Standing in the Middle of the Road
This blog is about being middle aged and dealing with the experiences, changes and challenges that I never thought would happen to me...and everyone else around me.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Let's see how efficient DOGE is when citizens ask for information under FOIA
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Hate is built on fear and misunderstanding - Trying learning first
(Illustration for ProPublica) |
Watching Bill Maher last night and he repeated what those who understand the meaning of "freedom of speech" know: the First Amendment only protects your speech from government censorship --- not employer, church, organization, or friends and family's opinions of your speech.
So, here's content to help you understand what is going on in
our country today and has been going on for generations. I do not support this
content, period. But I defend the right of free speech even where its position
is different from my own. If I didn't, then it would not be "free
speech." It would be limited to those in favor by the government.
I showed an early 2000 version of this documentary, also by
Frontline (one of the finest collective of truth tellers we have) in my
communications law classes and was always amazed by the number of students
(ages 18-60) who weren't aware of the level of hate in the U.S. or its
explosion with the internet providing anonymous interaction.
Trump joked once in his first administration that he was
opening "Pandora's Box". Indeed, he has, around the world. It is
unfathomable to me that an individual can look at a whole group of people, or
even just another person, who looks different, and hate them/him/ser simply
based on that one moment of observation. Would not instead instinctively
express curiosity and interest and understanding. It is unfathomable to me to
picture a bunch of white supremacists or what nationalists, or christian
nationalists (I will not respect these christians with a "C"), or any
other fear driven hate group plotting away without their favorite snack foods:
tacos, pizza, fried chicken, asian foods just like the rest of us. It's Paczki
Season regardless of your religion, don'cha know. Personally, my go to food is
Mediterranean, not those German foods of my heritage. How can they hate the
people but enjoy all the rich contributions those people have made to American
culture. MUSIC!!!! PEOPLE!!!! MUSIC!!!!! ART!!! MATHEMATICS!!! COMMUNICATION!!!
SCIENCES!!!!....
I'm a white-bread, almost middle-class kid who paid attention
to simple lessons of American Native peoples. I respect the earth, I don't
believe it takes a building to find and a deity and give thanks. Go stand in
your favorite forest, farmland, desert, shoreline and give thanks for the
richness of American culture because of the traditions and cultural influences
that came as "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to
breathe free" came to our shores. How many St. Patrick's Day celebrants
have the faintest notion of what Irish, Italian, German, Polish, and (your
culture here) went through when they arrived here? This country didn't and
doesn't keep its promises.
I have sat in conversations with a myriad of Flint neighbors,
generally Arab, Asian, Cuban, Latinx, Black and white and found myself laughing
along as the conversation flowed through holiday preparations and FOOD! There
isn't a culture that doesn't rely on FOOD! to fix, comfort and celebrate. I've
compared religions and nodded my head as parents expressed frustrations with
teens...as well as fear for their teens in a country that gives law enforcement
a pass for shooting people of color first, forget asking questions. I've looked
at my own students --- I love all my students from the first day. It may not
last for either of us, but to know that these endearing individuals will be at
risk walking to their cars after my class spikes my fear and is unforgivable in
a country that promises equal protection.
Learning from one another is the only way to breakdown the
walls of difference that instigate fear and hate. The woman in the hijab needs
to work just like me, likes the same music I do, takes her kids to soccer just
like my kids do, and practices her First Amendment protected choice of
religion, wait for it! just as
I do. Imagine that? Of course, I am privileged only by the
color of my skin, to a greater protection to do than she is. Imagine that?
(really pause for a moment and imagine the influence your skin color has on
your movement through this country daily. Nothing about your character or
contribution to society, simply skin color.
Watch and understand please.
“The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram” is part of a collaborative investigation from FRONTLINE and ProPublica. The documentary premieres March 25 at 10 p.m. EDT/9 p.m. CDT on PBS stations (check local listings) and will be available to stream on YouTube, the PBS App and FRONTLINE’s website.
Monday, March 3, 2025
Salute to Countries Standing Up Against Trump's game
Photo: Reuters |
SALUTE to the EU, Canada and Australia for, imagine, inviting Ukraine to the table for a peace initiative for that country.
Why can't the U.S. elected leaders?
Want to do something on behalf of the democracy, but not sure what?
Saturday, March 1, 2025
I Stand with Zelensky and Ukraine - Again, that would be democracy!
U.S. bullies gang up on President Zelensky. Photo: Reuters |
Shame on Trump and Vance for their very childish bullying behavior in the White House yesterday. Such shameful behavior by representatives purporting to stand for ME. This isn't about the two of them getting a groveling "thank you." It is about doing the humane thing. Not in their DNA I guess.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Use your purchasing power to combat discrimination and other issues
I am disengaging with the following businesses (among those on the DemocratsAbroad.org list below) for the speed in which they dropped their equity (DEI) commitment in light of the new administration and are supporting Project 2025.
Others I am dropping, such as my Prime/Amazon account, because Bezo doesn't need my money (his employees do), nor do any of the other would be oligarchs in Trump's gang. I am checking the equity policies of my favorite grocery stores now. If they don't have a policy. I'm asking for one. If they can't provide it. Their gone. That should be interesting. How will I ever feed my cats?!
We can best reach business and industry by withdrawing our business from them. It is one of the simple acts that sends a significant message. Visit non-partisan GoodsUniteUs.com website to see how spending impacts politics.Call your representatives. 5calls.org makes it effortless.
Volunteer in the political, governmental arena of your choice.
I plan to volunteer with the ACLU to help keep the lawsuits flowing into the courts to protect our country from the loss of our democracy. Not on my watch, we won't.
And I'll protest.
Think about the resources and networks you have and do what you can. If we ignore the issue, we will lose the rights at risk. Please don't think it won't reach you.
So long
- Amazon/Prime - it was a waste of money anyway - I'm a local shopper
- ACE Hardware - love the root beer
- Allegiant Air - cheap flights to Florida
- Arby's - market sandwiches, waaaa!
- Bacardi and Cokeeeeeee! -Oh no!
- Chiquita
- Dole
- Hersey - That means Cadbury actually because its made by Hersey in the states, fyi
- Marshalls & Home Goods
- Proctor & Gamble has so many product brands - got to do a search
- Smucker's Strawberry Jam for my PB&J's w/carrots on the side
- Walmart and Sam's Club - moving to Costco, which recently rejected a shareholder proposal to end its DEI program.
- MacDonalds
I won't be perfect at it. How could I possibly keep track of the international marketplace and its respect for its employees? If others join me, our collective voice will make a dent. I may not win the war, but I intend to leave battle scars.
The list below was originally posted by Emily Curtis and Heather Cox Richardson
February 18, 2025
*And for those of you leary of the reliability, I have checked these companies against the donations registered on Goods Unite Us and they correspond. GoodsUniteUs.com
The list below was created by Democrats Abroad. DemocratsAbroad.org
Friday, November 15, 2024
A Free Speech Lesson: The Onion and Sandy Hook families think out of the box
God bless The Onion and the Sandy Hook families for thinking outside the box to disrupt the lies and the liars who lie them.
