Monthly Archives: January 2021

Well, we are just about half way through January, the darkest and most depressing month of the year, in my opinion.

January is the Monday of the calendar. I imagine if you were to survey the nation, the only people who enjoy Mondays are retired persons.

Monday is the stark, cold reality of a new week. The fun and games of the weekend are over, time to get up early, smell the coffee and buckle down for another week of work.

January is, in my opinion, a Monday on steroids.

You realize you are another year older, the bills begin arriving for Christmas, the decorations come down and the party is over.

We took the Christmas tree down last week. Im always a little sad to see the tree and especially the lights go away. In the depths of winter, the lights seem to make things a little bit better. I realize at some point we need to move on to the new year.

Sunday must give way to Monday.

The start of a new year is a time for fresh beginnings. A time to make resolutions to improve your health, finances or relationships. We assure ourselves that we will break away from our old bad habits and begin to lead better lives.

Some succeed with these new changes, many dont.

Do you make resolutions for New Years? If you do, I wish you the best of luck.

I believe that we make choices each and every day that will chart the path we will walk. Each day is a new chance to get things right. I feel that the pressure and unrealistic expectations that many create for themselves as the new year begins is not helpful at all.

So, let us resolve to make the best of what we have.

Because we all know that even the worst Mondays will eventually pass. January will as well, even though it seems like forever because we are in the depths of winter. The days are now growing longer, a few seconds each day. It may not seem like much, but it will begin to add up.

Hang in there, better days are coming. Monday does end and before you know it, Friday is rolling around again.

And the recent events that transpired at our nations Capitol Building were about as dark as it can get, but it will get better. Even though no one wants to admit it, we truly have much more in common with each other than the things that divide us.

We need to be honest with each other and do our best to understand one another. There is common ground on many issues our nation is facing. But we must see each other as human beings, not stereotypes. When we fail to follow the golden rule treat each other the way you want to be treated bad things follow.

Regular readers of this column know I am a fan of the President Elect. I believe Joe Biden has the life experiences and relationships we need to heal our divisions. But in order for him to succeed, he needs to be given a chance and judged by his actions.

There are better days ahead for our great American family. It wont be easy, but worthwhile things seldom are simple. They are always worth the effort.

Thanks for reading Ill keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.

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Hang in there, better days ahead | Columns | theameryfreepress.com - Amery Free Press

Vox Pop

Here is a rest of the story response to last weeks

Star News editorial cartoon. Our Senator Ron Johnson is respected by many for his willingness to stand up and be a voice for those who have the strong belief (bolstered by numerous eye-witness testimonies and signed affidavits) that in major cities in swing states the November 3 presidential election was fraught with illegal activities, set in motion by unconstitutional actions of changing the voting laws in those same states. To imply that the Senator was doing anything outside his jurisdiction to pursue needed investigations is to mislead the public about the proper protocol of how elections are to be conducted, and then, if needed, constitutionally challenged. To be sharing false information that he was doing anything wrong, or, un-American, is deceiving. In fact, the Senator was upholding his responsibilities and sworn oath to office, and to attack anyone who legitimately challenges election results is in itself an attack on what our Founding Fathers put in place as part of the check and balances to make sure that what we do as a society is done according to our laws.

Wherein lies a major problem in this entire scenario, which we have seen being played out since 2016 and the presidential election of Donald Trump: that being the lack of integrity by powerful media outlets and government institutions when it comes to seeking and giving out truth, thus leading to a loss of trust in our countrys leaders and those same institutions.

The disappointment and frustration on the part of tens of millions of American citizens is that because President Trump was not a career politician, people saw an opportunity for our country to right the ship that was tilting farther away from our roots that made us so great! Over the past four years, the world has observed a person who possesses a DNA that is results-oriented. He made campaign promises that were kept, and pro-American policies that set economic records. In fact, the Trump agenda accomplished so many positive things in working to Make America Great Again, that the unprecedented occurred on election night when he received 74 million legal votes, besting his 2016 totals by over 12 million votes. Obviously, to so many Americans, President Trump and his administration were doing something right.

