Tag: civil rights

Opinion

Essential workers and other heroes

Many Americans are still at work putting themselves and their families at risk for COVID-19. We call them names like essential workers, but they are just people who want to do their part and make a living, The president and others are pushing for things to quickly get back to normal with as many businesses as possible open. The only problem with the complete re-opening of the economy (that everyone wants) is we have no plan to combat COVID-19 being implemented. American leadership has failed on a massive scale. We live in an America with many heroes but Republican political leaders display cowardice while pushing for others to pay the price. Teachers, store clerks, bus drivers, and others should not have everything placed at risk while being treated like canon fodder by Trump and McConnell with no health insurance. Our country is facing pandemics of privilege, greed, corruption, racism, and COVID-19. Most of these pandemics have been with us for awhile and periodically erupt threatening to consume us. Our sense of decency and fairness should push us to value and protect our fellow citizens. Nature is pushing us to adapt to challenges such as climate change and COVID-19. We must begin to build a better America before time runs out.

Opinion

John Lewis believed

John Lewis was great a American who built a reputation of standing up for liberty and justice everyone. We say liberty and justice for all in our pledge of allegiance regularly, but we still struggle to achieve that lofty goal. Some Americans believe in a just society while clearly others are not interested in equal rights, or justice. An example is the upcoming election where Republicans do not want mail-in ballots because more people might vote. John Lewis had faith in people; if they knew the truth they would move toward liberty and justice for all. Right wing media regularly distorts the truth to support policies that are unfair and will lead to failures like the current pandemic. America has been a great country because we made decisions based on truth while pursuing the growth of human potential. Over time more citizens have become able to pursue happiness but now some want to return to a great time in the past. The United States is not going back to the past without destroying itself. We need more believers in peace and justice like John Lewis to continue our movement toward our potential, as we leave the filth of fascism behind.

Opinion

Threat to America

Donald Trump talks about conspiracies, fake news, and how the election will be stolen if vote by mail is allowed. While Tump questions the upcoming vote he does not fund efforts to secure the election and asks foreign powers for help. Trump follows anti-democratic actions like these with threats to citizens (like the COVID-19 response, unmarked federal agents kidnapping protesters, attempting to destroy the ACA). This president appeals to the worst of America while trying to create confusion and distrust of institutions like the CDC and FBI built by our tax dollars. Trump pushes to divide Americans and increase strife throughout our society, but never says anything negative about Vladimir Putin or Russia. How much more of a threat will we allow him to become? Research and vote in 2020.

Opinion

Shining City on a Hill, or Wild Animal Park?

The issues America faces are numerous and daunting. From healthcare to justice reform there is a lot to do. Americans have many blessings, but we have allowed fear to dominate our society for a long time. People fly American flags dedicated to support for police, while others march for police accountability. Why are the police a lightning rod in our society? Has money and greed become more important than the basic wellbeing of our countrymen? Are we at war with each other and using the justice system as a substitute for a social contract? America has one of the lowest rates of social mobility and the highest incarceration rate of the industrialized democracies. If you are born to a lower class you are more likely to be stuck there here in the USA than similar countries. Americans are afraid of each other and the current uptick in gun purchases highlights that fact. We have more guns than people and we still don’t have enough. The election of 2020 will clearly be a pivotal vote for America as we will define ourselves for the future. A vote for hope can put us back on track as an exemplar nation, the shining city on a hill, or we can be deceived into the chaos and fear of the wild animal park.

Opinion

The perversity of Racism

Racism leads people to behave and think in ways that diminish themselves and others. Americans have struggled with attacking others while appearing not to or maintaining plausible deniability for a long time. This evil has caused issues and pain that drag the nation down. The country is threatened by the smallness in people who want to have two sets of rules; one for us and another for them. This embrace of fundamental evil must be broken for the United States to reach its potential. The United States shocked the world when President Barrack Obama was elected because other countries could not do what we had done. Choosing a minority group member for the most powerful position in government is unheard of around the world. Now we shock the world with our electoral pendulum swing to overt racism, fascism, incompetence, and xenophobia in the form of Trump. Evil will always be around but we do not have to accept it or give it a place in our society. We are capable of better as a species and time is running out. Ending the Trump administration is about the soul of America; a country so many amazing people have sacrificed to build. Think, research, communicate, pray, and vote in every election.

