Declaration of Peace
Perception
We are concerned citizens
We are not expecting a monetary award
Exaltment
We will not engage in violence
We will not engage in destruction of property
Accord
We support the Republic before party
We support the factual truth, even if it hurts
Composure
We will not support acts of violence
We will not call for acts of violence
Expression
We will not don masks in public
We will not burn effigies
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” Helen Keller
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
"Curiosity" and Fake News
Below is a lengthy series of tweets from Laura Sesana(@lasesana) I found her perspective clarifying on a number of topics. Her explanation of “curiosity” and Fake News are helpful as we continue to wade through more and more information. Hence my sharing it with you! I formatted it into paragraphs for ease of reading. Any punctuation or missing letter errors are entirely my fault, not hers. You can see her original 16 tweets on Tweeter.
“Pieces like this are a classic example of how Fox News creates #FakeNews and promotes false Pro-Trump narrativeshttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/29/fbi-shuts-down-request-for-files-on-hillary-clinton-by-citing-lack-public-interest.html …
From the headline you’d think that the FBI shut down a FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) request because it claims the public is not interested in HRC's (Hillary Rodham Clinton) emails. Everyone knows that there is more than sufficient interest in HRC's emails on the part of Fox, Trump, and the GOP. So citing insufficient public interest as a basis for denying a FOIA is outrageous & makes FBI look partisan and biased in favor of Democrats. However, the piece confuses the legal definition of public interest (which applies in this case) with the general everyday definition. FBI's denial cites the legal definition of public interest, referring to the welfare of the general public. In this sense, the public interest-when it refers to the welfare of the general public-warrants recognition & protection from government.
FBI’s response does not refer to public is *curiosity* or whether the public is curious about HRC’s emails or not. The public is certainly curious, but mere curiosity does not rise to the level of public interest in the legal sense. In this case, FBI determined the FOIA request didn't show that “the public’s interest in disclosure outweighs personal privacy interests.” At no point did the FBI state that they were denying the request because people weren’t interested in it. That’s #FakeNews. The article is deliberately misleading readers, making them think that the FBI is blatantly lying by saying there is no interest when we can all see Republicans from Trump on down shrieking about Hillary’s emails at every opportunity. This is a deliberate smear of the FBI, using a mistaken perception of their actions and shaping them to fit a narrative and an agenda. Trump has been trying to discredit the FBI since the investigation of his campaign became public and Fox News is amplifying Trump’s lies and baseless attacks on American institutions.”
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” Helen Keller
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
“Pieces like this are a classic example of how Fox News creates #FakeNews and promotes false Pro-Trump narrativeshttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/29/fbi-shuts-down-request-for-files-on-hillary-clinton-by-citing-lack-public-interest.html …
From the headline you’d think that the FBI shut down a FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) request because it claims the public is not interested in HRC's (Hillary Rodham Clinton) emails. Everyone knows that there is more than sufficient interest in HRC's emails on the part of Fox, Trump, and the GOP. So citing insufficient public interest as a basis for denying a FOIA is outrageous & makes FBI look partisan and biased in favor of Democrats. However, the piece confuses the legal definition of public interest (which applies in this case) with the general everyday definition. FBI's denial cites the legal definition of public interest, referring to the welfare of the general public. In this sense, the public interest-when it refers to the welfare of the general public-warrants recognition & protection from government.
FBI’s response does not refer to public is *curiosity* or whether the public is curious about HRC’s emails or not. The public is certainly curious, but mere curiosity does not rise to the level of public interest in the legal sense. In this case, FBI determined the FOIA request didn't show that “the public’s interest in disclosure outweighs personal privacy interests.” At no point did the FBI state that they were denying the request because people weren’t interested in it. That’s #FakeNews. The article is deliberately misleading readers, making them think that the FBI is blatantly lying by saying there is no interest when we can all see Republicans from Trump on down shrieking about Hillary’s emails at every opportunity. This is a deliberate smear of the FBI, using a mistaken perception of their actions and shaping them to fit a narrative and an agenda. Trump has been trying to discredit the FBI since the investigation of his campaign became public and Fox News is amplifying Trump’s lies and baseless attacks on American institutions.”
