The main story today was that Trump has essentially quit even pretending to govern, and instead created chaos in Washington before leaving for Mar-a-Lago until sometime in the new year.
Christmas in France starts tonight (with part of the family only) this year and the "Reveillon"; traditionally an exchange of gifts, drinks and dinner before a catholic christian service at midnight on 24th.....if you can make it. At least you have a little liquid and solid sustenance inside you by then to suffer the cold of the 12th Century Church gladly! Not so many priests around these days so every village can't just go on foot to the local church and Covid is somewhat getting in the way. However as we are a half-British household with both of us having spent considerable parts of our lives in America.....we start again on the 25th with another part of the family.....but not for lunch as it's a little early to hit the table again. In this country we can have it both ways.
Merry Christmas, Stuart. And thank you for your smart posts from France, as you watch the mess unfold here in the States. Let's all hope for a New Year filled with renewed hope and promise.
You are where I long to be! I so enjoyed visiting Provence. Passing along the seasonal greeting I received from my French school: « de belles fêtes de Noël ». Merry Christmas, Stuart. 🎄❤️🤍💙
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, Stuart! I've enjoyed "meeting" you this year. Hopefully our posts will turn toward more hopeful things in 2021! Stay safe!
Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, Miquel Cardona looks like another wonderful choice by the President-elect. In his speech yesterday after being introduced by Biden, Mr. Cardona came across as someone very committed to education and to children and a lot of persistence in improving education for all. I think if I were five years old I would be thinking he was a good friend of Santa Claus and therefore a friend of mine. And he had another trait that Biden and Harris and many of the Cabinet nominees have that I have missed in the past four years: the ability to laugh and enjoy the moment.
This from Joe Biden: "Dr. Cardona, the first Latino to serve as Education Commissioner of Connecticut, is a former fourth-grade public school teacher who became the youngest principal in his state. His leadership during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis helped make Connecticut the first state in the nation to ensure that every one of its public school students has a laptop and a high-speed internet connection to engage in remote learning. That makes all the difference in preventing lost school time and closing persistent equity and opportunity gaps."
This is such a huge relief. I have learned to hate over the last four years in ways of which I never thought myself capable; and Betsy DeVil/Vos has been the focus of a goodly amount of it. My grandparents had only 8th grade educations, my parents both graduated high school, and I'm the first in my family with an advanced degree - all of this is due to a strong public education system that was already suffering from undermining and misdirection before T**** hit the White House. Although I'm now retired, publicly funded education will always have a huge place in my heart and I look forward to Dr. Cardona's confirmation.
He’s a real person who grew up in a gritty small city and has devoted his career to Connecticut children. Refreshing change from axe grinding privileged elite DeVose
Seth Dunn, I grew up in Western Michigan and I have several friends who are public school teachers. I despise Betsy DeVos. I will be happy to see her gone.
Holiday greetings and good wishes to you all! It is such a comfort to be part of this virtual community, guided by the wisdom of HCR and strengthened by our collective respect for reason, compassion, and peace. May this nation be delivered safely and in one piece into the careful governance of the Biden administration!
Well said, Rev Judith! A truly happy holiday to you and yours and the entire HCR Letters From An American community, with special thanks to Dr Richardson for her faithful letters!
This is what happens when the bull claims ownership over the China shop, and those who have at least nominal power, if not to control the bull's behavior directly, were empowered to at least circumscribe that behavior and minimize the damage caused. This fiasco is entirely on the Republican Party, as represented in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. In street vernacular, this is 'Red on Red' for no reason other than spite on the part of President Trump, and craven indecisiveness on the part of Senate Republicans. Senate Republicans, for their part… and as epitomized by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; along with a few nervous 'amens' on the part of several other Republican senators, who had the temerity to look beyond the recent presidential election at least until the end of the upcoming two-year election cycle, thinking out loud about how they were going to deal with a newly installed (and former colleagues of theirs) Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Well, that was the equivalent of rubbing sulfuric acid into the very thin skin of President Trump! It was like the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, with the enraged,… and decompensating (to the point of incoherency)… President determined to reduce the American Government to smoking rubble. Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, coupled with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was supposed to signal at least a momentary truce so that at least a minimal amount of economic relief would flow down into the American economy, much less than Democrats had hoped for, but far more than Republicans had been willing to give. Trump was supposed to be on board, until he blew it up, in a hissy fit that will roil the political landscape for at least the coming year. Trump went off to golf at Mar-a-Lago, with Congress facing an end-of-the-year calendar that effectively meant that if the parties could not agree on what to do before the end of the calendar year, the whole exercise would have to be done over again, starting from scratch, starting in the new Congress. Trump's gratuitous claim that the $600 grants to individual Americans to help them meet their living costs during the pandemic-triggered business shutdowns were far too low, and that he wanted to give individual payments of $2,000, were yet another poke in the eye of the Senate Majority Leader and his negotiating team, who had been bound and determined to keep the payments as low as possible. So here we have the President announcing that he was good for $2,000, much to the delight of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
It's difficult to put into words what the dramatic effect of this Trump-induced chaos would look like if we saw it on a movie screen. One scenario would be a Warner Bros. 'Road Runner' cartoon, with Mitch McConnell playing the role of Wiley E. Coyote; or Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, with Donald Trump playing the role of Yosemite Sam. Or, we could have Jim Carrey's character in 'The Mask', which would be my preference for the sheer malicious glee the 'mask' character evokes.
My suggestion would be that while Trump is out of town, Congress declares that Trump has vacated the office and immediately inaugurates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and then tells Trump that if he returns to Washington before January 20, he'll be immediately arrested. If Trump wants to go to court, let him do so, but the most he would get would be three weeks worth of lost salary. We need to ring down the curtain on this Theater of the Absurd, and not wait around while Donald Trump destroys what's left of our country and its government.
Gosh, I love everything you have said in your last paragraph. Somehow, We, The People, have to untie our hands and place them around Congress’s throats until they agree to get us out if this mess!
I start every morning with HRC's words, and then read through the comments. Sometimes I comment, but not often because as a latecomer to these posts this past spring, I feel like a voyeuristic interloper. 😎. But, I have learned a lot from HRC and have loved the conversations here, and for that I am grateful.
I know this next year will not be easy for our new administration nor for way too many of our fellow Americans, but I am hopeful that the much-needed aptitude that is returning to the W.H. will right this ship...and that the humans, replacing the zombies, who smile, laugh, and show compassion and empathy, will finally tackle... really tackle... the many deeply engrained problems and loopholes magnified by the current deplorable administration.
This Christmas Eve, like many of yours, will not be filled with family or family traditions that require "the family" to be present, but to sacrifice this one holiday season in order to celebrate future ones together is exactly the gift we should be giving to one another. Merry Christmas 🎄.
I was telling my therapist (whose services I can finally afford because I now am old enough for Medicare) about how much I enjoy the interactions here among this group of like-hearted, if not always 100% like-minded, intelligent people motivated to understand, discuss, and share our reactions to the news of the day. Her response was, "Ah, you've found your community!"
Glad you were able to get into therapy... So important to be able to take care of our emotional and mental health. And yes, after being on the periphery, I do feel this is my extended tribe.