Along with all these accomplishments, another big one was that of, if not draining the swamp, at least, exposing it. For years people have felt that things were bad in Washington, but, being able to observe the way our President has been treated during his term in offi ce has really blown the lid off the extreme bias, hypocrisy, and corruption against him. It truly revealed how many are compromised in both the media and the highest levels of government.

Like everyone, I have friends and relatives that do not always see eye-to-eye with me in every aspect of life. But even if you are a person who doesnt see things the way expressed here, I can honestly say: I do not consider you MY ENEMY. In fact, its my hope we all desire to be positive, glass-half-full people, while striving to be united with our fellow Americans in our purpose and goals. That being said, it must also be stated that no matter what the future holds for our country, we must remember that it is ultimately a battle between worldviews, and the reality of the spiritual warfare that the Bible talks about in Ephesians 6:10-12.

May we forge ahead using our God-given gifts and opportunities to make positive and productive differences in the lives of those around us! And let us seek truth as we practice the Golden Rule.

Larry Lecheler, Abbotsford

Excerpt from:

Says there is more to the story on Sen. Ron Johnson - Central Wisconsin News - CW Media

The history of the Jews in Detroit and Michigan over the past century is a story of communal growth and progress. The community has grown in numbers and organizational strength, as well as political and business power. As my friend and Detroit Jewish News Foundation founder Arthur Horwitz always says, using a boxing metaphor, the Detroit Jewish community punches above its weight when it comes to its place in American Jewish affairs.

However, not all in the community have advanced at the same pace. I was reminded of this fact when I found an excellent feature article by Jill Davidson Sklar in the Feb. 18, 2000, issue of the JN. Titled The Leadership Dance, its contemporary focus is, Nationally and locally, women are beginning to break through to top Jewish communal positions.

While reading the historic pages of the JN and Detroit Jewish Chronicle and in the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History, one can see the stark differences in the roles of women and men in the public sphere. In the early years of the Chronicle, articles and columns devoted to women usually focused on society events, betrothments and marriages, with a few reports of women involved in communal organizations. As the decades rolled by, however, the pages provide evidence that women were increasingly involved in communal organizations, as well as in politics and business.

The Sklar article reports that, in 2000, the numbers of women in leadership positions were still well below the levels of male participation. A 1997 study by Mayan, a Jewish womens project from New York City, noted that 50% of Jews in America were women, but in communal organizations, women held only 25% of board membership. Only 12% of these groups had a woman in the top position. The article cites the Golden Rule as one reason: He who holds the gold, rules. In short, men were still considered to be the primary contributors to good causes rather than couples or individual women who had made their own mark in the business world.

Give credit to Jewish Detroit in 2000. It was an exception. The involvement of women in communal organizations was at a higher rate than the national average: 25% participation on boards (40% on JCC Board that year), and there were more women in leadership positions.

The article also provides good history on some pathfinders. In 2000, Penny Blumenstein was serving as the first female president of the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, and women constituted 29% of its board membership. This was progress, but not enough. Blumenstein spelled out what was needed, and still desired today: I dont want them [women] to be segregated. I want them to be integrated. In short, no token female officials, but full parity with men.

Since that time, two other women have been Federation president: Nancy Grosfeld and Beverly Liss. And, Dorothy Benyas has been its longtime chief financial officer. However, the last (and only) woman to be the executive director of Federation was Blanche Hart, 1903-1923.

There has been significant progress for women in communal organizations since Sklars article from 2000. Ive only cited a very few examples from one organization among the many where women now serve in leadership roles. The glass ceiling has huge cracks. Maybe it will soon shatter.

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at http://www.djnfoundation.org.

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Looking Back: Poking Holes in the Glass Ceiling | The Jewish News - The Jewish News

My daughter was just three years old when we had our first conversation about race. She came home from her Jewish preschool upset that a classmate had said her brown skin looked like poop. I was speechless, and honestly, I just wanted to cry. Thankfully my mom, a retired teacher, was there to take the lead. You know what else is brown? my mom asked her. Chocolate, and chocolate chip cookies, and we all love those! Relieved, we laughed (because, well, poop) and then, of course, ate chocolate chip cookies. But this heart-wrenching moment emphasizes two key truths that I face as the parent of Black children. First, I am given no choice but to talk about race with my children at an unnervingly early age. Second, my white friends and acquaintances, and the children they raise, play a significant role in shaping how my children see themselves. To say that we must collaborate is an understatement. We are partners.

