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First American Woman to Walk in Space Reaches Deepest Spot in the Ocean
Tuesday, June 09, 2020
Destroy negative thoughts when they first appear. This is when they're the weakest. - Songide Makwa
We cannot force someone to hear a message they are not ready to receive, but we must never underestimate the power of planting a seed. - unknown
You don't fear change. You fear the unknown. If you knew the future would be great, you'd welcome the change to get there. Well, the future is great. Proceed. - Joe Vitale
Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be. - unknown
We cannot force someone to hear a message they are not ready to receive, but we must never underestimate the power of planting a seed. - unknown
You don't fear change. You fear the unknown. If you knew the future would be great, you'd welcome the change to get there. Well, the future is great. Proceed. - Joe Vitale
Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be. - unknown
It's easy to personalize family dysfunction. We come from them, after all. It's hard to distinguish what is ours, from what is theirs—where do I end, where does the other begin? This is particularly true if we haven’t properly individuated or developed healthy boundaries—something difficult to do in an enmeshed family. The big mistake that many of us make is going back to the same toxic family well over and over again, looking for our answers there. Sometimes it happens—like in those rare instances where other family members are simultaneously ready to wake up—but it is often just a self-perpetuating trauma trip, one that merely deepens our confusion and pain. As difficult as it can be to break the habit, we have to stop looking toward that which wounded us for our healing. Some family systems are simply too broken to be mended. Perhaps it is time to soak in a new wellspring, one that honors us just as we are. Swimming in an ocean of hope, with the next family that calls to us on the journey home. - Jeff Brown
Perhaps we can ask each other more questions. Real questions. The kind that connect us. Perhaps we can encounter each other from a place of honest inquiry and genuine curiosity—not assumption, not psycho-analytic categorization, not the egoic need to judge. Real inquiry. Here I am. Here you are. Curious about each other. Wondering how we got here. Allowing time to hear each other’s stories. And to really listen. To get to know. To wonder. Inquiry changes everything. - Jeff Brown
Monday, June 08, 2020
Philadelphia Police Union President Calls Black Lives Matter Protestors 'Rabid Animals'
Supreme Court Weighs Qualified Immunity For Police Accused Of Misconduct
Manuel Ellis: Tacoma Man Died In Police Custody, Saying He 'Can't Breathe'
Protesters march onto I-84 in Portland as police chief steps down
In Minneapolis, rage over George Floyd extends beyond cops
CrossFit CEO's racist tweet has gyms and Reebok ending their partnerships
How Much Do We Need The Police?
Michael Jordan Donates $100 Million to Racial-Equality Causes
Reddit's Alexis Ohanian cites daughter with Serena Williams in resigning to make room for black candidate
Supreme Court Weighs Qualified Immunity For Police Accused Of Misconduct
Manuel Ellis: Tacoma Man Died In Police Custody, Saying He 'Can't Breathe'
Protesters march onto I-84 in Portland as police chief steps down
In Minneapolis, rage over George Floyd extends beyond cops
CrossFit CEO's racist tweet has gyms and Reebok ending their partnerships
How Much Do We Need The Police?
Michael Jordan Donates $100 Million to Racial-Equality Causes
Reddit's Alexis Ohanian cites daughter with Serena Williams in resigning to make room for black candidate
Many people spend their whole lives in waiting-for-validation prison, endlessly trying to gain the approval of others. Often birthed in their dynamics with invalidating parents (who themselves were invalidated), this disempowering pattern is a shame-fulfilling prophecy, one that leads us nowhere. Because even if people validate you, it won’t be enough. You will just go looking for it somewhere else. And that won’t get you anywhere either, because the issue isn’t validation. The issue is the mistaken belief that another human being can liberate you from your self-hatred. They can’t. Because they are trapped inside of the same prison. Under-validated people seeking validation from other under-validated people. An impossible cycle. A hopeless waste of energy.
Oh magnificent one, please stop seeking the approval of others. Don’t you see? You have already been approved. You have already passed the divine test. You’re here, for God’s sake! Your validation is within the heart of each breath. Breathe in—I am loved! Breathe out—I am loved… What will it take before we get it? - Jeff Brown
Oh magnificent one, please stop seeking the approval of others. Don’t you see? You have already been approved. You have already passed the divine test. You’re here, for God’s sake! Your validation is within the heart of each breath. Breathe in—I am loved! Breathe out—I am loved… What will it take before we get it? - Jeff Brown
Virus, racial unrest force Trump campaign to recalibrate
Georgia GOP Fears Changing Demographics Could End Party's Long Dominance
The billionaire cofounder of Home Depot plans on donating up to 90% of his $5.9 billion fortune, and Trump's 2020 campaign will be one of the beneficiaries
Powell 'cannot in any way support' Trump, will vote for Biden
Trump promises to move Republican National Convention over coronavirus restrictions
Bernie Sanders' Campaign Could Provide Lessons For Biden Latino Outreach
As More Americans Prepare To Vote By Mail, Postal Service Faces Big Challenges
GOP Fears Loss Of Reliable Senate Seat Amid Fractious Kansas Primary
With Naturalizations On Hold, Potential New Voters Sit On Sidelines
Georgia GOP Fears Changing Demographics Could End Party's Long Dominance
The billionaire cofounder of Home Depot plans on donating up to 90% of his $5.9 billion fortune, and Trump's 2020 campaign will be one of the beneficiaries
Powell 'cannot in any way support' Trump, will vote for Biden
Trump promises to move Republican National Convention over coronavirus restrictions
Bernie Sanders' Campaign Could Provide Lessons For Biden Latino Outreach
As More Americans Prepare To Vote By Mail, Postal Service Faces Big Challenges
GOP Fears Loss Of Reliable Senate Seat Amid Fractious Kansas Primary
With Naturalizations On Hold, Potential New Voters Sit On Sidelines
This is what can happen when someone hasn’t cried since infancy. They become Donald Trump. They live from an armored heart. They are incapacitated with respect to empathy. They have no ability to form and sustain healthy bonds. They have a tendency toward misplaced aggression. They are internally (and hence externally) unstable. They have sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies. They have an egoic hole that can never be filled.
Trump boasts about his crylessness, as though it is a sign of strength, but it's not an indicator of strength. It’s an indicator of trauma. It’s an indicator of emotional illness. It’s an indicator that he was in so much pain that he had to stop feeling. In watching him, you are seeing what happens to a human being when they are frozen in time. Crying is not just necessary for healthy functioning. It’s essential for healthy development. It’s fundamental to the transition from babyhood to adulthood. He can’t act like an adult, because he hasn’t developed into one yet. He is still back there, in his cryless crib, in the repressive regime that is his inner life. All those unshed tears and unresolved wounds have congealed within, and permanently falsified his inner world. He can't feel compassion, because he can't feel his heart. It’s little wonder he lies all the time. His inner life is built on a foundation of inauthenticity. It’s all lies outside, because it’s all lies inside.
After all is said and done, we will realize that all the horrors we have seen with this man, are in direct proportion to the horror that is his inner life. He is living out his internalized pain and anger, in his outer world projections. He imagines himself strong, when in fact, he is a cowardly child. He tantrums against humanity, because he doesn’t have the egoic strength to confront his underlying trauma. And that's why he won’t wear a mask. Because his whole life is already a mask.
The sooner he goes back to his New York pentcrib, the better. And the next time you vote for a president, ask him how often he cries. And if his answer is “never”, don’t vote for him. - Jeff Brown
Trump boasts about his crylessness, as though it is a sign of strength, but it's not an indicator of strength. It’s an indicator of trauma. It’s an indicator of emotional illness. It’s an indicator that he was in so much pain that he had to stop feeling. In watching him, you are seeing what happens to a human being when they are frozen in time. Crying is not just necessary for healthy functioning. It’s essential for healthy development. It’s fundamental to the transition from babyhood to adulthood. He can’t act like an adult, because he hasn’t developed into one yet. He is still back there, in his cryless crib, in the repressive regime that is his inner life. All those unshed tears and unresolved wounds have congealed within, and permanently falsified his inner world. He can't feel compassion, because he can't feel his heart. It’s little wonder he lies all the time. His inner life is built on a foundation of inauthenticity. It’s all lies outside, because it’s all lies inside.
