[650/09] I don’t talk or write about gun violence in America much because, like climate change, I find the subject depressing and the lack of collective action demoralizing. It’s gotten to the point where I have nothing left to say about the issue beyond, “It’s the guns.” Today is the 25th day of 2023 and there have already been 39 mass shootings in this country resulting in 70 dead, 167 injured, and countless traumatized. So, although these recent shootings in particular and mass violence in general aren’t what this post is about, they are weighing on me so I wanted to start with some emergency art.
Thank you Mary for your thoughtful comments - many of which I can relate to wholeheartedly. Your podcasts are enlightening and provide comfort during these trying times.
We have insurrectionists serving in our government with high level security clearances. I want them OUT. Garland doesn't seem to want to do the hard part so he appoints special councels. When he appointed one for the Biden documents he lost all credibility with me. In an effort to show impartiality he became partisan. So my once open mind is now closing.
Thank you, Mary. I couldn’t tell if this is some kind of media talking point or I’m completely out of step and with the way the world sees the Trump and Biden document situations. I was never fooled by the appearance of a superficial similarity, and I’m stunned that so many MSNBC yakkers seem to think most people equate the situations. Thanks for giving some weight against a false media-imposed narrative.
Mary, may I call you Mary? I am loathe to refer to you as Ms (name that shall not cross my lips). Mary, you are one of my heroines. You speak the unabashed truth, clearly and pursuasively. No matter what you say or write, when it comes to my attention I listen.
I just listened to this podcast and, while engaging and forceful, I wish I could hear it from your lips, in your voice .
You must find all the various things you do to be somewhat overwhelming. I understand that you don't have time to leave your personal stamp on everything you do. But I wish you could find time to record your own podcasts. Your voice is so powerful, so authentic, it touches my soul.
No matter what, no matter who is the narrator, I will listen. But I'd sure love to hear your voice.
Ah, if I could only write like you do, Mary. Fantastic piece. Chief Justice Warren Burger said it best, when he said and I paraphrase here, misinterpretation of the 2nd Amendment is a fraud. It is, and why it has been repeated over and over again since then by all sorts of Justices, politicians of both parties, attorney's and other is also a fraud and a dishonest way to capture votes. We, the citizens of the U.S.A who are civilians do NOT have a right to firearm ownership. The U. S. Constitution says no such thing.
I agree with you on AG Garland and am so angry at him, the FBI and others the way they have handled the Mueller Report, the 6 January 2021 attempted coup and all the lies and crimes of other politicians and elected officials I have lost all respect for our Justice system. THEY are putting our country at risk, and I have to wonder if they are just stupid or don't care.
I have seen so many battles won and lost and won and lost, it is tiring and deflates one's hope for a better future for us all. I happened to be a gay woman and older, my first gay bar I stepped into back in 1961 was the Who Cares in San Francsico, my birth city. We couldn't dance, we couldn't get too close, we couldn't hold hands because there may have been a plain clothes cop sitting there waiting to arrest us. A lot has changed since then, and I was part of many protests, many door to door howdy-dos. And, today in 2023 as I head into my 80th year we are still fighting for our full Civil Rights as are some folks considered today as the 'others'. Why do we have to keep fighting the same hate, the same ignorance willful or not? Maybe this wonderful experiment, our Republic, can't survive, maybe our Founders were just too idealistic. Free speech, for instance, without any restraints? No wiggle room here for hate speech, for deliberate lies for those running for office or holding office? I don't know what all the answers are, but we are failing to move, without going back 10 paces each time towards that more perfect Union. I love my country with all its warts, but I will tell you, I have been disappointed in her leadership these past 50 years.
