352 Comments

The police seem not only determined to never take any casualties, they will barely even risk any casualties and instead shoot first, often to kill. That negative goal is actually one of the better explanations for their violence toward segments of the public. A worse case is that they are deliberately out to hunt people down. Dr R is right, America is waking up to the horrific role of lethal violence from the police. Yet a 5% increase in white support for BLM just seems pathetic compared what's needed. It's better than nothing, but hey, America, it's time to wake up and step up!! Fellow Americans are in mortal danger from having their legal rights violated. Memorial Day isn't just the traditional start of summer -- it's the start of the summer protest season!

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Dear Prof. HCR,

Thank you for beginning with the extraordinary death of a very ordinary human being. Truth be told, neither I nor many other US citizens will ever forget the name of George Floyd. Like so many African Americans before and after him, George Perry Floyd, Jr. did not deserve to die, and certainly not in the manner in which his death was executed. No one deserves that manner of degradation -- no human being, no living being, merits the torture of being deprived of air for 9 minutes and 29 seconds for having passed a $20 counterfeit bill.

George Floyd lived, loved, and was loved. What gave callous, vainglorious Chauvin the right to use his whiteness as a weapon of misperceived justice? George Floyd may not have been a perfect man, but he was a living soul -- he deserved the chance to better himself, to fulfill his dream of seeing his children grow, graduate, marry, and have their own children -- to live through that very basic, very natural cycle of life. He was not given that opportunity because of racism and bigotry.

How much more racism and bigotry are we willing to witness before the final ENOUGH? Some southern states want to ban race theory from their classrooms in order to avoid teaching their children to hate their country -- what is more important, to be disappointed in your country or to despise and degrade other human beings because of the color of their skin? What kind of human beings do we want to send forth into the world?

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"Today we learned that the Manhattan district attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., has recently called together a special grand jury to hear a number of cases, including whether to indict former President Trump, other people in charge of running his company, or the Trump Organization itself."

This is the news I've been waiting for, and what I believe the former president has been most afraid of. I suppose it is unlikely that we will see a public trial on tax/bank/insurance fraud and a simultaneous congressional Jan. 6th Insurrection investigation as we approach the 2022 election, but we might. Wouldn't it be nice to see all those chickens coming home to roost at the same time.

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kimceann🌈 (WA)16 min ago

Darnella Frazier's letter, read on media tonight, was quite moving, reflective, and truly sad. She is a brave young one. The conviction of the primary murderer is an exception, not the rule. When conviction becomes the rule, we will have made some progress. When we de-militarize our police, that will be progress.

When Manchin and Sinema publicly beg for the Republicans to join them in voting for the Jan 6 investigation, and one is to be found, perhaps they will have provided themselves cover with their electorates. Whither, integrity?

Cheers for Vance and the tedious process of legal investigation! May the force of truth be with them.

I suspect some backlash for the party operatives who have allowed the voting machines to be defiled. What a costly error in stupidity. Count the broken laws and regulations regarding chain of custody, etc., with voting records.

As idjt holds himself in his elevated malignant narcissist stance, throwing everyone else under the proverbial bus, his claimed divinity must be put to rest. Time for Congress to clarify that no one is above the law. The response of the court will be most interesting.

Wonder when the "Proud Boys" will begin to understand how they are being used. Manipulated just like the rest of the cult followers: means to the ends of others.

Gratitude, Heather, for your weaving our story into coherent narrative.

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I have known Barbara Cegaske for years. As a Democrat in Nevada, I have voted for Barbara whenever she has been up for election and I support her in everything she has accomplished. I cross the aisle when the Republican candidate is far better than anything or anyone else. She is beyond ethical and has ALWAYS done the right thing. Even when she is attacked by her own party she shows class and common sense. Shame on the Republican Party for try to defame a woman whose priority is the State of Nevada and it’s constituents.

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Thank you, Dr. Heather.

I sometimes wonder, if a word count was possible, how many times in all media during 45's term was the word "unprecedented" used in connection with him? I for one will likely never again see or hear that word without the taint of 45, nor also without a sense of relief that he was indeed "un-Presidented" by the American people. 🤯 I just hope he gets the consequences that he deserves.

Sleep well! 💜

"That a grand jury is considering whether a former president committed a crime is unprecedented."