So true! It's never been easy to join in/fit in, so now that I have wandered around the edges, I feel ready to jump in. Thanks for this. Merry Christmas, Syd. 🎄
Just found out yesterday that my doctor, Dr. Mehendale, has succumbed to COVID-19. A brilliant wonderful man. I have never had such a fun time in a doctor's office! Nor, such a profound moment. Two years ago I was in his office when my brother called that my mother had just passed away. He started reciting the Farewell from the Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. He went back to his office and got the book and read the entire Farewell to me. He told me that was what his father had read to him when he was dying. I read it at again my mother's graveside service. I'm guessing he was in his early sixties. What a beautiful thing he did for me that day. This is real and I wish I could shake some sense into all the people believing it's a hoax here in the US. May Dr. Mehendale rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss. Finding a wonderful doctor you trust is never easy, and losing that one you found is truly hard. You have my sympathy. This horrid virus took a dear friend of mine on Dec. 3rd and I and others are still feeling the loss...he was organist/choirmaster of the Nicholas Basilica in Amsterdam. He and his wife are English ex-pats and were among the first friends who took me in when I landed there in 1988. His wife had Covid as well and was in hospital as well. She was with him and holding his hand when he passed. She is now at home and having to deal with it all. I am so sick of this damn virus robbing the world of so many wonderful people--akin to the anger and frustration I felt at the height of the AIDS crisis in the '80s and '90s. We who are left behind can only mourn for the ones gone and pray earnestly for an end to this nightmare. May Dr. Mehendale's memory be a blessing and may your heart be comforted.
Bruce, I know that lovely worship space -- I was in Amsterdam three years ago with my husband, on vacation, and we spent a lot of time in the "old" section of the city. I think I even have some photos of that church. It is truly heartbreaking to read stories like yours, of friends who have died from covid19... we must continue to support each other and try, as we can, to remain hopeful that the vaccine will take hold. These are sad, dark days and I am so sorry for the losses that you, and so many others, are coping with.
Judith, to be clear, the church I mean is up fairly close to Central Station and when you come out of the front of the station it is on the left, a big neo-Byzantine church with spires and a dome. It was built on reclaimed ground in the 1880s. The "Oude Kerk" or "Old Church" is in an old section of the city (now "De Walletjes" or the Red Light District") and dates from the 13th century. It was the first church built in the city and was de-commissioned many years ago and is now used as a concert space. It is a lovely space, very typical old-style church, not cruciform, but more square-shaped. It's still a bit odd seeing it surrounded by all the prostitutes in their little cubicles and their red lights--but Amsterdam was always a city of stark contrasts! The St. Nicolas, or "Nicolaaskerk", is the Catholic basilica for Amsterdam and was built in the 1880s. They extensively restored it just over 20 years ago as it was dark and cold and foreboding, and in desperate need of refurbishment. Now it's full of light and colour and they also restored the organ, which is a Sauer and dates from when the church was built. I really love what they did to it, and I sang there quite a lot. Funny, the "Nieuwe Kerk", or "New Church", which is right next to the Royal Palace on the Dam in the heart of Amsterdam, dates from the 15th/16th century--"new" according to the Dutch!
Yes I recall it very clearly, as we did a lot of coming and going around Centraal Station. The church is a beautiful building.
Sending warm wishes for a peaceful week and a good journey into the new year. We all owe it to our dearly departed family and friends to help make the world a safer, saber place.
I am so sorry. I know I would feel equally bereft if this were to happen to my own doc. He is Muslim and the most caring and sensitive professional I have ever known. He has been known to make after hours HOUSE CALLS at no charge! Who does that these days?
Mim E. Thank you for finding it and quoting this part. It gave me shivers, in the best way. There are so many beautiful souls out there, and here. So glad to be in “this room” with you all. Happy holidays to all.
I am so sorry to hear of your doctor’s death. I choose to use this word, rather than refer to his ‘passing’ or address your loss at the first because our society refuses to acknowledge death and I believe that somehow lessens the loss of their spirit in the world. So, I am truly sorry for your loss as well. I would be bereft without the support and care I receive from my Nurse Practitioner and cannot imagine how you must feel. May you find the blessing of comfort.
Yes, I did debate that myself. I think you're right. My brother is very conservative and parrots Fox News so believes only people with preexisting conditions are susceptible to COVID-19 otherwise it isn't any worse than the flu. He is respecting my vulnerability to COVID since I am a survivor of a massive pulmonary embolism in 2013 so have some lung compromise. I was within two hours of death and my souls (I don't know why this is plural but that's how it felt) were talking to me. It was actually quite a beautiful calming experience especially since I had no pain and was fully alert. I spent a year dealing with facing my mortality. Now I ask everyone I meet what their dream is. When their eyes light up I know they are thinking of their dream. Then I ask them how are they working to fulfill it. Now is the time to do it not later. It is amazing that you can have such a meaningful conversation in under a minute when you start with a meaningful question! Meaningful big talk, not small talk. Of course, my favorite answer is that they are living their dream. Back to COVID, I tell people "six feet apart or six feet under are my choices." It does help people think about their impact on others. Thanks for you choice to use the word death.
Yes, thank you for sharing this personal account and I would love to know more about that experience. I have a few books on such accounts and I always want to hear more.
Speaking on the Covid issue, I am flummoxed as well about the complete nonchalance of most of the people around me. I am a massage therapist in Florida and some of my long-time devoted clients refuse to wear a mask, and that’s my rule. It is also the rule of the building they live in, but they are angry and defiant about it. It stuns me. I haven’t worked in 9 months. Some clients won’t come back to FL for the season (wisely), and some won’t wear a mask, so they have found a massage therapist who doesn’t care. These are all people in their 70’s, and they are going to restaurants and socializing and going about their lives as if nothing has changed. Never mind, too, that they know they have left me with no income.
I did not have the out-of-body experience that I've read about. This was more what the body does when it goes into survival mode. When you aren't getting enough oxygen, the body actually shunts the oxygen its getting to the brain and heart and away from your limbs and gastro-intestinal track. If I moved even a little (like just enough to put a X-ray plate behind my back) I would go into respiratory distress and have the Feeling of Doom which is your body's way of telling you some very bad it happening. So I had a lot of incentive not to move -- which gave a false impression and meant missed diagnosis of how critical my situation was. There is a calm that comes over you. When I talked to the doctor who saved my life a number of months later she said my calmness had made it easier for her to tell me she had to give me tPA, a drug that could kill me, in order to save my life. When I said that calmness was a survival mechanism of the body she replied, yes, but most people can't pull it off. Finally in the ICU, my soul or souls or ancient spirits or whatever told me "We will have to go if something doesn't happen soon". Fortunately, the tPA worked very well and I was feeling better within an hour or two. Along with the calmness I was feeling whatever happen was OK. My only regret would be how it would hurt my mother if I died then. So, I'm not afraid of death any more. But, today I am thinking about what a horrible death COVID-19 puts one through. I think of how someone like Dr. Mehendale, so wonderful and good, had to go through that. I don't want to dwell on it. I'd rather celebrate his life. And, that we may all find peace in the afterlife. May we all be grateful for having people like Dr. Mehendale in ours lives.
I, too, find it absolutely astounding that there is no concern for others. I feel they are confusing personal freedom with anarchy where there is no consideration for others. With our freedoms comes responsibility to protect the freedoms and rights of others and for all. The right to life being the most important. I'm glad you are holding to your rule for wearing masks. This may sound like a funny idea but I knew someone who did canine massage and had a good business. Look up the Tellington Touch for one method. You could have curbside drop-off and pick-up like my vet does. Maybe you could invent a virtual massage on Zoom where you instruct the person to do a self-massage or between a couple of family members.
Oh, Cathy! What a powerful story! Thank you for sharing this. It has literally brought me to tears. Thank you for the reminder that we are guaranteed nothing in this life - not even life itself. And for reminding me to get back to the work of focusing on my dream. I hope you are living yours. Much love and hugs to you.
