Category Archives: General

No Badge Needed

General, Media, Women,

Last Monday, February 1st, 2021, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Congresswoman from New York, shared on Instagram her harrowing experience on living through the January 6th, 2021, insurrection on the Capitol. In part, she said:

These folks who tell us to move on, that it’s not a big deal, that we should forget what’s happened, or even telling us to apologize. These are the same tactics of abusers. And I’m a survivor of sexual assault.
~Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), 2/1/21

Take in that last line: And I’m a survivor of sexual assault.

A number of people have taken offense to that, saying that she, as a politician, was using her experience as a sexual assault survivor as a tool to manipulate the public in some way or to make herself the center of attention.

The Spectator writer Amber Athey wrote:

This is gross manipulation, and AOC should be ashamed. Not for sharing that she was sexually assaulted — I have no way of knowing whether or not her story is true and, ultimately, it’s irrelevant to the issue of the storming of the Capitol.

The real story here is that AOC used her alleged trauma as a cudgel against her political opponents. She has weaponized her alleged experience to silence anyone who criticizes her and even went so far as to compare them to the person or people who abused her. This type of behavior cheapens sexual assault.

To which conservative media personality Rush Limbaugh added during his February 2nd radio show:

And to show you how it’s working, I have a friendly supporter who calls and says, “You better be real careful what you’re saying here. It’s obvious you’ve never been abused.” How is it obvious? Maybe I should be proud that I don’t wear that around. That’s also something generational. You just didn’t talk about things. You just lived your life. You dealt with it as it happened.

Now, you wear the badge. Generational changes, generational shifts. But Amber Athey believes that AOC “weaponized her alleged experience to silence anyone who criticizes her.” I know the left does that. They have become champions at that, in fact.

Badge?

There’s no fucking badge. Except in your head.

Generational changes, yes, Mr. Limbaugh. Generational shifts. You said it. Many people change their thinking on different matters over time, like sexual assault and rape. Thanks largely to social movements like #MeToo, survivors of sexual assault can feel safe that they are not alone – that they have the option to reveal they’ve experienced horrific violation, either publicly or privately – rather than burying their emotions.

In more survivors coming forward, they build solidarity in numbers and in shared experiences, so that society, rather than constantly blaming and dismissing them, begins to respect and believe them. And importantly, survivors expose and hold to account their perpetrators.

And maybe you are actually fine with that, I don’t know. But I’m gonna pick on you because you have a record of debasing women to your audience over many years. Notably, women who speak up for themselves: women who might talk about an intimately painful experience in their past, women with whom you disagree politically, or women whom you perceive to be an obstacle to the advancement of your favored person’s position (like a judge or a president). Does the name Sandra Fluke ring a bell? Dr. Christine Blasey Ford?

And now you cast aspersions on Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

You started your broadcast on February 2nd introducing her Instagram video with “Have you seen this video, folks …If you haven’t, it’s amazing acting.”

ACTING?!

So most people besides Amber Athey aren’t gonna have the guts to properly characterize this. But you ought to see this video if you haven’t. I mean, it’s filled with acting and gyrations of the body in order to transmit the nature of the assault she feared was happening all over again. And it was a sexual assault that she was being reconnected to.

So you have no right to be critical, because this is a traumatic event, and so forth and so on.

But when did you ever hear Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez say that you can NOT criticize her for revealing she is a sexual assault survivor?

Those are YOUR words, dude.

YOUR WORDS.

Later in your broadcast, a caller implied AOC and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford were pretending (acting?) when they revealed their traumatic experiences:

CALLER: Right. So when you have Christine Blasey Ford and AOC as someone, you know, pretending — and what they did to Justice Kavanaugh — what it does to people who really lived through it.

RUSH: Oh, yeah.

CALLER: — is it minimizes or diminishes —

RUSH: What a great example.

CALLER: — those of us who go through it.

RUSH: What a greatly [sic] example. Christine Blasey Ford and all these people piling on Kavanaugh.

So you agree with the caller that Dr. Ford and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were just pretending about their sexual assaults? Do you think they were making stuff up to grab attention and/or elicit sympathy?

If that’s not making light of one’s experience, I don’t know what is.

Or maybe or a more accurate term for casting aspersions on them is cynical.

Cynical, according to Merriam-Webster, means:

Having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic: such as
a) contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives
b) based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest

You apologized for a misunderstanding at first. Namely, that you thought Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez said she was sexually assaulted during the January 6th insurrection. Later, you said your primary point was not disputing that she has been abused and you weren’t making light of it or laughing about it, yet you continued to minimize her experiences she had both during the insurrection and her mention of being sexually assaulted (along with some of your callers).

You know, the question that got all of this started about her divulging that she had been sexually abused — the question that got it all started — was, “Why don’t you guys just move on? The January 6 thing was January 6th. The siege of the Capitol is in the rearview mirror. It happened. Why don’t you just move on?”

