I was halfway through my run when I saw her. Per our custom, we both stopped to gaze at each other. She was graceful, silent and beautiful. Then as quickly as she appeared, she was gone.
Moments later, I found myself at the edge of a thoroughfare, wondering whether I should cross the road and continue on the trail or double back. Since it was getting dark, I decided on the latter. That’s when I noticed the sign posted on the tree beside me.
On January 10, 2014, and continuing for seven weeks, the powers-that-be in suburban Montgomery County, Maryland, will turn Wheaton Regional Park into a killing field. Moreover, this “deer management” program won’t be limited to my neighborhood, as nearly a dozen area forests plan to ring in the New Year with sharpshooters.
I was still staring at the poster as the sun began to set, all the while asking myself the same two questions: What can I possibly do to stop this slaughter? And why does this feel so damn personal?
I re-read the sign for the umpteenth time and did a double take. Save for the year, the dates of the proposed shootings mirrored a period of 2013 forever etched in my memory.
A nasty infection, coupled with a benign tumor in my head left me incapacitated for the first two months of the year, after which I had to teach myself how to walk again. Thousands of baby steps later, I theorized that I might be able to accelerate my recovery by jogging on uneven terrain — thereby forcing my brain to integrate cues from my eyes, legs and feet repeatedly, in rapid succession. The place that I chose to conduct this experiment was on a rock and root-filled trail in Wheaton Regional Park.
For the better part of the year, I stumbled down that path as often as I was able, returning home more times than I could count with a sprained ankle. Yet I kept going back. Not only because my balance was slowly improving, but also because I’d discovered a new source of joy, wonder, and inspiration — qualities that had been missing from my life for far too long.
With varying levels of frequency, I’d see deer along the trail. And each time I did, my morale was boosted exponentially. One doe in particular popped up with astounding regularity. She set herself apart by wagging her tail whenever we met — a gesture that never failed to make me smile. As the months went by, I began to feel as though the deer were making a conscious effort to guide me through my rehabilitation, offering the support, encouragement and reinforcement I so desperately needed.
The sign that had stopped me in my tracks was now barely visible, as darkness had set in. Struggling to keep my composure, I thought about the profound debt I owed to each of them. Without their presence, I couldn’t have pushed myself the way I have during my recovery. Now, their days seem to be numbered.
What’s maddening about all of this is that you don’t have to look very far to find ways for deer and humans to peacefully co-exist. Vaccines, delivered by darts, can prevent does from becoming pregnant for up to three years, which, in turn, diminishes their need to expand their foraging area. Deer-proof fencing has been shown to decrease the number of collisions with automobiles, as has reducing speed limits and keeping sight lines clear for drivers. The list goes on and on.
What’s missing is our acknowledgement that we are responsible for reducing their living area to the size of a postage stamp. With that comes our obligation to make things right, even if it takes some extra effort.
My wish for the New Year is that the people of Montgomery County summon the will to do so — before anyone pulls a trigger.
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.
And if you feel uncertain about what to do in the face of a second Trump administration, we invite you to be an indispensable part of Truthout’s preparations.
In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.
We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.
We urgently need your help to prepare. As you know, our December fundraiser is our most important of the year and will determine the scale of work we’ll be able to do in 2025. We’ve set two goals: to raise $110,000 in one-time donations and to add 1350 new monthly donors by midnight on December 31.
Today, we’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.
If you have the means to make a substantial gift, please dig deep during this critical time!
With gratitude and resolve,
Maya, Negin, Saima, and Ziggy