This evening I saw an interview with Rebekah Jones on the Lawrence O'Donnell show. They had a surveillance camera on the front door and hallway which showed the police entering her house with guns drawn pointing them at her, her husband and her little children! And the email that triggered (please excuse the pun) all this was: ""It's ti…
This evening I saw an interview with Rebekah Jones on the Lawrence O'Donnell show. They had a surveillance camera on the front door and hallway which showed the police entering her house with guns drawn pointing them at her, her husband and her little children! And the email that triggered (please excuse the pun) all this was: ""It's time to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead," the message said, according to the affidavit. "You know this is wrong. You don't have to be part of this. Be a hero. Speak out before it's too late." That is the message which she says she did not send, was enough for a warrant to have armed men enter her home and point guns at her children. This is not America. Or unfortunately maybe it is. This is sickening!
Of all the outrageous things that have taken place in the last four years, this stands out. We can't be rid of Trump fast enough, but we must also root out those who have perpetuated his reign of corruption and stand ready to continue it.
This is crass intimidation intended to shut up more than Ms Jones. This is what trump etc would like to do to you and me.
The Democrats now have to get really serious about investing time, money and brains in the fight for each State and in the outlawing of gerrymandering and voter restriction everywhere. The Republicans have been giving them a hiding because they saw the importance of dominating this level of power......and have reaped the rewards.
And hand-in-hand with creating fair congressional districts is a stronger, broader Fairness Doctrine. This is what I want to put my energy towards--to stop the incessant lying and gaslighting we've had to endure for 5 years (and will only get worse, I'm afraid). Bring truth and proof back to the public square.
Also, need to do something about the Electoral College which is making close margins in a couple of swing states determine the winner rather than the popular vote.
Need to get more states to support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Seems the alternative is the Hand Maid's Tale and minority autocratic rule. So worth the effort.
Deborah, before the election I had already vowed to be an active participant in whatever Resistance effort emerged should Trump be re- elected. After the election I had about 15 seconds of relief thinking I might not have to "take to the streets" or "go underground." Today i realize that an ongoing and alert Resistance movement is more critical than ever. I am now in a mental, emotional and spiritual " boot camp"!! The emperor may be dethroned but the empire remains!!!
I found the Non-violent resistance training at choosedemocracy.us quite valuable in how to be effective. It has been focused on whether there would be a coup attempt which was fortunately quite inept. We must be more alert because the next autocrat who takes over the Presidency (because of the Electoral College electing the minority candidate from marginal votes in a few swing states) will not be as incompetent as the current lame duck. Sure is nice to say lame duck -- can't wait to get to former! We need to get rid of Electoral College and neuter it as many states are doing. We need more states to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Like other procedures, the Electoral College seems to be an entrenched root of the structural racism that permeates our culture. It needs to be dug up and tossed out. ❤️🤍💙
Unfortunately, and perhaps because the coming runoff election is so crucial because it will determine which party holds the Senate majority, Georgia Republicans are continuing their voter suppression tactics. For example, some drop boxes, usually in low-income or communities of color, I've read, are being eliminated except as yet another method of ongoing voter suppression.
The last paragraph of this maddening article is telling, that the multiple recounts were paid for by taxpayer dollars, so, it is claimed, monies are no longer available to staff the same number of voting places as there were for the general election.
Rebekah Jones is the former State of Florida Data Scientist who wouldn't go along with massaging the COVID-19 data to meet the political agenda of Governor DeSantis.
The only positive thing I have seen coming out of that horrible gestapo action is that a life-long Florida Republican GOP attorney (Mr. Filipowsky.. May have that spelling wrong) read the search warrant affidavit and resigned. He was disgusted and said this incident was all about intimidation. Good for him and may there be others like him. This has ramifications for all of Ms. Jones’ contacts, which were on those devices. We will see how that plays out. Meanwhile, Ms Jones was quoted as saying she is moving “the hell out of Florida” because a gun(s) was/were aimed at her children. Sadly, intimidation has worked, though I hope she continues her excellent work. I am hoping there is a way to send a message of support on her Florida Community Covid Dashboard and I know there is a way to send a donation so I am passing that on if anyone is interested.
