All those who are in peril this weekend. May you find safety and shelter.
Category: Thoughts
Dear Twitter: Ban our President for our safety please.
Please give President Trump a 90 day ban.
He is threatening a possible nuclear power.
He is supporting hate.
He threatens the United States.
He bullies online those he doesn’t agree with.
These are all violations of your use policy.
You want your platform to be a meaningful place of discourse?
At the bare minimum you must adhere to some standards.
https://support.twitter.com/articles/18311#
Violent threats (direct or indirect): You may not make threats of violence or promote violence, including threatening or promoting terrorism.
- Harassment: You may not incite or engage in the targeted abuse or harassment of others. Some of the factors that we may consider when evaluating abusive behavior include:
- if a primary purpose of the reported account is to harass or send abusive messages to others;
- if the reported behavior is one-sided or includes threats;
- if the reported account is inciting others to harass another account; and
- if the reported account is sending harassing messages to an account from multiple accounts.
Hateful conduct: You may not promote violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease. We also do not allow accounts whose primary purpose is inciting harm towards others on the basis of these categories.
#ironicTrumpIntelligence,#Billionairesclub,#makeamericagreat,#KathyGriffn,#rcfp,#keepingElectedOfficialsAccountable,#BanTrump
You’re Fired! – A President who Threatens…
I am only want to say this once.
A President who threatens the citizens of America is no longer the President.
ok. One more time.
A President who threatens America is not the President.
#ironicTrumpIntelligence,#Billionairesclub,#makeamericagreat,#KathyGriffn,#rcfp,#keepingElectedOfficialsAccountable
Leader
What exactly is a leader?
Are they elected, born, or created? Or do come from something else?
My definition is a simple one.
A leader is someone who speaks for the mute.
A leader is someone who acts for the paralyzed.
A leader is someone who listens for the deaf.
A leader is someone who thinks for those who cannot.
Currently our leaders seek to remove and dismantle so much of what the country is about.
Remember that they are not leading but acting out in fear.
Fear that a Leader will indeed speak for all those who cannot.
Remember this.
The Civil(ity) (WAR) – and other things
It is fairly amazing what is happening as of late. And I honestly would like to say that it is surprising on any level at this point. However, how can it be?
I go back a few years when learning communication skills and what it means to utilize argumentation. How it is indeed a skill and how it is based on a few things if one is to present a premise in a manner which is effective and accurate and what one wishes to be heard.
There were other things I learned as well. Something about assertions.
A false assertion which is repeated over and over again does not make something true. Should I repeat that?
In this time and day and age the certainty of the previous statement is at this time false.
It is why NASA this past week made a statement about not having child laborers on Mars.
It is why someone shot at a pizzeria because of statements repeated.
It is why Sandy Hook and 911 did not happen.
And it is again why the current president is sitting in office.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the loss of Civility. https://imagine-democracy.com/2017/06/02/218/
It should be noted what I did not say and I should have said very clearly. We as society have to rise and be above what is happening. Otherwise this will end very poorly for all.
There are in place ways to remove a sitting President. But the worst thing that one can do is sink to the level of this individual.
I find myself astounded by the level President Trump has sunk to in the past few days. I have been trying to write this for a period of time but every time I begin something else occurs.
Attacking our free press is an issue. Attacking the appearance of a human being is an issue. Promoting a visual representation of these is an issue…and then repeating it all again. And the largest issue? Does it even need to be said?
Repeating something until it becomes true. This is a fallacy of argumentation in which the argument cannot and does not become true. In the end what has been said is discredited and determined to have no merit so the argument is indeed false.
EVERYONE should take note of this.
This is a trying time in our Democracy and we have indeed elected the President of our times.
This is a time when people willingly follow and believe falsehoods because they fit in with their ideals/religion/beliefs. This is a time when there should be independent thought and actions but instead whenever this may occur…it is reeled back in and those speaking so or such…lambasted.
This is a time when a person will listen to their phone while driving and turn into a lake…because they were not looking.
President Trump is perhaps the biggest caricature of what society current is at this exact moment.
And you know something else? It is ok.
We will be ok.
I believe people will learn and the charlatans will fade and we will again have real knowledge and news which isn’t dismissed but appreciated and acknowledged.
I believe that people will see that the lies which are being told are only being done so because of one thing.
I believe that the Power that they seek and have sought will be fleeting.
I do believe in the positivity of People in general.
I am waiting for it.
