I pray these laws don't come to Ohio. They already passed a 6 week heart beat bill that was then overturned...Ohio is a red state, but our governor is republican and he's up for re-election soon. I live in a blue county thankfully, but there's only like 3 blue counties in all of Ohio. I do love where I live, but damn I hate that it's a red state.
The mother who picked us up had known him and Jackie because her husband had been JFKs French ambassador.
@jeanne-mayell I have to wonder if I had the dream about my grandparents because you were going to share this. My grandparents were devout Christians and teetotalers; they were gifted a case of French wine from the French Ambassador after my grandpa did some work with him. My grandma poured every bottle down the drain as my dad and his siblings watched in horror. I wonder if your French Ambassador is the same as THAT French Ambassador!
Hi @saibh, I expressed his position incorrectly. He was not the French Ambassador but the U.S. Ambassador to France under JFK. His name was General James (Jim) M. Gavin and he had commanded the 82nd Airborne Division on D-Day during WWII and had been the youngest general to command a division. He was a WWII hero and was given a ticker tape parade in NYC at the end of the war. He was against using the bomb and against using nuclear warfare for any purpose; had worked against segregation in the Army; and was well known to JFK who had put him on a short-list to head the CIA. He lost favor with the military because he was too liberal for them and was anti-war.
Instead JFK made him Ambassador to France. His daughter was one of my best friends when we were children and I spent many hours at their home. He was from lowly beginnings, a brilliant man, and the famed film star Marlene Dietrich said he was one of the two sexiest men she ever knew.
@michellepazicni You say that Dewine is up for re-election soon, but I don't think he is running for re-election...?? I may be wrong, but I suspect that there are many far-right nutcases hoping to take over our state. I too live in Ohio, but I'm not looking forward to some of those who are considering running taking over after Dewine.
@jujubeans7050 oh, my bad then. I swear I saw something about him and re-election, but that was a few months ago.
@michellepazicni GOOD! Although I don't like these crazy far right Repubs, I do think that Dewine tries to maintain some moderation on things. And of course, it would be a long shot that a Democrat would get the Governorship in this state. Has happened, but rarely! Thanks for looking it up!
I live in Texas and have been living here since I came to the states. As much as I want to leave to a more blue state, the matter of fact is that it's just not plausible at the moment. Which is all the more bummy considering that I'm currently trying to be a history teacher in a Hispanic majority district and the "critical race theory" just passed. I had such good ideas on how to get my people motivated and challenged that now will be thrown out to the bin.
Im hopeful that all the Californians, out-of-staters and angry texan women turn this state blue. I do love this state and this has now become my home and as much as I'd like to just drop everything and start anew elsewhere I don't think it's right to leave without a fight, specially since I just became a citizen and I'll be able to vote this coming election.
Well I should be able to vote unless the reps of this state find yet another way to make it harder for minorities to vote ???
@2ndfdl @blackandwhite I think there are enough liberals in Texas to win if elections were fairly conducted. When I was growing up, Texas was actually a purple state.
I think we've been dealing with various forms of election shenanigans for a long time (beyond voter suppression). It's one reason we desperately need a federal law setting baseline standards for voting.
Perhaps this should go on the Covid thread, but something that's been very much on my mind lately: What is happening at the soul level for those who are dying of Covid in this most recent wave in the US, when vaccines are free and available everywhere? Do they not want to live through this next phase of life on earth? Does their anger at the changes happening in our society override the human instinct for self-preservation? Are they simply dupes of a powerful propaganda machine and arrive in the afterworld with regret?
I would love to hear any insights you all might have on this topic. It's one of the most disturbing things about this phase of the pandemic: that people would treat their own lives as so disposable.
@gbs I know exactly what you mean. My Cousin in Florida just died of COVID. He had, on principle, not gotten the vaccine. He was very vocal about it. I do think he had second thoughts as the disease ravaged his body at the end. Very sad and so preventable...
@jujubeans7050 I'm really sorry to hear about your cousin. I believe the soul incarnates many times in order to experience all facets of what it means to be a human. Perhaps there are private reasons a soul has for experiencing life in a given way, that onlookers will never comprehend.
Wishing solace and comfort for your cousin's loved ones.
I wonder what this book will have to do with all the predictions about Trump and his administration's coming woes and struggles ... could be very interesting. Also: who needs an NDA when you will likely make a ton of money from a book like this, because you the perfect person in the perfect position to spill all the tea. https://www.axios.com/scoop-the-most-dangerous-trump-expose-eb3a05e1-05d8-4b04-be38-a159a4f58713.html
@jujubeans7050 I’m so sorry about your cousin. Sending you and your family peace and comfort. Very sad to lose life this way.
@gbs I don't think it's folks thinking their lives are not valuable, I think it's all about the "sunk cost fallacy." Here's an interesting article that explains it, for those who haven't hear of it. I hadn't until a few years ago, and it explains a lot of human behavior.
https://time.com/5347133/sunk-cost-fallacy-decisions/
There is a lesson here to all of us. Cut your losses if something isn't working. It's a hard thing to do but, as my mother used to say, if you learn a lesson in this lifetime you won't need to learn it in the next.
Not sure where to post this, so I picked this topic, as I deemed it the most relevant.
Today, a federal judge has just struck down DeSantis's "anti-riot" law, deeming it as being so overbroad and vague (aka-peaceful protestors or even innocent bystanders can be charged for the acts of a few violent rioters). Remember, Florida and other states passed these laws as a means to curb the protests for BLM and other pro-justice protests. Even people who stay behind and film interactions between cops and protestors (even when they themselves are not engaged in violent behaviors themselves) can be arrested.
Needless to say, the federal judge stated that the law was in violation of the 1st Amendment and struck it down. DeSantis will no doubt appeal to the 11th District Court in Atlanta (the 11th District comprises Georgia, Florida, and Alabama) to try to overturn the law, so we will see what happens, but this is good news.
On an unrelated note, it amazes me how the Republicans are passing laws and engaging in policies that will hurt them in the long run. Such as encouraging their followers not to have the vaccine. The result? So many of their constituents are dying to the point that they won't have the turnout that they have had before. Add the "Elections are Stolen" jargon to dampen enthusiasm for voting, and they will face problems in purple areas in the country.
The same thing applies to this "anti-riot" law. What about January 6? Because under Florida's law, technically all of the protestors could be arrested, not just the group that stormed the capitol building. And when these people start protesting at every single election in the foreseeable future (and protest when they don't win), what then?
Methinks they don't think things through. Personally, I pray every day that the midterms will end in a blue wave that will sweep them from power. I am hopeful that this will happen. Any thoughts?
@febbby23 Thank you for your prayers and concern. It is very hard to lose a family member, especially when it was preventable. On the other side of the coin, my 103 year old Aunt Lois passed peacefully two days ago. She was an amazing person who had an amazing life... Thanks again!
@saibh For some reason before I followed your link.. I saw a dark haired woman striding off down the road after tossing a match on a gasoline soaked vehicle...her dress and hair blowing in the wind as she walked away.... then.. I followed your link and read it... yeah... "burning bridges and blowing up the town " justice is coming.