NOVEMBER 7, 2025
Good morning! If you are doubtful about the effect of protesting you might be persuaded otherwise by the 3.5% rule. Compelling research by Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University, shows that nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change. Nonviolent campaigns led to political change 53% of the time compared to 26% for the violent protests. As in so many areas of thought, research is confirming what we all know—raising our voices makes a difference. The 2017 Women’s March had more than 4 million protesters, an estimated 5 million Americans marched in the “No Kings” protests in June 2025, and 7 million in October 2025. What is the critical number needed in the U.S.? 12 million. As the government shutdown continues (please call your Democratic representatives to thank them) I suspect the number of participants in future protests will only continue to grow. I found this so uplifting! And the election results were the frosting on the cake. Enjoy this success! You deserve it! Betty

And now the music:
No one inspires me, and millions of people, more than Ludwig van Beethoven. In July I mistakenly sent you a link for Beethoven’s Egmont Overture instead of the piece I really wanted to send. I am sending you Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 in c minor. At the time he composed this he could still hear. I like listening to this piece, knowing that Beethoven heard this, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH3JOFk6Z30&list=RDEH3JOFk6Z30&start_radio=1&t=196s