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!
What a great day @dannyboy! What a wonderful experience for you both! You guys look so happy!
While on my long walk with my friend I mentioned several times that she needs to follow Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow on Instagram and I suggest you do to - for real talk on what to do next, how to make sense of the election results, how to be a change agent. I’m proud that she’s from Michigan but I’m even prouder that I know her and she’s been a voice of light for me for many years. (She will be governor. If not even higher office)
follow her here and instead of doomscrolling on the news - hopescroll through her “ask me anything” reels
https://www.instagram.com/mallorymcmorrow?igsh=MW42eXoyYjF2Zzk5NA==
This has been troubling me. Elon Musk is clearly a gifted individual. He already won the capital video game.
I think he has the potential to be a generous person and assist people. I am confounded as to why with all
of his intelligence he won't expand to an interpersonal challenge of helping most people have enough and
perhaps thrive as brilliantly as he has been permitted.
Today with @Dannyboy was an important day for me, not the least because I got to revisit the birth of the American Revolution with someone I have admired ever since he joined our community. Dannyboy is a remarkable guy on so many fronts, and I discovered more today. He just received a big award as a social studies teachers' teacher and trail blazer. He inspires so many kids, and has inspired me.
Yes, the power of getting together with you guys does call for a reunion gathering for sure. I think it would be a thrilling experience with huge numbers of hugs. And it would help solidify the love so many of us feel for each other here.
Added to being able to spend time with Dannyboy, was the timing of such visit - right after this election that shocked us and is now alerting us to what is at stake and what we must now do.
We walked the Freedom Trail where the American Revolution began, when the Boston colonists stood up to the strongest empire in the world.
While he and I chattered away about the forum, about you guys, the election questions that people have been pondering here, and so many things, we walked on the bricks and past the buildings where Paul Revere, John Adams, and our forefathers walked. I felt the determination of those people who said, "hell, no!" to King George because they were already living free in every other way.
Laurance Tribe, Constitutional law professor and scholar, said last week that it will be hard to take the freedom from Americans. We are a decentralized country of 50 states, each with its own constitution, and legislatures, and even further broken into city, town and county governments. He said we need to get involved in our state, city, and local governments to shore up those rights now. In New England, we still have a Town Meeting form of government, where citizens meet and decide bylaws. Local rule is all over this country. We need to support our local leaders, and even consider becoming a local leader.
Finally, fear is what dictators want the people to feel. They are using fear already and for a few days it worked. They want the people to be isolated and trembling with fear. IN that way, no one will challenge them. Everyone will capitulate to them.
But I feel a shift away from fear and towards action already. I feel a strength coming. I feel that shift in myself. I hope people here will check with those organizations that are already pulling together ideas and plans for protecting our rights.
https://www.mobilize.us is a great place to start. Also https://www.indivisible.org
I've always felt fortunate to grow-up and live in the Boston area with its rich history in the birth of our nation. So, many memories growing up of the re-enactments of Paul Revere's ride and the firing of cannons at dawn on April 19th. I often tell my conservative friends that this country was founded by liberals 🤣
It is great to see people of this forum get together to talk about where we are and where we are going.
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.
I so love this -- such a simple, yet powerful message that applies to all of us in general, but especially now. So happy you both got to spend this time together!
@jeanne-mayell I love that you say a turning toward our local communities and government. And also turning away from fear. It is 100% the same way I’m feeling. Be involved and take care of yourself of your local community. Be aware of the looming darkness (fear) but don’t dwell on it. Focus on the light.
@Andy Thanks for your uplifting message!
Although I saw years ago that we'd become more local oriented, I didn't realize until now how important it is that we start working to strengthen our state laws, enshrining rights in our constitutions, to ensure our freedom from a wannabe dictator.
For example, when it comes to reproductive rights, ten states had abortion rights on the ballot in this past election, and those rights passed in seven, several voted to enshrine those rights into their constitutions. https://news.sky.com/story/abortion-in-the-us-post-election-how-has-it-changed-in-states-where-measures-were-put-on-ballot-13249312
Many other states already had such rights in place. https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/
Another thing we need to ask of Biden and our Congressional Representatives: Reform the Insurrection Act so that the power it gives a president to turn the military on the people cannot be abused. Congress needs to remove the clause that allows the president to deputize militias, for example. And Congress needs to sign off on such measures.
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/28/1241141939/insurrection-act
For those who joined Bluesky or have considered doing so, please have a look at this.
https://america2.news/without-sky-social-media-and-the-end-of-reality/