Today is the nineteenth anniversary of the terrorist attack that killed almost 3000 of us on this date in 2001. It feels wrong to write about daily news today and yet, as we approach 200,000 dead from a mismanaged pandemic and face unprecedented assaults on our national government, it also feels wrong not to.
Glad to see your Letter here. When I didn’t see it here or in my inbox, I looked for it on Facebook and read it there. I was relieved to see it and that you were okay. We all want you safe. You’re a National Treasure.
I fear that when this pack of thieves is finally gone, we will discover a slew of empty coffers. The 9/11 firefighters' account story is but one robbery.
This is incomprehensible. I would like to think that if Biden is elected, there will be a lot of cases ready and waiting in the wings. One thing that really bothered me was the lack of prosecutions in 2008 for malfeasance in the financial world. If we don’t prosecute these current examples of disrespect for the rule of law, nothing will change. Please discuss this.
Curious, how routine has a way to scaffold the nervous system, even in the worst of times. Last night (I usually see your post very early, Heather) I was worried that your post was hacked, taken down, attacked, or your sharing was otherwise disabled. Which, of course, it was. You are such a reliable communicator; maintenance of the platform, as it were, never crossed my mind. I actually logged in twice :)
Just thought to share, in case anyone else has a short fuse to worry about how safe ANYTHING is anymore.
While this is harsh, I believe the republican party has become a party of (leaders & commentators witting, sheep unwitting) traitors, a modern day Fifth Column.
I too noticed the links usually found at the bottom of your letters was missing--no problem. I can tell you read the same things I did this morning in the NYT, WaPo, and other sites. So...nothing to add. It's all pretty dire, but I do like to think that there ARE ongoing attempts to deal with it all.
Today, though, my most earnest prayers and concerns are with our countrymen out West. These fires are truly apocalyptic and getting worse. Yes, blame can be meted out to any number of entities--the mismanagement by people who are supposed to be managing these tracts of land is absolutely staggering--but it is imponderable to me how, with what is amounting to yet another national disaster of epic proportions unfolding, our Dear Leader does seemingly nothing. I mean, talk about *crickets*! He and his administration are continually broadsided at every turn with events, and show, time after time, they "couldn't manage a fart at a bean-eating contest", as my dad used to say. The ineptness is unbelievable and ultimately tragic because of the loss of lives, property, and livelihoods. I wonder how much more of this we can take. And what do we get?? Dear Leader is more concerned with what he hopes will be an "October surprise" with regard to the ongoing Russian investigation. SERIOUSLY?? Any of those revelations will totally pale in significance to all the other things Americans are having to cope with. It is even more apparent that 2020 is jerking us all every which way, AND with still more than 3 months of this to go! Sheesh...
As we say down here: "BLESS YOUR HEART!", sometimes delivered sarcastically, sometimes heartfelt--and Southerners always know which is which! I mean it truly this time. I've come to see your letters as a wonderful adjunct, or luxury, to life, so I don't worry if there's a pause or you need a much-earned sojourn away from things. You've got your fingers in a lot of pie, and we ALL need some down time. I'll see your letters when I see them, and savour every word. You're a treasure. Now to go read what you sent...
I think the "swamp" that tRump "promised" to clean up has become a cesspool, and he and his thugs keep adding s#$t to it with each passing day. Taking money meant for 9/11 people suffering severe health issues and then having the pitiful explanation that it was "an unfortunate situation" is pathetic. The new today was hard and depressing. And honoring those lost and their loved ones on 9/11 was all I could bring forth yesterday. Now, we look ahead to honoring firefighters in the west, and those lost in the fires, along with the thousands who are displaced and unsure what they'll go home to. Hard times for sure.
44 months of constant chaos, lying, subterfuge, illegal actions, and on and on. No one can take such a thing much longer. I told a good friend the situation has felt as though I am trapped in an abusive relationship and cannot find an unlocked door through which I can escape my abuser. I think that is what 45 wants. Maybe that is what he experienced as a 3 year old. Mary Trump's book cannot peel back the gray matter of her uncle's brain, but nothing is functioning well there. We all know that. Make a plan to vote. Make a plan to stay alive after the election. Make a plan to support the Biden presidency which if we all get out there and vote will overcome that poor group of folks (41-44%) still caught up in the group hypnosis. It is amazing just how much destruction happens when one person's hate is able overwhelm others and call forth from them similar hate. It never in my adult life occurred to me that this nation would be in such a predicament as this. I watched the Nixon debacle play out. I always assumed that there were people on both sides of the political party landscape who still wanted to live up to their oaths of office. It never occurred to me the gop (small letters on purpose) would aspire to power first and only. Maybe Goldwater set them on the path of the right wing think tanks that have flourished since Reagan. But hey - the past 40 years have seen such a metamorphosis of a party it truly continues to blow my mind. Make a plan. And don't give up in the face of this fear-mongering campaign of 45 and his crowd.
