Tag: civil rights

Opinion

Racism and our current reality

Donald Trump rode to prominence questioning Barrack Obama’s citizenship by claiming he was not born here. Trump lied saying he had evidence but later admitted he had none after successfully using racism to takeover the Republican Party and become president. Trump continues to lie as our system of justice continues to victimize African Americans and working-class people. It seems that every year we experience black citizens being killed in horrific videos or stories with things getting worse as the weather heats up. Poor people in urban areas riot to vent rage, while rural and suburban folks vote for radical conservatives who want to pack courts to minimize civil rights. America’s war with itself weakens the country and our enemies celebrate it. Under Trump our image around the world has never been lower while our allies make plans to move forward without American leadership. We need a new president desperately not to change things in the short term, but because we are heading in a hopeless direction.

Opinion

Civil Rights for all citizens

America continues to struggle with equal rights and treatment for all citizens. The recent killing of a citizen in Minneapolis by police while being recorded underlines the inequity in our country. Republicans actively block access to healthcare and voting even though it would benefit society to increase both. Tolerance for lies and liars has taken control of the Republican Party with the next target likely to be society in general. Election 2020 is the most consequential vote in recent history because we are heading towards a terrible future, I think that we should question and strengthen every institution to protect our republic, and it starts with a massive turnout in 2020.

Opinion

Government that leverages America’s strength

We need new leadership for the United States. It is not a mystery to people who believe that truth and facts provide the firm basis for our continued success. A government that searches for truth, shares it with the people, and develops strategies based on the synergy produced by smart people. The American Dream is based on average people reaching extraordinary achievement by working together under a social contract and sharing the rewards. Today the world and America is threatened by oligarchs who want create super citizens who gain status, privilege, and power through proximity to the leader. The leader typically gains and maintains power through lies, threats, and violence (ex. Putin in Russia). America cannot allow our strength to be destroyed by lies and conspiracy theories. We have to relentlessly pursue the truth, vote in 2020, and make sure those who threaten the republic are held accountable.

Opinion

Shooting in Georgia is revealing

The shooting of Ahmaud Arbery revealed systemic white supremacy battling truth and decency to rule America. It took almost 2 full months for law enforcement to do anything even though they had the video that has sparked so much outrage. District Attorneys, Sheriffs, and others sworn to defend all citizens decided that some citizens have more rights than others. They watched a man being pursued and murdered for no cause but felt unmoved to take a legal or moral stand. As the world saw the same video people were horrified to watch an unarmed man who had committed no crime confronted and shot to death. The judgement of the world sparked legal authorities to act almost two months too late when their colleagues were legally and morally silent. I think that there are more people of good faith who believe in God, will stand with the truth, and value their souls than not. Every confrontation between good and evil presents the same equation. I hope we do better this time than the Trayvon Martin case in 2012.

Opinion

The Lesser of Two Evils

This week has news that forces every voter to consider what it means to vote and why you make a choice. Trump continues to push the justice system towards collapse as he protects co-conspirators while seeking to legally punish those who oppose his autocratic and illegal behaviors. Mike Bloomberg is making the news for statements that seem to show him prejudging African-American communities with past comments about stop and frisk as well as redlining. Bernie Sanders is a socialist who voted for a crime bill that many believe was used to target black men. We do not know who the ultimate candidate for the Democrats will be, but we have a choice to make. Donald Trump has shown himself to be a short and long-term threat to freedom, civil rights, and life on earth who will do anything to protect his fragile version of reality. The person who will run against Trump will not be perfect, but freedom-loving people will need to turn out in massive numbers to stop Trump in 2020.

Opinion, Self improvement, Words to ponder

Black History Month

February is Black History month. It is a time to remember the many people who risked their lives to push for greater freedom to a group of people targeted for harassment and marginalization by the larger society. I think of heroes from Fanny Lou Hamer to Crispus Attucks who not only dreamed of a better day for African Americans but bravely risked everything to make it happen. The courage of heroes is necessary to overcome the strength of evil ideas that gain acceptance because they are expedient to the larger society. Everyone wants to feel special and advantaged in life but the question is who are you willing to handicap to get that feeling? Minorities around the world have been victimized by the answer to this question. Human beings have grown in their ability to see those who are not like them as people deserving of dignity, but we live in a time of increasing insecurity and tribalism. What will the future look like for human dignity? The answer to the question seems bleak right now, but I remain hopeful that there are many more heroes among us who will lead humanity toward the light.

Opinion

Mississippi Prison System on Trial

Reports of prisoners being abused and neglected are emerging from the state prison system of Mississippi. Prisoners using cellphones to take pictures of broken toilets, pests in the food, and overcrowded conditions are reportedly being given extended sentences with up to 12 years added on. Activists say that racially biased anti-crime bills have led to overcrowding and underfunding of the prisons resulting in horrific conditions. Mississippi is currently experiencing a high number of prisoner deaths due to murder and suicides. It is important for citizens across the country to defend the human and civil rights that we have come to expect in the United States. Vote for candidates who respect human rights and civil rights for everyone.