I am biracial. My father was a Black professional athlete, from a family of 10, raised in a small town in western Pennsylvania. My mother is white and Jewish, raised just south of Boston. I married a Black man, and until we moved to a suburb of New York City in September, we were raising three Black children ages 8, 6, and 4 in Manhattan.

Growing up outside of Boston, I attended a predominately white private school for thirteen years. I spent my days on a sprawling campus, scurrying between academic buildings, free periods on the quad and lacrosse practice. In contrast, I spent evenings and weekends a mere 15 minutes away at a predominantly Black Boys and Girls club playing basketball. My wardrobe varied from L.L. Bean blucher mocs and rugby shirts to Nike Dunks and basketball shorts. Despite straddling these two worlds throughout my youth and into adulthood, and identifying as a mixed-race, Jewish woman, my mom taught me very early on that no matter what, the world will see me as a Black woman or more specifically, as not white.

In June, as thousands protested over the deaths of Black men and women at the hands of police officers, and as we continued to suffocate under a President and administration that deliberately inflamed racial tension rather than calm it, many of my dearest friends from childhood who are white began to reach out.

In one conversation, I was asked what I am telling my children about the current racial climate. My friend admitted not knowing what is appropriate to share with the four children she is raising in Manhattan. I felt her vulnerability, humility and perhaps guilt in questioning her Black friend about race. But being trusted with this question gave me comfort and hope, and it reinforced that Ive surrounded myself with people who care enough to ask:

If you could design the conversation that white parents have with their kids, what would it sound like?

Im confident almost every parent of a Black child has The Talk we dont have a choice. But so much of the progress we need to make is dependent on white parents having a talk of their own. We must share this responsibility.

After three months of virtual lock down in our two-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side, we rented a house in a suburb of Manhattan in June. As we pulled into the driveway, our familys collective exhale was likely audible to our friends back in the city. Life here seemed eerily unchanged by the pandemic, the protests, politics everything creating history in that moment. Neighbors knocked on doors maskless, extending invitations to socialize in driveways, and wiping down groceries seemed less of a thing. It dawned on me that this sense of normalcy is a privilege many of my friends raising children outside of the city, most of whom are white, are afforded, while many of my friends raising children inside the city are not. And once again, I found myself straddling two worlds only this time, with a clearer sense of self, a greater responsibility as a mother and a profound urgency amidst the racial turmoil roiling the country.

How we approach race with our children is a uniquely personal decision for every family, but if we do not approach it at all, or if we teach our children to be color blind, we perpetuate the dismissal of a history of white-over-Black systemic racism that represents the very core of the imbalances we must address now.

Clearly, white parents will not have The Talk that Black parents have. But a commitment by white parents to engage in this dialogue with their children can be a mutually beneficial equivalent. It may establish a foundation of tolerance, acceptance and understanding that will not only educate white children, but also help protect mine, from the unintended consequences of unintentional racial bias.

As a multiracial woman raising Black children in a predominately white environment, I urge my white friends to start talking to their children about race. Here are my ideas on how:

Humanize the Black experience. Read about Black history. Give them context for what we are fighting for today.

You dont have to know what to say. The easiest way to start a difficult conversation is with someone elses words. Choose books that introduce historical figures who impacted racial history and social justice.

We read The Drinking Gourdby F.N. Monjo at lunch recently and we talked about the Underground Railroad. More than just the surface-level history or Harriet Tubmans inconceivable bravery; we discussed how white people risked their lives to help Black people escape slavery.

This is such an important lesson for children to experience and is a powerful and positive message to impart to white children in the context of learning about slavery. The instinct to skirt this conversation is understandable, but slavery is the very foundation of the systemic imbalance that is the impetus for our current reckoning. Choosing this line of conversation allows you to discuss slavery in a context of unity, hope, and the power to do what is hard, but what is right.

