When I was growing up, my maternal grandparents lived with us every year from April through September.  We marked their visit as Passover to Yom Kippur.  Whenever I was going out for an evening, my grandmother would always hand me some money, not much, but she referred to this money as “border money,” which I came to understand was to be used to make a phone call if I needed help. I never appreciated at the time what ‘border money” meant to her.  

It’s been more than a few weeks since Donald Trump was elected president and I know that half the United States is reeling over the results.  Living in Latvia has given me some space from the day to day barrage of TV news.  We get the news a day late in most cases and by then we have had a chance to absorb some of what’s going on. 
When we moved to Latvia we were well aware that we would be living a short 65 miles from the Russian border and that Putin has had his eyes on the Baltics since they achieved their independence in 1991.  We are so close, in fact, that most people here speak Russian as their first language, Latvian second and English, a distant third.  It really wasn’t until we were living here and trying to assimilate into the community that I began to feel the effects of being a foreigner in this fascinating country.  Their history is similar to many other countries here, war, loss of land, loss of freedom, regaining freedom and living in subliminal fear that it could be taken away in a moment. Sounds a little too familiar to what’s unfolding in the US.  

Last Monday people celebrated Memorial Day with a solemn march through the streets of our town,  holding torches and singing the National Anthem. Patriotism was everywhere.  We ended the march in the town square where the mayor and other dignitaries spoke.  One of our friends, who works at the University, turned to me as we stood in the square and casually mentioned that every Latvian has a rucksack with a two-week supply of what they would need in case they had to leave in a moment’s notice.  I was overwhelmed with her share and it has not left me. The people in the Baltics-Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia-all live with the knowledge and apprehension that Russia and Putin are only a stone’s throw away.  

I began thinking this weekend as Latvia celebrated their Independence Day from Russia, that we in the United States might need to figure out whether we need a rucksack as we get taken over by our new President and his henchmen.  Our rights may be striped from us and our freedom not far behind.  I’m not only worried, I’m scared.  The people of Latvia know that this could happen to them and they are ready.  They don’t want to be the next Ukraine. I’m not sure where they would go or if the rucksack is a metaphor for being ready, but I don‘t think we Americans are ready for what is about to happen.  

As a Jewish American, I’m more than worried about the Nazi party in our country and the marches they are allowed to have.  Freedom of speech is one thing, taking away our safety is another.  I don’t think any one of us is immune from what we will experience in the next four years and I for one am not ready.  Living out of the country has one set of protections for me, but I am an American and a patriotic one at that. I have my “border money” at the ready, and I will use it.

With love and gratitude,

Marsha