Opinion

Long game and Short game

Citizens who want a better future need to be active and engaged in the coming months and beyond. Good people need a long and a short game to bring about change in society. A lot has happened in the short amount of time since George Floyd’s killing, but much more needs to be done for real change. Leaders are emerging who focus on benchmarks and bringing people together to get things done. America will change if most of us want it to happen. The challenge for leaders and caring citizens is to develop the habit of following up. We will all have to monitor what is going on in our society and demand that media works for us, not against us. The saying that you need to “inspect what you expect” must be brought to life if we are to fight climate change, create a just society, and improve our republic. Social media and people power have been harnessed to challenge the status quo which makes the continuous effort that leads to change possible. All of us can research, communicate, and vote in today’s society with a minimum of effort (provided there is no voter suppression); it is the least we can do for a decent future. We must all remember the words from the Bible “Without a vision the people perish”.

Opinion

Ebbs and Flows

American history is filled with episodes of African-Americans making contributions or gains and then experiencing systemic attacks to preserve white supremacy. This is the ebb and flow of the movement toward our potential as a country; highs and lows. After the Civil War and Reconstruction blacks were targets of terrorism by the newly formed Klu Klux Klan. Successful businesspeople and farmers were specific targets for jealous whites who were threatened by any black success. Black troops returning from World War I feeling that they deserved the rights of citizenship were attacked to ‘put them in their place’. African-American veterans returning from World War II were targeted by systemic racism working to maintain white supremacy leading to the Civil Rights movement. The election of the first African-American president led to the white supremacist birther movement and the election of Donald Trump. The ebbs and flows of the movement towards America’s potential continues. We live in difficult times where it is easy to see that the death of the American republic could happen. Participate in the flow toward justice and dignity for all people and vote in 2020!

Opinion

The republic or the oligarchy

Some say the choice is between America or Trump, but if you look beneath the surface there is more. We are choosing between our current republic and an oligarchy. An oligarchy is rule by the few similar to what is taking place in Russia under Putin and his friends. Trump and his friends are the American oligarchy in waiting. Who are Trump’s friends? We know that he believes Vladimir Putin over the American intelligence agencies because he said so. We must assume that Mr. Putin is a friend of Trump. Other friends of Trump could only be identified by his tax returns and his trail of transactions. As Trump himself says he loves money and the people who give it to him. We will be making the most important vote of our lifetimes in November. Many have tried to get away with crime, but Trump will have done so if he wins. The statute of limitations will run out on many charges Trump is facing if he achieves another term as president. The American republic will be destroyed by a Trump victory as well as our reputation and soft power. Trump is ignorant, but he is not as dumb as he pretends to be. He knows how to run a scam and not end up in jail (so far). Research the facts through multiple sources and vote to save our republic in 2020!

Opinion

Removing Confederate symbols

Systemic racism seeks to produce inequality through: 1. fear created by terrorism that is sanctioned but denied 2. Cultural symbols that reinforce beliefs in the system of inequality 3. Mental and physical attacks at the micro and macro levels to maintain the system 4. Political,social, cultural and economic resources unevenly allocated. Events in Georgia, Kentucky, and Minnesota revealed systemic racism in action that this time have sparked extended outrage. The battle for civil rights for African Americans is a continuation of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Northern and southern whites reached agreement after Reconstruction to create second-class citizenship for black people. Confederates who had been traitors to the United States were elevated to hero status as a symbol of white supremacy. The Confederate traitors were not considered in a negative light because that was reserved for black people. Whites were elevated to a status of having the benefit of the doubt, while blacks were assumed guilty of something. Taking down the symbols of treason that subtly promote racism is a milestone on the road to fulfilling American potential.

Opinion

Trump or America?

The last four years and recent events have spelled out the choice that we have ahead of us: 1. Donald Trump and more insanity 2. The American republic and the orderly pursuit of our potential as a nation. A large percentage of citizens have been deceived by media hacks and politicians to believe that Trump will bring success for them. Another large percentage of citizens believe in the American republic and shared prosperity based on hard work paying off. The second group of citizens see Trump for what he is; an amoral opportunist who wants to change our government towards authoritarianism. After speaking to Russian President Putin today Trump attacked peaceful protesters to appear strong in a photo opportunity. Trump sees Vladimir Putin as a strong leader. Putin’s motto is said to be “anything for my friends, and for my enemies the law”. The current president is following in Putin’s footsteps with Bill Barr using the Justice department to help allies and pursue those who threaten Trump with truth. Four more years of Trump likely spells the end of the American republic. Do your own research, spread the word, make sure you are registered, and vote in 2020.