That’s what triggered her to talk about her alleged sexual abuse, and that’s when she said (summarized), “Look, these instances of abuse don’t ever go away. They compound on one another,” meaning the impact is added to each new instance of abuse and what she went through during the siege on January 6 was abuse on top of — which she then shared — was her sexual abuse and so forth.

So put another way. She was asked why she can’t move on from January 6, and she said because of her alleged sexual abuse. She politicized it, not me. She did.

“…and she said because of her alleged sexual abuse.” Not.

You conveniently glossed over horrific insurrection by dismissing Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’ revealation as a sexual assault survivor as she spoke about the fears she experienced that day, comparing the tactics of her some of her naysayers as similar to abusers. And you said she politicized her trauma.

How cynical of you.

According to trauma experts interviewed by USA Today, Ocasio-Cortez’s reaction is normal and expected, and her account aligns with what science shows happens to a mind and body under extreme forms of stress. It’s likely, experts said, that Ocasio-Cortez’s experience with sexual assault intensified what she endured at the Capitol. Clinical psychologist Seth Gillihan told USA Today:

Trauma isn’t processing ‘sexual assault’ or ‘Capitol assault.’ What it’s processing is an overwhelming sense of danger, of feeling powerless, feeling my life is out of my hands. From an outsider’s perspective the sources look different, but inside our bodies and minds … it’s exactly the same message.

People died because of the assault on the Capitol! It was a potentially life-threatening attack on members of Congress, and for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, it was a trauma compounded by her experience with sexual assault made all the more terrifying by the death threats she has received since she was elected to Congress.

It’s not triggering trauma, it’s trauma overlaid on trauma, Gillihan said.

Experts also said that Ocasio-Cortez’s gender is likely influencing reaction to her emotional disclosures. It’s much easier to suggest Ocasio-Cortez is fragile, oversensitive or even politically motivated than it is to accept the horror of what happened to her. They agreed with AOC and said denial and victim-blaming are common tactics abusers use.

One of the experts, Jennifer Gómez, a psychology professor at Wayne State University stated:

Abusers demand silence. The trouble is such a silence mandate is crazy-making for people who experience the violence and who see the world for what it is: a place that includes such violence just as much as it includes joy.

Screw silence on demand.

I believe as some observers have noted, that Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez spoke in such personal terms in order to reject calls to move on from the events of January 6th. “We cannot move on without accountability,” she insisted. “We cannot heal without accountability.”

Accountability, indeed.

So go take your cynicism to the nearest toxic waste dump where it belongs, Mr. Limbaugh. And throw your imagined badges in there while you’re at it, please.

Y’all stop invalidating @AOC’s experiences because you aren’t hearing about the experiences of other members. Everyone deals with trauma differently, her stories are validating for so many of us with similar experiences and she is showing people that vulnerability is strength.
~ Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Congresswoman, 2/1/21

Sources

Nation
Washington Post
New York Times
Merriam-Webster
Newsmax
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Spectator
Alternet.org
MSN
USA Today
NY Post
Wikipedia
CBS News
Wikipedia
New York Times
Real Clear Politics
Media Matters

A Young Poet Leads the Way

General, Women

It is young people like poet Amanda Gorman, who recited her poem, “The Hill We Climb”, at the presidential inauguration on January 20th, who give me hope for the future. She wrote it right after the riot at the Capitol on January 6th, and I am awestruck by her words.

To my mind, her words flow freely every time I read her poem. I like it more with each re-reading!

She is our future, and I am glad of it; she’s a young person gifted with words – among countless other young persons you and I are likely unaware of, who sprinkles words of inspiration and fiery determination into our consciences.

Enjoy!

[from Democracy Now!’s broadcast; text of poem and transcript of show included.]

“The Hill We Climb”: Watch Breathtaking Poem by Amanda Gorman, Youngest Inaugural Poet in U.S. History

Idol Worship

General

For me, it’s hard not to observe the most die-hard followers of our now former president and not think about their devotion to him – to the point that if anyone expresses a critical view of the former president or his policies, the devotee may become vehemently defensive.

Defensive the way a teenager might become when their beloved pop idol is criticized by a friend or loved one.

Yes, that is a grand simplification, of course, There’s many complex factors involved, like economics and political ideology and I don’t pretend to understand and delve into their frustrations.

But just on the surface, it is astonishing to me how intense the reactions are of the former president’s most fervent followers to any words that don’t praise and glorify him.

When I was in junior high school during the ‘70s, I had a huuuuuuuge crush on a pop star and was teased mercilessly by my friends. My family allowed me my obsessive infatuation though their indifference was palpable, the way one might feel if she’d announced what she thought was a great idea to friends and acquaintances – only to be met with obligatory, patronizing half-nods and thin, toothless smiles.