Thanks to HCR, these newfound skills of political analysis provided a different lens through which to view 9/11.
National Geographic Channel ran four documentaries about 9/11. A former Mujahideen fighter friend of bin Laden talked about how bin Laden co-opted the term jihad from its religious context and used it as political ideology in propaganda to recruit for the violent cause of al-Qaeda, including to kill civilians as “infidels.” The former friend and a Muslim scholar both expressed their distress that the agenda of violence was antithetical to the teachings of the Koran. They were also dismayed by the inculcation of children into the violence and hoped the children could be turned around.
Clear echoes of what Hitler and the Nazis did, particularly with the Hitler Youth organizations. And more echoes of what the Movement Conservatives did with the Republican Party and Christianity. Thousands, then millions fanatically endorse the ideology to the point of pledging to die for the cause. And now we have QAnon.
We have the ongoing challenge of teaching our children well—learn critical thinking skills and find constructive purpose in life.
Your history classes must be absolutely amazing Heather. Just having a class dedicated to the process of pulling data and reports daily, analyzing it and presenting it would be worth a fortune. Please keep them coming!
We need more people like Nora Dannehy to resign in protest. But they must speak out! Otherwise, the moves are merely symbolic. The time is now for officials to put country over career. History will judge harshly those who don't, if Trump retains power. And they will have earned the scorn of citizens who still believe in the rule of law and democracy.
His campaign also recognizes that, if he is elected, he will have to figure out how to both unify the country and restore the public’s faith in the federal government.
That wasn't a problem 19 years ago. It wasn't a problem 5 years ago. But that sentence above most completely describes the existential crisis we face today.
Every day. The news is 100% worse than the day before. I really do wonder if we won't blow the seams out in the next 52 days at this rate.
Glad to see your Letter here. When I didn’t see it here or in my inbox, I looked for it on Facebook and read it there. I was relieved to see it and that you were okay. We all want you safe. You’re a National Treasure.
I fear that when this pack of thieves is finally gone, we will discover a slew of empty coffers. The 9/11 firefighters' account story is but one robbery.
This is incomprehensible. I would like to think that if Biden is elected, there will be a lot of cases ready and waiting in the wings. One thing that really bothered me was the lack of prosecutions in 2008 for malfeasance in the financial world. If we don’t prosecute these current examples of disrespect for the rule of law, nothing will change. Please discuss this.
Curious, how routine has a way to scaffold the nervous system, even in the worst of times. Last night (I usually see your post very early, Heather) I was worried that your post was hacked, taken down, attacked, or your sharing was otherwise disabled. Which, of course, it was. You are such a reliable communicator; maintenance of the platform, as it were, never crossed my mind. I actually logged in twice :)
Just thought to share, in case anyone else has a short fuse to worry about how safe ANYTHING is anymore.
worry
Hello:
While this is harsh, I believe the republican party has become a party of (leaders & commentators witting, sheep unwitting) traitors, a modern day Fifth Column.
I too noticed the links usually found at the bottom of your letters was missing--no problem. I can tell you read the same things I did this morning in the NYT, WaPo, and other sites. So...nothing to add. It's all pretty dire, but I do like to think that there ARE ongoing attempts to deal with it all.
Today, though, my most earnest prayers and concerns are with our countrymen out West. These fires are truly apocalyptic and getting worse. Yes, blame can be meted out to any number of entities--the mismanagement by people who are supposed to be managing these tracts of land is absolutely staggering--but it is imponderable to me how, with what is amounting to yet another national disaster of epic proportions unfolding, our Dear Leader does seemingly nothing. I mean, talk about *crickets*! He and his administration are continually broadsided at every turn with events, and show, time after time, they "couldn't manage a fart at a bean-eating contest", as my dad used to say. The ineptness is unbelievable and ultimately tragic because of the loss of lives, property, and livelihoods. I wonder how much more of this we can take. And what do we get?? Dear Leader is more concerned with what he hopes will be an "October surprise" with regard to the ongoing Russian investigation. SERIOUSLY?? Any of those revelations will totally pale in significance to all the other things Americans are having to cope with. It is even more apparent that 2020 is jerking us all every which way, AND with still more than 3 months of this to go! Sheesh...