After all is said and done, we will realize that all the horrors we have seen with this man, are in direct proportion to the horror that is his inner life. He is living out his internalized pain and anger, in his outer world projections. He imagines himself strong, when in fact, he is a cowardly child. He tantrums against humanity, because he doesn’t have the egoic strength to confront his underlying trauma. And that's why he won’t wear a mask. Because his whole life is already a mask.
The sooner he goes back to his New York pentcrib, the better. And the next time you vote for a president, ask him how often he cries. And if his answer is “never”, don’t vote for him. - Jeff Brown
Sunday, June 07, 2020
From 'Flash Bangs' To 'Rubber' Bullets: The Very Real Risks of 'Riot Control Agents'
Poll: Two-Thirds Think Trump Made Racial Tensions Worse After Floyd Was Killed
Confederate Monuments Are Coming Down, Are Streets And Highways Next?
‘A painful totem:’ Artists paint message on Raleigh street to protest Confederate statues
Baltimore Quietly Removed All 4 Of Its Confederate Statues Overnight
Winston Churchill memorial defaced with 'was a racist' during London Black Lives Matter protest
Thousands Defy Ban in Paris to Protest as George Floyd Outrage Goes Global
Poll: Two-Thirds Think Trump Made Racial Tensions Worse After Floyd Was Killed
Confederate Monuments Are Coming Down, Are Streets And Highways Next?
‘A painful totem:’ Artists paint message on Raleigh street to protest Confederate statues
Baltimore Quietly Removed All 4 Of Its Confederate Statues Overnight
Winston Churchill memorial defaced with 'was a racist' during London Black Lives Matter protest
Thousands Defy Ban in Paris to Protest as George Floyd Outrage Goes Global
Veto-proof majority of Minneapolis City Council vows to disband police department
Civilian Portland Police Employee Announces Support for Antifa and Denounces Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets
Crowd Cries 'Shame' After Minneapolis Mayor Answers 'No' To Defunding Police
What It's Like To Be Black In America: I'm 'Angry And Tired'
'NYT' Editorial Page Editor Resigns After Op-Ed Backlash
Portland Mayor Limits, Does Not Ban, Tear Gas At Protests
Local Leaders Respond To BLM Protests, Calls For Reform
Black Lives Matter Organizers Implore Community And Police To Join Springfield Protest
Multicultural Coalition Addresses Justice Reform Beyond Protests In Sunday Rally
Roger Goodell Admits NFL Was Wrong About Player Protests
Asian Americans need to talk about anti-blackness in our communities
Civilian Portland Police Employee Announces Support for Antifa and Denounces Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets
Crowd Cries 'Shame' After Minneapolis Mayor Answers 'No' To Defunding Police
What It's Like To Be Black In America: I'm 'Angry And Tired'
'NYT' Editorial Page Editor Resigns After Op-Ed Backlash
Portland Mayor Limits, Does Not Ban, Tear Gas At Protests
Local Leaders Respond To BLM Protests, Calls For Reform
Black Lives Matter Organizers Implore Community And Police To Join Springfield Protest
Multicultural Coalition Addresses Justice Reform Beyond Protests In Sunday Rally
Roger Goodell Admits NFL Was Wrong About Player Protests
Asian Americans need to talk about anti-blackness in our communities
Saturday, June 06, 2020
The meaning of life... what a year it was - 2020 and with loves on this day.
The Answer to Life 42 is the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything" in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. It was computed by Deep Thought, the second greatest computer ever.
Healing
Healing doesn't have to look magical or pretty. Real healing is hard, exhaustion and draining. Let yourself go through it. Don't try to paint it as anything other than what it is. Be there for yourself with no judgement. - Audrey kitching
You can't heal the people you love. You can't make choices for them. You can't rescue them. You can promise that they won't journey alone. You can loan them your map. But this trip is theirs. - Laura Jean Truman
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. - S. Kassem
When you expose yourself to contrast, you expose to your inner being and all that is to the same contrast. As you conclude a new desire, you summon life force forward into this leading edge experience. And whether you are allowing it to flow through you or not, All that is benefit form that. - unknown
Everything you want is coming. Relax and let the universe pick the timing and the way. You just need to trust that what you want is coming, and watch how fast it comes. - unknown
If you could erase all the mistakes of your past, you would also erase all the wisdom of your present. Remember the lesson, not the disappointment. - unknown
If we always wait until we feel ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our lives. - unknown
“Imagine wrestling a giant polar bear slicked down with Vaseline. Teeth and claws bear down on you as you struggle against an opponent many times your weight and muscle mass. When you try to get a hold, your fingers slide off and you find your hands empty. That’s how it feels to grieve. So don’t tell me to smile. I will, when that is what my healing calls for. For now I’m doing my best against something terrifying and overwhelming. Don’t tell me to be strong. I already am. I am a warrior, and this is what battle looks like.” ~ Angie Schultz
When Someone You Love Is Grieving: How to Really Help
The people who are meant to be in your life will show up consistently. They appreciate you, just as much you appreciate them. They support you, just as much as you support them. There is a mutual respect, understanding and love. Cherish them. Take comfort in knowing that they are here to stay. - unknown
You can't heal the people you love. You can't make choices for them. You can't rescue them. You can promise that they won't journey alone. You can loan them your map. But this trip is theirs. - Laura Jean Truman
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. - S. Kassem
When you expose yourself to contrast, you expose to your inner being and all that is to the same contrast. As you conclude a new desire, you summon life force forward into this leading edge experience. And whether you are allowing it to flow through you or not, All that is benefit form that. - unknown
Everything you want is coming. Relax and let the universe pick the timing and the way. You just need to trust that what you want is coming, and watch how fast it comes. - unknown
If you could erase all the mistakes of your past, you would also erase all the wisdom of your present. Remember the lesson, not the disappointment. - unknown
If we always wait until we feel ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our lives. - unknown
“Imagine wrestling a giant polar bear slicked down with Vaseline. Teeth and claws bear down on you as you struggle against an opponent many times your weight and muscle mass. When you try to get a hold, your fingers slide off and you find your hands empty. That’s how it feels to grieve. So don’t tell me to smile. I will, when that is what my healing calls for. For now I’m doing my best against something terrifying and overwhelming. Don’t tell me to be strong. I already am. I am a warrior, and this is what battle looks like.” ~ Angie Schultz
When Someone You Love Is Grieving: How to Really Help
The people who are meant to be in your life will show up consistently. They appreciate you, just as much you appreciate them. They support you, just as much as you support them. There is a mutual respect, understanding and love. Cherish them. Take comfort in knowing that they are here to stay. - unknown
Cory Booker Wants To End Qualified Immunity For Police Officers
Rand Paul battles Kamala Harris and Cory Booker on anti-lynching bill
The White House is now surrounded by nearly 2 miles of fencing and barricades
Buffalo Police Officers Suspended After Shoving 75-Year-Old Protester
Read former Defense Secretary Mattis' statement on Trump's handling of nationwide protests. Mattis, a four-star U.S. Marine Corps General, served as President Donald Trump's 26th Secretary of Defense from 2017 to 2018.
Revolt of the generals
Former Defense Secretary Mattis Issues Stunning Rebuke Of Trump
'No Blame?' ABC News finds 54 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults.