One can not blame a mother for wanting to protect her children. She is going to sue the governor. She has set up a Crowd Fund to support her legal bills. I hope a lot of people support her. And, kudos to Mr. Filipkowsky for being ethical! That is what I would expect from a Marine vet.
Just ask Black, Brown, and Indigenous Americans - they will tell you it is definitely an America they recognize all too well. While I was sickened to watch the thugs invade Jones's home, my thought throughout was that this happens every day in America to BIPOC, so I can't be overly outraged when it happens to a white family. Except in this case, nobody was shot, her husband still has his spouse, her children still have their mother - they are just without a few electronic devices.
Benjamin Franklin wisely said “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” I am outraged by having anyone treated this way. I recognize that this could have been much worse and is daily for BIPOC. I was hopeful that the Black Lives Matter this past June with the killing of George Floyd was a turning point because the protesters were from all walks of life. It felt like a movement. I want it to be. Let's focus on solving the problem for all rather than comparing to what degree of outrage we "should" have for each scenario. Let's come together to be a movement!
“[A] movement…”. That’s exactly what this HCR forum should become, Cathy! There are so many activists involved here, and so much activity aimed at saving, and then improving, this American “experiment”.
The intellectual capacity of our virtual community is enormous, and our fidelity to our cherished homeland is impregnable. The efforts exerted by this electronic “neighborhood” in the political arena this election season have been jaw-dropping!
If we begin to harness this assortment of talents, experience and commitment we can have an historic impact on our nation...and beyond. Our overall perspective on the sort of society we human beings crave is, as our British cousins might say, “spot on”. Justice, equality, unity: these make up the core attributes we all crave, and that a true and sustainable civilization requires.
There is no reason this collection of knowledgeable and laser-focused individuals can’t be harnessed to confront and redesign the failed structures that make up our society. There is no roadblock that can seriously impede the inexorable march of this community and its allies to the goal of reconstructing this democratic republic in its own image.
This is music to my ears, Bill! Yes, I'd love the HCR forum to be one about solutions and actions. This is an incredible group and I'm enjoying my new friends and our discussions here so much. When asked what Party I belong to, my answer is I'm a Synergist. The Whole is Greater than the Sum of the Parts. We are strengthened by valuing our differences and perspectives and come up with better solutions for all than any one perspective or solution. We are strengthened by having a voice from our sheer numbers. I've thought about writing a platform for this party. Maybe it isn't even a party but a Synergist Society. Maybe we can suggest to Heather some questions to explore. Yes, let's stimulate a movement... A three minutes TED talk by Derek Sivers about how to start a movement I enjoy! https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement/transcript?language=en Let's get up and dance.
Cathy, there’s no reason why “Heather’s Herd of Hope”, or whatever we decide to call it (at this point I’d definitely vote against that moniker...and I think I may have been the one to start it...the first two H’s at least). It would be criminal to not build on the platform that’s been created.
Beyond the existing “community”, it should be possible to attract others who may be desperately casting about, trying to find some way to save the ship of state. There are so many points in dire need that must be addressed in our society.
My feeling is that we need to think outside the box, so to speak, to confront the destructive mythology that has brought us to this disastrous point. Too much of our history has been fictionalized, leaving a foundation that is more sand than stone. We will never be able to build a stable structure on such a base.
I won’t try to list the areas that must be addressed at this point. Most are well known to the people who make up HCR’s following. A list can be created soon after a sizable number of those who read these Letters and post to this site commit to getting to work on our future.
Thanks for your initiative and insightful comments.