I’m guessing my family was likely concerned I was idolizing him to a ridiculous, time-consuming level…instead of focusing on more important things like doing my homework.

But hey, I was a young teenager! And what teen isn’t tormented from riding on a daily emotional rollercoaster, whether at home or at school, or both? My tender feelings felt like they’d been harshly and unjustly attacked when I was criticized in the slightest for fawning over my beloved pop star.

As in: how dare you attack me for liking what I like! Don’t I have the right to enjoy music I like, just like you do? Humpf!

I joined a fan club for this pop star, bought a goldtone necklace of his image (that might now resemble an icon on a road sign if it were massively enlarged), and I also had a t-shirt of him smiling, to let the whole world I was in love with him… to tell the whole world he was the best singer in the world!

I got a couple of his records for Christmas and listened to his songs a million times til I could memorize all the lyrics, and I tried to catch him on tv holiday specials through the years.

So yeah, I had a pretty strong girl crush on him. Any criticism of him – or by extension, me (to my mind), was intolerable. An unwarranted, malicious attack. He’s my man, dammit! You leave him alone.

I was head over heels “in love” with him. And often when one is in love – and I imagine, particularly when it is only one-sided, reason goes out the window. Fiery emotions rule the day!

My beloved pop star and our now former president are apples and oranges, but when I look at the unhappy, most die-hard followers of the latter, it seems they are like I was as an obsessed, young teen when presented with opposing viewpoints: unable to handle even the slightest criticism (or perceived criticism) of their dear pop star – quick to go on the defense.

Vehemently so. Enamored of his words. Wanting to listen to him a million times.

Can never get enough of him. He’s an addiction.

Like my family and friends who didn’t understand my great obsession with my pop star, perhaps those who didn’t vote for the Dear Leader are similarly concerned for their friends and loved ones who are obsessed with him, maybe thinking to themselves:

he’s not God, for crying out loud!

If the former president’s most die-hard fans are worked up about any particular criticism of him, they might go on the offensive, saying something negative about “the other side”, usually in an accusatory tone: Why don’t they investigate the VP’s son or They’ve been mean to him [Dear Leader] from the start!

Oh, that elusive they! WHO are they, I ask you?

It’s hard to be clear and reasonable when you’re as hoppin’ mad as Yosemite Sam.

Hard, when you’re a tormented teen, with raging hormones and trying to find your way in the world amid parental and familial “control” over your life, coping in the presence of your fellow tormented teens, and feeling that you must fiercely defend all you hold dear to your heart – including your beloved popstar, from the slightest prick of criticism.

But what’s with the grown-ups who can’t even handle mere words expressing opposing views of their demigod without going nearly ballistic, as if their guy can do no wrong and is above the law?

Will these fervent followers of the former president ever outgrow their obession of him?

I still enjoy “my” popstar’s music, for sure! Am certainly not in love with him. He’s married for one thing. And to another man. More power to him!

There was a time, about 34 years ago when my pop star was scheduled to come to the city I was working in, to a bookstore near my workplace, to sign autographs of his newly released autobiography. I planned to go after work.

But then there was a bomb threat at the store; I don’t remember if it was because of him or not. There were literally hundreds of women openly weeping because his visit was announced by store management that it would be cancelled for safety concerns.

And then suddenly, I saw the local news cameras! Cameras focusing on the screaming, weeping women.

Oh dear, I thought! I’ve got relatives in the area…I don’t want the cameras to catch me! I couldn’t bear the thought of being caught on camera like a person sneaking away for a secret rendezvous and risk the possibility of my relatives calling my mom to tell her they saw me on the evening news among hundreds of women crying because they couldn’t see “our” pop star! No way.

Nevertheless, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for a just a tiny, fleeting moment of star-gazing at one of my favorite popstars. I was only half-hearted about the prospect of buying his book and standing in line for god knows how long just so he could autograph it! I’d already had a looong day at work and was very tired. But the novelty of seeing a celebrity I liked was kind of a fun idea…until I saw the tear-soaked women. More so than seeing the local news crews.

I was not weeping, just feeling disappointed…and maybe a bit startled when I saw the huge and nearly hysterical crowd. Their reaction to the news that he wouldn’t be there embarrassed me a bit; it looked to me that they had invested so much of their individual identities in the popstar. I certainly did not want to go there!

That vivid scene permanently cured me of any vestige of idol worship of him, though that incident occurred a good decade after my teen obession by that point.

Now that the Dear Leader is not in office anymore, I wonder if his most fervent followers’ obsession with him will fade with time, as mine did with my pop star? That maybe at best, they’ll still like him and admire his words, but won’t be the least bit offended at the slightest criticism of him. That they would be sorely embarrassed and startled by his die-hard fans’ worshipful behavior towards him. And that they can wholeheartedly divorce their individual identities from him.

I hope so.

They might discover there are many interesting people and things outside their attachment to him.