Trudeau’s 21-Second Pause Becomes the Story in Canada
Murkowski Endorses Mattis’s Rebuke of Trump. Largely peaceful protests stretched into their 10th day, as George Floyd’s family prepared for a memorial in Minneapolis on Thursday.
Build That Wall—Viral Video Shows Fencing Going up Around White House
Rand Paul battles Kamala Harris and Cory Booker on anti-lynching bill
The White House is now surrounded by nearly 2 miles of fencing and barricades
Buffalo Police Officers Suspended After Shoving 75-Year-Old Protester
Read former Defense Secretary Mattis' statement on Trump's handling of nationwide protests. Mattis, a four-star U.S. Marine Corps General, served as President Donald Trump's 26th Secretary of Defense from 2017 to 2018.
Revolt of the generals
Former Defense Secretary Mattis Issues Stunning Rebuke Of Trump
'No Blame?' ABC News finds 54 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults.
Trudeau’s 21-Second Pause Becomes the Story in Canada
Murkowski Endorses Mattis’s Rebuke of Trump. Largely peaceful protests stretched into their 10th day, as George Floyd’s family prepared for a memorial in Minneapolis on Thursday.
Build That Wall—Viral Video Shows Fencing Going up Around White House
Friday, June 05, 2020
I am love. I am loved. I am light. I am growth. I am expansion. I am accepting change. I am powerful . I am worthy. I am bigger than any challenge . I am ME . - CJB
You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. Be a warrior for love. - Cheryl strayed
You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. Be a warrior for love. - Cheryl strayed
Tacoma Mayor: Officers Who Arrested Manuel Ellis 'Should Be Fired And Prosecuted'
Attorney General Barr Defends Response To Protests Near The White House
Portland Uprising Against Police Killings Continues, Now Joined by Damian Lillard
‘Defunding’ police, funding mental health resources will save lives, experts say
Barr defends White House use of force, claims protesters were violent
D.C. Mayor Bowser has 'Black Lives Matter' painted on street leading to White House
Buffalo police officers suspended after video shows them shoving 75-year-old at protest
Troubling videos capture L.A. police violence, aggression amid demonstrations
Attorney General Barr Defends Response To Protests Near The White House
Portland Uprising Against Police Killings Continues, Now Joined by Damian Lillard
‘Defunding’ police, funding mental health resources will save lives, experts say
Barr defends White House use of force, claims protesters were violent
D.C. Mayor Bowser has 'Black Lives Matter' painted on street leading to White House
Buffalo police officers suspended after video shows them shoving 75-year-old at protest
Troubling videos capture L.A. police violence, aggression amid demonstrations
Thursday, June 04, 2020
Canada, and the world, must stand up to China’s latest attack on Hong Kong
Police tried to ban Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigil. Instead, thousands showed up, united with new demands
At banned Tiananmen vigil, Hong Kong protesters rally for their freedoms
Hong Kong: Tens of thousands defy ban to attend Tiananmen vigil
Australia will 'continue to welcome' Hong Kong residents as calls mount to match UK's offer of safe haven
Thousands of Hongkongers defy police ban to commemorate Tiananmen Massacre victims at Victoria Park
Chris Patten accuses China of 'mafia'-style tactics as HSBC row escalates
六四 31 週年市民多區悼念 高喊香港獨立 便衣警旺角拉人指暴徒堵路
As Hong Kong passes anthem bill, people defy ban on Tiananmen Square vigil. Hong Kong residents enter Victoria Park, closed off due to COVID-19 concerns, in defiance of Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms
China will crush dissent in Hong Kong, just as it did in Tiananmen Square
Hong Kong passes law to criminalise insult of Chinese national anthem
HKFP guide to Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Massacre commemorations, as police ban annual vigil
To stay or go? Meet the Hong Kong protesters who fled to Canada to seek asylum
拿「美國警暴」來說事只是自取其辱
【國安法壓港】韓國政治漫畫 為香港人發聲 尖銳諷刺中國
Japan says Hong Kong situation deeply concerning
國安惡法七大謬
UK passports in demand in Hong Kong as police deny permission for vigil
Police tried to ban Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigil. Instead, thousands showed up, united with new demands
At banned Tiananmen vigil, Hong Kong protesters rally for their freedoms
Hong Kong: Tens of thousands defy ban to attend Tiananmen vigil
Australia will 'continue to welcome' Hong Kong residents as calls mount to match UK's offer of safe haven
Thousands of Hongkongers defy police ban to commemorate Tiananmen Massacre victims at Victoria Park
Chris Patten accuses China of 'mafia'-style tactics as HSBC row escalates
六四 31 週年市民多區悼念 高喊香港獨立 便衣警旺角拉人指暴徒堵路
As Hong Kong passes anthem bill, people defy ban on Tiananmen Square vigil. Hong Kong residents enter Victoria Park, closed off due to COVID-19 concerns, in defiance of Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms
China will crush dissent in Hong Kong, just as it did in Tiananmen Square
Hong Kong passes law to criminalise insult of Chinese national anthem
HKFP guide to Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Massacre commemorations, as police ban annual vigil
To stay or go? Meet the Hong Kong protesters who fled to Canada to seek asylum
拿「美國警暴」來說事只是自取其辱
【國安法壓港】韓國政治漫畫 為香港人發聲 尖銳諷刺中國
Japan says Hong Kong situation deeply concerning
國安惡法七大謬
UK passports in demand in Hong Kong as police deny permission for vigil
All people - black, white, red, yellow, brown - are God’s children, one human family united in its desire to make America better for everyone. That requires the right to speak up and protest peacefully but not violently. Violence moves us backward, turning attention away from the progress we have made and pushing the ultimate goal we seek farther into the future. Violence makes us forget that diversity is America’s strength, making it more difficult to rejoice in our similarities and respect our differences.
In Jewish tradition, we have a saying: “When truth is spoken and justice is done, then peace is established” (Pirke Avot 1:18). For truth to be spoken, each of us must learn to listen, opening our ears to hear one another’s truth and our hearts to understand it. For justice to be done, it must exist for everyone, rich and poor alike, those of every religion, race, culture and background, those with power and those without. Only then can we find the wholeness that true peace represents. - Rabbi Sally Priesand
In Jewish tradition, we have a saying: “When truth is spoken and justice is done, then peace is established” (Pirke Avot 1:18). For truth to be spoken, each of us must learn to listen, opening our ears to hear one another’s truth and our hearts to understand it. For justice to be done, it must exist for everyone, rich and poor alike, those of every religion, race, culture and background, those with power and those without. Only then can we find the wholeness that true peace represents. - Rabbi Sally Priesand
Love needs an entry point, … healing our hearts, gives love a place to land. - Jeff Brown
Never be ashamed of how deeply and passionately you loved someone who destroyed you.
Because destroying things is just who they are.
But loving things deeply and passionately is who you are. - Butterflies rising.
Never be ashamed of how deeply and passionately you loved someone who destroyed you.
Because destroying things is just who they are.
But loving things deeply and passionately is who you are. - Butterflies rising.
Portland, a city used to protests, is reeling from nightly chaos, Portland is known for its sometimes chaotic protests, but the liberal Oregon city is reeling from nightly unrest over George Floyd's death
Black Protesters Voice Frustration with Marchers at Latest Black Lives Matter Protest
Things You Can Do to Support the Black Community and Promote Anti-Racist Efforts
United States added to list of most dangerous countries for journalists for first time
Portland superintendent says he’s ‘discontinuing’ presence of armed police officers in schools
Peace And Community During Angry Times: Isiah Wagoner On Black Lives Matter In Eugene
Trump Said No Tear Gas Used to Clear Protesters for Photo Op. These Canisters Suggest Otherwise.
Why you should stop saying “all lives matter,” explained in 9 different ways
Your Good Cop Stories Aren’t Helping Anyone
Police are Attacking Journalists at Protests. We’re Suing.
