Keep a Resistance Diary
The value of keeping a personal record
Somewhere, around the beginning of our president’s second term, I read about the importance of keeping track of the news related to our descent into authoritarianism. As a tyrant strengthens his grip, records may vanish, the official account of the government’s activities may be altered, and the press may become too intimidated to report the truth. There is value in keeping a personal record of key events.
During the Nazi occupation of France, there weren’t any newspapers keeping a record of French Resistance activities. Historians studying the French Resistance had to rely mostly on oral accounts from participants and eyewitnesses, which were often inaccurate, thanks to the failings of human memory. When a historian encountered a resistance diary, written contemporaneously as events unfolded, they knew they had something that could provide chronological, granular detail to their understanding. Oral testimony could only document the “atmosphere” of the time.
I started this resistance diary on April 25—just two and a half months ago. Back then, it was mostly an opportunity to encourage others to form small, informal, IN-PERSON resistance groups. Every now and again, I'd post about something the administration did that I felt crossed a red line, moving us deeper into authoritarianism. These days, I can’t keep up with all the red lines because we cross new ones so quickly.
Looking back through my posts, I recall things I forgot had outraged me just weeks ago because they’ve been buried by new outrages. On days when I wonder if I’m overreacting about all of this, I can look back through my resistance diary, understand the broader context, and see just how quickly and how far we have slid into authoritarianism.
I encourage you to keep your own resistance diary—something personal that you can use to remember your thoughts and keep track of the important events as they unfold. Maybe you can even record things you did to help flatten the authoritarian curve, such as demonstrating at rallies, volunteering in your community, or attending an IN-PERSON resistance meeting.
If you do start a resistance diary, consider recording the things you enjoy about your freedom, and make sure you exercise your personal sovereignty from time to time.
Liking, sharing, or commenting on this post IS an act of resistance. Corridor Rabbit is meant to serve as a casual guide for how to start and grow an informal resistance group. It is not authoritative; it is a live journal documenting our efforts. It is a call to action. It's an invitation to connect and share what you are doing to resist authoritarianism. Read more about the goals of Corridor Rabbit. We design our illustrations with the help of AI.