Yes, Now is the time to live your dream, not some day. My mission is to help people fulfill their dreams. My dream is that we have a country that measures itself by a Well-Being Index not the GDP so that every person in the country and for that matter the world is living a life of well-being. That's more than fleeting happiness. It's a life that flourishes with meaning, positive relationships, accomplishments, positive emotions and engagement. Check out Dr. Martin Seligman's Theory of Well Being at https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/learn/wellbeing . Or listen to his TEDtalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_the_new_era_of_positive_psychology And, I have a sense of destiny that I believe everything I've experienced is preparing me for although what it is isn't clear yet. Much love and hugs to you!
It feels like there is a lot of being prepared for something I/we are not sure of just yet. So much is ending, which means there will also be so much beginning. I wish you the best.
I hope we both find our destiny. I did like the Heather's view that this could be a new age, a very positive age when every person is valued and loved.
Oh Cathy, I’m so sorry to hear this. Thank you for sharing the story of someone who clearly added to the goodness in the world. I, too, will add Gibran’s “Farewell” to mourning. It brought me to tears. “We are the seeds of the tenacious plant, and it is in our ripeness and our fullness of heart that we are given to the wind and are scattered.” Dr. Mehendale must have the words of Farewell in his soul, and may they have brought him peace.
Oh I am SO sorry for your loss of this wonderful man, Cathy! My heart goes out to you. This is so horribly wrong. No words suffice here. I just feel such deep sadness hearing this. I don’t know if you know about the Osterholm Update on the cidrap website. At the end of the update, he reads a memorial that someone has sent in. It might be something to submit, in honor of your beloved doctor. Dr. O almost comes to tears, and sometimes does, when he talks about the healthcare workers and what they are going through in this time.
Like Stuart, Christmas starts here in Germany today, Christmas Eve. I baked for two days and will go into the living room now to share the goodies with my family. So here's wishing all of you here a blessed Holiday season and a Healthy and Happy 2021.
And Fröhliche Weihnachten to you too. We picked our ration of little Christmas figures in"pain d'épice" from Lidl for the little ones when they get here. Happy New Year!
For those interested, I picked a food pantry in Bar Harbour, Maine. The link I’m sharing is from their webpage and at the bottom of the donation page is a “comments”section. I for one will make a note in honor of the inimitable and indefatigable HCR. So grateful for her wisdom, thoughtfulness with her daily posts, and words of truth. This organizations speaks to their essence as a community - as people volunteering to carry out the mission, but also as members within their schools, town offices, churches, businesses, Main Street, and at the harbor. Just like all of us.
As previously mentioned, I have NO affiliation with the organization. I’m a native Michigander but with 30 years in MA, I’m feeling more like an East Coast native.
“The mission of Good Shepherd Food Bank is to eliminate hunger in Maine by improving access to nutritious food for people in need, building strong community partnerships, and mobilizing the public in the fight to end hunger.”
What a wonderful idea. No doubt, we all have our favorite charities, and until Dr. Richardson points to the ones she recommends it might be delightful to share around our own favorites. Like you, I have no affiliation with this charity, other than having the privilege of doing a little volunteer work for them after hurricane Maria a few years ago. Feeding and providing a little care and comfort to hungry dogs, cats AND horses.
Here is mine, ne I have volunteered for for six years. I put pictures of my weekly arrangements on FB so as to spread the cheer and put good karma out into the universe. The mental health effects of flowers are well known. Www.randomactsofflowers.org.
This is a rescue in Nevada that rescues mostly wild horse foals from the slaughter pipeline in Washington State and many others. Very deserving charity.
I clicked on her email! This gal & her husband spend the winter in SD rescueing horses from a "sanctuary" that got overwhelmed. I think it was in 2015. But seeing the pictures of that time really told the story of winter in SD! I realize at this time there are so many people in dire straits - but at the same time the animals get short shrift in many instances.
Laurie, good choice. Thanks for setting up this initiative. (Bar Harbour is actually~100 mi from Heather's abode.) When I made a donation in honour of HCR, site wouldn't accept my real foreign address, so I used my Cambridge, MA address from 50 years ago.
Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, tried to blackmail his own brother-in-law to keep quiet. Charles had hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and then secretly had the encounter videotaped to threaten exposure to his sister- what kind of person does that to their own family?
SMH
The people pardoned by 45 are among the lowest of the low, Kushner of less consequence despite being principal of the most sordid political corruption cases in New Jersey history. The most disgusting and inexcusable pardons are of the 4 Blackwater murderers who killed civilians including women and children in the Nisour massacre in Iraq in 2007. After 10 years' efforts those "guards" were convicted and jailed.
Actually after today's news I am practically incoherent - 45 DOESN'T SIGN the relief bill and instead flies off to Mar-a-lago, and he vetoed defense funding!!
Will there ever be a day in the remaining 27 when he will NOT be wreaking havoc? This week alone just before Christmas, SMH...
In an interview today, Chris Christie says prosecuting Charles Kushner was the easiest decision he ever made, that he has no regrets for. "What he did to his sister was the worst thing I ever saw as a US Attorney, and I was US Attorney in New Jersey, where there's a lot of bad things!"
Still, as some reporters have noted, many of us would have been unaware of most details of Chas. Kushner's soiled and sordid behavior. At least, although pardoned, his appallingly debased character is now on vivid display. And even if he's able to ignore such notoriety, the ugly truth is out there. Forever. It's a stain on the whole family. Including his son Jared, daughter-in-law Ivanka, and their children.
Agreed. When I originally learned of Charles Kushner’s actions/crimes/deeds I was disgusted and figured that it told me all I needed to know about Jared.
Republicans are learning what sane people have known for the past four years: Trump will screw you over after you've stopped being useful to him. He is an unspeakably vile thing.
Thank you Heather for the unpacking of this, as previously stated, "clusterf***".
Just as I had anticipated, the actors that were central to the Russian investigation have been rewarded. Trumps train of deceit is running on schedule. The pardons will continue, I'm sure to include more family members and other rightfully convicted people. There is absolutely nothing that surprises me at this point. My solace with Trump is that he is old, demented, in poor physical condition and he will likely, in short time join the hundreds of thousands of people he chose to turn his back on. I'm good with that.
Perhaps I’m getting nitpicky, but I must say the contradiction of the president of the US pardoning a man convicted of $1 billion Medicare fraud against the US government says everything I need to know about Trump’s allegiance to this country and us.
Maybe the actors central to the Russian investigation will be rewarded with an opportunity to testify. An HCR Facebook reader relayed that post-pardon, they cannot invoke the 5th amendment, so either they’d testify truthfully against trump or lie and face perjury charges—from which they’d be pardoned by whom?
Those people were absolved of their crimes by a wave of Trumps hand. They won't have to answer any questions in court. The Russia investigation is done and Trump won, regardless of facts. Trumps crimes won't see the light of day . I don't feel anything will come of his State crimes as well. We have all heard how Trump is going down, he will be indicted and so on. Nothing will bear fruit, it never does with him. How many times during the Impeachment hearings did we read that Trump would be dragged out of Office. Nothing happened to him except an asterisk after his name in history books. Biden has very disappointingly stated he isn't interested in pursuing any crimes Trump has committed. Sad what this Country has turned into . More so, disappointing.
Biden won't have time to pursue any litigation against Trump. He is going to be way too busy figuring out what he has walked into and getting it straightened out...if McConnell isn't in his way...batten the hatches, boys! The waves are getting rough!