Tennessee National Guardsmen put down their shields during peaceful rally at state capitol
Black Protesters Voice Frustration with Marchers at Latest Black Lives Matter Protest
Things You Can Do to Support the Black Community and Promote Anti-Racist Efforts
United States added to list of most dangerous countries for journalists for first time
Portland superintendent says he’s ‘discontinuing’ presence of armed police officers in schools
Peace And Community During Angry Times: Isiah Wagoner On Black Lives Matter In Eugene
Trump Said No Tear Gas Used to Clear Protesters for Photo Op. These Canisters Suggest Otherwise.
Why you should stop saying “all lives matter,” explained in 9 different ways
Your Good Cop Stories Aren’t Helping Anyone
Police are Attacking Journalists at Protests. We’re Suing.
Tennessee National Guardsmen put down their shields during peaceful rally at state capitol
Maybe your life purpose isn't supposed to be a thrill-seeking narrative. What if you're meant to be the sunshine to someone's stormy day? Or the voice of clarity to a frantic mind? You don't have to be a superhero to save the world. - unknown
Keep going, and don't worry about your speed. You're making progress, even if it doesn't seem like it. Forward is forward, n matter how slow.- Lori Deschene
Keep going, and don't worry about your speed. You're making progress, even if it doesn't seem like it. Forward is forward, n matter how slow.- Lori Deschene
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
New charges against Minneapolis policemen as protests continue
Attorney General Keith Ellison to elevate charges against officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck; also charging other 3 involved
Mayor Durkan ends curfew, Chief Best meets with protesters
Protesters Hail Charges Against Police but Seek Broader Change
A letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Protests Against Police Brutality & Racism Continue In Eugene
This year, L.A. Pride will be a Black Lives Matter solidarity protest march
Cops pepper sprayed their own Senator without realizing he's an authority figure.
The Kennedy Center Will Go Dark For Nine Nights To Commemorate George Floyd
3 More Former Cops To Be Charged In The Killing Of George Floyd
Three former Minneapolis police officers will be criminally charged Wednesday in connection with the death of George Floyd, Sen. Amy Klobuchar wrote in a post on Twitter. 3 more cops charged in George Floyd death, other officer's murder charge upgraded, Sen. Klobuchar says
Black Lives Matter Activists Help Keep Order
Active-duty troops deployed to DC region start to leave
Trump says did not ask for protesters to be moved before visit to church
K-Pop Fans Take Over #WhiteLivesMatter Hashtag to Drown Out Racist Posts
Attorney General Keith Ellison to elevate charges against officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck; also charging other 3 involved
Mayor Durkan ends curfew, Chief Best meets with protesters
Protesters Hail Charges Against Police but Seek Broader Change
A letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Protests Against Police Brutality & Racism Continue In Eugene
This year, L.A. Pride will be a Black Lives Matter solidarity protest march
Cops pepper sprayed their own Senator without realizing he's an authority figure.
The Kennedy Center Will Go Dark For Nine Nights To Commemorate George Floyd
3 More Former Cops To Be Charged In The Killing Of George Floyd
Three former Minneapolis police officers will be criminally charged Wednesday in connection with the death of George Floyd, Sen. Amy Klobuchar wrote in a post on Twitter. 3 more cops charged in George Floyd death, other officer's murder charge upgraded, Sen. Klobuchar says
Black Lives Matter Activists Help Keep Order
Active-duty troops deployed to DC region start to leave
Trump says did not ask for protesters to be moved before visit to church
K-Pop Fans Take Over #WhiteLivesMatter Hashtag to Drown Out Racist Posts
Chris Hayes on how police treat black Americans like colonial subjects
'He wears the armor of God': evangelicals hail Trump's church photo op
Trump Gave Police Permission to Be Brutal
The Christians Who Loved Trump’s Stunt
History Will Judge the Complicit. Why have Republican leaders abandoned their principles in support of an immoral and dangerous president?
James Mattis Denounces President Trump, Describes Him as a Threat to the Constitution
I Cannot Remain Silent
How Trump’s Idea for a Photo Op Led to Havoc in a Park
White House Officials Asked If They Could Take Over D.C.’s Local Police
Ding Ding! The Most Racist Member of Congress Just Got Beat.
Ella Jones Is Elected First Black Mayor of Ferguson
Ella Jones Is Elected First Black Mayor of Ferguson
Ocasio-Cortez and Other Democrats Celebrate Defeat of Steve King
Rep. Steve King, who was shunned by GOP leaders for his racist remarks, loses in Iowa primary
'He wears the armor of God': evangelicals hail Trump's church photo op
Trump Gave Police Permission to Be Brutal
The Christians Who Loved Trump’s Stunt
History Will Judge the Complicit. Why have Republican leaders abandoned their principles in support of an immoral and dangerous president?
James Mattis Denounces President Trump, Describes Him as a Threat to the Constitution
I Cannot Remain Silent
How Trump’s Idea for a Photo Op Led to Havoc in a Park
White House Officials Asked If They Could Take Over D.C.’s Local Police
Ding Ding! The Most Racist Member of Congress Just Got Beat.
Ella Jones Is Elected First Black Mayor of Ferguson
Ella Jones Is Elected First Black Mayor of Ferguson
Ocasio-Cortez and Other Democrats Celebrate Defeat of Steve King
Rep. Steve King, who was shunned by GOP leaders for his racist remarks, loses in Iowa primary
I love you, W.
We often go back for more, even if we have not had our needs met by our parents for decades. It’s a deep hunger to finally be nurtured, seen, and loved by those who brought us into being. But it’s been my experience that those who cannot meet those needs seldom change. Not because they don’t want to, but because they just aren’t up to the task. They don’t have it in them. They are in too much pain themselves.
If you are someone who keeps going back for more, you have to stop. You are holding yourself hostage. It’s no longer them- it’s now you. It’s the unconscious hope to finally feel seen and loved that is wounding you. The key to your liberation is to finally see them for who they are. Really see them, the way you want to be seen. See them in their context, their woundedness, their limitations. Once you do, you no longer imagine them as adults capable of meeting your needs. Because they aren’t. They’re lost children, stumbling over their own patterns and conditioning. They can’t meet your needs because nobody ever met theirs. Of course, reaching this stage of awareness is no easy thing, because you have to achieve this without getting what you needed from them to grow developmentally into adulthood. It’s a kind of catch 22, one that requires that you fully see them as the fractured humans that they are with no part of you imagining them as adults with something they can offer you. It’s a huge and difficult step. But it’s the only step you can take. And when you take it- I mean, really take it- you become free to get those needs met by those who can actually meet them. You become free to truly live. - Jeff Brown
If you are someone who keeps going back for more, you have to stop. You are holding yourself hostage. It’s no longer them- it’s now you. It’s the unconscious hope to finally feel seen and loved that is wounding you. The key to your liberation is to finally see them for who they are. Really see them, the way you want to be seen. See them in their context, their woundedness, their limitations. Once you do, you no longer imagine them as adults capable of meeting your needs. Because they aren’t. They’re lost children, stumbling over their own patterns and conditioning. They can’t meet your needs because nobody ever met theirs. Of course, reaching this stage of awareness is no easy thing, because you have to achieve this without getting what you needed from them to grow developmentally into adulthood. It’s a kind of catch 22, one that requires that you fully see them as the fractured humans that they are with no part of you imagining them as adults with something they can offer you. It’s a huge and difficult step. But it’s the only step you can take. And when you take it- I mean, really take it- you become free to get those needs met by those who can actually meet them. You become free to truly live. - Jeff Brown
In Some Cities, Police Officers Joined Protesters Marching Against Brutality
Black Lives Matter protest in Wichita changed to cookout with police
'That's not going to bring my brother back': George Floyd's brother calls for end to violence
What Will You Do, White America? What Will You Do?