I am printing this out and sending it in the mail to my Oregon senators, Merkley and Wyden. They are decent men and I just have to relay to them what the Democrats do wrong in trying to be unlike the republicans in owning our faults and how spineless it is and gets us nowhere! We can be bold, blunt, and reiterate over and over the absolute absurdity of the Republican Party including many particular members, still have integrity, and be able to hold our heads high. We need to call out the abject damage being done to our country by the Republican Party. It's hard not to be angry. I have gotten off FB and twitter and keep to my few trusted sources (you and a few others) for the truth. I wish I could be a paid follower but the PRICE GOUGING is constricting me greatly. Thanks so much for your voice.
Here’s my personal take on hatred. Perhaps there is a difference between intensely disliking someone and hating them. Disliking is a spontaneous emotion arising from our core. It may or may not have a rational reason. However, one can dislike someone and still love them. Love is wishing the best for someone. Because hate is the anthesis of love, there can be no wishing the best for the person. Hatred then does not care about circumstances. Many times some folks rationalize their actions with reasons that are crafted to justify them. Sometimes, they don’t look at the big picture and get stuck in a myopic reality. And there’s also the realization that we don’t have the full picture of what’s going on with them.
In the Christmas Carol, we are introduced to someone who performs despicable actions creating intense dislike by most people he deals with. But after Scrooge had his “conversion”, he was accepted by those folks because their dislike didn’t keep them from recognizing that something good had happened to him and they were happy about it. So this was not hatred. Not everyone is going to have a conversion event. But we just don’t know how we and they will change in the future. And if we dislike instead of hate, we can sometimes keep wishing the best for them.
Thanks for listening... I just want to say that i truly enjoy your posts.
Mary I absolutely agree with your statement that if you can’t see the difference between Biden’s documents and the former guy’s just shut up. I’m really tired of democrats pretending to stand on higher ground and bash Joe Biden. Get behind him and support him.
Why is it that out most powerful and influential Democrats (Hillary, Barack, Kamala, among so many others) don't loudly shout out in defense of Biden, at this moment, but also at all the other times when we accomplish good things but are maligned and lied about so constantly. I feel like Democrats have turned into well-mannered little mice, barely squeaking. To mix metaphors, the Republican'ts are a terrifying horde of termites, ravenously taking a thousand tiny bites out of the foundation of our democracy. Anti-this, anti-that, book banning, courses cancelled, medical care for trans banned, women's rights to choose ripped away, tax cuts for the rich. I'm very scared that our democracy will fall. Mary, your voice is one of the essential ones giving us a chance to face the termites and save our houses.
I may be naive, but I think DOJ will end up indicting Trump. I like to think they are just building an air tight case. I hope I'm right.
It may have been a mistake to appoint Garland to be Attorney General. He was chosen by Obama to be on the Court because, I assume, he was moderate enough to be able to get a few votes by moderate Republicans (remember them?). So appointing a moderate judge to be Attorney General might have been a poor choice. Maybe a man or woman with a good record as a prosecutor would have been a better choice. Time will tell.
It's heartening that two women in Georgia and New York may be the ones to bring Trump to justice.
The Democratic Party’s continuing refusal and/or inability to stand up and fight actually helps us decide just how much we can expect of them. We have no Zelensky at present who is able to rally the country against the rising winds of fascism. But we need just such a leader. Millions of us wait to be “called into the streets” where the real defense must happen.
Bravo, Mary! Thank you for saying it as it really is without mincing words. I will share this post with several like-minded friends. Please take care and stay safe and well. We need you!
There is so much here, thank you for conveying everything so well and for the much needed emergency art. I respectfully disagree with you on Garland for several reasons, though I understand your position and share the frustration with the time it is taking to indict Donald. I’m certain you won’t lose sleep over the fact I disagree with you, nor I because of your opinion, but I raise it because one thing I have been a bit alarmed by lately is some of the vitriol and personal attacks by people against those “on the same side” in areas of disagreement. Attacking personal appearance, demonizing, or otherwise dehumanizing someone because we don’t agree with their strategy, reasoning, or viewpoint became entrenched on the right (especially under Donald) but it seems it’s becoming more commonplace on the left, too. I’m not sure what that means, but it’s a disconcerting trend.