If our sense of self, our values and our ideals, do not originate from within – but are instead largely influenced, shaped or fashioned by celebrated characters – we fall under the spells of idol worship without realizing we have ‘souled out’.
~ T.F. Hodge

A Ray of Sunshine

Civics, General, Media, Women, , ,

Do you know who Maria Ressa is?

I only vaguely knew of this renowned journalist who was accused of cyber libel in June 2020, and then the other night, PBS’ Frontline show had a great documentary on the threatened status of press freedom in the Philippines, focusing on Maria Ressa. She is a dynamo! Intensity and reslience packed into a small stature. Check out this documentary:

A Thousand Cuts

With press freedom under threat in the Philippines, A Thousand Cuts goes inside the escalating war between the government and the press. The documentary follows Maria Ressa, a renowned journalist who has become a top target of President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on the news media. …

Her resoluteness, her confidence, and her forthrightness shine bright – so much so that she has remained ingrained in my mind for days. And I’ll venture to say, for years to come.

Ressa is a top target of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, having been an outspoken critic of his policies for many years – in particular, the extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, and fast-rising death toll from Duterte’s brutal war on drugs as well as the alleged pro-Duterte online “troll army” who were pushing out fake news stories and manipulating the narrative around his presidency. She has posted bail 9 times and has endured relentless political harrassment by the Duterte government and its supporters. Yet it doesn’t deter her from battling disinformation.

Bullies like Duterte don’t seem to faze Maria Ressa. (Would you expect less from someone who spent many years investigating terrorist networks in Southeast Asia?)

And she says she will not let herself be intimidated.

I love that about her!

For me, Maria Ressa is a ray of sunshine in these dark days of the pandemic. She is an inspiration for those who are deeply disgusted by the US wanna-be dictator who has repeatedly called the press the enemy of the people and has denounced any journalist who has committed the “crime” of criticizing him. She may be in the Philippines – she is by the way also a US citizen, but she nevertheless is an inspiration to many around the world who value and respect a free and open democracy.

Amendment I of the US Constitution clearly states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Similarly, Section 4 of the Bill of Rights in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines clearly states:

No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.

Nice to know the US Constitution has inspired others around the globe to enshrine similar rights into their own countries’ constitutions!

But not-so-nice to know that the most powerful man on earth has been inspired by the dictators of the world with regard to how to treat members of the press, as per his own acknowledgment.

Neither the leader of the Philippines nor the soon-to-be former leader of the United States like the press, let alone respect it. Well, arguably, no political “leader” does; however, but when you, Presidents Duterte and Trump, publicly single out journalists by belittling them in front of their peers at a press conference or at a mass rally of your followers because they wrote something you didn’t like, arrest them on allegedly politically motivated charges, insinuate that a certain journalist “could be a target for assassination”, laugh when your dictator buddy calls the press corps “spies”, announce in a jesting tone that you think it’d be a good idea to arrest and maybe “get rid of” journalists who criticize and contradict your mistatements with facts just like another dictator buddy, and worst of all, say that the press is the enemy of the people, then I’d say that you, Dear Leaders – and there’s more than two of you on this planet, have an unimaginable contempt for your fellow citizens. For those who elected you as well as those who did not.

Journalists are here to hold our elected leaders accountable! Every last one of them, from the local level all the way to the president.

It disturbed me recently that CBS News had recently put out a promotional ad about themselves stating the obvious: without a free press, we don’t have a free society. Probably not the exact words – I can’t think of them at this moment…but you get the idea.

I thought to myself: What?! This is what our president inspired – that a national media company felt compelled to remind the public of this?

Fortunately, we have courageous journalists like Maria Ressa here in the US, too. Like Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, who is one of my favorite investigative reporters and no stranger to having put her life on the line as has Maria, to report the news.

To Maria and Amy and all the intrepid journalists like yourselves out there in the world: you are essential to our freedom to live and breathe safely by keeping check on those in power, informing the public when you expose abuse, corruption, and goodness knows what else has occurred. You shine a spotlight into the dark nooks and crannies of our world for the public good. America needs you now more than ever. The world needs you.

I need you!

We can’t fight monsters by becoming monsters. ~ Maria Ressa

Sources

PBS Frontline
Rappler
Elle
Wikipedia
NPR
The Guardian
U.S. Constitution
constituteproject.org
Vox
Washington Post
National Review
Global News
The Guardian

Aspiring to Wokeness

General, Social Justice

Update: 1/4/21
I just now learned that there was a lack of consultation with Indigenous nations about the one-word change to Australia’s national anthem — with the exception, apparently, of Indigenous members of Parliament, before the public announcement.

Disappointing revelation, to be sure. The anthem change seems to have brought about a mixed bag reaction from the nation’s Indigenous population. Frustration at being left out (again) and cautious optimism for addressing the issues of the First Nations of Australia beyond small, symbolic gestures in the future.