I applaud the idea of organizing some vehicle for concrete action around this community. I would, with all respect to HCR, suggest we not include any individual’s name in whatever title we might use should this come to fruition. I believe it puts too much of a burden on Prof. Richardson – who has enough on her plate - and having anyone’s name in the title sounds a bit cultish to my ears.
Hmmm, Much to think about here. In a way we have a fairly clean slate. Always like the idea that Einstein had to destroy his/our concept of time to come up with relativity. Many times one has to destroy old notions before one can create something new. With all the destruction of norms, ethics, civility, etc. of the past few years and starting decades ago and centuries of injustice, we may have an opportunity for a fresh start. You describe it as outside the box; I'm thinking something similar that we need to step out of the weeds, and look at the bigger picture. One of my life rules is to go toward something, not away from something. So what are we going toward?
I was listening a podcast by CNN's Don Lemon this evening called Blaxit. It is about blacks leaving the US to go live in Ghana, Namibia, Trinidad and other places. He interviews a number of the American diaspora and their reasons for leaving. People with means and with an online job see this is a very viable option. That they don't get shot by cops while walking home from grocery can be pretty enjoyable. One comment stayed with me-that they feel as discriminated by white liberal folks as by straight up racists. Its subtle but anytime you assert yourself in the former group you are labeled as an angry black person (for example).
The way to prevent that is to keep the guns in their holsters or don't bring them at all. I gather the message was on an Florida emergency message so I can believe you would want to track that down. I hate to think what might have happened if she were black. We need to keep the social justice movement and Black Lives Matter moving forward!
This evening I saw an interview with Rebekah Jones on the Lawrence O'Donnell show. They had a surveillance camera on the front door and hallway which showed the police entering her house with guns drawn pointing them at her, her husband and her little children! And the email that triggered (please excuse the pun) all this was: ""It's time to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead," the message said, according to the affidavit. "You know this is wrong. You don't have to be part of this. Be a hero. Speak out before it's too late." That is the message which she says she did not send, was enough for a warrant to have armed men enter her home and point guns at her children. This is not America. Or unfortunately maybe it is. This is sickening!
Of all the outrageous things that have taken place in the last four years, this stands out. We can't be rid of Trump fast enough, but we must also root out those who have perpetuated his reign of corruption and stand ready to continue it.
Amen to that brother!
I hope this story remains in the news until ALL involved are shamefully removed from their dictator wannabe positions.
Like Vidman, this woman is a patriot.
This is crass intimidation intended to shut up more than Ms Jones. This is what trump etc would like to do to you and me.
The Democrats now have to get really serious about investing time, money and brains in the fight for each State and in the outlawing of gerrymandering and voter restriction everywhere. The Republicans have been giving them a hiding because they saw the importance of dominating this level of power......and have reaped the rewards.
And hand-in-hand with creating fair congressional districts is a stronger, broader Fairness Doctrine. This is what I want to put my energy towards--to stop the incessant lying and gaslighting we've had to endure for 5 years (and will only get worse, I'm afraid). Bring truth and proof back to the public square.
Not the easiest thing to achieve when the nastiest parts of society have seen very clearly that lies can be very "rewarding" . Good luck!
Also, need to do something about the Electoral College which is making close margins in a couple of swing states determine the winner rather than the popular vote.
That would be a Herculean effort, most likely to fail.
Need to get more states to support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Seems the alternative is the Hand Maid's Tale and minority autocratic rule. So worth the effort.
Essential. This is at the heart of my next volunteer years efforts to make change possible. ❤️🤍💙
Deborah, before the election I had already vowed to be an active participant in whatever Resistance effort emerged should Trump be re- elected. After the election I had about 15 seconds of relief thinking I might not have to "take to the streets" or "go underground." Today i realize that an ongoing and alert Resistance movement is more critical than ever. I am now in a mental, emotional and spiritual " boot camp"!! The emperor may be dethroned but the empire remains!!!