Read more books like The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, Pink And Say by Patricia Polacco, Teammates by Peter Golenbock, and Henrys Freedom Box by Ellen Levine. Books like Say Something by Peter Reynolds, Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh and We March by Shane W. Evans facilitate conversations about responsible activism. Expose them to anything that teaches them to find their voice and have the courage to speak up for what is right and, more importantly, speak out against what is wrong.

My girls wear a lot of their history. They alternate between shirts with images of Harriet Tubman, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Ida B. Wells, Rosa Parks and Maya Angelou. They pick between an Earth Heroes shirt, one promoting Suffragettes and some days, a Justice tee. Through a shirt with a name, an image or a word, they meet a significant historical figure or celebrate something important to all of us. (A book from a series like Who Is or I Am is an excellent way to compliment their gear and expand their knowledge.)

Reclaiming your kids TV and tablet time with content that they will enjoy and learn from will help ease the screentime battle for all. If youve added pureed cauliflower to their mac and cheese or thrown a little pumpkin in their pancakes, then youve already mastered giving them what they want, while making sure they get what they need. The Xavier Riddle series on PBS Kids introduces so many complicated and important historical heroes. In an age-appropriate way, they show how kids like you can change the world, with episodes featuring everyone from Wilma to Jackie, Thurgood to Confucius.

Everything we must teach our Black boys and girls requires nuance. You must be strong and assertive but know that you may be intimidating simply by walking into a room. Remember you belong here (valedictorian, boss, team captain), but people may tell you you dont. We must constantly negotiate a world of contrast and mixed messaging and teach our children to compensate for things, and in ways, that they cant even understand.

Parents of white children have the power to create listeners and allies. Actively seek out inclusive organizations and avoid those that are not and then explain those choices to your kids. Maintain a diverse group of friends, ask questions and engage in dialogue with those who have had different cultural experiences than yours. You almost certainly have different perceptions of fairness and equality because you experience it as a white person; to acknowledge that reality is integral to the pursuit of racial equity and justice.

If we focus on how alike we are as human beings, we might just expose to our children how artificial the things that divide us truly are. Talk about the power of partnership.

One of the most emotional conversations I had with my children this summer happened as we watched coverage of marches from LA to NYC. Showing them a clip of the protests, I began to cry but in joy, not sorrow. Look at the crowd, I told them. Do you see who is marching? Its not just Black people! Its white people. Its everyone.

Movements are collaborative and our kids need to know this is a shared battle. We are in this together. The Civil Rights Movement doesnt work without white people. Social and racial justice in 2020 doesnt work without white people. This can and should be celebrated.

Finally, I think one of the most important elements of any conversation white parents have with their kids in the context of race has more to do with humanity than color. Quite simply follow The Golden Rule.

As parents, it is our responsibility to raise a generation of human beings who want to learn from, listen to and understand each other. Can you imagine a white police officer jamming his knee into the side of a Black mans neck as treat everyone the way you want to be treated, runs through his head? Neither can I.

Talking to my son this summer about why a policeman may treat him differently than his friends, simply because of the color of his skin, was heart-wrenching for me. It was clearly bewildering to a boy who adores police officers and at that time, wanted to be one. The only solace I find is in telling him that I will surround him and that he must surround himself with people who love him, listen to him, speak up for him, stand by him and help him stay safe.

When we become open and honest about our countrys racial history, normalize the conversation around race and commit to work together, we will raise educated and empathetic kids who will fight for the change our world so desperately needs. We cant afford to wait.

See the article here:

Heres What Matters To Me, The Mother Of Your Childs Black Friend - Scary Mommy

In addition to the potentially lethal virus itself, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on our health in myriad other ways. Pandemic conditions been linked to a rise in mental illness, substance abuse, obesity and now, apparently, broken toes.

Multiple podiatry experts told the Washington Post theyve seen a considerable uptick in toe breaks over the past several months of pandemic life, with Maryland-based orthopedic surgeon John Keeling even going as far as to identify a pandemic of broken toes, claiming hes treated three to four times the usual number of broken toes in the months since the pandemic took hold.

The short reason is that with the pandemic, people are spending more time at home, podiatrist Ben Pearl told the paper. And what exactly are we doing at home thats proven so perilous for our toes? For one thing, were not wearing shoes as often as we used to. In pandemic times, many of us are spending the vast majority of our days stumbling around our homes barefoot like a bunch of shoeless degenerates, leaving our toes vulnerable to the dangers of homebound life.