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'To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in a land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships.'

'But what of black women?... I most sincerely doubt if any other race of women could have brought its fineness up through so devilish a fire.'

'The power of the ballot we need in sheer defense, else what shall save us from a second slavery?'

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois

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Tonight was a lot to unpack—and we seem to have a lot to process constantly. HCR, it's a relief to get this pertinent information from you. I especially appreciate how you cull and gather the important events from the day. I'm so grateful to hear your measured and intelligent voice in the midst of situations, events, and details that feel challenging (and sometimes out of reach). Thank you for remaining solid and dedicated.

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I am currently getting all my political news from Dr. Richardson. Great job! Thanks.

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Thank you, Professor Richardson.

The filibuster must change or end.

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Whew, that was a lot. We’ve got a long road ahead but “paths of victory we shall walk”.

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Earlier tonight, a friend came up with a very useful analogy about FOX News. She believes the network functions as a "one-room schoolhouse" where every pupil comes from a troubled home.

I totally subscribe to an overview that EVERY Trump voter grew up in a home with at least one horrifically troubled parent, whether the "unions" that produced them were composed of educated, affluent men and women or the worst kind of redneck, racist trash. Just think ... 74 million sets of parents, 100% devoid of decency in the truest sense of the word. (And to think that people talk about "black parenting" as an American problem. LOL.)

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Just a quick personal note to y'all, since folks on here are kind of in a little "neighborhood", of sorts. I haven't been on much in the last couple of days and probably won't be for a little while. My mom, who I have cared for and seen to for the past 13 years (the last 10 with just her), passed away yesterday morning at the age of 97. Needless to say I am devastated as she has been the main focus of my life since my dad's passing in 2011. Of course, as those of you who've been through these things before know, there's a LOT of stuff, material and mental, to work through. No matter how much one prepares (I mean, she was 97!), the actual event can leave you reeling. Being a hyper-sensitive, emotional, artist who is too cerebral for his own good, all the feelings come rushing at you in a tidal wave. In this all-too-silent house now I am allowing myself to grieve and to do a lot of thinking and reflecting about my mom's long life. There have been weepy moments aplenty--and will be for a while yet--but also a lot of happiness and pride in what she did with her life and how it affected other people. She was moderately well known among the old guard of the medical community here as being a top-notch nurse. I know she was very highly regarded (I'm finding out now just how well she was thought of with the ongoing outpouring of sympathy) and I can't say how much that lifts my broken heart. She lived to serve. To help. To save lives. To help heal. She did it out of a sense of duty, not expecting anything in return. She won awards and stuff, but they essentially didn't mean much to her. Her nursing colleagues here consider her one of those "unsung heroes" that just do their jobs and quietly, gently show by example. But this little 90-some-odd-pound woman had an enormous impact on the nursing community here--or so I am told. However, she did what she did out of love. Pure and simple. And she passed on that love to my brother and me. We were truly truly blessed.

With these and other thoughts swimming about in my head, I find I simply cannot face current events and fights right now. It intrudes harshly into the aura of peace and love and happiness I am surrounding myself with in musing on the life of my beautiful, amazing mother. I'm most assuredly not posting this in an attempt to garner pity or generate sympathy--I'm getting enough of that as it is--but because this little bunch of people here who have stumbled into my life have given me a lot of hope and courage, and I feel like I can share something personal that has been a momentous event in my life. You all understand. As I thank Providence for the life of my mom (service is next week), I am reminded yet again of being thankful for the GOOD things in my life. One of those is this little community. You guys rock. I may disappear for a spell and lurk for a little while, but will keep reading HCR's letters and y'all's wonderful, thought-provoking commentary. God bless you all.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli:

in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres,

et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem.

Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat,

et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

Amen

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Sandy Lewis1 hr ago

Slavery based Racism is the original sin of our democracy. Today’s Republicans are racism’s defenders. Many are passively racist - and silent. To ignore racism in any form is to enable racism in every form.

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“Oh, what a tangled web we weave...when first we practice to deceive.”

Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17.

Scottish author & novelist (1771 - 1832)

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As of yesterday, 53% of the ga-ga old boomer losers who form the Republican Party believe the Worst Boomer of All is the "rightful president." I wish that generation would hurry up and Make America Great Again with their permanent departure. (thankfully I am a "war baby")

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