I read a response in this forum recently that was critical of the term “herd” to identify our merry, not-so-little, coterie and I was pleased. When I came up with the moniker, “Heather’s Herd”—someone added “of Hope”, later—I was searching for a consonantal alliteration, some phrase that would pick up on Doctor Richardson’s given name. It was never an ideal choice, but it was the one that came to me first. Another possibility would be “Heather’s Horde”, or “Heather’s Horde of Hope”, or “Heather’s Hot Horde”. Take your pick or suggest something better. Of course alliteration isn’t a requirement, but I thought it was cutesy and a bit corny. Perhaps a more dignified approach would be better. Go ahead; add your two cents—or two dollars, adjusting for inflation, very approximately.
While I hate to be alarmist, there is more than a little evidence that the current tenant in the White House may try a desperate maneuver, or possibly several desperate maneuvers, to maintain the fantasy that he did not lose the election. According to his niece, and his former “fixer,” he cannot tolerate the thought that he is a “loser”.
The niece, Mary Trump, warns that her uncle may engage in a “scorched earth” policy before finally departing 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Regarding the “fixer”, Michael Cohen predicts a horrendous non-concession, non-transition disaster on or around Inauguration Day. To quote poet Dylan Thomas, he will “not go gentle into that good night.”
In addition to that, there are a number of prognosticators who think that the world is spinning out of control, absent the actions of the lame duck occupant of the Oval. The effects of the pandemic are many and varied, and few if any are good. The global economy is under siege, and the novel coronavirus appears to be mutating in several parts of the world. This latter development could render the new vaccines less effective.
Some citizens, in the U.S. and in other nations, are suffering from “quarantine fever,” desperate to escape the confines of their homes, while others refuse to follow the counsel of medical professionals and their elected officials to wear masks and practice social distancing. More than a few say that COVID-19 is a hoax and entertain various conspiracy theories—deadly fairy tales?—compounding the mortal danger of the pandemic.
This is a dangerous brew that can poison the near term outlook for a complete recovery. It calls for immediate action by any and all concerned citizens who are committed to saving our nation and our civilization.
It calls for, I believe, the organization of every committed resident of our neighborhoods and communities, not just those of us who have come together around Doctor Richardson’s comforting “hot stove”. We can be the catalysts for bringing together all hands who recognize the dire circumstances under which we live.
There may be a need for a coordinated citizen response to an emergency or emergencies in the foreseeable future: food, housing, medical, education, etc. In addition, as we have experienced in this forum, discussing, consulting, debating, problem-solving, together can be critical to our emotional well-being and to constructive activity. And of course, our social, political, and spiritual structures, among others, are in urgent need of support, input, and in some cases, reorganization.
So, what say you? Shall we roll up our sleeves and get to it? I’m in!
Dear Bill, I believe I am responsible for the "of Hope" addition to your alliterative moniker.
I am afraid I missed the criticism of the name. Could you tell me where it was poted.
To me, a herd seemed an apt descrption---a group of beings who are connected by physical proximity (though in our case, virtual) who are fed by a leader---in our case are minds our fed by our shepherd, Dr R.
While a Herd may signify undisciplined energy in need of leadership, to me a Herd of Hope is that same group of beings with a focus on Hope and Change.
If I otherwise might be one frustrated sheep mired in the wilderness of tweets and lies. Being part of the Herd gives me Hope and energy to work for democracy and decency again.
We could say Heroic Heather’s Herd of Hope, but that would surely be over the top! Uh, oh...Humble Heather’s Herd of Hope? Nope! We can keep it simple!
I think of herds as applying to animals and clans to people. But since animals have more integrity than a large number of current citizens, I don't mind being lumped in with a herd, especially this one!
I'm in. Devoting 2021 to battling greed, hatefulness, and delusion. It starts with everyone's small circle of friends and then ripples out like a pebble thrown into a pond.
"We can be the catalysts for bringing together all hands who recognize the dire circumstances under which we live." Brilliantly said! It's so important that we proactively pull together. I'm in!
I agree with you. I advocate for creating communities. I am looking to move elsewhere and hoping to find like-minded people to do so with, or to find like-minded people in the area I hope to move to. I know some people in that area who are knowledgeable about sustainable living... gardening, cooking out of an outdoor wood fired oven, stating connected to their neighborhood. It’s never perfect but the model is a good one.
Every day in every way, he continues to show he is a weak, thin-skinned, petty, peavish, mendacious, malevolent (just look at his face in most photos) ignorant piece of shit. He can't die soon enough.
Christmas in France starts tonight (with part of the family only) this year and the "Reveillon"; traditionally an exchange of gifts, drinks and dinner before a catholic christian service at midnight on 24th.....if you can make it. At least you have a little liquid and solid sustenance inside you by then to suffer the cold of the 12th Century Church gladly! Not so many priests around these days so every village can't just go on foot to the local church and Covid is somewhat getting in the way. However as we are a half-British household with both of us having spent considerable parts of our lives in America.....we start again on the 25th with another part of the family.....but not for lunch as it's a little early to hit the table again. In this country we can have it both ways.
Merry Christmas to you all from Provence.
Merry Christmas, Stuart. And thank you for your smart posts from France, as you watch the mess unfold here in the States. Let's all hope for a New Year filled with renewed hope and promise.
Joyeux Noël!
“Great minds think alike!”
Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!!...and I do mean "BONNE" pour tous!!
Joyeux Noel Stuart. I love Provence, you lucky chien. 🎄
You are where I long to be! I so enjoyed visiting Provence. Passing along the seasonal greeting I received from my French school: « de belles fêtes de Noël ». Merry Christmas, Stuart. 🎄❤️🤍💙
Joyeux Noël!
Merry Christmas, Stuart. Let us hope next year families can celebrate it together again.
Merry Christmas, Stuart! All of that sounds like a lovely tradition! May you and all our friends here have truly happy holidays!
A very Merry Christmas to you, Stuart!
Merry Christmas Stuart! Stay safe! You are part of our family!
Merry Christmas, Stuart!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Stuart.
Merry Christmas, Stuart!
Merry Christmas, Stuart! Thank you for always making me think! Enjoy the family.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, Stuart! I've enjoyed "meeting" you this year. Hopefully our posts will turn toward more hopeful things in 2021! Stay safe!
All I want for Christmas....
It would be glorously ironic if the last thing Trump wrecked on his way out the door was the Republican Senate majority.
Merry Christmas, Mitch. How richly you deserve this last gift.
And then we could say that at least Trump did one thing right.
Ralph Averill, that would be a great Christmas present.
My thoughts exactly! He, along with many others, have truly damaged the Republican Party. Merry Christmas!
Feels like a snake eating its own tail, doesn't it? Merry Christmas.
He has lessened the Repub Party. YAY!
it was pretty much in the basement..."how low can you go?"
Perhaps if he going to Miralago for two weeks, he will tweet less.
I heard that it's harder to keep track of what he's doing at Mar-a-Lago, compared to the WH. That makes me nervous. What is he cooking up?
he's cooking something up with...I refuse to say his name, but his initials are Erik Prince...
Giuliani‘s with them...
Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education, Miquel Cardona looks like another wonderful choice by the President-elect. In his speech yesterday after being introduced by Biden, Mr. Cardona came across as someone very committed to education and to children and a lot of persistence in improving education for all. I think if I were five years old I would be thinking he was a good friend of Santa Claus and therefore a friend of mine. And he had another trait that Biden and Harris and many of the Cabinet nominees have that I have missed in the past four years: the ability to laugh and enjoy the moment.
This from Joe Biden: "Dr. Cardona, the first Latino to serve as Education Commissioner of Connecticut, is a former fourth-grade public school teacher who became the youngest principal in his state. His leadership during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis helped make Connecticut the first state in the nation to ensure that every one of its public school students has a laptop and a high-speed internet connection to engage in remote learning. That makes all the difference in preventing lost school time and closing persistent equity and opportunity gaps."