Those dangers mostly include stumbling into furniture, especially if weve recently moved it around to create home workspaces or taken up amateur home renovation in a fit of quarantine boredom.

Another culprit threatening toes everywhere these days? That pandemic drinking habit youve picked up. People are dropping bottles of wine on the big toe, Keeling told the Washington Post, adding that those pandemic-sized wine bottles seem to be a big killer for big toes.

While I myself have somehow yet to drop a bottle of wine on my foot, I have fallen victim to yet another broken-toe risk factor: being drunk and stupid in a swimming pool. After spending an entire day swilling ros poolside back in August, I awoke the next morning with a throbbing black middle toe. After a quick Web MD search convinced me it had definitely gone necrotic, I rushed off to urgent care where a poor doctor with a lobby full of patients waiting to get COVID tests was forced to take precious time out of his day to tell me that my toe was not necrotic and that I had, most likely, broken it without realizing while stumbling around the pool area in a day-drunk blackout.

I thought I had only myself to blame for this little misadventure and the unnecessary X-ray bill I later paid, but fortunately it turns out it was all the pandemics fault and I am actually among a league of survivors whose toes have fallen victim to the far-reaching chaos of COVID-19. Let this be a reminder to us all of the golden rule of pandemic times: when in doubt, blame COVID.

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Everyone Is Breaking Their Toes Because of the Pandemic - InsideHook

By Bret Stephens| The New York Times

If there is one thing Republicans in Congress should have considered as they began weighing the merits of impeaching Donald Trump, it was the story of the presidents relationship with Mike Pence.

In December 2015, then-Gov. Pence tweeted, Calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional. In April 2016, Tim Alberta reported that Pence loathes Trump, according to longtime friends. In July of the same year, Republican strategist Dan Senor tweeted, Its disorienting to have had commiserated w/someone re: Trump about how he was unacceptable, & then to see that someone become Trumps VP.

You know what came next. Pence turned himself into the most unfailingly servile sidekick in vice-presidential history. He delivered the evangelical vote to Trump. He stood by the president at every low point, from the Access Hollywood tape to Charlottesville, Virginia, to Helsinki to the Ukraine call. He indulged Trumps fantasies about a stolen election.

He betrayed his principles. He abased himself. Then Trump insisted that he steal the election. When Pence refused he had no legal choice Trump stirred the mob to go after him.

The Pence-Trump story is also the GOP-Trump story. It is a play in four acts: brief resistance, abject submission, complete complicity and now bitter regret.

Regarding regret: It isnt just that Trump managed to lose the House, the presidency and the Senate for the party. Or that most if not all of Trumps policy victories (as conservatives see them) will soon be erased by the new administration. Or that Trump transformed the GOP brand from one of law and order, of federalism and originalism, into one of incitement and riot, of cult of personality and usurpation of power.It is that Trump turned against the Republican Party, a predictable move that somehow took the party by surprise. If the party doesnt now turn against him, it will be tainted and crippled for years to come.

The moral case isclear.Trump has the blood of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick on his hands. Legal analysts can debate whether Trumps speech met the Brandenburg test for incitement to violence, but it is irrelevant to an impeachment. Everyone except his most sophistical apologists agrees that Trump whipped up the mob.

If conservatives want to have a moral leg to stand on as they condemn a siege of a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, or a police station in Minneapolis, they have an obligation to impeach him now.

The institutional case is clear.The president attacked the states, in their right to set their own election procedures. He attacked the courts, state as well as federal, in their right to settle the election challenges brought before them. He attacked Congress, in its right to conduct orderly business free of fear. He attacked the vice president, in his obligation to fulfill his duties under the 12th Amendment. He attacked the American people, in their right to choose the electors who choose the president.

The philosophical case is clear.Sen. Mitch McConnell was eloquent and right: If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral. Wed never see the whole nation accept an election again.

If Republicans dont want to see a future Democratic president attempt what Trump just did, they have an obligation to follow the Golden Rule and impeach him now.