I found the Non-violent resistance training at choosedemocracy.us quite valuable in how to be effective. It has been focused on whether there would be a coup attempt which was fortunately quite inept. We must be more alert because the next autocrat who takes over the Presidency (because of the Electoral College electing the minority candidate from marginal votes in a few swing states) will not be as incompetent as the current lame duck. Sure is nice to say lame duck -- can't wait to get to former! We need to get rid of Electoral College and neuter it as many states are doing. We need more states to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Like other procedures, the Electoral College seems to be an entrenched root of the structural racism that permeates our culture. It needs to be dug up and tossed out. ❤️🤍💙
You can say that again, Deborah! Let's get our shovels!
Unfortunately, and perhaps because the coming runoff election is so crucial because it will determine which party holds the Senate majority, Georgia Republicans are continuing their voter suppression tactics. For example, some drop boxes, usually in low-income or communities of color, I've read, are being eliminated except as yet another method of ongoing voter suppression.
The last paragraph of this maddening article is telling, that the multiple recounts were paid for by taxpayer dollars, so, it is claimed, monies are no longer available to staff the same number of voting places as there were for the general election.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/georgia-counties-cut-back-early-voting-sites-ahead-senate-runoffs-n1250307?fbclid=IwAR2z0Pq5WyNlCWFn7SbHwXS9SxTYImHmCyzgFsmjO7nssv8txgbr1R68hbU
Please disregard the word "except" in my comment.
Rebekah Jones is the former State of Florida Data Scientist who wouldn't go along with massaging the COVID-19 data to meet the political agenda of Governor DeSantis.
Truly Repugnant!
The only positive thing I have seen coming out of that horrible gestapo action is that a life-long Florida Republican GOP attorney (Mr. Filipowsky.. May have that spelling wrong) read the search warrant affidavit and resigned. He was disgusted and said this incident was all about intimidation. Good for him and may there be others like him. This has ramifications for all of Ms. Jones’ contacts, which were on those devices. We will see how that plays out. Meanwhile, Ms Jones was quoted as saying she is moving “the hell out of Florida” because a gun(s) was/were aimed at her children. Sadly, intimidation has worked, though I hope she continues her excellent work. I am hoping there is a way to send a message of support on her Florida Community Covid Dashboard and I know there is a way to send a donation so I am passing that on if anyone is interested.
One can not blame a mother for wanting to protect her children. She is going to sue the governor. She has set up a Crowd Fund to support her legal bills. I hope a lot of people support her. And, kudos to Mr. Filipkowsky for being ethical! That is what I would expect from a Marine vet.
A place for her in Biden's government team?
Cathy, you can remove "maybe" from the next to last sentence. I won't say anymore, because I have to get back to re-reading "1984." Stay safe.
I would agree most days but "maybe" keeps me having hope for our country and the Biden administration. Yes, please stay safe!
Just ask Black, Brown, and Indigenous Americans - they will tell you it is definitely an America they recognize all too well. While I was sickened to watch the thugs invade Jones's home, my thought throughout was that this happens every day in America to BIPOC, so I can't be overly outraged when it happens to a white family. Except in this case, nobody was shot, her husband still has his spouse, her children still have their mother - they are just without a few electronic devices.
Benjamin Franklin wisely said “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” I am outraged by having anyone treated this way. I recognize that this could have been much worse and is daily for BIPOC. I was hopeful that the Black Lives Matter this past June with the killing of George Floyd was a turning point because the protesters were from all walks of life. It felt like a movement. I want it to be. Let's focus on solving the problem for all rather than comparing to what degree of outrage we "should" have for each scenario. Let's come together to be a movement!
“[A] movement…”. That’s exactly what this HCR forum should become, Cathy! There are so many activists involved here, and so much activity aimed at saving, and then improving, this American “experiment”.
The intellectual capacity of our virtual community is enormous, and our fidelity to our cherished homeland is impregnable. The efforts exerted by this electronic “neighborhood” in the political arena this election season have been jaw-dropping!