I have been standing for it
Am I alone?
ironicTrumpIntelligence,#Billionairesclub,#IamWaiting,#mediaEthics,#makeamericagreat,#KathyGriffin
Megyn Kelly, hate, and Media Integrity – what is any of it?
It is completely desirable to “shine a light” on newsmakers.
It is the responsibility of media and reporters and if anything…it is the responsibility.
And dealing with the responsibility in an equitable manner is taught throughout the country in various forms which directly returns to something called the Ethics of Journalism.
Currently we have “newsmakers” writing on the events of the day who have zero ethics. They only have what they believe and have monetized their beliefs into something which is curious because their “supporter-base” follow this somehow. On their own their belief would not be an issue but because of this base this changes the tone of what they are from innocuous to something much more malignant. One of these newsmakers has a prominent supporter in President Trump who comments often regarding events around this movement. And he should for they are quite prominent in his rise and election to President.
With the recent election cycle we saw the rise of information which was generated not to educate or inform but to mislead and to harm. Our current President is a part of this. This information was viewed not as entertainment, distraction, or farce but something else. This information was viewed as fact and was in fact acted upon to the point where the election was influenced.
Alex Jones has millions of followers. Megyn Kelly’s attempt to get someone who attacks the innocent(s) and address his actions should be celebrated. Ms. Kelly’s point that Mr. Jones not only has a platform but quite a large base underestimates what is true. Millions of women and men listen to someone who quite simply spins tales. How can anyone listen to someone who says and has said multiple events are not true. It is baffling that those in the United States have become so ignorant to untruths.
As I write this I am quite simply astounded that any rational human being will knowingly follow someone who has no ethical responsibility to anyone. Mr. Jones quite simply is a fraud with zero interesting things to say. What is sad is that so many follow this fraud.
Anything that is written by him or said is to perpetuate an agenda which appears to be based on fear and hate. History will decide how this will play out and in time I have to believe people will come to realize that Mr. Jones will say and do whatever makes him money.
At the end of the day what does it mean that President Trump aligns with this charlatan?
Is it appropriate to tie together two individuals with no appearance of ethics other than it appears they have tied themselves together?
Oh… and in a statement from Mr. Jones about Ms. Kelly regarding whether or not he was attracted to her? Umm…is this an attempt to further marginalize someone who is seeking truth?
Media Integrity.
No need to reinvent the wheel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_ethics
#noTrumpStatementAgainstHateAgain, #ironicTrumpIntelligence, #Billionairesclub, #MegynKelly,#mediaEthics,#makeamericagreat, #alexJones
The Loss of Civility – Severed Head, the Beautiful Kathy Griffin
Addendum:
I think it is important to keep perspective and context. And not fall into what is easy to fall into. That which we know as hate.
That being said I really cannot say anything negative about what Kathy did. She honestly she portrayed was the accumulation of frustration and irritation of a thousand cuts inflicted by President Trump.
This is a man who has inflicted harm – in no particular order – upon:
- our environment
- our rights
- our nation
- our animals
- our children
- our elderly
- our poor
- our compromised
- our society
- our lives
- our press
- …continue the list here. What do you think he has destroyed is destroying?
essentially in the sort period of time Trump has been president he has inflicted harm across all. Except for one group. The ridiculously wealthy. This is a person who has spent more time over a misspelled word than when people are harmed in his implicit name. More time spent over a misspelled word than acknowledging the heroes in Portland. More time spent over a misspelled word than making a statement versus making a STATEMENT against hate. Essentially President Trump has done nothing but destroy. We have in place a good and valuable system to manage and remove destroyers. Now is the time. Kathy Griffin’s expression simply showed at a boil the feelings of all those who are being harmed. They have no voice for they are not millionaires nor billionaires. It is time to Remove Trump.
I am thankful for all Artists in this world and that is what she is. An Artist. Artist’s have freedom to express themselves in America without any rebute. It is no stretch to say that an Artist’s job is to challenge and confront the norms, expand the known, and stretch the imagination.
Thank you.
#Portlandheroes, # noTrumpStatementAgainstHateAgain, #ironicTrumpIntelligence, #Billionairesclub, #KathyGriffin
The Loss of Civility
It seems like it began more than eight years ago when a black man was elected President.
And then it all boiled over when it became not just a little likely that a woman would be elected…but a certainty.
And then history changed.
We are indeed a country that respects free speech. We are also a country which respects expression. These are things which come from the heart which is perhaps difficult to discern.