Would love to high-speed internet extended to rural areas.
This is such a huge relief. I have learned to hate over the last four years in ways of which I never thought myself capable; and Betsy DeVil/Vos has been the focus of a goodly amount of it. My grandparents had only 8th grade educations, my parents both graduated high school, and I'm the first in my family with an advanced degree - all of this is due to a strong public education system that was already suffering from undermining and misdirection before T**** hit the White House. Although I'm now retired, publicly funded education will always have a huge place in my heart and I look forward to Dr. Cardona's confirmation.
Cruella deVos?
What an excellent choice and for all the right reasons, as far as I can see.
I agree another excellent choice for the Biden cabinet😊
He’s a real person who grew up in a gritty small city and has devoted his career to Connecticut children. Refreshing change from axe grinding privileged elite DeVose
Seth Dunn, I grew up in Western Michigan and I have several friends who are public school teachers. I despise Betsy DeVos. I will be happy to see her gone.
she is evil... just like her brother
Refreshing, isn’t!? Merry Christmas!
Wonderful!!!
Holiday greetings and good wishes to you all! It is such a comfort to be part of this virtual community, guided by the wisdom of HCR and strengthened by our collective respect for reason, compassion, and peace. May this nation be delivered safely and in one piece into the careful governance of the Biden administration!
Well said, Rev Judith! A truly happy holiday to you and yours and the entire HCR Letters From An American community, with special thanks to Dr Richardson for her faithful letters!
Thank you for your good wishes, Rev. Judith. Holiday greetings to you and yours.
Wishes for a safe and peaceful holiday, with a chance to laugh out loud, to Heather and everyone here in the Herd of Hope.
I love that!!! The Herd of Hope!!
Hear, hear!
Thank you, Rev, always for your thoughts and wisdom. May we wrap our arms around one another virtually and eventually, in real time. Blessings to you.
You are so welcome, Marlene. We have such a lovely group here! It’s balm for the currently sickened soul, you know???
This is what happens when the bull claims ownership over the China shop, and those who have at least nominal power, if not to control the bull's behavior directly, were empowered to at least circumscribe that behavior and minimize the damage caused. This fiasco is entirely on the Republican Party, as represented in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. In street vernacular, this is 'Red on Red' for no reason other than spite on the part of President Trump, and craven indecisiveness on the part of Senate Republicans. Senate Republicans, for their part… and as epitomized by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; along with a few nervous 'amens' on the part of several other Republican senators, who had the temerity to look beyond the recent presidential election at least until the end of the upcoming two-year election cycle, thinking out loud about how they were going to deal with a newly installed (and former colleagues of theirs) Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Well, that was the equivalent of rubbing sulfuric acid into the very thin skin of President Trump! It was like the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, with the enraged,… and decompensating (to the point of incoherency)… President determined to reduce the American Government to smoking rubble. Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, coupled with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was supposed to signal at least a momentary truce so that at least a minimal amount of economic relief would flow down into the American economy, much less than Democrats had hoped for, but far more than Republicans had been willing to give. Trump was supposed to be on board, until he blew it up, in a hissy fit that will roil the political landscape for at least the coming year. Trump went off to golf at Mar-a-Lago, with Congress facing an end-of-the-year calendar that effectively meant that if the parties could not agree on what to do before the end of the calendar year, the whole exercise would have to be done over again, starting from scratch, starting in the new Congress. Trump's gratuitous claim that the $600 grants to individual Americans to help them meet their living costs during the pandemic-triggered business shutdowns were far too low, and that he wanted to give individual payments of $2,000, were yet another poke in the eye of the Senate Majority Leader and his negotiating team, who had been bound and determined to keep the payments as low as possible. So here we have the President announcing that he was good for $2,000, much to the delight of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
It's difficult to put into words what the dramatic effect of this Trump-induced chaos would look like if we saw it on a movie screen. One scenario would be a Warner Bros. 'Road Runner' cartoon, with Mitch McConnell playing the role of Wiley E. Coyote; or Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, with Donald Trump playing the role of Yosemite Sam. Or, we could have Jim Carrey's character in 'The Mask', which would be my preference for the sheer malicious glee the 'mask' character evokes.
My suggestion would be that while Trump is out of town, Congress declares that Trump has vacated the office and immediately inaugurates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and then tells Trump that if he returns to Washington before January 20, he'll be immediately arrested. If Trump wants to go to court, let him do so, but the most he would get would be three weeks worth of lost salary. We need to ring down the curtain on this Theater of the Absurd, and not wait around while Donald Trump destroys what's left of our country and its government.
Gosh, I love everything you have said in your last paragraph. Somehow, We, The People, have to untie our hands and place them around Congress’s throats until they agree to get us out if this mess!
I start every morning with HRC's words, and then read through the comments. Sometimes I comment, but not often because as a latecomer to these posts this past spring, I feel like a voyeuristic interloper. 😎. But, I have learned a lot from HRC and have loved the conversations here, and for that I am grateful.
I know this next year will not be easy for our new administration nor for way too many of our fellow Americans, but I am hopeful that the much-needed aptitude that is returning to the W.H. will right this ship...and that the humans, replacing the zombies, who smile, laugh, and show compassion and empathy, will finally tackle... really tackle... the many deeply engrained problems and loopholes magnified by the current deplorable administration.
This Christmas Eve, like many of yours, will not be filled with family or family traditions that require "the family" to be present, but to sacrifice this one holiday season in order to celebrate future ones together is exactly the gift we should be giving to one another. Merry Christmas 🎄.
Hey! We’re all newcomers really! Feel welcome and don’t be shy about your comments! We all learn from each other!
Lovely sentiment. I too just joined but feel that these are all my "people"! Merry Christmas, peace and love to all.
Thanks, Cynthia. 🎄
looking forward to hearing more from you soon!
Merry Christmas, Kimberly. Thank you for your comforting words. Oh, and just let the interloper thing go. You're among friends.
Thank you, Becky. Merry Christmas 🎄
That's funny, because I came in a week earlier and feel like one of the old guard! Perception is subjective.
I was telling my therapist (whose services I can finally afford because I now am old enough for Medicare) about how much I enjoy the interactions here among this group of like-hearted, if not always 100% like-minded, intelligent people motivated to understand, discuss, and share our reactions to the news of the day. Her response was, "Ah, you've found your community!"
I feel much the same!
Me too!!
Glad you were able to get into therapy... So important to be able to take care of our emotional and mental health. And yes, after being on the periphery, I do feel this is my extended tribe.
Merry Christmas.🎅⛄🎄
So true! It's never been easy to join in/fit in, so now that I have wandered around the edges, I feel ready to jump in. Thanks for this. Merry Christmas, Syd. 🎄
Welcome!
Just found out yesterday that my doctor, Dr. Mehendale, has succumbed to COVID-19. A brilliant wonderful man. I have never had such a fun time in a doctor's office! Nor, such a profound moment. Two years ago I was in his office when my brother called that my mother had just passed away. He started reciting the Farewell from the Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. He went back to his office and got the book and read the entire Farewell to me. He told me that was what his father had read to him when he was dying. I read it at again my mother's graveside service. I'm guessing he was in his early sixties. What a beautiful thing he did for me that day. This is real and I wish I could shake some sense into all the people believing it's a hoax here in the US. May Dr. Mehendale rest in peace.
