Hate should have no place in this world. It turns us against one another and forces unnecessary destruction of property and life.
This past Sunday was the first anniversary of the shooting in Buffalo. It is a remembrance that no one wanted or needed. But because we allow racism to persist and refuse to enact reasonable gun control laws, 10 people lost their lives.
Instead of getting on my soapbox, I’m going to let the experts do the talking.
A question for NAKBA (catastrophe) promoters: Why don’t you ever talk about the 165,000 Palestinian Arabs who chose not to flee in 1948, but rather, to remain in #Israel-becoming full citizens? Learn more: https://t.co/S3OBJ7HsEq
At the end of the day, the only way to end racism and prejudice is to face the truth and see one another as human beings. Until then, we will continue to destroy one another over superficialities.
When you travel using the NYC MTA system, you never know what you will experience. It could be uneventful ride or it could be a major news headline.
Last week, Jordan Neely was killed in an incident on the subway. The actions that led to his death are unclear. One set of facts claims that he was killed via choking (a la Eric Garner) simply due to his skin color and that he was homeless. The other set of facts states that Mr. Neely was acting erratically and scaring (for lack of a better term), the passengers. The man accused of his murder, Daniel Penny, was trying to hold him down until the police came.
The problem is that there were no cameras on the platform that could have verified the facts.
The only thing that the public, law enforcement, and the city can go by is the testimony of eyewitnesses and the footage on their phones. Which we can easily point to general issues that created this shitstorm, there is no easy answer to why Jordan Neely is dead.
We all make mistakes. It’s part of life. The end result of that error should not be a trip to the hospital due to shotgun wounds.
Last Thursday, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was asked by his mother to pick up his younger siblings from a nearby house. Ralph got confused by the address and knocked on the wrong door. Instead of being greeted by his brothers, he was shot by an older Caucasian man who shot him through the door.
Thankfully, he survived and is recovering.
There was no reason to shoot this boy. The accused (who will not be named in this post) could have simply told Ralph that he was in the wrong place and moved on. Instead, he nearly killed an innocent child simply because of his skin color.
GREAT NEWS: Ralph Yarl, who was shot TWICE (once in the head) for ringing the wrong doorbell, has been released from the hospital and should recover fully.
GET WELL SOON, RALPH!🙏💙
BONUS NEWS: Andrew Lester, the racist fucker who shot him, is being hit with 2 felony charges of… pic.twitter.com/xRDSaQeDbc
Am I the only one who is tired of the Republican‘s endless shtick? They seem to be unaware or unconcerned that the country is going down the drain.
In Florida, State Senator Jason Brodeur proposed a bill that would require bloggers who publish political pieces to register with the state. Though it was initially tied to Governor Ron DeSantis, that was quickly refuted. While it is heartening that the Governor was not behind it, this denial of freedom of speech is very concerning and a warning sign that should not be ignored.
Also in the sunshine state, DeSantis was at a book signing (and keeping his 2024 Presidential hopes alive). He was confronted by supporters of the former guy. Instead of ignoring them and focusing on the attendees, he had the protestors forced out of the store. While security escorted them out, they cried for freedom of speech. Though DeSantis has yet to formalize his campaign, this speaks to the division on the right. It also reveals that the Governor is not as much of a badass as he claims he is.
And finally, in Texas, Crystal Mason was doing her civic duty by voting in the 2016 Presidential election. Instead of doing her business and walking out, she was accused of illegally casting a provisional ballot and was sentenced to five years in prison. At the time, she was on supervised release for a previous conviction. The law in Texas bars convicted felons from voting if their sentence has not been completed.
According to her legal team, she was unaware that her sentence had not reached its end. What strikes me is that this sentence goes well beyond what it should have been. It reeks of racism and denies this woman her right as a citizen. Though the conviction has been overturned, the message is clear. Because she is a woman of color, her voice and vote is not wanted or needed.
I’d like to believe that this world is slowly becoming a better place. Those who were discriminated against and put down are finally been given the opportunities that should have been theirs all along.
The Woman King is pure Oscar bait. It’s based on a true historical event, its lead actress is at the top of her game, and the story is universal. The only reason why Davis and Prince-Bythewood were locked out has nothing to do with their work on the film. It has everything to do with their skin color and gender identity. I find it to be ironic that a movie that fights against stereotypes is denied its due because of stereotyping.
I guess Hollywood is not as liberal or progressive as it claims to be. But I knew that, as does anyone with eyes and a decent amount of intelligence.
P.S. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend that you do. It is currently playing on Netflix.
Red flags exist for a reason. They tell us that something is coming up that we need to pay attention to. If we choose to look away, we may not be able to prevent disaster.
