As usual, I saved this letter for last part of my reading session. I pour over the news with the first coffee. I read HCR (frightening today - but you must read). I save that last bit of coffee for reading this letter - the part that has a little sugar at the bottom. I take the last few slurps as I dive into this piece. There is so much to process, but the caffeine and extra pinch of sugar propel me through. But what really energizes me is the spirit with which this is written.
Thank you, Robert for your facts, perspective and encouragement! The tidbit about Ossoff is precious and important. No effort is wasted, indeed. You made my day...again.
Thank you for another dose of well reasoned positivity.
Rebecca Solnit's list of 10 ways to challenge climate crisis without losing hope is also applicable to saving democracy.
Continuing to support candidates for the long term is also endorsed by David Pepper as he sounds the alarm on state legislatures in his new book, Laboratories in Autocracy:
I admit that the Rittenhouse acquittal sickened me. This was Wisconsin, not Alabama! The relentless coverage of extremist views by the media has a very depressing effect. Yet I truly believe that the majority of citizens can reason and are not ruled by fear, and that indeed, we shall overcome eventually. As Mahalia Jackson used to sing, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.”
The Rittenhouse verdict was disappointing, but my impression--no more than that--was that the prosecution did not do a good job. (In my more cynical moments, I have been known to suggest that, "Incompetent prosecution is the cornerstone of our liberties.") However, the Ahmaud Arbery murder should go to the jury today or tomorrow (strange during Thanksgiving week). There the prosecution seems to have done a good job, and the judge seems to be playing it down the middle. A guilty verdict against at least the shooter--and if he is convicted it is hard to see his confederates (pun intended) getting off--would do much to balance what happened in Wisconsin.
Friday was the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. A Lincoln might have told us,, "Let us here highly resolve that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the Earth."
Good for Joe Biden trying to "normalize" the complete Rittenhouse acquittal by labeling it a legitimate jury verdict. Given the outrageous political conduct of the judge, and the tied hands of the prosecution, the verdict was seemingly nonpolitical. But the efforts of the right wing radicals, both elected officials and their news dogs, have stolen the narrative and made it a three ring circus of martyrdom for white supremacists to become vigilantes. We know that no one but white supremacists will occupy the vigilante positions, and we know that only white supremacists are being called to action to emulate what they want this not guilty verdict to represent.
Joe Biden's valiant effort to turn the Rittenhouse verdict into a matter of a verdict, and not a free pass for white supremacists to embolden and empower violence against peaceful protests of all kinds except their own, will be drowned out.
Very thoughtful column today with much needed encouragement to keep up efforts for a better tomorrow in the face of a couple of days of shocking activities: finding no way to reject an act of vigilantism and the use of a car once again as a weapon of destruction. Keep up your terrific work, it is much appreciated and needed. Karhryn Hight, Denver
“Just too many things wrong with the Rittenhouse case: from the fact that he had an AR-15, to victims not being called victims, to bad law and worse jury instructions, to an unjust outcome. This cannot continue. We must fix the system so we have one standard of justice for all.” Daniel Goldman, former U.S. assistant attorney and lead counsel for impeachment investigation of former President Donald Trump
While we need to focus on increasing Democrats' seats in Congress, we also need to spend our time and effort supporting Democrats in State elections. The Rittenhouse verdict is a perfect dystopian example of what can go wrong when Republicans control government. It seems like a daunting task but if we leverage our effort by working together, as Robert likes to say, we can do this!
You post an article decrying “Trump Cancel Culture”. Again, the quote is from a Republican. When oh when will a Democrat dare to utter these OBVIOUS words?
As usual, I saved this letter for last part of my reading session. I pour over the news with the first coffee. I read HCR (frightening today - but you must read). I save that last bit of coffee for reading this letter - the part that has a little sugar at the bottom. I take the last few slurps as I dive into this piece. There is so much to process, but the caffeine and extra pinch of sugar propel me through. But what really energizes me is the spirit with which this is written.
Thank you, Robert for your facts, perspective and encouragement! The tidbit about Ossoff is precious and important. No effort is wasted, indeed. You made my day...again.
Thank you for another dose of well reasoned positivity.
Rebecca Solnit's list of 10 ways to challenge climate crisis without losing hope is also applicable to saving democracy.
Continuing to support candidates for the long term is also endorsed by David Pepper as he sounds the alarm on state legislatures in his new book, Laboratories in Autocracy:
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9saW5jb2xucHJvamVjdC5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw/episode/NTJmOTAyZTctY2E2Ni00NDI5LWFhNjktN2UyMTIzMTA2ZDYy
I admit that the Rittenhouse acquittal sickened me. This was Wisconsin, not Alabama! The relentless coverage of extremist views by the media has a very depressing effect. Yet I truly believe that the majority of citizens can reason and are not ruled by fear, and that indeed, we shall overcome eventually. As Mahalia Jackson used to sing, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.”
Thank you for holding the line, Robert!
The Rittenhouse verdict was disappointing, but my impression--no more than that--was that the prosecution did not do a good job. (In my more cynical moments, I have been known to suggest that, "Incompetent prosecution is the cornerstone of our liberties.") However, the Ahmaud Arbery murder should go to the jury today or tomorrow (strange during Thanksgiving week). There the prosecution seems to have done a good job, and the judge seems to be playing it down the middle. A guilty verdict against at least the shooter--and if he is convicted it is hard to see his confederates (pun intended) getting off--would do much to balance what happened in Wisconsin.
Friday was the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. A Lincoln might have told us,, "Let us here highly resolve that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the Earth."
Good for Joe Biden trying to "normalize" the complete Rittenhouse acquittal by labeling it a legitimate jury verdict. Given the outrageous political conduct of the judge, and the tied hands of the prosecution, the verdict was seemingly nonpolitical. But the efforts of the right wing radicals, both elected officials and their news dogs, have stolen the narrative and made it a three ring circus of martyrdom for white supremacists to become vigilantes. We know that no one but white supremacists will occupy the vigilante positions, and we know that only white supremacists are being called to action to emulate what they want this not guilty verdict to represent.
Joe Biden's valiant effort to turn the Rittenhouse verdict into a matter of a verdict, and not a free pass for white supremacists to embolden and empower violence against peaceful protests of all kinds except their own, will be drowned out.
Chills up and down my spine.
Very thoughtful column today with much needed encouragement to keep up efforts for a better tomorrow in the face of a couple of days of shocking activities: finding no way to reject an act of vigilantism and the use of a car once again as a weapon of destruction. Keep up your terrific work, it is much appreciated and needed. Karhryn Hight, Denver
“Just too many things wrong with the Rittenhouse case: from the fact that he had an AR-15, to victims not being called victims, to bad law and worse jury instructions, to an unjust outcome. This cannot continue. We must fix the system so we have one standard of justice for all.” Daniel Goldman, former U.S. assistant attorney and lead counsel for impeachment investigation of former President Donald Trump
While we need to focus on increasing Democrats' seats in Congress, we also need to spend our time and effort supporting Democrats in State elections. The Rittenhouse verdict is a perfect dystopian example of what can go wrong when Republicans control government. It seems like a daunting task but if we leverage our effort by working together, as Robert likes to say, we can do this!
You post an article decrying “Trump Cancel Culture”. Again, the quote is from a Republican. When oh when will a Democrat dare to utter these OBVIOUS words?
When you say, "talk to you tomorrow", where is that? I seem to get your emails once or maybe twice a week only.