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Whenever someones candidate does not win an election, theres a period of disappointment that follows, which turns into acceptance before everyone, for the most part, moves on.

Stories of people waking up the day after the November election with feelings of distress and despair were not uncommon for chunks of communities across the United States. But as that despair turned, progressives found a way, a means to channel their energy and theyre taking the example of an unlikely group that did a similar effort years ago, the Tea Party.

At first, those now involved in these efforts deal with thoughts and emotions stemming from the results of the election.

After the election, we were all in the doldrums and bummed out, said Mike Balay of Newtown Square. He turned off the news, focused on family during the holidays and then, on Jan. 4, he saw a segment on Rachel Maddow that resonated with him.

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It was the first time he heard of the Indivisible Guide, a website and document written by former congressional staffers that analyzed the tactics that were effectively used by the Tea Party and could be used in deflecting policies in this administration.

Balay said he recalled thinking, I can deal with this. This makes sense to me.

That weekend, he was gathering with friends at Lisa Goldsteins home in Radnor as part of a reunion for those who worked to get out the vote for Hillary Clinton in the Marple/Newtown area.

Despite the snow, 40 people attended.

At that meeting, 15 or 20 people signed up to actively volunteer, Goldstein said.

That initial gathering has become what is now the Indivisible Main Line South group, covering Newtown, Marple, Edgmont and parts of Radnor. Dozens of others have sprouted up throughout the Delaware Valley region.

The thing that really appealed to me about this approach to things is this notion of a community of people with common values and common interests, Balay said. Its not political, per se. Its not about party politics. Its about a local community working together very inclusive, very diverse and basically focusing on issues. The concept of Indivisible is to bring us all together.

Goldstein agreed.

Indivisible captured in its very name that we needed to not be divided, we needed to be united in our resistance, she said.

That is being energized by the actions of the president.

The back-handed benefit of what Donald Trump has done is hes created kind of a lightning rod to drum energy into this community of people who say Ive got to do something, Balay said.

When she was participating in the Womens March on Washington, Goldstein saw the words of Martin Luther King Jr. on signs and they reverberated with her. One was, Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

And, she also thought of Elie Wiesel when he said, We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

Balay and Goldstein explained how it works.

He said his group has a leadership team of himself, Abu Rahman, Ed Goss and Sarah Dunn with about 120 people, broken into areas of interest. Their main focus at this time is engaging their federal legislators, U.S. Sens. Robert Casey, D-Pa., and Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-7, of Chadds Ford.

Its our job to hold them accountable and to be representative of all their constituents, whatever their political leanings are, they still have a responsibility to represent all of their constituents, Balay said. Were basically holding their feet to the fire literally every day somebodys calling, somebodys logging onto the website, somebody is showing up at their office or were demonstrating.

Goldstein said, We believe in talking the talk and walking the walk. Its making a phone call to your rep. Show up at their office. Show up at an event.

Balay added, It really is to resist the parts of the Trump and Republican agenda that are racist, they are non-democratic and impinge upon equal rights for all communities. Things that impact, in my own view, and undermine the pillars of our democracy.

Both said interest continues to grow, and Balay said he receives two or three requests every day from those wanting to get involved.

Goldstein said, I talk about it in the supermarket, I talk about it everywhere I go.

Balay said it doesnt take much.

It doesnt have to be a full-time job, he said. It shouldnt be a full-time job. If you think you can commit a few hours a week or a few hours every couple weeks, you could constructively be part of this group.

Much of this approach was taken from the example of the Tea Party, although the Indivisibles say there are differences.

I dont agree with what the Tea Party stood for or many of their tactics, but they were effective, Goldstein said. They were effective. Look where we are eight years later. It worked.

However, Balay said, The one thing were not like the Tea Party is were respectful to our representatives, were respectful to the supporters of our representatives, even the Trumpers. Were respectful and when we bring issues to our representatives and to the public, its based on facts.

Goldstein agreed, saying, I dont want to get out there and scream and yell. I want to do something that works.

And, she continued she wants to build community and have a mechanism by which Americans can learn to have varying perspectives in a respectful way.

Somewhere along the way, the principles our democracy have been founded on have been lost on being able to disagree and get along with each other, she said.

And, they hope it expands in its inclusiveness and encourages civic engagement in civil ways.

The Tea Party was very effective with a small number of people, Balay said. But if we can keep focused then the group is going to grow a lot bigger and its going to last a long time. As long as we can stay focused, I think were going to be far more powerful than the Tea Party.

To get involved with the Indivisible Main Line South group, email mb@indivisiblemls7thpa.org. For more information on any of the groups, visit indivisibleguide.com.

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Alt-Left? Progressives in Delco & across U.S. mobilize, taking page ... - The Delaware County Daily Times