And the political case is clear.Republicans in Congress spent four years prostrate to the lower mind. What, other than the judges who helped affirm the legitimacy of Joe Bidens election, do they have to show for it? The president, whom they fear, despises them merely for failing to steal the election for him. They are verbally assaulted at airports by the same angry losers whose paranoid fantasies they did so much to stoke. And Republicans will continue to live in political fear of Trump if Congress doesnt bar him from holding office ever again.

Now they have a chance to make a break not clean, but at least constructive with the proven loser in the White House. Not many Republicans deserve this shot at redemption, but they still ought to take it. The GOP came back after Watergate only after its party leaders Howard Baker, George H.W. Bush, Barry Goldwater broke unequivocally with Richard Nixon.

You (heard) Republicans like the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, talk about the need for healing. Fine. But this sort of healing first requires cauterizing the wound. It is called impeachment. Republicans must not shrink from it.

Stephens writes for The New York Times.

Editor's note:Late Wednesday, the House voted to impeach Trump. A trial will be conducted in the Senate.

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Why only impeachment can save Republicans - Austin American-Statesman

To the editor:

I am a US Navy officer veteran who served the USA with honor during the Cold War and Desert Storm. I was raised to be a Christian and have done my best to practice the teachings of Jesus. I attended public school in Winston-Salem during the 1960s and graduated from high school in 1973. I have worked to earn money since I was a child doing yard work and baby sitting for neighbors and began having paid jobs at 14 with a permit. I began teaching Sunday School at 16. I put myself through college without help from loans or my parents, and it took me 7 years to get that 4-year degree before I voluntarily joined the Navy.

I know from experience that everything has a context and am horrified to see so many Americans either not know that or act as if they have forgotten that. Americas Founders intended to protect the freedom to speak publicly against our government, but not to violently attack the human beings who are paid to protect those human beings that We The People elected to govern us.

America began as a revolution against taxation without representation, so the founders made sure we were adequately represented by local, state, and federal elected officials. It is the patriotic duty of every one of us to stay informed about the facts affecting life in our neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, and nation, and avoid becoming seduced by those who would mislead us into demonizing our neighbors. Telling lies to maintain power and promote divisiveness is not protected speech, it is propaganda. When a lame duck President does that, it is sedition.

With the current access to the Internet and highly paid pundits who want to increase their ratings, we now have two radically different sets of beliefs in America; one based upon reality and grounded in the facts about what the US Constitution says and how to improve our democratic republic, and one that has demonized the people who believe in facts, science, and the truth about America.

It is not about the so called elites or libtards or the conservatives and those who would reduce the issues to right versus left are misrepresenting the facts. If you believe the other is dangerous and has bad intentions, then that makes you more easily controlled.

Divide and conquer is an ancient and effective form of warfare. We must unite now to stop allowing us to be divided against one another for the benefit of our enemies.

Americas Founders wanted to protect your right to practice your religion or no religion without persecution. Most recently too many people have been wrongly claiming America is a Christian nation, while advocating for violence, discrimination, rejecting those seeking asylum, and ignoring the suffering of their fellow human beings. If you do consider yourself a Christian, does it concern you to see other people claiming to be Christians, supporting behavior and actions that are the exact opposite of what Jesus taught? Jesus told us to render unto Caesar (aka the government) what is Caesars (pay your taxes). Jesus told us to love one another as Jesus loves us; not blame, shame, attack, and kill people who are different than us. When Jesus was punished unfairly and then tortured and killed for the amusement of a crowd, Jesus did not tell His followers to exact revenge and kill the evil doers; Jesus said, Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.

We have a new President and there will be a peaceful transfer of power, even though there are domestic terrorists working hard right now to overthrow our US Constitutionally created system of government. If you cannot accept that, then look in the mirror and recognize you are not a patriotic American. Most of us were raised to play fair, take responsibility when we broke something, and be a good sport, and our leaders must also play fair, be accountable, and be good sports, especially when it is hard, or they do not deserve to lead.