So sorry for your loss. Finding a wonderful doctor you trust is never easy, and losing that one you found is truly hard. You have my sympathy. This horrid virus took a dear friend of mine on Dec. 3rd and I and others are still feeling the loss...he was organist/choirmaster of the Nicholas Basilica in Amsterdam. He and his wife are English ex-pats and were among the first friends who took me in when I landed there in 1988. His wife had Covid as well and was in hospital as well. She was with him and holding his hand when he passed. She is now at home and having to deal with it all. I am so sick of this damn virus robbing the world of so many wonderful people--akin to the anger and frustration I felt at the height of the AIDS crisis in the '80s and '90s. We who are left behind can only mourn for the ones gone and pray earnestly for an end to this nightmare. May Dr. Mehendale's memory be a blessing and may your heart be comforted.
I hope the memory of your friend will be a blessing for you as well. Thank you.
Bruce, I know that lovely worship space -- I was in Amsterdam three years ago with my husband, on vacation, and we spent a lot of time in the "old" section of the city. I think I even have some photos of that church. It is truly heartbreaking to read stories like yours, of friends who have died from covid19... we must continue to support each other and try, as we can, to remain hopeful that the vaccine will take hold. These are sad, dark days and I am so sorry for the losses that you, and so many others, are coping with.
Judith, to be clear, the church I mean is up fairly close to Central Station and when you come out of the front of the station it is on the left, a big neo-Byzantine church with spires and a dome. It was built on reclaimed ground in the 1880s. The "Oude Kerk" or "Old Church" is in an old section of the city (now "De Walletjes" or the Red Light District") and dates from the 13th century. It was the first church built in the city and was de-commissioned many years ago and is now used as a concert space. It is a lovely space, very typical old-style church, not cruciform, but more square-shaped. It's still a bit odd seeing it surrounded by all the prostitutes in their little cubicles and their red lights--but Amsterdam was always a city of stark contrasts! The St. Nicolas, or "Nicolaaskerk", is the Catholic basilica for Amsterdam and was built in the 1880s. They extensively restored it just over 20 years ago as it was dark and cold and foreboding, and in desperate need of refurbishment. Now it's full of light and colour and they also restored the organ, which is a Sauer and dates from when the church was built. I really love what they did to it, and I sang there quite a lot. Funny, the "Nieuwe Kerk", or "New Church", which is right next to the Royal Palace on the Dam in the heart of Amsterdam, dates from the 15th/16th century--"new" according to the Dutch!
Yes I recall it very clearly, as we did a lot of coming and going around Centraal Station. The church is a beautiful building.
Sending warm wishes for a peaceful week and a good journey into the new year. We all owe it to our dearly departed family and friends to help make the world a safer, saber place.
Safer place (not saber place...............)🙄
Or saner.
yes...
I am so sorry, Bruce. May you find the blessing of comfort as well.
I am also so sorry for your loss, Bruce. Why all these lovely people taken from us by this nasty virus... while others not so lovely, escape it.
Bruce, my condolences for your loss.
I am so sorry. I know I would feel equally bereft if this were to happen to my own doc. He is Muslim and the most caring and sensitive professional I have ever known. He has been known to make after hours HOUSE CALLS at no charge! Who does that these days?
I am so very sorry to hear about your wonderful doctor. May he be at peace. 💔💔
I'm sorry for your loss, Cathy. What a gentle, kind man he was.
I went to my copy of The Prophet to quote it here, forgetting how long that final chapter is. Here is but a snippet:
"If in the twilight of memory we should meet once more, we shall speak again together and you shall sing to me a deeper song.
And if our hands should meet in another dream we shall build another tower in the sky."
And, thanks to the internet, is the entire chapter:
https://poets.org/poem/farewell-2
Mim E. Thank you for finding it and quoting this part. It gave me shivers, in the best way. There are so many beautiful souls out there, and here. So glad to be in “this room” with you all. Happy holidays to all.
Arghh! It should be "here is..."
I am so sorry to hear of your doctor’s death. I choose to use this word, rather than refer to his ‘passing’ or address your loss at the first because our society refuses to acknowledge death and I believe that somehow lessens the loss of their spirit in the world. So, I am truly sorry for your loss as well. I would be bereft without the support and care I receive from my Nurse Practitioner and cannot imagine how you must feel. May you find the blessing of comfort.
Yes, I did debate that myself. I think you're right. My brother is very conservative and parrots Fox News so believes only people with preexisting conditions are susceptible to COVID-19 otherwise it isn't any worse than the flu. He is respecting my vulnerability to COVID since I am a survivor of a massive pulmonary embolism in 2013 so have some lung compromise. I was within two hours of death and my souls (I don't know why this is plural but that's how it felt) were talking to me. It was actually quite a beautiful calming experience especially since I had no pain and was fully alert. I spent a year dealing with facing my mortality. Now I ask everyone I meet what their dream is. When their eyes light up I know they are thinking of their dream. Then I ask them how are they working to fulfill it. Now is the time to do it not later. It is amazing that you can have such a meaningful conversation in under a minute when you start with a meaningful question! Meaningful big talk, not small talk. Of course, my favorite answer is that they are living their dream. Back to COVID, I tell people "six feet apart or six feet under are my choices." It does help people think about their impact on others. Thanks for you choice to use the word death.
Yes, thank you for sharing this personal account and I would love to know more about that experience. I have a few books on such accounts and I always want to hear more.
Speaking on the Covid issue, I am flummoxed as well about the complete nonchalance of most of the people around me. I am a massage therapist in Florida and some of my long-time devoted clients refuse to wear a mask, and that’s my rule. It is also the rule of the building they live in, but they are angry and defiant about it. It stuns me. I haven’t worked in 9 months. Some clients won’t come back to FL for the season (wisely), and some won’t wear a mask, so they have found a massage therapist who doesn’t care. These are all people in their 70’s, and they are going to restaurants and socializing and going about their lives as if nothing has changed. Never mind, too, that they know they have left me with no income.
I did not have the out-of-body experience that I've read about. This was more what the body does when it goes into survival mode. When you aren't getting enough oxygen, the body actually shunts the oxygen its getting to the brain and heart and away from your limbs and gastro-intestinal track. If I moved even a little (like just enough to put a X-ray plate behind my back) I would go into respiratory distress and have the Feeling of Doom which is your body's way of telling you some very bad it happening. So I had a lot of incentive not to move -- which gave a false impression and meant missed diagnosis of how critical my situation was. There is a calm that comes over you. When I talked to the doctor who saved my life a number of months later she said my calmness had made it easier for her to tell me she had to give me tPA, a drug that could kill me, in order to save my life. When I said that calmness was a survival mechanism of the body she replied, yes, but most people can't pull it off. Finally in the ICU, my soul or souls or ancient spirits or whatever told me "We will have to go if something doesn't happen soon". Fortunately, the tPA worked very well and I was feeling better within an hour or two. Along with the calmness I was feeling whatever happen was OK. My only regret would be how it would hurt my mother if I died then. So, I'm not afraid of death any more. But, today I am thinking about what a horrible death COVID-19 puts one through. I think of how someone like Dr. Mehendale, so wonderful and good, had to go through that. I don't want to dwell on it. I'd rather celebrate his life. And, that we may all find peace in the afterlife. May we all be grateful for having people like Dr. Mehendale in ours lives.
I, too, find it absolutely astounding that there is no concern for others. I feel they are confusing personal freedom with anarchy where there is no consideration for others. With our freedoms comes responsibility to protect the freedoms and rights of others and for all. The right to life being the most important. I'm glad you are holding to your rule for wearing masks. This may sound like a funny idea but I knew someone who did canine massage and had a good business. Look up the Tellington Touch for one method. You could have curbside drop-off and pick-up like my vet does. Maybe you could invent a virtual massage on Zoom where you instruct the person to do a self-massage or between a couple of family members.