As we say down here: "BLESS YOUR HEART!", sometimes delivered sarcastically, sometimes heartfelt--and Southerners always know which is which! I mean it truly this time. I've come to see your letters as a wonderful adjunct, or luxury, to life, so I don't worry if there's a pause or you need a much-earned sojourn away from things. You've got your fingers in a lot of pie, and we ALL need some down time. I'll see your letters when I see them, and savour every word. You're a treasure. Now to go read what you sent...
I'm glad Biden understands that his will be a Triage Presidency.
I think the "swamp" that tRump "promised" to clean up has become a cesspool, and he and his thugs keep adding s#$t to it with each passing day. Taking money meant for 9/11 people suffering severe health issues and then having the pitiful explanation that it was "an unfortunate situation" is pathetic. The new today was hard and depressing. And honoring those lost and their loved ones on 9/11 was all I could bring forth yesterday. Now, we look ahead to honoring firefighters in the west, and those lost in the fires, along with the thousands who are displaced and unsure what they'll go home to. Hard times for sure.
44 months of constant chaos, lying, subterfuge, illegal actions, and on and on. No one can take such a thing much longer. I told a good friend the situation has felt as though I am trapped in an abusive relationship and cannot find an unlocked door through which I can escape my abuser. I think that is what 45 wants. Maybe that is what he experienced as a 3 year old. Mary Trump's book cannot peel back the gray matter of her uncle's brain, but nothing is functioning well there. We all know that. Make a plan to vote. Make a plan to stay alive after the election. Make a plan to support the Biden presidency which if we all get out there and vote will overcome that poor group of folks (41-44%) still caught up in the group hypnosis. It is amazing just how much destruction happens when one person's hate is able overwhelm others and call forth from them similar hate. It never in my adult life occurred to me that this nation would be in such a predicament as this. I watched the Nixon debacle play out. I always assumed that there were people on both sides of the political party landscape who still wanted to live up to their oaths of office. It never occurred to me the gop (small letters on purpose) would aspire to power first and only. Maybe Goldwater set them on the path of the right wing think tanks that have flourished since Reagan. But hey - the past 40 years have seen such a metamorphosis of a party it truly continues to blow my mind. Make a plan. And don't give up in the face of this fear-mongering campaign of 45 and his crowd.
Thanks to HCR, these newfound skills of political analysis provided a different lens through which to view 9/11.
National Geographic Channel ran four documentaries about 9/11. A former Mujahideen fighter friend of bin Laden talked about how bin Laden co-opted the term jihad from its religious context and used it as political ideology in propaganda to recruit for the violent cause of al-Qaeda, including to kill civilians as “infidels.” The former friend and a Muslim scholar both expressed their distress that the agenda of violence was antithetical to the teachings of the Koran. They were also dismayed by the inculcation of children into the violence and hoped the children could be turned around.
Clear echoes of what Hitler and the Nazis did, particularly with the Hitler Youth organizations. And more echoes of what the Movement Conservatives did with the Republican Party and Christianity. Thousands, then millions fanatically endorse the ideology to the point of pledging to die for the cause. And now we have QAnon.
We have the ongoing challenge of teaching our children well—learn critical thinking skills and find constructive purpose in life.
Many thanks, Heather! Hope you have a peaceful Saturday.
Here are the links to the Daily News story and the federal admission:
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-fdny-911-health-program-treasury-20200910-s7yam67j6vhmhbdzg6ordanfdm-story.html
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-trump-admin-apologizes-fdny-911-program-20200911-d63ohrqqljbpre434qpygp7rti-story.html
Your history classes must be absolutely amazing Heather. Just having a class dedicated to the process of pulling data and reports daily, analyzing it and presenting it would be worth a fortune. Please keep them coming!
We need more people like Nora Dannehy to resign in protest. But they must speak out! Otherwise, the moves are merely symbolic. The time is now for officials to put country over career. History will judge harshly those who don't, if Trump retains power. And they will have earned the scorn of citizens who still believe in the rule of law and democracy.
His campaign also recognizes that, if he is elected, he will have to figure out how to both unify the country and restore the public’s faith in the federal government.
That wasn't a problem 19 years ago. It wasn't a problem 5 years ago. But that sentence above most completely describes the existential crisis we face today.
Every day. The news is 100% worse than the day before. I really do wonder if we won't blow the seams out in the next 52 days at this rate.