We’re told to “be the bigger person.” To stay calm. To forgive. And yes, sometimes that’s the right call.

But let’s be real: there are people who count on that. They feed on your kindness, assuming you’ll never push back.

We’re seeing this right now in politics. One side is doing everything they can to win. They lie, they cheat, they steal. They ignore the rule of law and steamroll over our beloved Constitution.

A friend recently told me that they had mixed feelings about the redistricting Gov. Newsom hopes for in order to fight back against Texas gerrymandering. The friend said we Californians had always been a model for not falling prey to the temptation to gerrymander. That we were fair.

That was then. This is now.

Sure, we can stand on a principle that the other side is ignoring — and watch our democracy die. That is the bottom line.

Here’s the reality: some fires don’t go out with water. They only burn hotter when you try to smother them with patience. Some people only understand resistance when it’s just as strong as the force they’re throwing at you.

That’s what it means to fight fire with fire. It’s not about sinking to their level—it’s about making it crystal clear that we won’t be steamrolled, manipulated, or disrespected. Sometimes the only way to stop a bully is to match their heat and send it right back.

Does it feel uncomfortable? Sure. We’re conditioned to think being “nice” is the moral high ground. But endless niceness, when it enables abuse, is just self-betrayal.

So here’s the truth: we don’t owe anyone our silence. Or our endless patience. If someone sets fire to our peace, we have every right to blaze right back until they understand one thing—

We will not burn quietly. 

Wake up, true patriots. Democracy is burning. The question before us is how much we want to save it. Are you willing to fight fire with fire to save it?