I'm Choosing a Different Weapon.

Christine Merser, August 8, 2025

This will be my last column for America Interrupted. It has been an honor to have this outlet for my fear, rage, sadness, hope, appreciation, and above all, my patriotism. But I believe I can better serve my beloved country in other ways. It's time. I know there are new front lines ahead, and I plan to be on them. I hope to see you there. - Christine

“Leaving the stage doesn’t mean leaving the fight. It just means I’m choosing a different weapon.”
— CM

I was around for the early days of the internet. Not the filtered, data-mined, ad-fed version we have now, but the real beginning. The internet started in the basements of universities, where professors wired computers together to exchange research.

Then someone in government realized something chilling. If New York were taken out in a nuclear attack, communication with Washington might collapse. Unless, of course, we had a system with no single point of failure. A structure where, if one part was destroyed, the signal could reroute through others. That’s what they built. And they called it the World Wide Web.

I think that’s what we need now. Right now, this is precaution, not panic. Think of it as insurance—you hope you never need it, but you’ll be glad it’s there if you do. Our democracy has cracks. We’re patching what we can, quietly, thoughtfully, together.

Something like ‘calling chains.’ Remember those from elementary school? Only maybe they are now texting chains. Maybe on the Signal App, which is the most secure app at this time, which encrypts your message and then destroys it.

Signal is considered a very safe means of communication due to its robust end-to-end encryption and focus on user privacy. It encrypts messages and calls so that only the sender and recipient can read or listen to them, preventing third parties, including Signal itself, from accessing the content. The app also offers features like disappearing messages and the option to hide phone numbers, further enhancing user privacy.

Maybe you download the app and make your user name not your social security number, or your full name. Me? I would pick one of the great resisters from the second world war, one of those amazing women from France, who single-handedly crisscrossed the city of Paris saving downed English pilots, and bringing messages to the Allies. Yep, look for me with one of those names. Or maybe Clarice, from Clarice Starling, one of my favorite female characters from the screen.

So, it begins with five people. That’s all. Pick five people you trust. People who understand what time it is in this country. People who don’t need convincing. People who are ready.

Each of them picks five more. And so on.

This isn’t a mailing list. It’s not a social media campaign. It’s not even a movement, really. It’s a living web, built out of trust and purpose.

But it only works if you choose carefully.

This is not for everyone.

You don’t pick your loudest friends. You don’t pick people who’ll gossip about it over drinks. You don’t pick people who’ll pass around junk. You pick people who know how to move in silence. Who know when something matters. Who won’t waste time and won’t look away.

This ‘chain’ isn’t built on personality or popularity. It’s built on discernment.

When a ‘signal comes,’ and anyone can send to their five - an article that needs to be read, a call to action, a warning, we pass it to our five. Not a mass email. Not a broadcast. Just five. By text. They pass it to their five. And, they pass to their five. And so on.

You’re not obligated to act on every signal. But you are obligated to pass it on if you deem it worthy. That’s the contract.

And as chains are set up across the country, they will cross over each other. And, they will not be easily broken.

And if you bring someone into your circle, and you think you made a mistake, just drop them. If they ask, say you dropped out.

And because the structure repeats, the reach is exponential.

• 1 → 5

• 5 → 25

• 25 → 125

• 125 → 625

• 625 → 3,125

• 3,125 → 15,625

• 15,625 → 78,125

• 78,125 → 390,625

• 390,625 → 1.9 million

• 1.9 million → 9.7 million

That’s just ten links deep. No platforms. No servers. No one to shut it down.

This kind of network has worked before. I joked about the women on bicycles in France, but it’s how the French Resistance survived under Nazi occupation. The people in each cell didn’t know the names of those beyond their immediate circle. No one had the full map. That was the point. If someone was caught, the web held. Because it was built to survive. Quietly. Precisely. On trust.

We’d mark our messages with a simple signature. TTC. The Text Chain. You’ll know it when you see it.

So start your text chain if you want. Start with five. Pick carefully.

⸻

Here is a letter you could send if you were to start a chain…

If you’re reading this, I’m asking you to be part of my circle of five. You write in your own words, or take from what I’ve written, what it’s all about, and then end with the following.

Here’s what you are agreeing to…

    1.    By agreeing to serve in my circle, you also agree to create your own circle of five trusted people.

    2.    You do not share who is in your circle, not with me, not with anyone.

    3.    When a message comes through The Text Chain, you agree to pass it to your five if you believe it matters.

    4.    You agree to ask each of your five to do the same, build their own private circle and quietly keep the chain growing.

No meetings. No platform. No noise. Just trust, purpose, and action.

If you’re in, text me the following. Yes! from your phone. That’s how I’ll know I can count on you.

First stop is to set up an account on the Signal app that is not your real name, Signal allows pseudonyms. From your new account, text me, <my Signal handle>, and I’ll enter you into my group. I don’t need to know whose handle is whose.

⸻

Choosing the Five in Your Cell. Guidance, Not Gospel

When building your circle of five, you’re not choosing your best friends or your soulmates. You’re choosing your micro-network for trust, action, and discretion. It’s a foundation, not a fortress. Choose carefully.

Start with these considerations…

Family Members?

Only if they meet the criteria. Love is not the same as reliability. Your cousin who shares every group chat with half the country? Not a fit. Your sister who calmly assesses situations and knows how to hold her tongue? Maybe. Trust your gut, not your guilt.

Geography

Don’t default to proximity. In fact, spread is a strength. A network is stronger when it spans across towns, states, and time zones. A neighbor might be useful, but your college roommate in another city could be just as crucial. Diversity of geography adds resilience.

Skillsets and Mindsets

Include at least one person who is calm under pressure, one who has access to digital tools or networks, and one who can organize quickly. But above all, they must be people who take responsibility seriously. People who forward messages with care—not just because they were told to.

Discretion Matters

This isn’t a gossip ring. It’s a safety net, a truth pipeline, a circle of mutual accountability. Your Five should understand that the strength of the system depends on its integrity. No leaking. No name-dropping. No virtue signaling.

Keep Perspective

Right now, this is precaution, not panic. Think of it as insurance—you hope you never need it, but you’ll be glad it’s there if you do. Our democracy has cracks. We’re patching what we can, quietly, thoughtfully, together.

⸻

Q&A Those Building a Circle

Q: What if someone I trust doesn’t want to participate?

A: That’s fine. This isn’t about convincing anyone. It’s about finding those already standing quietly on guard. You’ll know them when you talk to them.

Q: Should I tell people who else is in my circle?

A: No. The system is designed for discretion. Each circle operates independently. The power of the web lies in its separation as much as its connection.

Q: What if I don’t have five people I trust?

A: Then start with one. Or two. This is not a race. It’s a build. And sometimes just identifying who isn’t right is a powerful step forward.

Q: What do I say to someone I want to invite into my Five?

A: “I’m putting together a small circle of people I trust. It’s quiet, it’s serious, and it’s simple. If you’re open to being part of it, I’ll explain more.”

Keep it honest. Keep it simple. And let them decide.

*********************

To all of you here…

Good luck… Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again in our circles? Wouldn’t that be something? What an honor it’s been to do this column for the past year, and your support, and your input, and your honest critique and appreciation has meant the world to me.

I will be taking down the column in the coming week or so. If you have questions, please reach out to me privately. If you do not have my email, reach out in the comments and I’ll be in touch.

I do have another column, The Voice Inside My Head - a personal memoir. It has taken a back seat over the past year for obvious reasons. I’d love to see you sign up over there, as I’ll be spending more of my writing time on it moving forward.

God Bless America.