Like every human, I am unique but with qualities that link me to my species, much like a snowflake. However, I am no snowflake. I live in Massachusetts, so I have some experience with winter precipitation. I grant you, snowflakes in quantity can be very dangerous and are not to be trifled with. They are disruptive and in the right circumstance can bring civilization to a standstill. If you doubt it, have a look at Washington DC after one inch of snowfall. Here in New England there is long tradition of friendly mocking our more southern neighbors as we watch them deal with just a small slice of winter wonderland. A snowflake is a powerful thing.
But snowflakes have a season. They come and go. I am no snowflake.
I am a hailstone.
Hailstones are unique enough I suppose. Each has a different size and shape. However, it is the similarities the interest me. They are hard and cold, unrelenting and can come at any time. Summer, winter, alone or with other storms, in numbers they are beyond an inconvenience; they are devastating.
That is where we are, my fellow Kossaks. We need to be the hail pelting down on what we see happening. Cold, hard and unrelenting; we must be the precursor to the tornado, the worst part of the blizzard, or the stinging bite of a summer thunderstorm.
Now, in this time, we need to be a force of nature, in our town meetings, on social media, on the phone to our representative, and in the streets.
Be a hailstone.