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses the protests across the US in an employee town hall: 'My ask to each of you is to come together'
Black Lives Matter protest in Wichita changed to cookout with police
'That's not going to bring my brother back': George Floyd's brother calls for end to violence
What Will You Do, White America? What Will You Do?
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses the protests across the US in an employee town hall: 'My ask to each of you is to come together'
Tuesday, June 02, 2020
NBC News' Jo Ling Kent hit by flashbang grenade as Seattle protest gets chaotic
George Floyd protests: Live updates from protests today
6 Atlanta Officers Charged After Release Of 'Disturbing' Arrest Video
Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay — Chances Are They’re Not
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Want to See Food and Land Justice for Black Americans? Support These Groups.
Boston Prides Itself On Its Progressive Image. Let Me Tell You What I Know
Volunteers meeting in downtown Portland on Tuesday morning to clean up after protests
George Floyd protests: Live updates from protests today
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Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay — Chances Are They’re Not
Officer who stood by as George Floyd died highlights complex Asian American, black relations
Want to See Food and Land Justice for Black Americans? Support These Groups.
Boston Prides Itself On Its Progressive Image. Let Me Tell You What I Know
Volunteers meeting in downtown Portland on Tuesday morning to clean up after protests
D.C. police response to George Floyd protests prompts alarm abroad
Episcopal priest describes being gassed and overrun by police at Lafayette Square church
Catholic archbishop says Trump visit to St. John Paul II shrine "violates our religious principles"
Virginia county pulls officers from DC after Trump photo-op
Religious leaders condemn teargassing protesters to clear street for Trump
'He Did Not Pray': Fallout Grows From Trump's Photo-Op At St. John's Church
'I am outraged': DC bishop denounces Trump's church visit after police clear protesters with tear gas
'The Bible is not a prop': Religious leaders, lawmakers outraged over Trump church visit
Episcopal priest describes being gassed and overrun by police at Lafayette Square church
Catholic archbishop says Trump visit to St. John Paul II shrine "violates our religious principles"
Virginia county pulls officers from DC after Trump photo-op
Religious leaders condemn teargassing protesters to clear street for Trump
'He Did Not Pray': Fallout Grows From Trump's Photo-Op At St. John's Church
'I am outraged': DC bishop denounces Trump's church visit after police clear protesters with tear gas
'The Bible is not a prop': Religious leaders, lawmakers outraged over Trump church visit
Kindness is more than deed. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person. - Plato
May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. - Sandra Sturtz
One of the best lessons you can learn in life is to master how to remain calm. - unknown
Calm does not mean be a door mat or be weak. It means I feel passionate about what's happening, let me pause, take some deep breaths, get in touch with and understand my feelings, then make a choice and take an action that will serve the whole in which I am included. This is what it means to master calm. Calm is a superpower my loves. - Barb Schmidt
To me.. Happiness is the highest level of success in life. Happiness is found in the choices we make very day. It's all about thinking good thoughts, speaking kind words, taking good actions, and enjoying the small things in life all while chasing after the big ones. - unknown
May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. - Sandra Sturtz
One of the best lessons you can learn in life is to master how to remain calm. - unknown
Calm does not mean be a door mat or be weak. It means I feel passionate about what's happening, let me pause, take some deep breaths, get in touch with and understand my feelings, then make a choice and take an action that will serve the whole in which I am included. This is what it means to master calm. Calm is a superpower my loves. - Barb Schmidt
To me.. Happiness is the highest level of success in life. Happiness is found in the choices we make very day. It's all about thinking good thoughts, speaking kind words, taking good actions, and enjoying the small things in life all while chasing after the big ones. - unknown
Lawmakers Begin Bipartisan Push to Cut Off Police Access to Military-Style Gear
Pelosi Asks Black Caucus To Come Up With Police Reforms Following Protests
Pelosi Statement on Trump Social Media Executive Order
Fire, pestilence and a country at war with itself: the Trump presidency is over
As Trump Targets Twitter's Legal Shield, Experts Have A Warning
Defying Trump, Twitter Doubles Down on Labeling Tweets
Trump escalates war on Twitter, social media protections
Protesters set fire to Minneapolis police precinct as Trump attacks uprising on Twitter
Stung By Twitter, Trump Signs Executive Order To Weaken Social Media Companies
Mark Zuckerberg told Fox News that Facebook would not fact-check Trump's false claims as Twitter did
Trump to 'sign executive order about social media'
Trump threatens social media outlets with regulation, closure after fact check added to tweet
Twitter Places Fact-Checking Warning On Trump Tweet For 1st Time
Trump Threatens To Shut Down Social Media After Twitter Adds Warning To His Tweets
How to stop friends and relatives from spreading misinformation about Covid-19. Here's how to deal with relatives and family-members who are posting misinformation.
Trump Attacks Columbia University For Study Showing Inaction Caused More Death: 'Liberal, Disgraceful Institution'
Pelosi Asks Black Caucus To Come Up With Police Reforms Following Protests
Pelosi Statement on Trump Social Media Executive Order
Fire, pestilence and a country at war with itself: the Trump presidency is over
As Trump Targets Twitter's Legal Shield, Experts Have A Warning
Defying Trump, Twitter Doubles Down on Labeling Tweets
Trump escalates war on Twitter, social media protections
Protesters set fire to Minneapolis police precinct as Trump attacks uprising on Twitter
Stung By Twitter, Trump Signs Executive Order To Weaken Social Media Companies
Mark Zuckerberg told Fox News that Facebook would not fact-check Trump's false claims as Twitter did
Trump to 'sign executive order about social media'
Trump threatens social media outlets with regulation, closure after fact check added to tweet
Twitter Places Fact-Checking Warning On Trump Tweet For 1st Time
Trump Threatens To Shut Down Social Media After Twitter Adds Warning To His Tweets
How to stop friends and relatives from spreading misinformation about Covid-19. Here's how to deal with relatives and family-members who are posting misinformation.
Trump Attacks Columbia University For Study Showing Inaction Caused More Death: 'Liberal, Disgraceful Institution'
There is no such thing..
Love is not finding someone to live with. It's finding someone you can't live without..
As the George Floyd protests continue, let's be clear where the violence is coming from
Minneapolis bus drivers are refusing to help police transport protesters to jail
Portland police kneel to peaceful protesters outside Justice Center
'Provocateurs are creating the violence': JoAnn Hardesty on Portland protests
Being Black in Oregon is ‘A Struggle’: Black Protesters in Eugene Want Change, Not Violence
Their Restaurant Burned Down In The Minneapolis Protests. They Just Want Justice For George Floyd.“We can rebuild a building. But we cannot give this man back to his family.”
George Floyd death: Liverpool players take knee in picture at Anfield
Violent protests are not the story. Police violence is.