Today, according to some Neo-Nazi groups, is supposed to be the National Day of Hate. As of last night, there were no specific locations or people named as targets. That does mean, however, that we should not be on our guard.
Across the country, Jewish institutions and law enforcement are on high alert.
We’re truly living in the worst timeline right now….NYPD had to issue a "Situational Awareness Alert" because Nazis are planning a "National Day of Hate" this Saturday pic.twitter.com/r7MWoJyTqV
If this is not the sign we need that antisemitism in the US (and the rest of the world in general) is right in front of our faces, then I don’t know what else needs to be said. I don’t want to be an alarmist unless it is necessary. But this is a necessity. It is akin to the Nazisburning books in the 1930s while the other nations remained silent.
Like many Americans, I was taught to believe in a nation of tolerance, equality, and understanding. While it is not all sunshine and roses, I still hold some hope that our ideals can still be achieved.
Today, that hope has faded a little. I don’t want to give in to the haters, but being afraid to go outside is a sure sign that they have won. The only way to stop them is to come together and say that they are not welcome in this country.
If they think that they have won and I will change to fit their perspective, they are wrong. I a Jew and I am proud of who I am. If you don’t like it, you know where you can go.
There are two types of history. The first is the one that is told by the ones who hold the pen. The second is the truth, which is often withheld by those who want it to be buried.
This country is built on racism and the backs of black Americans. Since they arrived as chattel more than 400 years ago, every dignity, respect, and human right has been denied to them. Over the course of the series, it delves into the various ways that multi-generational disenfranchisement has created a legal, social, and financial vacuum that has yet to be filled.
As difficult as it is to watch, I feel like it is necessary. The film speaks to the potential of his country and its (somewhat) inability to face up to our collective sins. Obviously, we have work to do. But at the same time, there is a feeling of hope, knowing that there are enough people in this nation who truly believe in its ideals and do not pay it lip service.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
The 1619 Project is available for streaming on Hulu.
The American government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is not supposed to be for the 1%, the lobbyists, and those who think that they can buy their way into power.
In light of the many (and I mean far too many) mass shootings that have occurred in this country, the right has once again shown its true colors. A number of Congresspeople have been seen wearing small pins in the shapes of AR-15 rifles. It is clear to me that they value power over the lives of ordinary Americans.
According to news reports coming out of Texas, another ice storm blanketed the state. Thousands of residents were without power as the temperature dropped to less than 30 degrees. This is not the first time that the power has gone out during a storm such as this.
Why doesn't the New England power grid go down when it is -30° outside, before the wind chill, but when it is 22° outside, the Texas power grid collapses?
P.S. It is possible to get along and get stuff done in Congress, even when those you are working with have opposing political views. On Monday, the final segment of The Brian Lehrer Show, two members of the New York delegation were interviewed about congestion pricing. One is red and one is blue. It is proof that it is possible for our government to be fuctional. But in order for that to happen, divisions need to be set aside.
I would hope that no one joins a law enforcement body with the goal of purposefully oppressing and killing their fellow citizens. It is one of those professions that in a perfect world, we would admire and lift up those who make it their life’s work. But we live in the real world, where police brutality has become just another headline.
The new three-part Huludocumentary, Killing County was produced by Colin Kaepernick and Ben Meiselas of the MeidasTouch podcast. It follows the news coming out of Bakersfield, California, where a number of men (mostly with a darker hue) were killed by police. The audience follows the investigation into their deaths and why the cops immediately reached for their weapons instead of using other tactics.
This is a must-see film. The hardest interviews to watch were those of the family members of the victims. Through their eyes, we were seeing their loved ones as human beings, not a name on a police report or a quick sound bite on the evening news. What I took away from it was the right that we, as citizens, have to tell the law and the judicial system when they have gone too far.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
Killing County is available for streaming on Hulu.
The purpose of law enforcement is to serve and protect, not to attack community members who are just going about their business.
Last Friday in Memphis, Tyre Nichols was on the way home when he was stopped by police. Instead of just being ticketed or taken in for questioning, he was beaten by five officers. By the time Sunday night rolled around, he was dead.
Now there is another son without a father, another mother without her child, and another town struggling to understand how and why another black man was killed by law enforcement.
After the murder of George Floyd, I would have hoped that logic would have dictated that everything would have been done to make sure that it never happened again. But I have been proved wrong too many times.
The only upshot is that the police officers who stopped him have been fired and charged with his murder. What makes it more complicated is that the men accused of his murder are also black.
I don’t know what it will take to get the message across on how to treat a potential suspect. But I do know that an innocent man is dead and there are too many unanswered questions hanging in the air.
Writergurlny 
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