Oh, Cathy! What a powerful story! Thank you for sharing this. It has literally brought me to tears. Thank you for the reminder that we are guaranteed nothing in this life - not even life itself. And for reminding me to get back to the work of focusing on my dream. I hope you are living yours. Much love and hugs to you.
Yes, Now is the time to live your dream, not some day. My mission is to help people fulfill their dreams. My dream is that we have a country that measures itself by a Well-Being Index not the GDP so that every person in the country and for that matter the world is living a life of well-being. That's more than fleeting happiness. It's a life that flourishes with meaning, positive relationships, accomplishments, positive emotions and engagement. Check out Dr. Martin Seligman's Theory of Well Being at https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/learn/wellbeing . Or listen to his TEDtalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_the_new_era_of_positive_psychology And, I have a sense of destiny that I believe everything I've experienced is preparing me for although what it is isn't clear yet. Much love and hugs to you!
It feels like there is a lot of being prepared for something I/we are not sure of just yet. So much is ending, which means there will also be so much beginning. I wish you the best.
I hope we both find our destiny. I did like the Heather's view that this could be a new age, a very positive age when every person is valued and loved.
Thank you! ❤️
Oh Cathy, I’m so sorry to hear this. Thank you for sharing the story of someone who clearly added to the goodness in the world. I, too, will add Gibran’s “Farewell” to mourning. It brought me to tears. “We are the seeds of the tenacious plant, and it is in our ripeness and our fullness of heart that we are given to the wind and are scattered.” Dr. Mehendale must have the words of Farewell in his soul, and may they have brought him peace.
🙏
Cathy, I am sorry to know that you have lost this dear physician and friend. It is just so sad. Be well, and know that many of us are thinking of you.
Thank you for your kind thoughts. May we all stay healthy and appreciate our blessings.
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Doctor and your mother. The Prophet. Such wisdom.
Oh I am SO sorry for your loss of this wonderful man, Cathy! My heart goes out to you. This is so horribly wrong. No words suffice here. I just feel such deep sadness hearing this. I don’t know if you know about the Osterholm Update on the cidrap website. At the end of the update, he reads a memorial that someone has sent in. It might be something to submit, in honor of your beloved doctor. Dr. O almost comes to tears, and sometimes does, when he talks about the healthcare workers and what they are going through in this time.
Like Stuart, Christmas starts here in Germany today, Christmas Eve. I baked for two days and will go into the living room now to share the goodies with my family. So here's wishing all of you here a blessed Holiday season and a Healthy and Happy 2021.
And Fröhliche Weihnachten to you too. We picked our ration of little Christmas figures in"pain d'épice" from Lidl for the little ones when they get here. Happy New Year!
joyeux Noël!
This year, my wife decreed that we would have no baked goods from the grocery store ... so I made gingerbread cookies, among others.
And to you too.. ah.. baking for two days.. your house must smell wonderful.
For those interested, I picked a food pantry in Bar Harbour, Maine. The link I’m sharing is from their webpage and at the bottom of the donation page is a “comments”section. I for one will make a note in honor of the inimitable and indefatigable HCR. So grateful for her wisdom, thoughtfulness with her daily posts, and words of truth. This organizations speaks to their essence as a community - as people volunteering to carry out the mission, but also as members within their schools, town offices, churches, businesses, Main Street, and at the harbor. Just like all of us.
https://www.barharborfoodpantry.org/donations/
As previously mentioned, I have NO affiliation with the organization. I’m a native Michigander but with 30 years in MA, I’m feeling more like an East Coast native.
Donated with note, “From your neighbor, Heather Cox Richardson, a tireless worker for democracy and goodness in this world!”
Donated with note In honor of Heather.
In a similar vein, this org has a (Maine) state-wide reach:
https://www.gsfb.org/get-involved/donate/
“The mission of Good Shepherd Food Bank is to eliminate hunger in Maine by improving access to nutritious food for people in need, building strong community partnerships, and mobilizing the public in the fight to end hunger.”
Done " in honor of Dr. Heather Cox Richardson's ongoing contribution to the common good of our people."
I donated. It took less than one minute. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to show appreciation in a great way.
What a wonderful idea. No doubt, we all have our favorite charities, and until Dr. Richardson points to the ones she recommends it might be delightful to share around our own favorites. Like you, I have no affiliation with this charity, other than having the privilege of doing a little volunteer work for them after hurricane Maria a few years ago. Feeding and providing a little care and comfort to hungry dogs, cats AND horses.
https://www.ourbigfatcaribbeanrescue.org/
Here is mine, ne I have volunteered for for six years. I put pictures of my weekly arrangements on FB so as to spread the cheer and put good karma out into the universe. The mental health effects of flowers are well known. Www.randomactsofflowers.org.
That’s a beautiful thing to do. You are right about the healing effect of flowers. I will check out the link.
Donated, Lynn - sounds like a great charity. Here is my favorite:
Palomino@chillypepper.org
This is a rescue in Nevada that rescues mostly wild horse foals from the slaughter pipeline in Washington State and many others. Very deserving charity.
Actually link is: https://www.chillypepper.org
I clicked on her email! This gal & her husband spend the winter in SD rescueing horses from a "sanctuary" that got overwhelmed. I think it was in 2015. But seeing the pictures of that time really told the story of winter in SD! I realize at this time there are so many people in dire straits - but at the same time the animals get short shrift in many instances.
YAYYYYY this is awesome. Heather's hard correct.
Merry Christmas
Herd herd!
Oh I am glad to know about this. As a horse lover, I donate to a few horse rescues.
Done ! Thank you for this !
As a lifelong Mainer, thank you Laurie, from the bottom of my heart
Well said, Laurie! Well done! And done!
Yes! Ty
Done also!!! In honor of our champion, Dr. Heather Cox Richardson. Thanks for the lovely idea.
That’s a lovely idea!
Great idea, thank you. Done!
Laurie, good choice. Thanks for setting up this initiative. (Bar Harbour is actually~100 mi from Heather's abode.) When I made a donation in honour of HCR, site wouldn't accept my real foreign address, so I used my Cambridge, MA address from 50 years ago.
Done.
Yes!
"Witness tampering!"
Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner, tried to blackmail his own brother-in-law to keep quiet. Charles had hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and then secretly had the encounter videotaped to threaten exposure to his sister- what kind of person does that to their own family?
SMH
The people pardoned by 45 are among the lowest of the low, Kushner of less consequence despite being principal of the most sordid political corruption cases in New Jersey history. The most disgusting and inexcusable pardons are of the 4 Blackwater murderers who killed civilians including women and children in the Nisour massacre in Iraq in 2007. After 10 years' efforts those "guards" were convicted and jailed.
Actually after today's news I am practically incoherent - 45 DOESN'T SIGN the relief bill and instead flies off to Mar-a-lago, and he vetoed defense funding!!
Will there ever be a day in the remaining 27 when he will NOT be wreaking havoc? This week alone just before Christmas, SMH...
45 continues to be malignantly CRUEL.
In an interview today, Chris Christie says prosecuting Charles Kushner was the easiest decision he ever made, that he has no regrets for. "What he did to his sister was the worst thing I ever saw as a US Attorney, and I was US Attorney in New Jersey, where there's a lot of bad things!"
Still, as some reporters have noted, many of us would have been unaware of most details of Chas. Kushner's soiled and sordid behavior. At least, although pardoned, his appallingly debased character is now on vivid display. And even if he's able to ignore such notoriety, the ugly truth is out there. Forever. It's a stain on the whole family. Including his son Jared, daughter-in-law Ivanka, and their children.
Agreed. When I originally learned of Charles Kushner’s actions/crimes/deeds I was disgusted and figured that it told me all I needed to know about Jared.
