Here is a "do something;" Can this bill be stopped in the Senate?
This passed in the House today:
HR 9495 “The bill is the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. It postpones certain tax-filing deadlines for Americans and their spouses who are wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. Great, you say. I have no problem with that.
I agree! However, HR 9495 also “terminates the tax-exempt status of terrorist supporting organizations.” Basically, per the text ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/9495/text) of the legislation, the treasury secretary can designate any organization as having met certain standards to qualify as “terrorist supporting.” The organization then has 90 days to “demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary” that it isn’t actually “terrorist supporting.” If it can’t do so, it’s designated as such and has its tax-exempt status revoked. Rescinding the “terrorist supporting” designation is also up to the secretary. No evidence or explanation is required.”
@lovendures yes! I have also had friends think say that while they think about their communities, they are considering running for small local offices like school or even neighborhood boards.
This morning I was listening to a favorite podcast, Hysteria, which is news and political and even they mentioned they are struggling with wanting to watch the news right now. I think you might be right in your assessment.
I was talking to a dear friend, earlier today, about using dance and music to deal with post-election emotional overload. And then someone else shared a video with me. It's probably the most powerful vid i have ever seen.
The New Zealand parliament was debating a bill that would change a 200 year old treaty, and further restrict the rights of the indigenous Maori peoples. But a certain Maori MP was not having it. Haka ensued. And parliament was suspended. Please enjoy this one minute video of dance resistance. This is the kind of fire we need to bring
Māori MPs perform haka and disrupt NZ parliament debate on treaty rights changes
@unk-p Thank you for sharing that Unk P .... I needed the reminder. Having survived Domestic Violence I was definitely triggered by Hillbilly Vanilli and the Orange Stain's other cohorts. I endured and came through the other side a survivor...not a victim. I know that I am resilient and defiant ...which caused many a trauma for me to grow through. A lot older now.. and tired... but still here...and still... resilient ..still defiant. Until my last breath.
So don’t give up hope. Do not despair. That is what they want, and we shall not give them that satisfaction. In Japanese, there is a word my mother used to say to me. “Gaman, Georgie,” she’d say. It means to endure with fortitude and dignity. We all could benefit the spirit of Gaman. /5
Let's all incorporate the word and idea of Gaman into our lives.
I love George Takei and follow him. He is a bright light.
Today I had a very fun and unique opportunity to meet a friend I've only ever known online and via text message in person. We spent about 5 hours exploring Boston - the public library and then the Freedom Trail (with a brief stop partway through for some coffee and to give our tired feet a break). All told we walked almost 10 miles, and I put over 20,000 steps on my Apple Watch for the day - a great feat since I will be spending most of my day tomorrow traveling home via airplane and airport layover.
This intuitive friend and I had some great discussions about the path forward while walking the Freedom Trail, which, for those of you who don't know, highlights some of the important points in both Revolutionary and overall U.S. History. While we couldn't go into every building, while both of us were feeling better about the state of things (despite the state of things) a very interesting feeling settled over me when I determined from the guidebook that our next stop would be the Old North Church. I got some chills (and not just because it was cold, rainy and humid in Boston at the same time)
If you know the legend and you've read the poem, the old North Church was where the signals were first sent that sent Paul Revere on his infamous ride (he wasn't he only one but he was the most famous) - Two lanterns were hung, which meant the British were going to come in via the Charles River.
I'm wasn't certain why I got goosebumps both walking up to and realizing our next stop was the church but a few things on reflection stand out. But the most important is below
The lanterns were seen and the message was relayed because the lanterns were light in the darkness.
-We- Can be the Light in the darkness for others.
And that was a good reminder.
I will cherish today for a very long time because while I've walked the Freedom Trail before, the company and conversation were so good for my soul.
What a great day @dannyboy! What a wonderful experience for you both! You guys look so happy!