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” Helen Keller
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Martin Niemöller, the German Protestant pastor UPDATE
Nothing and no one is perfect. This update on the Reverend Niemoller’s life and poem sheds new light on how he acted and was treated with respect to the German Nazis of the 1930s and 40s. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/retropolis/wp/2017/08/19/then-they-came-for-me-a-hitler-supporters-haunting-warning-has-a-complicated-history/)
"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are" Ben Franklin
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are" Ben Franklin
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Terminating hate
Borrowed from an email I received –
After President Trump's bewildering comments about the white nationalist march in Charlottesville (that "there is blame on both sides"), ATTN: released an exclusive video message from former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that's so far received more than 50 million views. (http://link.attn.com/click/10401392.84117/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2F0dG4vdmlkZW9zLzE0NzUzOTg4MDU4Mjg5MDcv/58cccc5a11890dd9368b45a8B437ddfeb)
"There are not two sides to bigotry. There are not two sides to hatred," Schwarzenegger says. "And if you choose to march with a flag that symbolizes the slaughter of millions of people, there are not two sides." Gov. Schwarzenegger also gave President Trump a lesson in how to speak to Nazis. You can watch and share the full message here. (http://link.attn.com/click/10401392.84117/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2F0dG4vdmlkZW9zLzE0NzUzOTg4MDU4Mjg5MDcv/58cccc5a11890dd9368b45a8C437ddfeb)
"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are" Ben Franklin
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
After President Trump's bewildering comments about the white nationalist march in Charlottesville (that "there is blame on both sides"), ATTN: released an exclusive video message from former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that's so far received more than 50 million views. (http://link.attn.com/click/10401392.84117/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2F0dG4vdmlkZW9zLzE0NzUzOTg4MDU4Mjg5MDcv/58cccc5a11890dd9368b45a8B437ddfeb)
"There are not two sides to bigotry. There are not two sides to hatred," Schwarzenegger says. "And if you choose to march with a flag that symbolizes the slaughter of millions of people, there are not two sides." Gov. Schwarzenegger also gave President Trump a lesson in how to speak to Nazis. You can watch and share the full message here. (http://link.attn.com/click/10401392.84117/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2F0dG4vdmlkZW9zLzE0NzUzOTg4MDU4Mjg5MDcv/58cccc5a11890dd9368b45a8C437ddfeb)
"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are" Ben Franklin
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Monday, August 21, 2017
An Open Letter To Our Fellow Jews
While this article is specifically directed to Jews, I believe, as a non-Jew, I too need to consider the points. The president has/is telling us who he is, we need to believe him!! (https://extranewsfeed.com/to-our-fellow-jews-in-the-united-states-in-israel-and-around-the-world-ff421a1d325d)
“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official.” Theodore Roosevelt
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official.” Theodore Roosevelt
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Schwarzenegger's blunt message for Nazis
Here is the link to former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s message about Nazis. If you have trouble being able to play this video, try viewing it on a smart or Iphone. For some reason, I can easily see it on the phone but not on my “old” PC. (https://twitter.com/attn/status/898328098529083394?s=03)
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
But . . .
No Man’s Land (http://www.stonekettle.com/2017/08/no-mans-land.html?spref=tw&m=1)
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Thoughts
Each day, the President gets farther away from the founding fathers’ vision of these United States. At his inauguration, he made an oath to uphold the Constitution. I’m not sure that he understands exactly what that means. His tweets and speeches this past week reflect either a deranged mind or a Nazi-KKK-White Supremacist sympathizer/advocate!
Of the two, I’m hoping for derangement only because I think that is a safer position for the USA then him as a sympathizer/advocate of the destruction of our Constitutional government. The removal of Steve Bannon is helpful but Sebastian Gorka and Stephen Miller (avowed Nazi and white supremacist, respectively), remain as advisors in the White House of the USA!
We need some calm and stability at the White House and I don’t think that will ever be possible with this particular President. I am not thrilled with replacing him with the Vice-President either as he is anti-women and anti-LGBTQ. Both of which directly impact me and my life! But my personal issues/difficulties with the VP do not even begin to balance out the hateful, mean, anti-Semite, racist, white supremacy actions of the President!
The President needs to be censured! The President needs to have his mental stability evaluated! The President needs to be replaced. Again, I would prefer that he resign; but if not, then the House of Representatives needs to Impeach him for sedition (see definition below) and the Senate needs to convict him of said crime.
Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontention (or resistance) to lawful authority.