Weekend Riots Leave Destruction...And Questions
George Floyd Cried ‘Mama’ And Now You Are Finally Starting To Rise Up
George Clooney: Racism Is Our Pandemic And In 400 Years We’ve Yet To Find A Vaccine
Mayor Ted Wheeler, U.S. Attorney Billy Williams Call on Gov. Kate Brown to Activate Oregon National Guard
Peace in Portland for One Night, as Police Let Protesters Cross Into Downtown Without Resistance
Gov. Kate Brown Agrees to Activate Oregon National Guard for Portland Protests, but Unarmed
Huge Crowds Surge Peacefully Into Downtown Portland, but Another Night Ends With Flash-Bangs and Gas
Police Fence Off 16 Square Blocks in Downtown Portland as Protests Continue Into Fourth Night
Mayor Ted Wheeler, U.S. Attorney Billy Williams Call on Gov. Kate Brown to Activate Oregon National Guard
America at the breaking point
George Floyd death ruled a homicide by medical examiner
Global Anger Grows Over George Floyd Death, and Becomes an Anti-Trump Cudgel
'I need white mamas to come running'
Owner Of Store Where Police First Made Contact With George Floyd Is Speaking Out
Op-Ed: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don't understand the protests? What you're seeing is people pushed to the edge
Overnight Curfew Extended City Wide As Groups Gather, Arrests Made Saturday Night
Photo Gallery | Peaceful protest in Santa Cruz is time for mourning George Floyd and others
Minneapolis bus drivers are refusing to help police transport protesters to jail
Portland police kneel to peaceful protesters outside Justice Center
'Provocateurs are creating the violence': JoAnn Hardesty on Portland protests
Being Black in Oregon is ‘A Struggle’: Black Protesters in Eugene Want Change, Not Violence
Their Restaurant Burned Down In The Minneapolis Protests. They Just Want Justice For George Floyd.“We can rebuild a building. But we cannot give this man back to his family.”
George Floyd death: Liverpool players take knee in picture at Anfield
Violent protests are not the story. Police violence is.
Weekend Riots Leave Destruction...And Questions
George Floyd Cried ‘Mama’ And Now You Are Finally Starting To Rise Up
George Clooney: Racism Is Our Pandemic And In 400 Years We’ve Yet To Find A Vaccine
Mayor Ted Wheeler, U.S. Attorney Billy Williams Call on Gov. Kate Brown to Activate Oregon National Guard
Peace in Portland for One Night, as Police Let Protesters Cross Into Downtown Without Resistance
Gov. Kate Brown Agrees to Activate Oregon National Guard for Portland Protests, but Unarmed
Huge Crowds Surge Peacefully Into Downtown Portland, but Another Night Ends With Flash-Bangs and Gas
Police Fence Off 16 Square Blocks in Downtown Portland as Protests Continue Into Fourth Night
Mayor Ted Wheeler, U.S. Attorney Billy Williams Call on Gov. Kate Brown to Activate Oregon National Guard
America at the breaking point
George Floyd death ruled a homicide by medical examiner
Global Anger Grows Over George Floyd Death, and Becomes an Anti-Trump Cudgel
'I need white mamas to come running'
Owner Of Store Where Police First Made Contact With George Floyd Is Speaking Out
Op-Ed: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Don't understand the protests? What you're seeing is people pushed to the edge
Overnight Curfew Extended City Wide As Groups Gather, Arrests Made Saturday Night
Photo Gallery | Peaceful protest in Santa Cruz is time for mourning George Floyd and others
“The presidency is a duty to care”: Read Joe Biden’s full speech on George Floyd’s death
Biden Meets With Black Faith Leaders In Delaware Following Days Of Protest
Protesters Trapped Inside Dupont Home Leave Without Arrests
A n
Officers fire tear gas on peaceful protesters to clear the way for Trump’s photo op
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Biden Meets With Black Faith Leaders In Delaware Following Days Of Protest
Protesters Trapped Inside Dupont Home Leave Without Arrests
A n
Officers fire tear gas on peaceful protesters to clear the way for Trump’s photo op
The most chilling aspect of Trump’s Monday night crackdown on law-abiding protesters
D.C. Residents Open Their Doors To Save Protesters From The Police
As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.
Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.
First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation – something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.
On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.
Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices – and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.
Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.
It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people – which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.
So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.
Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.
But as a starting point, I’ve included two links below. One leads to a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.
I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting – that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.
Let’s get to work.
- Barack Obama
Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.
First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation – something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.
On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.
Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices – and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.
Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.
It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people – which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.
So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.
Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.
But as a starting point, I’ve included two links below. One leads to a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.
I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting – that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.
Let’s get to work.
- Barack Obama
I saw this tonight.. it is very ... interesting..
PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM “ANTIFA” IN RESPONSE TO THE THREATS ISSUED BY UNITED STATES PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Dear Mr. Trump:
Let us be perfectly clear:
“Antifa” isn’t an organization. There’s no membership, no meetings, no dues, no rules, no leaders, no structure. It is, literally, an idea and nothing more. Even the claim of this author to represent “Antifa” is one made unilaterally for the purposes of this communication and nothing more; there is no governing body nor trademark owner to dispute the author’s right to represent “AntiFa.”
“Antifa” is a neologism constructed from a contraction of the phrase “anti-fascist.” The truth is, there’s no such thing as being “anti-Fascist.” Either you are a decent human being with a conscience, or you are a fascist.
The ostensible president of the United States has, today, openly declared that he is a fascist, and that he intends to turn the military power of the United States into a fascist tool.
Now there is no question, and we can stop pretending that this man represents anything but the worst in humanity, which his supporters embody.
And that is the only effect his words will have.
It will likely be no problem for LEO to identify the author of this document, who also has maintained the “AntiFa” page on Facebook since founding it in 2017.
The author of this document is unconcerned with that inevitability because neither that author, nor this document, has been involved in a crime of any sort in any way.
But, since both the “president” and the media insist on acting as though “AntiFa” is this big, scary organization, the author supposes it’s time for “AntiFa” to make a statement.
Thus:
“AntiFa supports and defends the right of all people to live free from oppressive abuse of power, whether that power is unjustly derived from wealth, status as an employer, or political popularity.
Particularly, AntiFa defends and supports the right of oppressed and marginalized people to protest, march, and engage in civil disobedience in pursuit of justice. While it is never our intent to engage in violent or destructive behavior, we cannot and will not take responsibility for telling people how they are allowed to be righteously outraged. We prefer and encourage non-violent action. We also understand that some people just aren’t feeling that nice anymore. Their feelings are entirely justified, and it is neither our role nor our privilege to tell them otherwise.
Mass civil disobedience is what happens when people say they’re hurting and whoever’s hurting them refuses to stop.
Stop hurting them. Fix your broken systems. Get real and meaningful psychological evaluations and background checks - police in some nations have to pass a more stringent test to carry pepper spray than any police department in the US, or the US military, have in place. As a direct and possibly deliberate consequence, our military and paramilitary personnel simply cannot be assumed to be fighting in the interests of the people of this country.
We’ve all seen the photos. This destruction and burning and looting is largely the behavior of outsiders; white people taking advantage of the situation both to enrich themselves by looting under cover of the protests, and to provide excuses for uncontrolled fascist elements within our military and police forces as plausible cover for killing more black, brown, and poor people without fear of sanction. The so-called “accellerationists” who have committed to ensuring that, any time a marginalized community stands up and demands justice, construct a narrative of criminality and destruction that white bigots and affluent oligarchs who benefit from our broken system to validate their bigotry and injustice retroactively. They are successful in this for two reasons: because people like you are easily manipulated in your banal, self-serving ignorance, and because people like you are more than happy to passive-aggressively reap the benefits of pretending to believe this destruction is the act of the oppressed.
This game has gone on for decades on an endless loop since the very dawn of the civil rights era, and we the people are saying ‘no more.’”
And that, “President” Trump, is your solution. No more. Get the dirt out of your law enforcement and your military. Get the dirt out of your government and administration. Ideally, resign now and take your VP and cabinet with you; Nancy Pelosi isn’t a great deal of improvement, but she’ll only be president for a few months.
You can’t arrest 100 million of us, sir, and you would be well-advised not to try. If you think that targeting and “making an example of” the author of this document will get you anywhere, you may rest assured that this author is more than prepared to allow his real name to be used as a rallying cry for justice and civil disobedience from coast to coast.
It is time for you and everyone who thinks like you to understand that whether black, red, brown, white, or any other color, Americans are done living in a nation of empty platitudes and broken promises.
Traditionally, this type of document is accompanied by a list of “demands.” Here are our demands:
-Universal single payer health care, without regard for citizenship status.
