Yesterday, I was driving to pick up my grandson when I saw a gathering of police cars clustered around a young woman with a child in her arms. I felt sickened and at once looked to see if they were ICE/HS agents, and faced suddenly the question of what I would do if they were. Turned out they were regular city police, responding to an accident...but it was truly sobering that my first instinct was to regard them with suspicion. How low we have sunk ...
John, your writing is so astonishingly clear and level- headed, and says everything we are all feeling and fearing. Thank you for your clarity and vision! I hugely admire your talent and rightful compassion.
What leaves me cold is that in most cases these “law enforcement” officers do not identify themselves and carry no warrants, but are heavily armed and armored. These individuals are brownshirts, not police officers.
Yes, we have sunk very low. I made your point recently to a family member who supports trump's immigration terrorism.
I asked her how a person is to respond when they are walking down the street minding their business - and suddenly are surrounded by men dressed in camouflage, their faces covered, and armed with rifles. They produce no ID or court papers. How would any person know that those men were "representing" the federal government? How could the person be sure the group wasn't the Proud Boys or some other lawless gang?
Thank you, John. I'm an 82 -year old PCUSA pastor. I'm ashamed I haven't spoken out myself about #47's abominable disregard for Lady Liberty and her invitation and welcome to those devastated folks entering the Staten Island harbor! Thank you for the reminder! #47 would prefer to send Lady Liberty back to France OR, preferably, say: "Come and get her!" I look forward to your commentaries every morning. Harry Strong
This breaks my heart. I always wonder "What horrible thing would it take to drive me to leave my home and all that is dear to me?" And I marvel at the courage it takes to do that. Refugees and immigrants are what made America great in the past, and continue to add to the color and flavors of this country, in addition to the hard work they contribute to our economy. God bless them and keep them safe.
This heinous regime needs to be removed and replaced with new names that have integrity and empathy. I dread waking in the morning because I can’t imagine what next horror will arrive. Today has been particularly busy. We have Pistol Pete trying to erase history by renaming military bases and weapons, with have Trump playing ‘Where’s Waldo” and we have our own jackbooted plain clothed ministry of interior agents erasing people. None of us our safe with Peter Thiel consolidating, collating, and siloing our personal data in Planatir. Can we please shut down this crazy train?
I recently thought of a song by Paul Simon from years ago, American Tune. He wrote it about Vietnam but it carries even more weight now. Listen to it. "The Statue of Liberty sailing away to sea".
They’re part of the matches and gasoline the current administration is exploiting. They’ve come out of their basements and garage “clubhouses” itching for the opportunity to act very badly.
You speak for so many of us that believe in the dignity of all people! Thank you a million times over for being that consistent voice of compassion and abiding support for the marginalized.
Here’s to being a non-harming human being and demanding nothing less from our leaders!
My heart breaks every time I hear of immigrants whose only crime is trying to make a better life for themselves and their families who are being sent back to the places they escaped from. often because their lives were at risk. What happens to them when they go back to their own countries. or worse to a country they didn’t even come from and try to start over again from nothing? And why is this happening? Because the real criminal in the White House wants to score points with the white supremacists who are as bigoted as he is. It is a disgrace how far this country has sunk in just four months of Trump insanity.
Yesterday, I was driving to pick up my grandson when I saw a gathering of police cars clustered around a young woman with a child in her arms. I felt sickened and at once looked to see if they were ICE/HS agents, and faced suddenly the question of what I would do if they were. Turned out they were regular city police, responding to an accident...but it was truly sobering that my first instinct was to regard them with suspicion. How low we have sunk ...
Go action on your part… ckg out the situation. Being awake and concerned. Thank you !
Thank you, John. We can never let them take our compassion from us. If they do, all is lost.
The weaponization of I.C.E. And its heinous actions against the most vulnerable is unacceptable and unforgivable.
John, your writing is so astonishingly clear and level- headed, and says everything we are all feeling and fearing. Thank you for your clarity and vision! I hugely admire your talent and rightful compassion.
What leaves me cold is that in most cases these “law enforcement” officers do not identify themselves and carry no warrants, but are heavily armed and armored. These individuals are brownshirts, not police officers.
Yes, we have sunk very low. I made your point recently to a family member who supports trump's immigration terrorism.
I asked her how a person is to respond when they are walking down the street minding their business - and suddenly are surrounded by men dressed in camouflage, their faces covered, and armed with rifles. They produce no ID or court papers. How would any person know that those men were "representing" the federal government? How could the person be sure the group wasn't the Proud Boys or some other lawless gang?
No response.
Thank you, John. I'm an 82 -year old PCUSA pastor. I'm ashamed I haven't spoken out myself about #47's abominable disregard for Lady Liberty and her invitation and welcome to those devastated folks entering the Staten Island harbor! Thank you for the reminder! #47 would prefer to send Lady Liberty back to France OR, preferably, say: "Come and get her!" I look forward to your commentaries every morning. Harry Strong
This breaks my heart. I always wonder "What horrible thing would it take to drive me to leave my home and all that is dear to me?" And I marvel at the courage it takes to do that. Refugees and immigrants are what made America great in the past, and continue to add to the color and flavors of this country, in addition to the hard work they contribute to our economy. God bless them and keep them safe.
And yet at the same time the orange Taco is pardoning convicted white criminals and letting them loose????
Thank you again for eloquently writing down the “real tragedy” caused by this administration.
This heinous regime needs to be removed and replaced with new names that have integrity and empathy. I dread waking in the morning because I can’t imagine what next horror will arrive. Today has been particularly busy. We have Pistol Pete trying to erase history by renaming military bases and weapons, with have Trump playing ‘Where’s Waldo” and we have our own jackbooted plain clothed ministry of interior agents erasing people. None of us our safe with Peter Thiel consolidating, collating, and siloing our personal data in Planatir. Can we please shut down this crazy train?
I recently thought of a song by Paul Simon from years ago, American Tune. He wrote it about Vietnam but it carries even more weight now. Listen to it. "The Statue of Liberty sailing away to sea".
They’re part of the matches and gasoline the current administration is exploiting. They’ve come out of their basements and garage “clubhouses” itching for the opportunity to act very badly.
#cowards
You speak for so many of us that believe in the dignity of all people! Thank you a million times over for being that consistent voice of compassion and abiding support for the marginalized.
Here’s to being a non-harming human being and demanding nothing less from our leaders!
My heart breaks every time I hear of immigrants whose only crime is trying to make a better life for themselves and their families who are being sent back to the places they escaped from. often because their lives were at risk. What happens to them when they go back to their own countries. or worse to a country they didn’t even come from and try to start over again from nothing? And why is this happening? Because the real criminal in the White House wants to score points with the white supremacists who are as bigoted as he is. It is a disgrace how far this country has sunk in just four months of Trump insanity.
As usually they are projecting onto others everything they're doing - so by logical deduction they ARE the enemy within !!
Actual NAZIS didn't wear masks. What's up with the current batch? Why are they masked? Hmmn?
Shame and/or fear.