They are all bottom feeders...scum.
AND I read this creep then sent the video TO his own sister! Certainly shows what kind of family good old Jared came from!
So glad to have Dr. R and this group beside me as we witness this... this madness. It would be terrible to face it all alone. Seriously.
Republicans are learning what sane people have known for the past four years: Trump will screw you over after you've stopped being useful to him. He is an unspeakably vile thing.
Thank you Heather for the unpacking of this, as previously stated, "clusterf***".
Just as I had anticipated, the actors that were central to the Russian investigation have been rewarded. Trumps train of deceit is running on schedule. The pardons will continue, I'm sure to include more family members and other rightfully convicted people. There is absolutely nothing that surprises me at this point. My solace with Trump is that he is old, demented, in poor physical condition and he will likely, in short time join the hundreds of thousands of people he chose to turn his back on. I'm good with that.
Perhaps I’m getting nitpicky, but I must say the contradiction of the president of the US pardoning a man convicted of $1 billion Medicare fraud against the US government says everything I need to know about Trump’s allegiance to this country and us.
Never mind the war criminals.
Indeed.
Maybe the actors central to the Russian investigation will be rewarded with an opportunity to testify. An HCR Facebook reader relayed that post-pardon, they cannot invoke the 5th amendment, so either they’d testify truthfully against trump or lie and face perjury charges—from which they’d be pardoned by whom?
Those people were absolved of their crimes by a wave of Trumps hand. They won't have to answer any questions in court. The Russia investigation is done and Trump won, regardless of facts. Trumps crimes won't see the light of day . I don't feel anything will come of his State crimes as well. We have all heard how Trump is going down, he will be indicted and so on. Nothing will bear fruit, it never does with him. How many times during the Impeachment hearings did we read that Trump would be dragged out of Office. Nothing happened to him except an asterisk after his name in history books. Biden has very disappointingly stated he isn't interested in pursuing any crimes Trump has committed. Sad what this Country has turned into . More so, disappointing.
Biden won't have time to pursue any litigation against Trump. He is going to be way too busy figuring out what he has walked into and getting it straightened out...if McConnell isn't in his way...batten the hatches, boys! The waves are getting rough!
I'm pretty sure the Southern District of New York, once T**** is out of office, will be ready to go on the attack.
Or be unable to “recall” more likely.
And THAT is when his true punishment will commence.
I read a response in this forum recently that was critical of the term “herd” to identify our merry, not-so-little, coterie and I was pleased. When I came up with the moniker, “Heather’s Herd”—someone added “of Hope”, later—I was searching for a consonantal alliteration, some phrase that would pick up on Doctor Richardson’s given name. It was never an ideal choice, but it was the one that came to me first. Another possibility would be “Heather’s Horde”, or “Heather’s Horde of Hope”, or “Heather’s Hot Horde”. Take your pick or suggest something better. Of course alliteration isn’t a requirement, but I thought it was cutesy and a bit corny. Perhaps a more dignified approach would be better. Go ahead; add your two cents—or two dollars, adjusting for inflation, very approximately.
While I hate to be alarmist, there is more than a little evidence that the current tenant in the White House may try a desperate maneuver, or possibly several desperate maneuvers, to maintain the fantasy that he did not lose the election. According to his niece, and his former “fixer,” he cannot tolerate the thought that he is a “loser”.
The niece, Mary Trump, warns that her uncle may engage in a “scorched earth” policy before finally departing 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Regarding the “fixer”, Michael Cohen predicts a horrendous non-concession, non-transition disaster on or around Inauguration Day. To quote poet Dylan Thomas, he will “not go gentle into that good night.”
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/12/michael-cohen-predicts-trumps-post-presidency-legal-drama
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/12/trump-losing-his-mind/617446/
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/12/trumps-attempted-coup-dangerous/617447/
In addition to that, there are a number of prognosticators who think that the world is spinning out of control, absent the actions of the lame duck occupant of the Oval. The effects of the pandemic are many and varied, and few if any are good. The global economy is under siege, and the novel coronavirus appears to be mutating in several parts of the world. This latter development could render the new vaccines less effective.
Some citizens, in the U.S. and in other nations, are suffering from “quarantine fever,” desperate to escape the confines of their homes, while others refuse to follow the counsel of medical professionals and their elected officials to wear masks and practice social distancing. More than a few say that COVID-19 is a hoax and entertain various conspiracy theories—deadly fairy tales?—compounding the mortal danger of the pandemic.
This is a dangerous brew that can poison the near term outlook for a complete recovery. It calls for immediate action by any and all concerned citizens who are committed to saving our nation and our civilization.
It calls for, I believe, the organization of every committed resident of our neighborhoods and communities, not just those of us who have come together around Doctor Richardson’s comforting “hot stove”. We can be the catalysts for bringing together all hands who recognize the dire circumstances under which we live.
There may be a need for a coordinated citizen response to an emergency or emergencies in the foreseeable future: food, housing, medical, education, etc. In addition, as we have experienced in this forum, discussing, consulting, debating, problem-solving, together can be critical to our emotional well-being and to constructive activity. And of course, our social, political, and spiritual structures, among others, are in urgent need of support, input, and in some cases, reorganization.
So, what say you? Shall we roll up our sleeves and get to it? I’m in!
Dear Bill, I believe I am responsible for the "of Hope" addition to your alliterative moniker.
I am afraid I missed the criticism of the name. Could you tell me where it was poted.
To me, a herd seemed an apt descrption---a group of beings who are connected by physical proximity (though in our case, virtual) who are fed by a leader---in our case are minds our fed by our shepherd, Dr R.
While a Herd may signify undisciplined energy in need of leadership, to me a Herd of Hope is that same group of beings with a focus on Hope and Change.
If I otherwise might be one frustrated sheep mired in the wilderness of tweets and lies. Being part of the Herd gives me Hope and energy to work for democracy and decency again.
I’m good with Herd of Hope or more specifically Heather’s Herd of Hope.
I'd like to know what Heather thinks about this fun group name!??
We could say Heroic Heather’s Herd of Hope, but that would surely be over the top! Uh, oh...Humble Heather’s Herd of Hope? Nope! We can keep it simple!
I think of herds as applying to animals and clans to people. But since animals have more integrity than a large number of current citizens, I don't mind being lumped in with a herd, especially this one!
I prefer Herd over Tribe....another over used descriptive often lacking a common meaning.
I'm in. Devoting 2021 to battling greed, hatefulness, and delusion. It starts with everyone's small circle of friends and then ripples out like a pebble thrown into a pond.
In our household, we simply refer to ourselves as “HeatherHeads”♥️
"We can be the catalysts for bringing together all hands who recognize the dire circumstances under which we live." Brilliantly said! It's so important that we proactively pull together. I'm in!
Say aye!
Me too! (In a good way😊)
I agree with you. I advocate for creating communities. I am looking to move elsewhere and hoping to find like-minded people to do so with, or to find like-minded people in the area I hope to move to. I know some people in that area who are knowledgeable about sustainable living... gardening, cooking out of an outdoor wood fired oven, stating connected to their neighborhood. It’s never perfect but the model is a good one.
Thank you for the links to good articles! I read a lot but miss some too...
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!! From our house to yours, wishing a sincere Merry Christmas for those who are inclined!
27 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes, 30 seconds to January 20, 2021...
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Lynell!
Happy holy days to you and yours.
Every day in every way, he continues to show he is a weak, thin-skinned, petty, peavish, mendacious, malevolent (just look at his face in most photos) ignorant piece of shit. He can't die soon enough.
With you on that.
Accurate