But what is not difficult to discern is hate. Hate takes the form of many different things. Hate also comes from the heart. Expression which is meant to harm and create confusion is dangerous. Knowledge is indeed power and it is intriguing just how far people have gone – and continue to go – for that power. And one key with keeping the power is restricting and eliminating effective education which is in motion.
Over the past election cycle the public has been pounded with the continuing statement of “Fake News”. It is and has continued.
And the hate which is associated with it continues as well.
A journalist is assaulted. A story is concocted about a candidate who is selling children and having sex with them. A story is told about immigrants which assault and hurt the “native” children. News sites which write more to a “theme” than facts have more leverage than “real” news.
And through it all…a loss of civility.
President Trump continues to not make any statements when the true Americans stand up and help those in need.
An aside…
President Obama was a great President.
This nation will morn the loss of Hillary Clinton for many years to come. One can only hope the current administration implodes upon itself and is replaced appropriately and civilly.
Be respectful of yourself and others.
Remember to be Optimistic. Remember the good.
Be the Country we wish to be. Not the one which is filled with hate and short-sightedness.
And mostly…Just Remember.
For it will be tomorrow soon. We just have to remember…
#Portlandheroes, # noTrumpstatementagainsthateagain, #ironicTrumpIntelligence, #Billionairesclub, #1984, #education, #devinnunes, #makeamericagreat
The Wrong side of History
It is difficult to even list all the ways that this seems to be going wrong.
An administration which is teetering on fraud and corruption and straight out lies is astounding in any context. But when one considers that this is involves the Presidency of the United States it becomes all the more alarming.
The Greatest Hits of President Trump’s reality show to this point.
- An administration that actively seeks to harm minority rights, the compromised, and women.
- An administration that reduces protections of the consumer of all things electronic and web based in a time of unparalleled levels of spying of consumers by industry. All in the name of profit.
- An administration that actively colluded with Russia during and after the election in ways which compromise any legitimacy that President Trump may have which as the “drip-drip” of news and information continues only further erodes any confidence in anything that is said about it by the administration. Additionally the compromising of the first investigation by providing “information which will never be able to be confirmed.” And new switch to blaming and creating doubt and fear is a tactic which has proved effective to this point for President Trump. How long will the public fall for this?
- An administration which actively sought to squelch any honest testimony though both intimidation and threats.
- An administration has backed up it’s belief that Global Warming does not exist by attempting to bring back one of the most harmful energy sources. Harmful for both the environment and those who work the mines. What is ironic about this is the level of automation – if it comes back – which will severely reduce the work force which has been clamoring for it.
- An administration which is actively seeking “leaks” and presenting a Deep State. Seeking only an environment where there is Group Think. Dangerous in any situation.
- An administration which presents a budget which eliminates social programs essential to the poor, elderly, indigent, and veterans. Further demonstrating that President Trump has taken advantage of the very core of those who voted for him.
- An administration which proposes “choice” for education but it is a choice veiled in one thing. Money. This essentially removes the ability of America to become great.
- An administration which will actively reduce taxes on the wealthy and shift the burden – percentage wise – to the poor. Not the middle class. The poor.
- An administration which has zero accountability for false statements and spreads hatred and tolerates crimes against the less fortunate. A President which shows zero class and attacks and lies about a President who did more in the past eight years with little assistance from the very people who in the past week decided the Affordable Care Act is indeed better than anything that they can create.
- An administration which is essentially looking to harm the very proponent of being a GOP supporter. Pro-life. Approving and reducing controls for chloropyrifos. Why is this an issue? Widespread use of these chemicals can affect the unborn fetus and damage brain growth. Not to mention the damage to the bees. Why was this undone? How? It was undone with no discussion or rational look at science. It was undone by someone who just may believe that the earth is flat. It was undone by another of … the billionaires club.
- An administration which continues to utilize multiple end-around using family in positions which they have and are vested in the very topics they have been appointed to.
It is the wrong side of history. As more people become entangled in the lies and creative use of facts by President Trump time will demonstrate just what is real and fake.
It may be time to call for President Trump to resign. The signs are becoming more clear by the day.
#ironicTrumpIntelligence, #Billionairesclub, #howtoapologize, #1984, #education, #BobbyBrooks, #devinnunes, #prolife, #makeamericagreat
Contrasts
Sometimes we forget the beauty in this world.
It can be as simple as the music of a melodious laugh,
Or as bright as the shining smile.
There are many things occurring in this place of ours.
It is indeed ours and our ownership is most likely lacking.
But it should be noted that regardless of this we should not stop striving to protect and ensure,
That the beauty there is today,
Can possibly be here tomorrow.
Imagine 