I find your writing’s very interesting. Thank You
Thank you Mary for your thoughtful comments - many of which I can relate to wholeheartedly. Your podcasts are enlightening and provide comfort during these trying times.
We have insurrectionists serving in our government with high level security clearances. I want them OUT. Garland doesn't seem to want to do the hard part so he appoints special councels. When he appointed one for the Biden documents he lost all credibility with me. In an effort to show impartiality he became partisan. So my once open mind is now closing.
Thank you, Mary. I couldn’t tell if this is some kind of media talking point or I’m completely out of step and with the way the world sees the Trump and Biden document situations. I was never fooled by the appearance of a superficial similarity, and I’m stunned that so many MSNBC yakkers seem to think most people equate the situations. Thanks for giving some weight against a false media-imposed narrative.
Mary, may I call you Mary? I am loathe to refer to you as Ms (name that shall not cross my lips). Mary, you are one of my heroines. You speak the unabashed truth, clearly and pursuasively. No matter what you say or write, when it comes to my attention I listen.
I just listened to this podcast and, while engaging and forceful, I wish I could hear it from your lips, in your voice .
You must find all the various things you do to be somewhat overwhelming. I understand that you don't have time to leave your personal stamp on everything you do. But I wish you could find time to record your own podcasts. Your voice is so powerful, so authentic, it touches my soul.
No matter what, no matter who is the narrator, I will listen. But I'd sure love to hear your voice.
Ah, if I could only write like you do, Mary. Fantastic piece. Chief Justice Warren Burger said it best, when he said and I paraphrase here, misinterpretation of the 2nd Amendment is a fraud. It is, and why it has been repeated over and over again since then by all sorts of Justices, politicians of both parties, attorney's and other is also a fraud and a dishonest way to capture votes. We, the citizens of the U.S.A who are civilians do NOT have a right to firearm ownership. The U. S. Constitution says no such thing.
I agree with you on AG Garland and am so angry at him, the FBI and others the way they have handled the Mueller Report, the 6 January 2021 attempted coup and all the lies and crimes of other politicians and elected officials I have lost all respect for our Justice system. THEY are putting our country at risk, and I have to wonder if they are just stupid or don't care.
I have seen so many battles won and lost and won and lost, it is tiring and deflates one's hope for a better future for us all. I happened to be a gay woman and older, my first gay bar I stepped into back in 1961 was the Who Cares in San Francsico, my birth city. We couldn't dance, we couldn't get too close, we couldn't hold hands because there may have been a plain clothes cop sitting there waiting to arrest us. A lot has changed since then, and I was part of many protests, many door to door howdy-dos. And, today in 2023 as I head into my 80th year we are still fighting for our full Civil Rights as are some folks considered today as the 'others'. Why do we have to keep fighting the same hate, the same ignorance willful or not? Maybe this wonderful experiment, our Republic, can't survive, maybe our Founders were just too idealistic. Free speech, for instance, without any restraints? No wiggle room here for hate speech, for deliberate lies for those running for office or holding office? I don't know what all the answers are, but we are failing to move, without going back 10 paces each time towards that more perfect Union. I love my country with all its warts, but I will tell you, I have been disappointed in her leadership these past 50 years.
I am printing this out and sending it in the mail to my Oregon senators, Merkley and Wyden. They are decent men and I just have to relay to them what the Democrats do wrong in trying to be unlike the republicans in owning our faults and how spineless it is and gets us nowhere! We can be bold, blunt, and reiterate over and over the absolute absurdity of the Republican Party including many particular members, still have integrity, and be able to hold our heads high. We need to call out the abject damage being done to our country by the Republican Party. It's hard not to be angry. I have gotten off FB and twitter and keep to my few trusted sources (you and a few others) for the truth. I wish I could be a paid follower but the PRICE GOUGING is constricting me greatly. Thanks so much for your voice.
