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If you have an idea for a good ritual that we should try out, I'm all ears! What should be our version of the three finger salute, or how should we co-opt the power of a Trump Rally for the forces of democracy?

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What could be interesting is co-opting a popular song, where there is already a large following/audience. Taylor Swift comes to mind. There are already ’Swifty’ rituals, so a baked in audience, so to speak. Put something like that into a meme to vote, and we might see an increase in the youth vote. Just thinking out loud.

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So true. Some of the thrill of Trump rallies is due to the energy of a big crowds. I've felt that thrill many times at huge protest marches.

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As usual, a fascinating essay. I have always been entranced by the comfort of ritual even when I don't believe the underlying concepts. Long after I lost my faith (about 8th grade) I kept attending the Episcopal Church (High Church version) with my parents because I loved the rituals ( particularly the prayers in the King James Version) sheerly for their beauty. When the church switched the language of the Book of Common Prayer from King James to Revised Standard, I lost all interest. Suddenly my lack of belief in the doctrines overcame the value of the ritual for me and I started feeling very uncomfortable.

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Yes. Thank you, Brian Klaas.

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