In Portland, Oregon, the protesters aren't angry mobs; they're dancing clowns, naked cyclists, and gray-haired banjo players. The city's mayor, Ted Wheeler, described the scene as "absurd" after Donald Trump called Portland a "hellhole." It seems that the more outrageous the accusation, the sillier the response.
The article argues that anger is temporary and exhausting, but playfulness can be a powerful tool for resistance. Play is essential to who we are, and it's how we cope with adversity. The author, Cas Holman, believes that cultivating playful skills will make us more resilient in uncertain times. Free play, which is freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated, is key to developing this resilience.
Holman, a queer person of indeterminate gender, has seen the importance of play firsthand in their own life. They've been part of the LGBTQ+ community, which has always used play as protest. The Stonewall Uprising was a reaction to oppression, and queers have continued to use play to express resilience and resist mischaracterizations.
The author joined millions at the No Kings rally last weekend, where participants showed up with creative costumes, music, and humor. They saw people wearing inflatable animals, papier-mache caricatures, Muppet costumes, and superheroes. The rally was a celebration of freedom, joy, and positivity in the face of adversity.
In an interview, clowns at the rally explained that clowning is about accessing childlike wonder, joy, and positivity. It's also a way to reject dehumanizing forces and invite others to join in. One clown said, "It's what I had," which the author took to mean that it was a tool on hand for creating something new.
The rally showed that play can be a powerful tool for resistance and resilience. In uncertain times, we need all the positivity and wonder we can get.
The article argues that anger is temporary and exhausting, but playfulness can be a powerful tool for resistance. Play is essential to who we are, and it's how we cope with adversity. The author, Cas Holman, believes that cultivating playful skills will make us more resilient in uncertain times. Free play, which is freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated, is key to developing this resilience.
Holman, a queer person of indeterminate gender, has seen the importance of play firsthand in their own life. They've been part of the LGBTQ+ community, which has always used play as protest. The Stonewall Uprising was a reaction to oppression, and queers have continued to use play to express resilience and resist mischaracterizations.
The author joined millions at the No Kings rally last weekend, where participants showed up with creative costumes, music, and humor. They saw people wearing inflatable animals, papier-mache caricatures, Muppet costumes, and superheroes. The rally was a celebration of freedom, joy, and positivity in the face of adversity.
In an interview, clowns at the rally explained that clowning is about accessing childlike wonder, joy, and positivity. It's also a way to reject dehumanizing forces and invite others to join in. One clown said, "It's what I had," which the author took to mean that it was a tool on hand for creating something new.
The rally showed that play can be a powerful tool for resistance and resilience. In uncertain times, we need all the positivity and wonder we can get.
"You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one." 
We should all take a page from these Portland protesters and find joy in resistance. Their playful approach to protesting is exactly what we need more of - positivity and creativity! 
It's time to reject negativity and invite some much-needed laughter into our lives. After all, who needs anger when you can have a good ol' fashioned dance party? 
So like, trump says portland is a hellhole & the ppl r all angry mobs... but NOPE! 
They just turn it into a rave party! 
Dancing clowns, naked cyclists, gray-haired banjo players... who knew? 
I mean i think it's so cool that playfulness is actually a tool for resistance... like cas holman says, we need to tap into our inner child & find joy in the face of adversity. And omg the costumes at the no kings rally were EVERYTHING! 
Like who wears inflatable animals & papier-mache caricatures? ONLY portland am i right? 
& i'm thinkin why rnt we all just playin 2 b free 2 b ourselves 2? 
like csholman says it's about embracin the absurdity of life & findin joy in resistance 
I'm loving this! The idea that our city is like one big playground where everyone's invited to have fun & resist in their own way is so refreshing 
i think this is like the ultimate example of how play can be a total game changer in the face of adversity lol like trump calls portland a hellhole and suddenly everyone's like " nah we're gonna party" 
it just goes to show that when people feel threatened or oppressed, they don't have to take the bait - instead they can just bring their A-game (or in this case, their clown shoes 
)
like what's not to love about people coming together with silly costumes and having fun instead of getting all worked up about something? I mean sure Donald Trump can keep calling Portland a hellhole but at least they're gonna show him that it's actually a awesome city