I hope for the best outcomes for Australia. And I apologize for any glaring errors expressed in my post.

Here’s some refreshing news to kick off 2021 (and to finish off 2020):

Australia Tweaks Anthem to Recognize Indigenous History

The lyrics of Australia’s national anthem have been altered by one word to recognize the country’s Indigenous history, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Thursday.

Until Friday [January 1, 2021], the song began: “Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.” But as the country celebrated the beginning of the new year, the “young” was dropped. The anthem now describes the country as “one and free.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said:

In the spirit of unity, it is only right that we also now acknowledge this and ensure our national anthem reflects this truth and shared appreciation. … Changing ‘young and free’ to ‘one and free’ takes nothing away, but I believe it adds much.”

The New York Times and other news media reported that the move was supported across the political spectrum.

Isn’t that awesome?!

It’s only symbolic, yes, but nevertheless, a tiny step forwards in finally – and officially, acknowledging their nation’s indigenous history. Whose native people have been residents for upwards of 60,000 years, according to current research.

Heck, Australia also tweaked the first line of its national anthem to make it more inclusive of women when “Australia’s sons” became “Australians all.”

And this was after they ditched their first anthem, “God Save the Queen” in 1984, a vestige of British colonialism.

You go, Aussies!

I hardly know a thing about Australia and its history, save for its location on a world map, but I’ll venture to say that Australia’s indigenous population has likely suffered centuries-long indignities and injustices imposed upon them with impunity by colonizers, corporations, and their present-day fellow citizens.

Just like in the United States of America and every land where indigenous populations reside.

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the headline about this was: Aussies are woke!

Yes, I’m quite sure a good lot of them already are – I have worked with and befriended several over the years; however, it is rather nice when one’s government makes an official, symbolic gesture of recognition of their long-oppressed Indigenous population through a slight change in their national anthem – in the spirit of unity, after an excruciatingly painful year for everyone. Don’t you think so?

WOKE.

What a hot-button word that’s become.

Wikipedia says woke:

is a political term which originated in the United States and it refers to a perceived awareness of issues which concern social justice and racial justice. It derives from the African-American Vernacular English expression “stay woke“, whose grammatical aspect refers to a continuing awareness of these issues.

This term, according to Wikipedia, has roots in political culture and political ads during the 1860 presidential election in support of Abraham Lincoln, when the Republican Party cultivated the movement to primarily oppose the spread of slavery as described in the Wide Awakes movement.

Usage of woke dates to the 1960s; some sources say the early 70s. Others mention 2008.

Opponents and critics of wokeness describe it as something pretentious, elitist, self-righteous, authoritarian, and other unflattering adjectives. It’s been called a PC litmus test and a boundary line separating people. And detractors call woke people “hypersensitive”. Sometimes critics attack “woke culture” as a way of claiming victim status for yourself rather than acknowledging that more deserving others hold that status.

Even former U.S. President Barack Obama expressed comments in October 2019 that critiqued woke culture, stating: “This idea of purity and you’re never compromised and you’re politically woke, and all that stuff – you should get over that quickly. The world is messy. There are ambiguities. People who do really good stuff have flaws.”

Well, I don’t know about the purity part, Mr. President…I haven’t heard or read about that. Yet. Granted, there are people who may not be effective at communicating their message of raising awareness about injustices past and present toward marginalized people and who may be completely unwilling to listen to opposing viewpoints.

But what I want to know is: why are some people so deeply hostile to learning about historical and present day injustices toward others that it practically elicits a strong, viseral feeling of disgust that is palpable to those listening?

I’ve heard the exasperated comments from loved ones, coworkers, acquaintances, and strangers in public: Why is XYZ bringing this slave stuff up again? or Why are we talking about stuff that happened hundreds of years ago? I didn’t do that shit! or Am I supposed to feel guilty again?! or All lives matter!

Oh, don’t get me started on “all lives matter”! That’s such a cheap shot. A below-the-belt insult and denialism of others’ lived experiences. Of course, all lives matter. But in America and everywhere else, some people’s lives are valued more than others. Anyone with a shred of respect for history and who is aware of how our legal justice system operates in reality can see that.

This feeling guilty business? That came from people I know and like. No one is trying to make you feel guilty! Where does this insecurity come from? Are you even listening to what’s being said? Why in the world do you think receiving information about injustices against others different from you is supposed to make you feel guilt-ridden?

Of course you aren’t personally responsible for horrific acts done against others hundreds of years ago. This isn’t about you.

However, if you will claim to be someone who values freedom for all, then why do you have so much trouble, so much hostility, toward others who have fought and continue to fight for their freedom? Freedom from not being killed for being who they are? Freedom from discriminatory laws and practices directed at them?