-Universal basic income WITH a federal job guarantee, under which the federal government becomes the “employer of last resort.” Involuntary unemployment is a function of profiteering by fascist capitalist oligarchs who are willing to sacrifice the lives of others for their own enrichment. It must end.
-The abolition of “right to work laws” which do exactly the opposite of ensuring anyone’s right to work.
-Publicly funded higher education.
-Robust and effective social welfare programs to include child care, education, employment training and counseling, parenting skills training, and life skills training including fiscal education.
-A requirement that functional proficiency in media, political, and economic literacy be demonstrated to graduate high school.
-The creation of a publicly funded non-partisan media source to serve as the primary source of government information, to be overseen and managed day to day by a coalition of well-known communicators, political scientists, and other experts in propaganda to strip ALL bias from official information before it is broadcast.
-Federal charges of treason filed against anyone willfully and knowingly attempting to minimize public perception of the impact and risks of the coronavirus.
-Reform of whistleblower laws to ensure they have teeth, and particularly to ensure that a whistleblower, acting in good faith, is not identified to the public, ever.
In the end, Mr. “President,” the simple reality is that “AntiFa” isn’t a thing. You can’t end it, you can’t arrest it, and you can’t silence it. Nor, in any decent nation, would the attempt even be made.
“Antifa” means “Anti-Fascism.” The only position that opposes that is fascism. In the end, there is no “organization” that you can “declare terrorists.”
You, sir, and yours, are the terrorists, and your victims are done putting up with it.
America is not, in spite of having an openly admitted fascist as “president,” a fascist nation. We’ve had wars about this. The fascists are 0-2.
Please, Mr. “President” - let’s not try to make it 0-3? Because it will never, ever be 1-2, and none of us wants to see the death toll from your attempt to make it so.
Currently, media and other actors wishing to contact this author may do so through the page. Should Mr. Zuckerberg, who has displayed plenty of authoritarian and fascist tendencies himself, decide not to host that page any longer, this document will be updated.
Best Regards,
“AntiFa.”
America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air, certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. In its final analysis, the riot is the language of the unheard....As long as America postpones justice we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social Justice and Progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Racism is a sickness, sourced in a survivalist consciousness that is fixated on protecting itself from imagined threats. It scans the field for differences, and marks those differences as dangerous. At some point, these fears concretize into self-perpetuating hate. Once it crosses that line, it becomes very difficult to heal it. It's in their bones, after all.
One of the great ironies is that those who perpetuate racism often identify those they hate as sub-human. But it is the hatred itself that is sub-human. The tendency to mark that which is different as necessarily dangerous is fundamental to an entrapped, barbaric consciousness. The racist embodies precisely what he fears. And she ensures her own hateful demise.
The next step for humankind is an inclusive, authentic consciousness. One that does not hate that which is different, but, instead, invites it close. One that is not fixated on protecting its market share, but on creating a world where everyone is welcome to participate. One that honors our shared humanity, and recognizes that we are here, together, for a reason. None of this is an accident. We need each other's wisdom to forge the holy weave that will serve us. We need every single human on-board before we can get this earth ship flying right. If even 1 of us is left out, we fly off course. We have been flying off course for a very long time. We rise in unison, or not at all. - Jeff Brown
Racism is a sickness, sourced in a survivalist consciousness that is fixated on protecting itself from imagined threats. It scans the field for differences, and marks those differences as dangerous. At some point, these fears concretize into self-perpetuating hate. Once it crosses that line, it becomes very difficult to heal it. It's in their bones, after all.
One of the great ironies is that those who perpetuate racism often identify those they hate as sub-human. But it is the hatred itself that is sub-human. The tendency to mark that which is different as necessarily dangerous is fundamental to an entrapped, barbaric consciousness. The racist embodies precisely what he fears. And she ensures her own hateful demise.
The next step for humankind is an inclusive, authentic consciousness. One that does not hate that which is different, but, instead, invites it close. One that is not fixated on protecting its market share, but on creating a world where everyone is welcome to participate. One that honors our shared humanity, and recognizes that we are here, together, for a reason. None of this is an accident. We need each other's wisdom to forge the holy weave that will serve us. We need every single human on-board before we can get this earth ship flying right. If even 1 of us is left out, we fly off course. We have been flying off course for a very long time. We rise in unison, or not at all. - Jeff Brown
Monday, June 01, 2020
A first principle of Buddhist psychology: See the inner nobility and beauty of all human beings. As Thomas Merton said, "Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts...the core of their reality, the person that each one is in the eyes of the Divine.... If only we could see each other that way all the time. There would be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed. I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other." - Jack Kornfield
China to impose sweeping national security law in Hong Kong, bypassing city’s legislature. The announcement that Beijing wants to “improve” governance of the financial hub comes as it increasingly encroaches on the territory’s relative freed..
【港版國安法】舒琪斥加深港人恐懼感自我審查 望六四全港燭光悼念
Canada, Australia have to stand up to 'bullies' like China, says former Australian PM
【國安法】葉國謙：支聯會活動若為推翻中央或屬違法
China warning: Britain prepares to back Taiwan and DEFEND state against Beijing aggression
【六四31】美國務院將辦online燭光晚會 「決心不讓中共抹去對天安門廣場的記憶」
支聯會辦六四晚會 警方發反對通知書
Hong Kong Police Ban Tiananmen Massacre Vigil
Scheer demands Trudeau government pull $41 million in aid from China
‘Facing the Darkest Hour’: Hong Kong’s Protest Movement in Crisis
First pestilence, then war? A new, more aggressive China takes on the world in a pandemic
Deleting Facebook, downloading VPNs: How Hong Kongers are preparing for a draconian law
Trump, Retaliating Against Beijing, Revokes Privileges For Hong Kong
'This country doesn't help you. You help yourself': China's rural migrants struggle with no work
【港版國安法】舒琪斥加深港人恐懼感自我審查 望六四全港燭光悼念
Canada, Australia have to stand up to 'bullies' like China, says former Australian PM
【國安法】葉國謙：支聯會活動若為推翻中央或屬違法
China warning: Britain prepares to back Taiwan and DEFEND state against Beijing aggression
【六四31】美國務院將辦online燭光晚會 「決心不讓中共抹去對天安門廣場的記憶」
支聯會辦六四晚會 警方發反對通知書
Hong Kong Police Ban Tiananmen Massacre Vigil
Scheer demands Trudeau government pull $41 million in aid from China
‘Facing the Darkest Hour’: Hong Kong’s Protest Movement in Crisis
First pestilence, then war? A new, more aggressive China takes on the world in a pandemic
Deleting Facebook, downloading VPNs: How Hong Kongers are preparing for a draconian law
Trump, Retaliating Against Beijing, Revokes Privileges For Hong Kong
'This country doesn't help you. You help yourself': China's rural migrants struggle with no work
Focus less on what you need to do and more on what you need to be. Be Clear! Clarity is one of the most important keys to manifesting what you want. If your thoughts aren’t clear, then the Universe doesn’t know how or what to give you. - unknown
Make the best of where you are... Accept the situation you find yourself in and use it as a foundation on which you can build the life you are dreaming of. Spend more time doing the things that you truly love to do, with the people you cherish. Value each moment of your life, appreciate it as a precious gift and remember that you never know how much time you have left. Don’t allow your life to be dominated by fear or worry, but instead have the courage to stand up and take a risk. Learn to be happy with what you already have, instead of making your happiness dependent on external influences, such as wealth and material things. Have compassion for others and see if you can give something back, by creating a value for others. Allow your creativity to flow, see where it leads you and never allow excuses to stand between you and the life you aspire. - unknown
Make the best of where you are... Accept the situation you find yourself in and use it as a foundation on which you can build the life you are dreaming of. Spend more time doing the things that you truly love to do, with the people you cherish. Value each moment of your life, appreciate it as a precious gift and remember that you never know how much time you have left. Don’t allow your life to be dominated by fear or worry, but instead have the courage to stand up and take a risk. Learn to be happy with what you already have, instead of making your happiness dependent on external influences, such as wealth and material things. Have compassion for others and see if you can give something back, by creating a value for others. Allow your creativity to flow, see where it leads you and never allow excuses to stand between you and the life you aspire. - unknown
a journey for this search..