If we begin to harness this assortment of talents, experience and commitment we can have an historic impact on our nation...and beyond. Our overall perspective on the sort of society we human beings crave is, as our British cousins might say, “spot on”. Justice, equality, unity: these make up the core attributes we all crave, and that a true and sustainable civilization requires.
There is no reason this collection of knowledgeable and laser-focused individuals can’t be harnessed to confront and redesign the failed structures that make up our society. There is no roadblock that can seriously impede the inexorable march of this community and its allies to the goal of reconstructing this democratic republic in its own image.
This is music to my ears, Bill! Yes, I'd love the HCR forum to be one about solutions and actions. This is an incredible group and I'm enjoying my new friends and our discussions here so much. When asked what Party I belong to, my answer is I'm a Synergist. The Whole is Greater than the Sum of the Parts. We are strengthened by valuing our differences and perspectives and come up with better solutions for all than any one perspective or solution. We are strengthened by having a voice from our sheer numbers. I've thought about writing a platform for this party. Maybe it isn't even a party but a Synergist Society. Maybe we can suggest to Heather some questions to explore. Yes, let's stimulate a movement... A three minutes TED talk by Derek Sivers about how to start a movement I enjoy! https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement/transcript?language=en Let's get up and dance.
Thanks, that it terrific - let's spread it.
OK! We can be the First Followers of something wonderful. Here we go to create a movement! Step 1: The Vision....
Cathy, there’s no reason why “Heather’s Herd of Hope”, or whatever we decide to call it (at this point I’d definitely vote against that moniker...and I think I may have been the one to start it...the first two H’s at least). It would be criminal to not build on the platform that’s been created.
Beyond the existing “community”, it should be possible to attract others who may be desperately casting about, trying to find some way to save the ship of state. There are so many points in dire need that must be addressed in our society.
My feeling is that we need to think outside the box, so to speak, to confront the destructive mythology that has brought us to this disastrous point. Too much of our history has been fictionalized, leaving a foundation that is more sand than stone. We will never be able to build a stable structure on such a base.
I won’t try to list the areas that must be addressed at this point. Most are well known to the people who make up HCR’s following. A list can be created soon after a sizable number of those who read these Letters and post to this site commit to getting to work on our future.
Thanks for your initiative and insightful comments.
I applaud the idea of organizing some vehicle for concrete action around this community. I would, with all respect to HCR, suggest we not include any individual’s name in whatever title we might use should this come to fruition. I believe it puts too much of a burden on Prof. Richardson – who has enough on her plate - and having anyone’s name in the title sounds a bit cultish to my ears.
Hmmm, Much to think about here. In a way we have a fairly clean slate. Always like the idea that Einstein had to destroy his/our concept of time to come up with relativity. Many times one has to destroy old notions before one can create something new. With all the destruction of norms, ethics, civility, etc. of the past few years and starting decades ago and centuries of injustice, we may have an opportunity for a fresh start. You describe it as outside the box; I'm thinking something similar that we need to step out of the weeds, and look at the bigger picture. One of my life rules is to go toward something, not away from something. So what are we going toward?
I was listening a podcast by CNN's Don Lemon this evening called Blaxit. It is about blacks leaving the US to go live in Ghana, Namibia, Trinidad and other places. He interviews a number of the American diaspora and their reasons for leaving. People with means and with an online job see this is a very viable option. That they don't get shot by cops while walking home from grocery can be pretty enjoyable. One comment stayed with me-that they feel as discriminated by white liberal folks as by straight up racists. Its subtle but anytime you assert yourself in the former group you are labeled as an angry black person (for example).
This exodus is real
Wow but unfortunately this is what the racists want, either to jail, kill, or send people of color away. We can’t let them do this!!!
Thank god no one was shot!!!
The way to prevent that is to keep the guns in their holsters or don't bring them at all. I gather the message was on an Florida emergency message so I can believe you would want to track that down. I hate to think what might have happened if she were black. We need to keep the social justice movement and Black Lives Matter moving forward!