The Founders created a check and balance system in our government so that we might be protected from the tyranny that rules so many other countries. It is a balance of 3 branches of government who provide obstacles and delays in the process of governing to slow things down, to the great frustration of almost everyone who wants to make change. If you want to pick up weapons and overthrow that system, you are not a patriotic American. Regulations and rules were developed to help us function better; for instance, driving on the same side of the road, not to oppress your freedom to drive however you choose, but to prevent putting other peoples lives at risk. If you believe in Law and Order and that Blue Lives Matter, you do not attack police officers paid to protect the Capitol building. This is important context. If you want a leader who is arrogant, disregards the Golden rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, and who puts his ego ahead of what is best for the nation, then you do not want to be an American.

We The People have recently elected someone who does practice Christianity and honors the US Constitution, after four years of enduring the damage done by someone who did not. America is now first only in the number of deaths from COVID19, while other countries have been more successful in managing through the simple courtesy of wearing a mask in public, socially distancing, and washing hands frequently. If you cannot believe that I lovingly suggest it is because you are getting your information from sources designed to manipulate you into doing the dirty work of those who want to destroy the American experiment in democracy.

I ask you to become a patriot, and take the time find out what is true, from reliable sources of information, and not just take the word of others who have a vested interest in manipulating you for their selfish gain. Anyone who publicly demonizes other people is either terribly misinformed or has a selfish motive for attacking those other people.

I believe we are all children of God, and even though we do not always get along, we are all family. When asked what he thought should be done about a woman who committed adultery, Jesus said, Let you who is without sin cast the first stone. The demonization of others should be an alarm that rallies us to unite, and hold the person engaged in divisive behaviors and making the hateful remarks accountable. We must insist our elected officials practice integrity and demonstrate a desire to cooperate, respect, and work with others.

It is our patriotic duty to remain informed, to do our due diligence to determine what are the facts before electing anyone, and continue to hold them accountable when needed. We all make mistakes and we all can learn to do better if we try. No one knows everything but hopefully we are learning new things every day.

Please try to imagine what it is like to be in the other persons shoes before condemning anyone. If we want to save America, we must learn to listen to the truth, hear each others perspective, and work together in cooperation for the benefit of our nation, beginning in our own home, our neighborhood, our county, and state.

The truth will set us free.

Bonnie D. Clark

Harmony

Continued here:

Letter to the editor: Don't be manipulated for others' gain - Davie County Enterprise Record - Davie Enterprise Record

Three years ago Sydney FC fans endured what was, in their eyes, an unforgivable betrayal. Vedran Janjetovic, having lost his spot in goal to Danny Vukovic, defected to Western Sydney. The move, completed in December after much speculation, was sacrilege, a contravention of the golden rule: do not cross town.

Janjetovic was seen as the ultimate deserter, a turncoat of the highest order, and supporters made their dissatisfaction known in his first Sydney derby as a Wanderer.

A month after securing a swap deal with Andrew Redmayne the Sky Blues first choice today Janjetovic returned to his former home ground of Allianz Stadium. The Red and Black Bloc, stationed behind their new recruit for the opening 45 minutes, played their praise in forte for a stunning save.

After the break, he took his place at the other end in front of the Cove and got pelted with toy snakes. Down they came in their dozens, tangling themselves overhead in his net, a symbolic spew of venom built up over the preceding four weeks and reserved especially for a man they had once cheered. Janjetovic turned around to face the mob, cracked a grin and stared down his former followers. Then he shrugged off the snake shower and proceeded on his way to a clean sheet.

Tribalism, by its very nature, is vociferous. Of course, recent events have taught us the line between banter and harmful discrimination of athletes is increasingly difficult to tread, the balance between active support and outright abuse more blurred than ever.

When delivered in good spirit though, it can light up a contest.

A move perceived as disloyal can be an unpardonable sin in football. It is why, when the new Wanderers coach Carl Robinson and winger Bernie Ibini returned to Newcastle for the first time last weekend, it made for a narrative with proper niggle.

Nothing against the pair or Janjetovic, for that matter because cold, hard business wins titles. But the spice surrounding their return to McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday night was exactly what the A-League needed.

This was an impressive coach who signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Jets last February, offered the cash-poor club a glimmer of hope, and then departed in October. Part of it, he said, was the lack of funds coming from the owner Martin Lee, who had failed to finance his club in more than a year and was a week ago relieved of his licence.