Being able to find someone you click with so naturally is the best feeling ever. You feel like you've been best friends your whole life, it feels like you're coming home. You're so comfortable with them. Maybe that's what a soulmate is. Not someone who shares every single thing in common with you, but someone who feels like home. - unknown
I have no desire to fit in. No plans to walk with the crowd, I have my own mind, hear and soul. I am me, and it has taken me years to realize how important that is. - r.m.drake
Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth and value, But because we finally realize our own. - unknown
Integrity is not something you show others. It is how you behave behind their back. - unknown
Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth and value, But because we finally realize our own. - unknown
Integrity is not something you show others. It is how you behave behind their back. - unknown
I believe in the power of Love
and miracles too.
Made known through kindness
forgiveness and gratitude
Those who believe
that Love sets captives free
Will be the change
that will bring world peace
We are of one body
All of one race
To love the whole world
Is the true meaning of Grace
Dont step on wings of Angels
In human clothes
They shine through the stranger
And friends that you know
If this sounds nieve
and you insist on a fight
Just get out of our way!
your blocking the light! - Scott Lindberg
and miracles too.
Made known through kindness
forgiveness and gratitude
Those who believe
that Love sets captives free
Will be the change
that will bring world peace
We are of one body
All of one race
To love the whole world
Is the true meaning of Grace
Dont step on wings of Angels
In human clothes
They shine through the stranger
And friends that you know
If this sounds nieve
and you insist on a fight
Just get out of our way!
your blocking the light! - Scott Lindberg
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living. - unknown
One of the most courageous decisions you'll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul. - unknown
Make the best of where you are... Accept the situation you find yourself in and use it as a foundation on which you can build the life you are dreaming of. Spend more time doing the things that you truly love to do, with the people you cherish. Value each moment of your life, appreciate it as a precious gift and remember that you never know how much time you have left. Don’t allow your life to be dominated by fear or worry, but instead have the courage to stand up and take a risk. Learn to be happy with what you already have, instead of making your happiness dependent on external influences, such as wealth and material things. Have compassion for others and see if you can give something back, by creating a value for others. Allow your creativity to flow, see where it leads you and never allow excuses to stand between you and the life you aspire. - unknown
Life changes. You lose love. You lose friends. You lose pieces of yourself that you never imagined would be gone. And then, without you even realizing it, these pieces come back. New love enters. Better friends come alone. And a stronger, wiser you is staring back in the mirror. No matter how bad it gets, better days are always waiting, hoping you'll make it there to accept the smiles and joy that they're offering. - unknown
Happiness is not about getting what you want all the time. It's about loving what you have and being grateful for it. - unknown
One of the most courageous decisions you'll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul. - unknown
Make the best of where you are... Accept the situation you find yourself in and use it as a foundation on which you can build the life you are dreaming of. Spend more time doing the things that you truly love to do, with the people you cherish. Value each moment of your life, appreciate it as a precious gift and remember that you never know how much time you have left. Don’t allow your life to be dominated by fear or worry, but instead have the courage to stand up and take a risk. Learn to be happy with what you already have, instead of making your happiness dependent on external influences, such as wealth and material things. Have compassion for others and see if you can give something back, by creating a value for others. Allow your creativity to flow, see where it leads you and never allow excuses to stand between you and the life you aspire. - unknown
Life changes. You lose love. You lose friends. You lose pieces of yourself that you never imagined would be gone. And then, without you even realizing it, these pieces come back. New love enters. Better friends come alone. And a stronger, wiser you is staring back in the mirror. No matter how bad it gets, better days are always waiting, hoping you'll make it there to accept the smiles and joy that they're offering. - unknown
Happiness is not about getting what you want all the time. It's about loving what you have and being grateful for it. - unknown
Welcome June - #Leadwithlove
New month, new chapter, new page, and new wishes. May the month give you courage, strength, confidence, patience, self -love and inner peace. May every day in June fill your days with hope, love, sunshine and energy. Let there be joy, fun and laughter. - unknown
With a new month comes new opportunities to grow on all levels. The past is gone, and you can now hit the rest button. The road ahead of you carries plenty of new beginnings. You are a beautiful soul on a endless mission to better your life. Keep moving forward. - unknown
Re-set, re-adjust, re-start, re-focus, As many times as you need to. - unknown
With a new month comes new opportunities to grow on all levels. The past is gone, and you can now hit the rest button. The road ahead of you carries plenty of new beginnings. You are a beautiful soul on a endless mission to better your life. Keep moving forward. - unknown
Re-set, re-adjust, re-start, re-focus, As many times as you need to. - unknown
Thousands of Americans across the US are peacefully marching against police violence
13 Moments From The George Floyd Protests That Were Peaceful And Powerful
Volunteers turn out to clean up riot-torn downtown Seattle
The Minnesota Freedom Fund Has Raised $20 Million. Here Are 11 Other Organizations Bailing Out Protesters
Violence Never Works? Really?
Huge Crowds Surge Peacefully Into Downtown Portland, but Another Night Ends With Flash-Bangs and Gas
After Hours Of Peaceful Protest Against Police Brutality, Conflicts Escalate Between Officers, Protesters
Police Erupt in Violence Nationwide
Biden Visits Protest Site While Trump Endorses Violent Pushback
In Some Cities, Police Officers Joined Protesters Marching Against Brutality. From New Jersey to California, officers marched with protesters or took a knee in solidarity, in contrast to violent altercations.
‘Civil disturbance’: 48 arrested in 2nd night of Portland protests
8 Minneapolis Funds And Organizations That Could Use Your Donation Right Now
WATCH: Genesee County Sheriff joins protesters in march on Saturday
Black Protesters Who Want To Demonstrate Peacefully Are Calling Out White People Who Instigate Violence. "When we aren't asking people to destroy things in our name and people do it anyway, we know that this is something that's going to blow back on us,"...
Editorial: Stop focusing on looting in Minneapolis. Be outraged that police keep killing black men
13 Moments From The George Floyd Protests That Were Peaceful And Powerful
Volunteers turn out to clean up riot-torn downtown Seattle
The Minnesota Freedom Fund Has Raised $20 Million. Here Are 11 Other Organizations Bailing Out Protesters
Violence Never Works? Really?
Huge Crowds Surge Peacefully Into Downtown Portland, but Another Night Ends With Flash-Bangs and Gas
After Hours Of Peaceful Protest Against Police Brutality, Conflicts Escalate Between Officers, Protesters
Police Erupt in Violence Nationwide
Biden Visits Protest Site While Trump Endorses Violent Pushback
In Some Cities, Police Officers Joined Protesters Marching Against Brutality. From New Jersey to California, officers marched with protesters or took a knee in solidarity, in contrast to violent altercations.
‘Civil disturbance’: 48 arrested in 2nd night of Portland protests
8 Minneapolis Funds And Organizations That Could Use Your Donation Right Now
WATCH: Genesee County Sheriff joins protesters in march on Saturday
Black Protesters Who Want To Demonstrate Peacefully Are Calling Out White People Who Instigate Violence. "When we aren't asking people to destroy things in our name and people do it anyway, we know that this is something that's going to blow back on us,"...
Editorial: Stop focusing on looting in Minneapolis. Be outraged that police keep killing black men
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