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”- Malala Yousafzai
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Of the two, I’m hoping for derangement only because I think that is a safer position for the USA then him as a sympathizer/advocate of the destruction of our Constitutional government. The removal of Steve Bannon is helpful but Sebastian Gorka and Stephen Miller (avowed Nazi and white supremacist, respectively), remain as advisors in the White House of the USA!
We need some calm and stability at the White House and I don’t think that will ever be possible with this particular President. I am not thrilled with replacing him with the Vice-President either as he is anti-women and anti-LGBTQ. Both of which directly impact me and my life! But my personal issues/difficulties with the VP do not even begin to balance out the hateful, mean, anti-Semite, racist, white supremacy actions of the President!
The President needs to be censured! The President needs to have his mental stability evaluated! The President needs to be replaced. Again, I would prefer that he resign; but if not, then the House of Representatives needs to Impeach him for sedition (see definition below) and the Senate needs to convict him of said crime.
Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontention (or resistance) to lawful authority.
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”- Malala Yousafzai
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It's Been a Week Since Charlottesville . . .
and I haven’t been able to find the words, links or quotes to clearly reflect the sadness, outrage and anger about who we, as a country, are being reflected out to the world. As I have said repeatedly, I am still a strong proponent of the 1st Amendment. The content of the “speech” and “assembly” MUST be respectful and non-violent! That didn’t happen in Charlottesville but does seem to have be achieved in Boston and New Orleans.
I don’t have to agree with the content of your “speech,” reason for “assembling,” believe in your “religion,” or with your “press;” to support your 1st Amendment rights! I support the ACLU both politically and financially because that organization advocates for every person’s 1st Amendment rights! They have historically and currently defend organizations/people on both sides of various topics. Note; the ACLU has recently decided that they will not defend “armed”/”open carry” protestors as they believe that adds a level of “threat” or “incitement to violence” not reflected in the essence of the 1st Amendment! This tweet reflects the ultimate support of the 1st Amendment. (https://t.co/IZqp3mmWhP)
Here is a video from the 40’s that reminds us that we must be vigilant to the content of “free speech” so that we don’t lose our country to fanaticism and hatred. (https://twitter.com/OmanReagan/status/896709123462406145?s=03)
"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are" Ben Franklin
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
I don’t have to agree with the content of your “speech,” reason for “assembling,” believe in your “religion,” or with your “press;” to support your 1st Amendment rights! I support the ACLU both politically and financially because that organization advocates for every person’s 1st Amendment rights! They have historically and currently defend organizations/people on both sides of various topics. Note; the ACLU has recently decided that they will not defend “armed”/”open carry” protestors as they believe that adds a level of “threat” or “incitement to violence” not reflected in the essence of the 1st Amendment! This tweet reflects the ultimate support of the 1st Amendment. (https://t.co/IZqp3mmWhP)
Here is a video from the 40’s that reminds us that we must be vigilant to the content of “free speech” so that we don’t lose our country to fanaticism and hatred. (https://twitter.com/OmanReagan/status/896709123462406145?s=03)
"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are" Ben Franklin
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Sunday, August 20, 2017
"BUR"gens - Oceano, CA
Boots and Ruthi have decided that they are “BUR”gens – vegetarians that eat burgers. They rarely eat any chicken or fish or pork or lamb. And, almost never eat beef other in burgers. So, if they only eat lettuce, broccoli, carrots, peas, beans, cheese, eggs, pasta, bread, and hamburgers, they are “BUR”gens.
When we were sharing this with our youngest grandson (13yo), he concluded that they (he and his family) are “ORG”ens because they only eat organic foods!
When we were sharing this with our youngest grandson (13yo), he concluded that they (he and his family) are “ORG”ens because they only eat organic foods!