I feel I have a bit of a clue about injustices and indiginities suffered by others; I am someone who’s still fair game to the willfully ignorant out in the world through being a target of racial hostility and harrassment from random strangers, and from having had my life threatened because of who I am. Thankfully, these incidents have been few and far between (excepting the last four years) and only a drop in the bucket compared to what my parents, relatives, and previous generations before me endured. So yeah, to all you critics and detractors out there, I think I earned my hypersensitivity!

Hopefully, all those unhappy incidents and the knowledge of my family’s discriminatory experiences have made me more considerate and sensitive toward others’ pain.

I want to always be aware of what is going on in the world.

To be woke. To the best of my ability.

It’s a lifelong endeavor of learning. Of being willing to accept some measure of discomfort.

I’d much rather be acutely aware than be in hostile denial or be in willful ignorance of wrongs done to others. To be otherwise would be disrespecting myself. A slap in the face to my family, friends, and every person who believes in justice and accountability. That’s how I feel to the marrow of my osteoporotic spine.

By the way, I’m not into being elitist, pretentious, authoritarian, or self-righteous. I don’t think those behaviors necessarily go hand-in-hand with being sensitized to others who’ve experienced indignities.

Sources

Wikipedia
New York Times
The Guardian
AIATSIS
Slangit
Merriam-Webster
The American Conservative
SONGLYRICS
National Herald India
Otago Daily Times
The Guardian

In Praise of Ms. Jones

Civics, General, Media, Women, , ,

On the morning of December 7th, 2020, former Florida COVID-19 data scientist Rebekah Jones had her home raided by state police. They aimed their guns at her and her family, as seen on video. They seized her phone, computer and several hard drives, preventing her from continuing to publish data on COVID-19 outbreaks.

Jones wrote on social media after the raid:

“They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids… This was DeSantis. He sent the gestapo [sic].”

She built the much-praised COVID-19 dashboard before being fired over what she said was refusing to “manipulate data”, according to USA TODAY. She was fired from her job as Geographic Information Systems manager for the department on May 5th, 2020. 

The World Socialist Web Site reports that the specific allegation made against Jones that led to the police raid was:

that she was responsible for an email being sent to Florida’s Department of Health employees imploring them to “speak up before another 17,000 people are dead,” which Jones denies having sent. She asserts that, in part, officials seized her devices to determine what contacts she has within the Department of Health, who will in turn likely be victimized in the near future.

Rebekah Jones has since launched her own COVID-19 dashboard after being removed from the state’s project. You can find it here. And explained in some detail, here.

She has also just filed a suit against the Florida Department of Law Enforcement over the raid at her home.

Why am I writing about this?

Because when I think about what happened to her, this is what is going through my mind: This is where hard-earned taxpayer monies go – to use armed state police to harass an unarmed scientist and her family in their home due to an unsubstantiated suspicion? Is this perhaps a retaliation against Ms. Jones from certain leaders in power who didn’t like that she refused to fudge the COVID-19 numbers to make their government look better?!

I personally have never had any really negative encounter with local or state police in my lifetime. Not even from two encounters with state police who issued me the traffic tickets I’ve gotten in the past. (getting the tickets was more painful!) I don’t have any personal grudge against police.

However, I do take great issue with law enforcement officers who abuse the public trust when they engage in corruption, sexism, racism, or employ excessive force against peaceful, UNARMED, law-abiding citizens, be it a scientist or peaceful protesters. Particularly against people of color.

I had a close, late friend who relayed his tale of walking home from work one night when he was suddenly bodyslammed to the ground because…why? He apparently resembled a suspect accused of some offense. It was a case of mistaken identity and he was released. But I don’t know if the officers apologized to him. My friend was a big man, originally from India. And no security officer ever came to his rescue when rocks were thrown at him and his friends by a crowd who supposedly “didn’t want his kind” at a country music concert somewhere in a southern state. My friend loved American country music. I thought part of security personnel’s jobs was to prevent and stop harm to others.

And I think it is deeply dangerous to idolize police, as if they are all angels who can do no wrong. They are human beings, for crying out loud!

To put them all on some fantastical, god-like pedestal and make excuses for those who perpetrate heinous crimes against their fellow citizens is irresponsible and a betrayal of public trust. It’s a willful denial of the lived experiences of those who have been the target of police brutality, especially in the face of overwhelming evidence. Call a spade a spade and quit giving a free pass to law enforcement officers who do wrong to others, instead of trying to immediately shift blame on the injured (or dead) party by casting aspersions on their character or actions. Like, if only he wasn’t swaggering around the way he did, or he should have answered/obeyed the officer immediately (like a dog?), or why was she out at night and dressed like that, or why did she have to be so loud and sassy? That’s bullshit.

Disgusting.

I do not condone crimes; I want public accountability of those who have been entrusted with power – who abuse it and harm others.

What’s so hard about not using excessive force on peaceful, unarmed people? Particularly in the privacy of their own home?