Here’s my personal take on hatred. Perhaps there is a difference between intensely disliking someone and hating them. Disliking is a spontaneous emotion arising from our core. It may or may not have a rational reason. However, one can dislike someone and still love them. Love is wishing the best for someone. Because hate is the anthesis of love, there can be no wishing the best for the person. Hatred then does not care about circumstances. Many times some folks rationalize their actions with reasons that are crafted to justify them. Sometimes, they don’t look at the big picture and get stuck in a myopic reality. And there’s also the realization that we don’t have the full picture of what’s going on with them.
In the Christmas Carol, we are introduced to someone who performs despicable actions creating intense dislike by most people he deals with. But after Scrooge had his “conversion”, he was accepted by those folks because their dislike didn’t keep them from recognizing that something good had happened to him and they were happy about it. So this was not hatred. Not everyone is going to have a conversion event. But we just don’t know how we and they will change in the future. And if we dislike instead of hate, we can sometimes keep wishing the best for them.
Thanks for listening... I just want to say that i truly enjoy your posts.
Thank you for your emergency art and sharing your experience in Florence, Italy. Your in-depth column is helpful, too.
Mary I absolutely agree with your statement that if you can’t see the difference between Biden’s documents and the former guy’s just shut up. I’m really tired of democrats pretending to stand on higher ground and bash Joe Biden. Get behind him and support him.
Why is it that out most powerful and influential Democrats (Hillary, Barack, Kamala, among so many others) don't loudly shout out in defense of Biden, at this moment, but also at all the other times when we accomplish good things but are maligned and lied about so constantly. I feel like Democrats have turned into well-mannered little mice, barely squeaking. To mix metaphors, the Republican'ts are a terrifying horde of termites, ravenously taking a thousand tiny bites out of the foundation of our democracy. Anti-this, anti-that, book banning, courses cancelled, medical care for trans banned, women's rights to choose ripped away, tax cuts for the rich. I'm very scared that our democracy will fall. Mary, your voice is one of the essential ones giving us a chance to face the termites and save our houses.
I may be naive, but I think DOJ will end up indicting Trump. I like to think they are just building an air tight case. I hope I'm right.
It may have been a mistake to appoint Garland to be Attorney General. He was chosen by Obama to be on the Court because, I assume, he was moderate enough to be able to get a few votes by moderate Republicans (remember them?). So appointing a moderate judge to be Attorney General might have been a poor choice. Maybe a man or woman with a good record as a prosecutor would have been a better choice. Time will tell.
It's heartening that two women in Georgia and New York may be the ones to bring Trump to justice.
The Democratic Party’s continuing refusal and/or inability to stand up and fight actually helps us decide just how much we can expect of them. We have no Zelensky at present who is able to rally the country against the rising winds of fascism. But we need just such a leader. Millions of us wait to be “called into the streets” where the real defense must happen.
if you think that your hate has no effect on the object of that hatred, that's crazy and sounds like somebody who has never been hated and oppressed.
Bravo, Mary! Thank you for saying it as it really is without mincing words. I will share this post with several like-minded friends. Please take care and stay safe and well. We need you!
There is so much here, thank you for conveying everything so well and for the much needed emergency art. I respectfully disagree with you on Garland for several reasons, though I understand your position and share the frustration with the time it is taking to indict Donald. I’m certain you won’t lose sleep over the fact I disagree with you, nor I because of your opinion, but I raise it because one thing I have been a bit alarmed by lately is some of the vitriol and personal attacks by people against those “on the same side” in areas of disagreement. Attacking personal appearance, demonizing, or otherwise dehumanizing someone because we don’t agree with their strategy, reasoning, or viewpoint became entrenched on the right (especially under Donald) but it seems it’s becoming more commonplace on the left, too. I’m not sure what that means, but it’s a disconcerting trend.