Friday, August 11, 2017
Newest Immigration Ideas from the White House-RAISE
The president’s recent legislation proposal is called the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act, called the RAISE Act. It would institute a skills-based point system for entry, rewarding educated, English-speaking immigrants with high-salary job offers. The measure would also eliminate diversity visa lotteries, and maintains that immigrants who enter the country would be ineligible for welfare for a certain amount of time. I am including a link to the PDF version of the bill. I warn you it is a lot of references to modifications of previous legislation and very difficult to really put into a narrative. The first 2 pages are the overview and probably sufficient for now. (https://www.cotton.senate.gov/files/documents/170802_New_RAISE_Act_Bill_Text.pdf)
What might be helpful is Time magazine’s article and checklist you can use to see if you and your current family, or ancestors, might qualify for immigration under this proposed act. (http://time.com/4887574/trump-raise-act-immigration/) Like most of you on this email thread, I am a descendent of immigrants. Using the Ellis Island immigrant search tool I was able to place some entry dates and information about my immigrant ancestors. (https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger-result) My Italian maternal grandparents (plus 4 uncles and 1 aunt, age infant-10) and German paternal grandfather who immigrated in 1907 and 1903, respectively, would not have passed these requirements. The only person in my family who would remain in the US would be my great-grandson because he is 1/8 Alaskan Native. And as such has American heritage from before Christopher Columbus and any of my grandparents.
I know more about my Italian background than my German, so the following observation/facts may be challenged by my siblings and cousins who are on this email list. To them I say, my ignorance or errors are unplanned and hopefully few. I am fairly certain that my grandparents did not speak English. My own mother who was born in North Carolina in 1911, did not speak English when she started school a hundred years ago (1917).
My Italian family came to the US to work the mines in North Carolina to pay off their passage costs. They all experienced prejudicial behavior and were not welcomed. Eventually (sometime before 1917- cause my mother started school at the same school my older brother later attended) they were able to purchase land, build homes, grow crops, own a corner market (like today’s immigrant communities), raise their kids (9) and prosper. My uncles and aunt did eventually learn English, as did my mother and her younger sisters. My mother and these sisters became professionals: registered nurses and teacher. My uncles worked in the local factories in the area my grandparents had settled after North Carolina (Illinois) or went to Chicago and opened their own commercial enterprises (movie theater, container construction).
My German family settled (not far from the Italian side) on a farm. My grandfather married an American and they had 8 children. The farm still exists today (farmed by one of my cousins and his children).
Thinking about the hundreds of descendents from these 2 sets of grandparents (and honestly, I only know a few of them personally), I see CPA, doctor, educator, farmer, lawyer, manager, nurse, real estate manager, small business owner, veteran, Gold Star family, etc. etc. etc. We have contributed to this nation over and over and over. Without the proximity of my grandparents settling with 15 miles of each other, my siblings and I would not be here. The possibility of a northern Italian girl meeting and marrying a German boy 400 miles away, seems very unlikely!
I personally find any immigration restrictions proposed by this particular president as anti-Muslim, racist, and generally xenophobic! RAISE is just another way to put white supremacy boundaries around who can and who cannot immigrate to OUR country – we are all children of immigrants (again except my great grandson)! We wouldn’t be here contributing to the making of America over the years had our non-English speaking ancestors seeking to live free and prosper had not been able to come over oceans to get here!
So, RAISE up in your own way and let your representatives/senators know that this suggested act (RAISE) is not OK. Ask them to vote against it!
“Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
What might be helpful is Time magazine’s article and checklist you can use to see if you and your current family, or ancestors, might qualify for immigration under this proposed act. (http://time.com/4887574/trump-raise-act-immigration/) Like most of you on this email thread, I am a descendent of immigrants. Using the Ellis Island immigrant search tool I was able to place some entry dates and information about my immigrant ancestors. (https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger-result) My Italian maternal grandparents (plus 4 uncles and 1 aunt, age infant-10) and German paternal grandfather who immigrated in 1907 and 1903, respectively, would not have passed these requirements. The only person in my family who would remain in the US would be my great-grandson because he is 1/8 Alaskan Native. And as such has American heritage from before Christopher Columbus and any of my grandparents.
I know more about my Italian background than my German, so the following observation/facts may be challenged by my siblings and cousins who are on this email list. To them I say, my ignorance or errors are unplanned and hopefully few. I am fairly certain that my grandparents did not speak English. My own mother who was born in North Carolina in 1911, did not speak English when she started school a hundred years ago (1917).
My Italian family came to the US to work the mines in North Carolina to pay off their passage costs. They all experienced prejudicial behavior and were not welcomed. Eventually (sometime before 1917- cause my mother started school at the same school my older brother later attended) they were able to purchase land, build homes, grow crops, own a corner market (like today’s immigrant communities), raise their kids (9) and prosper. My uncles and aunt did eventually learn English, as did my mother and her younger sisters. My mother and these sisters became professionals: registered nurses and teacher. My uncles worked in the local factories in the area my grandparents had settled after North Carolina (Illinois) or went to Chicago and opened their own commercial enterprises (movie theater, container construction).