The important point, to my mind, is that Ms. Jones kept her fellow Floridians and researchers around the country informed with facts about the spread of COVID-19. Determined to do so even after she and her spouse were violently harassed by state police, and her young children terrified by them.

(remember, violence is not always physical; it can be verbal, too)

She has stood up for science. For public health. For FACTS. And has not been afraid to tell the truth about what has happened to her — she has refused to bow down to bullies. I respect all of that. Immensely.

If anything, this pandemic has helped me to appreciate and respect science that much more. I’ve always liked science…I just didn’t apply myself very well on science exams during my school years, from elementary school through college. And I felt guilty when I didn’t do so well because I knew instinctively that science was important.

So huge kudos to you, Rebekah Jones, for your work in helping to inform others. For standing up for yourself, for standing up for Floridians’ health, and not letting anyone bully you! I hope you will keep doing your work for many, many years to come. Florida is lucky to have you.

Sources

USA Today
Florida COVID Action
NPR
World Socialist Web Site
CNN
Tampa Bay Times

Petition to President-elect Biden: Free Palestine—and the Sahrawi people too!

Civics, General, Social Justice, ,

I signed this petition from CODEPINK today:

Free Palestine—and the Sahrawi people, too!

[edited from  my codepink email]

Trump is obsessed with arming the Middle East. Last week, Morocco became the fourth Arab nation to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in yet another fake “peace deal” via Donald Trump. In a quid pro quo, in exchange for normalizing Israeli apartheid, the U.S. is recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara — an area, and native people, illegally occupied, just like the Israeli occupation of Palestine. To no one’s surprise, the Trump administration has also just reached a deal to sell Morocco $1 billion in weapons — drones and munitions made by General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing. 

After more than 200 years of occupation, Spain withdrew from the region in 1975 and split control of the land between Morocco and Mauritania — despite demands for independence from the Sahrawis. By 1979, Mauritania had relinquished power over the area, but Morocco maintained its iron grip through decades of brutal war. In 45 years of Moroccan rule, the Sahrawi people have endured endless oppression, including violent military occupation and the persecution of peaceful activists. Thousands have been forced to flee their homes and live their entire lives in refugee camps. 

Last month, on November 13, the Moroccan army invaded the Al Guerguerat village in Western Sahara where around 60 peaceful Sahrawi protestors had set up an encampment. After the military “successfully” dismantled the camp, Moroccan police launched a crackdown on the Sahrawi activists, including home raids, surveillance, and arrests. On November 30, just days before the Israel-Morocco normalization deal, Amnesty International called for a thorough investigation into human rights abuses in the region. 

No country other than the U.S. has recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Western Sahara belongs to Morocco as much as Palestinian territory belongs to Israel — IT DOESN’T! Just as we support indigenous rights in the U.S. and in Palestine, we must speak up for the freedom and dignity of the Sahrawi, people. We — including President-elect Biden — must join in solidarity with their struggle for freedom and do everything we can to block the recent sale of $1 billion in weapons to Morocco to fund their oppression.

It is unacceptable for the United States to perpetuate the oppression of the Sahrawi people, just as it is wrong for the U.S. to arm Israel in its war on Palestinian rights.

Ask Joe Biden to support Sahrawi freedom by signing our petition to undo Trump’s recognition of Western Sahara as Moroccan territory. Sign our petition asking him to reverse Trump’s declaration that Western Sahara belongs to Morocco.

 

You may also be interested to learn more about Western Sahara in this documentary from Democracy Now!, by one of my favorite investigative journalists, Amy Goodman, who’s no stranger to putting her life on the line. I didn’t know a thing about Western Sahara until this news from Democracy Now!  Transcript of documentary provided in link.

Four Days in Occupied Western Sahara —  A Rare Look Inside Africa’s Last Colony as Ceasefire Ends

[November 27, 2020]

Bullies Everywhere

Civics, General, ,

What the devil is wrong with a certain set of spineless politicians who will do most anything to overturn a national election because they can’t handle a loss?

Whose party leader inspires his followers to threaten and bully even their own party politicians who decide they have their own brains to follow the law?

Who are, in essence, behaving like schoolyard bullies, expecting everyone to kowtow to their wishes.

Sore losers!

I despise bullying.

I’m no psychologist, but I feel there has to be something sorely lacking in these people’s lives that they would willingly subvert the will of their fellow citizens who voted for another candidate.

Don’t we have enough sickness with the pandemic going on, with thousands dying daily, and new cases of people getting infected daily?

Yes, sickness.

I think you have to be sick both head and heart to want to waste people’s time (and money) trying to overturn an election that has repeatedly been shown to have no evidence of fraud. Repeatedly.

Denied by the judges! Lack of solid evidence.

Even more deeply sickening is that these “leaders” rarely condemn the violence perpetrated against others, be it politicians, poll workers, or peaceful protestors. And violence includes threatening phone calls to secretaries of state and encircling their homes in person, carrying guns.