Still, in the fans eyes, the former Wales international not only joined a rival outfit but also disemboweled the one he had left. With him went his assistant, Kenny Miller, followed by Ibini in December, while the midfielder Steven Ugarkovic is believed to be heading to the Wanderers next season.

Novocastrians have since made ironic reference to Robinsons very first press conference as Jets coach. The last thing I want to do is try and get a job, accept the job and then three months later say Im not happy and want to leave, he said at the time. Thats not what Im about as a person.

Ibini, for his part, was so eager to rejoin his former Vancouver Whitecaps coach in Sydney where he grew up he personally paid out the remainder of his contract in exchange for permission to leave.

Such storylines, regardless of who did what and whether it was justified, engender spiteful reunions.

Robinson had been expecting it. He had said as much last week. The best part was that he did not care. When the 2-1 away win came it was punctuated by a few explicit words behind the dugout, while Ibini was booed on his 68th-minute introduction and every touch of the ball thereafter.

The snakes, plastic or proverbial or otherwise, were out. Pantomime villains were delivered on a platter and the fans turned up to feast. Well, as many as were allowed mandatory masks and a cap on crowds at 25% capacity make it difficult to rouse a rabble. Regardless, this was a rare chance for tribalism in a competition that has, over recent years, been slowly but surely sanitised.

In seasons past the A-League has been blessed with its fair share of villains. Besart Berisha, Kevin Muscat, Matt Simon, Roy ODonovan, David Carney and John Kosmina all possessed an uncanny knack for riling opposition fans. Then there were the personal battles: Miron Bleiberg v Kosmina. Kosmina v Muscat. Berisha v Pascal Bosschaart.

These do not have to be a distant memory. Unlike many world leagues operating in the Covid-19 era, Australias top flight allows crowds into stadiums. The first Sydney derby of the season is this Saturday, and there has never been a better time to relight the touchpaper.

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There were no snakes, but Newcastle Jets fans show spirited tribalism just what A-League needs - The Guardian

Issued on: 12/01/2021 - 17:12

The Robin Hood Army is a group of volunteers who collect excess food from restaurants and hotels and distribute it to those in need in India and 14 other countries.Every week volunteers meet in 159 cities across the world to provide food for the poor and needy, collecting and re-distributing the surplus that would otherwise go to waste.

At busy traffic intersections, on sidewalks and slum clusters, thefood collected is served out systematically by volunteers of the Robin Hood Army (RHA) to the less fortunate sections of society.

One in every eight people sleeps hungry each night in India and, given that a lot of food is wasted, we distribute it the poor and destitute, Manish Kumar, a volunteer from the RHA told RFI.

This is our way of showing we care and to make a difference.

The initiative began six years ago when founder Neel Ghose and a few friends fed 150 homeless people in the national capital Delhi. At that time the RHA was just over 2000 volunteers across eight cities.

But soon it moved across international borders and set up a well-oiled network of Robins, as they are popularly called, by establishing chapters to address the hunger problem in their respective areas by distributing food.

It has become a movement and there is huge satisfaction to feed people and bring a smile to their face, Apeeksha Pathak, a volunteer told RFI.

With the Covid crisis, the hunger problem worldwide reached unprecedented proportions. In an effort to mitigate the problem, the RHA came up with a phenomenal initiative. #Mission30M was launched with the idea of serving 30 million meals to those in need.

It turned out to be the largest food relief effort carried out by civil society to fight Covid and its impact on society, Saurbah Das, a volunteer told RFI.

The RHA operates exclusively through volunteers who abide by the golden rule of not accepting or soliciting monetary donations. The RHA streamlines its processes to set up hyperlocal community chapters across the world.

We are not asking for any funds or donations for anything, just hands to help in distributing the food to as many people as possible, adds Das.

Apart from serving food, the RHA has also set up the Robin Hood Academy, a program where Robins teach and enable hundreds of street children to pursue primary education through a structured curriculum.

Today, thenumber of participants stands at more than 58,400 in over 182 cities.

In 2019, India ranked 102 out of 105 countries on the Global Hunger Index, falling behind Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Things can only improve. The Robins are on the case.

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International report - Robin Hood Army: waging war on hunger with food the rich don't want - RFI