My German family settled (not far from the Italian side) on a farm. My grandfather married an American and they had 8 children. The farm still exists today (farmed by one of my cousins and his children).
Thinking about the hundreds of descendents from these 2 sets of grandparents (and honestly, I only know a few of them personally), I see CPA, doctor, educator, farmer, lawyer, manager, nurse, real estate manager, small business owner, veteran, Gold Star family, etc. etc. etc. We have contributed to this nation over and over and over. Without the proximity of my grandparents settling with 15 miles of each other, my siblings and I would not be here. The possibility of a northern Italian girl meeting and marrying a German boy 400 miles away, seems very unlikely!
I personally find any immigration restrictions proposed by this particular president as anti-Muslim, racist, and generally xenophobic! RAISE is just another way to put white supremacy boundaries around who can and who cannot immigrate to OUR country – we are all children of immigrants (again except my great grandson)! We wouldn’t be here contributing to the making of America over the years had our non-English speaking ancestors seeking to live free and prosper had not been able to come over oceans to get here!
So, RAISE up in your own way and let your representatives/senators know that this suggested act (RAISE) is not OK. Ask them to vote against it!
“Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Not-1st Amendment - Moon & Sun background for SOLAR ECLIPSE
Here is an article about the Sun and Moon-interesting and informative!! It does have some info on the eclipse scheduled for Monday the 21st! I hope you enjoy it! (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2017/08/09/facts-about-our-sun-and-moon-that-youre-embarrassed-to-admit-you-dont-know/?utm_term=.87e40ca1353d)
“Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
“Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Friday, August 4, 2017
Free Press Attacks Impact on 1 Journalist
Why does the president and White House staff fear April Ryan, one of America's most successful black journalists? Here’s one example of the relentless attack on our 1st Amendment right to a free press. (http://www.newsweek.com/april-ryan-angela-rye-donald-trump-white-house-black-women-reporter-america-645702?amp=1)
“Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
“Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Trumpocracy - What is it? & What does it mean?
Is Donald Trump a threat to democracy? From his executive orders targeting immigrants to his personal attacks on federal judges and his demonization of the media as the “enemy of the American people,” the 45th president’s actions and behavior have alarmed political observers of all stripes. Here is a running timeline (in reverse chronological order) tracking Trump’s numerous displays of authoritarian tendencies, beginning from the day he was sworn in. (http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/03/creeping-authoritarianism-trump-trumpocracy/)
“Pride is concerned with WHO is right. Humility is concerned with WHAT is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
“Pride is concerned with WHO is right. Humility is concerned with WHAT is right.” - Ezra Taft Benson
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Call the White House 202.456.1111
In case you are unaware, there is a push by the alt-right conservative base of the president to have HR McMaster fired from his position as National Security Advisor. He has come in conflict with the president’s base by objecting to the transgender ban, “firing” an unqualified allies of Flynn, Bannon and Kushner; verifying Susan Rice’s appropriate “unmasking,” to name a few ways. On a positive note, McMaster was able to get the president to explicitly endorse the NATO charter’s Article 5.
I just finally got through to the White House to request that they NOT fire McMasters. It took 17 calls (using redial) to finally get to the switchboard. I was on hold for 20 minutes before a human took my message! I would like to think that the other calls were like-minded but I can’t be sure. So, I am asking some of you on my list to take a break on this hot sunny Friday and call the White House, too.
Thanks
“Those who can make you accept absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
I just finally got through to the White House to request that they NOT fire McMasters. It took 17 calls (using redial) to finally get to the switchboard. I was on hold for 20 minutes before a human took my message! I would like to think that the other calls were like-minded but I can’t be sure. So, I am asking some of you on my list to take a break on this hot sunny Friday and call the White House, too.
Thanks
“Those who can make you accept absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
A reminder about the poem written for/featured on Statue of Liberty. The poem was never intended to work as a policy statement, and was part of a fundraiser to help pay for a pedestal for the Statue of Liberty to sit upon.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
“Those who can make you accept absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
“Those who can make you accept absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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