WTF?!

I’d venture to say there’s probably a bully in every school and workplace.

But not everyone who’s experienced abuse, neglect, grief, or any kind of hardship resorts to bullying others – using someone else as a convenient punching bag to cope with their inadequacies.

Who hasn’t had at least one bully encounter in their lives? It’s painful, to say the least. It’s mean and it’s cruel.

 

To bullies, I want to say:

You like threatening to harm others because it’s soothing to your fragile ego? You can’t stand it if you don’t feel you have power over others?

What ails you?!

There’s a fucking pandemic going on, for goodness sakes! Our country can do without more meanness and cruelty from you.

Go take a walk in the park or the woods and contemplate the beauty of nature…absorb some positivity instead of infecting others with your toxic negativity!

“I would rather be a little nobody, then [sic] to be a [sic] evil somebody.” ― attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Libraries: An Antidote to Baseless Negativity

Civics, General, Libraries

“I couldn’t live a week without a private library – indeed, I’d part with all my furniture and squat and sleep on the floor before I’d let go of the 1500 or so books I possess.” ~H. P. Lovecraft

 

I can empathize with H.P. Lovecraft…I value my books more than my furniture. I’ve put a lot of thought into much of my private library over the years! If a stranger walked into my home and noticed my many books, which are not as numerous as Mr. Lovecraft’s was, she or he would definitely know where my interests lie. I can’t imagine not having (most of) my books around!

Books have been part of my life since I was little. Taking me to the public library throughout my school years was one of the best things my father did for me. My big sister picked out my books for me at the library when I was little and learning to read. The public library has always been THE FIRST place I look for whenever I have moved to a new locale because I know I will be going there A LOT!

I’ve even joined the local university library as a public patron for free so I can get more mind-y, hard-to-access books (though only limited to three at a time).

I will be a library advocate til my last breath!

The public library is the  great equalizer. It is for EVERYONE.

So why wouldn’t anyone use their local public library? It’s free!

Some excuses I’ve heard from friends, loved ones, and co-workers over the years:

“It’s the government.” (a conspiracy?)

“I won’t remember to return the books.” (how do you know?)

“I thought it was just for kids?” (nah!)

“Aren’t the books dirty (esp. during the pandemic!)?”

As to the last comment, I’ll say that my local library quarantines returned items for a week. And by the way, isn’t money dirtier? Money passes through the hands of untold numbers of people daily, more than books.

I confess I am wary of those hostile to libraries. Totally can NOT relate to them on that level. The politicians  hostile to funding libraries and  the corporate types who would be in 7th heaven if public libraries didn’t exist at all? I’ve no sympathy for them. I think: Whatsa matter with you?! You’re not curious? You have an issue with people wanting to learn, to read? Get outta here!

Same thoughts with those who want to censor what others should read because they don’t like the content of a novel, usually due to sex, violence or blasphemy. Too bad for the censors; why deprive others of the opportunity to think and explore just because something offends you greatly? Don’t read it then. Well, that’s another topic for another day that I feel strongly about.

It’s not just books you can borrow; there’s audiobooks, cds, dvds (do I sound old school now?), magazines. You can use their computers; do research with access–or limited access to various journals that cost money; join in computer classes, resume writing, cooking/language/exercise/arts and crafts classes. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.  Granted, I’m only referring to my local public library, but you get the idea.

Or  join a book discussion group in which you can meet monthly and meet new people who may share your interests.

You might say: “Hey! There’s a pandemic going on! What are you talking about?!”

To which I respond: Have you checked out your local library yet? They might be going virtual with their programs. They might have “curbside pickup” whereby you can request your materials online and then you pick up your stuff when notified by email that it’s ready to go, retrieving them in a designated area like the lobby, so there’s no person contact.

FREE your mind! Explore! Save your hard-earned $$ on books, magazines, and audio-visual materials…check out your local public library. It’s meant for everybody. For the whole community. Even during a pandemic.

The pandemic has fostered much fear, uncertainty, and misinformation. Consider your local public library as an antidote to baseless negativity. A refuge that promotes freedom of your mind.

As for my own private library, I tend to buy used books…and ONLY if I cannot find a wanted title in the local or state public library system (my state has an awesome inter-library loan system) or local uni library, unless I feel I HAVE TO HAVE it.  If you’re thinking to buy a book for someone and not sure about it, why not check it out at the library first? That’s how I bought all the books I bought for my nieces and nephews when they were young. At least you won’t piss off a bookstore person for having spent time hemming and hawing about it for god knows how long and walking out the doors undecided, not having bought something. ??

Library staff won’t lay a guilt trip on you. They’re some of the coolest, most helpful people I’ve known throughout my life.

Yeah, I love my libraries! I can’t live without them.

Get thee to your library!