ELECTION DAY

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

It is time for all people of the United States to take a stand. This historic election day will determine whether or not our democracy will reignite and continue to reunite or become a dictatorship.

This is it folks. Will you let the Republicans continue to command our future?

The CDC(1) reported over 9.024, 298 Covid-19 cases and 229,109 deaths as of October 31, 2020. How could anyone refuse to admit the truth or the existence of the Pandemic. Hearing, “Fake News” and  a chant of, “Covid, Covid, Covid,” by the President of the United States (3) is anything but reassuring. It reminds me of a third grade student  in my classroom, sticking a finger in each ear, as he chants, “I can’t hear you.”

Our country was once a haven for immigrants. Immigrants from all over the world have made their homes and raised families throughout the 50 states.

Now we have children lost or taken from their parents or guardians when they enter the United States at the Border. “The Los Angeles Times reports that the official government count of children separated from their parents or guardians under the family separation policy is 4,368. Meanwhile, attorneys say it still proves incredibly difficult to reach hundreds of parents of children separated from them. They also say that known flaws in government tracking systems mean that the total number of separated families is likely higher.”  (3)

I cannot begin to imagine how parents

and guardians are suffering from not having their children with them. The risks for these children are many including enslavement, horrendous abuse, even death. No family should endure such pain and distress. 

All children need to be protected unconditionally.

Earlier this evening, I read several articles from different sources how Trump encouraged members of the Trump Train to surround and harass Joe Biden’s Campaign Bus in Texas. 

“Supporters of President Trump riding in trucks surrounded a Joe Biden campaign bus on a Texas highway Friday, prompting alarmed staffers to call 911 and cancel at least two stops scheduled later that day, according to reports. The FBI is investigating the incident, according to the Texas Tribune.” 

“I LOVE Texas,” the president tweeted Saturday, sharing a video showing trucks with Trump flags following the Biden bus.” (4)

“He who must be obeyed” has no problem with spewing hate, bigotry, misogyny, and rants at any and all who speak out. 

No-one really knows what will unfold on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. My prayer is for peace, patience, and cooperation at the voting sites.

Vote to restore the United States of America to its former greatness.

This morning I awoke The bed warm where it once was cold Small blessings laid upon us Small mysteries slowly unfold

From "Something More Besides You" by Cowboy Junkies:

1. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesper100klast7days

2. https://www.newsweek.com/trump-chants-covid-10-times-rally-after-obama-accuses-him-being-jealous-virus-media-coverage-1542683

(3) https://www.splcenter.org/news/2020/06/17/family-separation-under-trump-administration-timeline#2020

(4) https://www.foxnews.com/us/trump-train-biden-campaign-bus-texas-highway-fbi 

                                                    Live simply.

                                                    Speak gently.    

                                                    Love unconditionally.

                                                    and VOTE!

                            

ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY THAN YOU WERE IN 2016?

I am reposting a letter from my dear friend and Spiritual Sister. Dianne wrote this soon after Donald Trump was elected President of the United States in 2016. In Dianne's opening paragraph she states, " I am disheartened. I am not hopeless but realistically cautious." She was a harbinger of what the next four years would bring.

INSIGHTS FROM A FRIEND

I am posting the following letter I received from my dear friend, Dianne Rogers, with her permission. We go way back to the 70's when we met while working on our Masters' Degrees from The University of Maryland. We immediately connected on so many levels. Dianne is a woman who is an astute observer of human nature. She is well read and articulate. We have discussed many issues over the years. Whenever we need someone to listen and seek advice, we are only a phone call away. After receiving the letter, I had to share it. Dianne has delved into the essence of why Donald Trump is a threat, not only to our country but to the world at large. 

Marge,

I am not saddened by this election, I am disheartened. I am not hopeless but realistically cautious. Knowing the personality of the president elect, I am frightened for what his narcissistic, impulsive, socio-psychopathic, pathological lying nature might do to harm our nation. And the people he has surrounded himself with as his advisors, gives me more cause to be concerned. One example is his chief advisor who 

is a conspiracy theorist and whose negative attitude manipulates truth in a way never seen before on such a national level.

When recently asked if he had any regrets for his outlandish behavior during the campaign, Trump's response was "No, I won. I have no regrets." 

When asked during the campaign if he had ever asked God for forgiveness, is answer was "No, I've never done anything to be forgiven for."

I am sending you a wonderful piece written by Dr. George Lakoff * who is a cognitive scientist and linguist from the University of California

on 'Understanding Trump" which I hope you will find interesting reading. I remember learning about Lakoff in graduate school studying 

the link between linguistics, language and reading... 

I admire Lakoff's research and analysis and find what he has to say as very enlightening in terms of trying to understand the phenomena

of the election of such a man. 

My ultimate concern is this: What do we tell the children (especially our boys and young men? )

That it's OK to bully, to make fun of others that are not like us...disabled, foreign, other faiths or ethnic origins?

That it's OK to grab/grope/sexually attack girls because they can?

That it's Ok to use language that is offensive and divisive?

That it's OK to do these and many other things because "Well the president can do this, why can't I?" 

We have increased the number of hate groups in this country for the last 18 month by more than 100+.

There are now 892 separate hate groups who feel empowered to behave in a manner contrary to what we have always held as American values of civility, decency, integrity and honor. 

This man has repeatedly shown us, lo this past year and a half, that he does not hold any of those values as sacred.

And we will see in the future more and more of what teachers across the country are now reporting in their classrooms from kindergarten through high school: a rise in unacceptable behavior the likes of which we never dealt with in our years as educators...

For me, the bottom line is respecting all people and caring for your fellow human being as Jesus taught us to do. 

"Love one another as I have loved you"...

Every major religion on this planet holds true one major tenet: The Golden Rule- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

We are a nation of immigrants from many ethnic and religious backgrounds and to have a leader that denigrates so many is not only

intolerable but unconscionable to me.

Thank you for the opportunity to put down in writing what have been my thoughts for the past week...

P.S. I (did) read Kathleen Parker’s* piece in the Post and am not in agreement that he will change due to his seven decades of behavior that indicates otherwise.

As my Bill (Dianne’s Beloved Husband) would have said, "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." I am so thankful that he is not here to have to endure now, what he had to suffer for so many years of his life: racism and bigotry...which has reared its ugly head in a way we have never witnessed before so very publicly.

So I take my lesson from the love that Bill showed despite the prejudice he endured:

He would pray for Trump's soul and so shall I.

*https://georgelakoff.com/2016/07/23/understanding-trump-2

*https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-the-white-house-already-changing-donald-trump/

Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.

and Vote in November.