from most of our political leaders. They’re content to write strongly worded letters, clinging to decorum while the heat rises. Not all, but too many of them aren’t fighters. They’re used to clever compromises and backroom deals. They don’t understand the art of war. They don’t see the urgency. Or worse, they see the urgency and remain silent because it benefits them. Either way, they aren’t doing enough to stop this madness from unfolding on our streets.

So it’s up to the people in the street. It’s up to our communities. It’s up to each of us to fight.

So far, the fight is having an effect. When ICE agents harass our neighbors, communities step up. People surround them, record everything, and sometimes force ICE agents to retreat without violence. But the real test is whether we can outlast them. If ICE keeps showing up in increasing numbers with escalating violence, people may start to tolerate it. They may ultimately succumb to intimidation and decide not to get involved, to go about their business in a new abnormal.

That’s why it’s so important in these early days not just to push back, but to step up our game. We must never allow rogue paramilitary groups on our streets to become normalized. We must not sit quietly in the pot of water while the temperature rises. If we forget our civic duty to resist the forces of military totalitarianism, the water will boil, and our freedoms will evaporate in a cloud of steam.

Each of us has a role to play:

• Surround and protect our communities. Don’t let these agents operate in the shadows. Record their actions. Spread the truth far and wide.

• Call your political leaders as often as possible. Demand the withdrawal of military forces from Los Angeles now, before the situation spreads to your city.

• Organize. Speak out. Refuse to look away. Step in. Get involved. Protest. Resist.

The Don of Pennsylvania Avenue has shown incredible tenacity. He will keep pushing, pushing, and pushing to get his way. He will never rest.

Neither should we.