On Whose Side Will You Stand?

Question of the Day -- Officer Chauvin Edition

If Officer Chauvin did nothing wrong and didn't, in fact, murder Mr. Floyd---which he did, the video shows it, of course--why did the city of Minneapolis give Mr. Floyd's family 27 million dollars?

Because they just had it lying around and wanted to be nice?

Question of the Day

How could anyone, anyone, anywhere think it's somehow bizarrely okay if a rogue police officer ends up killing another American citizen who is only SUSPECTED of having passed a counterfeit $20 bill?

How and where does that make ANY sense? #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd

A Timely Must-Read

Sunday's New York Times Magazine had a magnificent, even important article I think it's safe to say all adult Americans should read.

America’s Enduring Caste System

Our founding ideals promise liberty and equality for all. 

Our reality is an enduring racial hierarchy that has persisted for centuries.

We heard the man on the ground pleading with the man above him, saw the terror in his face, heard his gasps for air, heard the anguished cries of an unseen chorus, begging the lighter man to stop. But the lighter man, the dominant man, looked straight at the bystanders, into the camera, and thus at all of us around the world who would later bear witness and, instead of heeding the cries of the chorus, pressed his knee deeper into the darker man’s neck as was the perceived right granted him in the hierarchy. The man on the ground went silent, drained of breath. A clear liquid crept down the pavement. We saw a man die before our very eyes.

What we did not see, not immediately anyway, was the invisible scaffolding, a caste system with ancient rules and assumptions that made such a horror possible, that held each actor in that scene in its grip...

The Present Racial, Police Brutality Problem As Today, But 50 Years Ago

I found this yesterday on YouTube. Some of their marketing their own videos, I'm sure. Regardless, it is stunning that it's the same, exact discussion and debate and problem we have today, now---and it's from 50 years ago.  This was posted on the video by one David Hoffman:

This was on national public television (PBS) in the prime time in 1971. It was considered shockingly bold to present this debate and to hear police officers and chiefs of police honestly and bluntly state how they saw the racial injustices in the department and in the society. Some things have clearly changed for the better. But it is, at least for me, strangely familiar and uncomfortable to see what has not changed. Since the murder of Floyd George, once again, police injustice and inequality is front and center in the news across America.

Stunning.

We haven't changed a bit.

Necessary In 1968, Still Poignant Today

I just coincidentally, fortunately ran across this video yesterday. It's a talk by and from James Baldwin, American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist. in 1968 concerning the race riots of that day.  Still so very poignant--and necessary--today, of course, sadly, even maddeningly.



Let's do better, America.

Examples of How and Why America Needs to Change

Just looking at the facts of a few situations here in America point out what, exactly, and how we need to change here in America, regarding race, specifically for blacks and African-Americans.

Number one:

From the "What Never Happens to White People" file.

Philando Castile Was Pulled Over 49 Times in 13 Years, Often for Minor Infractions

Not Minneapolis but the other Twin City, St. Paul, 4 years ago.

"On July 6, 2016, Philando Castile, a 32-year-old African American man, was stopped while driving--apparently for a cracked tail light-- then fatally shot by Jeronimo Yanez, a 29-year-old Hispanic-American police officer from St. Anthony, Minnesota.

Castile was driving with his partner Diamond Reynolds and her four-year-old daughter when at 9:00 p.m. their vehicle was pulled over by Yanez and another officer in Falcon Heights, a suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota. After being asked for his license and registration, Castile told Officer Yanez that he had a firearm (Castile was licensed to carry) to which Yanez replied, 'Don't reach for it then', and Castile said 'I'm, I, I was reaching for...' Yanez said 'Don't pull it out', Castile replied 'I'm not pulling it out', and Reynolds said 'He's not...' Yanez repeated 'Don't pull it out' and then shot at Castile at close range seven times, hitting him five times. Castile died at 9:37 p.m. at Hennepin County Medical Center, about 20 minutes after being shot."
Dead.

Because of a possible cracked tail light.

Next up:

"I can't breathe": Death of black man in Tacoma police custody ruled a homicide

"Manuel Ellis...died on March 3 (this year) in handcuffs while being restrained on the ground by Tacoma police.,,At one point, Ellis can be heard saying, 'I can't breathe.'"

Sound familiar?
Third:

This Is The Toy Gun That Got Tamir Rice Killed

On 22 November 2014 Tamir Rice, a 12-year old boy, was fatally shot in Cleveland, Ohio by Timothy Loehmann, a 26-year-old police officer. Rice was carrying a replica toy Airsoft gun; Loehmann shot him almost immediately after arriving on the scene.
The police officer shot and killed 12 year old Tamir Rice within 3-1/2 seconds after arriving on the scene in his police car.

3-1/2 seconds.

Dead.

For a toy gun.

Fourth:

Breonna Taylor killing: 

FBI opens investigation

A young woman.
26 years old
An EMT.
Alone.
At home.
In her bed.
Killed.
By police
March 13.
No knock search warrant.
Wrong address.
Middle of the night.

FBI is now opening an investigation. June 4. And they're likely only just now opening this investigation because of the George Floyd protests. Who knows what would have happened, if anything, and when it might have taken place without these protests.

Finally, his one broke yesterday. It's stunning.

Bills QB Jake Fromm apologizes after saying guns should be expensive so only 'elite white people' can buy them

How do you face your fellow teammates after saying something so deeply ignorant, racist, stupid and offensive?

Sadly, maddeningly, even, there are far more than just this brief list, too. This photo shows far more and it's just a fraction of the tragedies and horrors---murders--that have taken place in our nation's history.

   (Click on picture for easier reading. And please do read it all).

Hopefully our time has come, America.

Berkely Professor Robert Reich made a great proposal.

Robert Reich @RBReich

"What if — and hear me out here — we invested in Black communities rather than mass incarceration and the police?"

And that, actually really would be a fantastic and intelligent, very real solution, especially given how much we imprison people.

The US incarcerates more than any other country

We need to be over this. We need to be over the racism. We need to put this all behind us. We need to never have these senseless murders take place again. Think of it. We have a FRACTION of the population of either China or India but we incarcerate more, far more, than any other nation. Additionally, of those incarcerated, a far higher percentage of those are African-Americans.

Black Americans incarcerated five times more 

than white

We can do this. We have to. We must.

Let's do this.

Quote of the Day -- Constitutional Threat Edition

"Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children."

--General James Mattis, retired United States Marine Corps General, also served as 26th US Secretary of Defense under this President

From the article: 

James Mattis Denounces President Trump, Describes Him as a Threat to the Constitution

Thanks, Republicans!

Quotes of the Day -- Clueless, Shameful, Shameless Presidential Edition

From the article:

'The Bible is not a prop': 

Religious leaders, lawmakers outraged over Trump church visit

The Rev. James Martin, a prominent Jesuit priest and author, said in a statement,

"Using the Bible as a prop while talking about sending in the military, bragging about how your country is the greatest in the world, and publicly mocking people on a daily basis, is pretty much the opposite of all Jesus stood for."

He added: 

"Let me be clear. This is revolting. The Bible is not a prop. A church is not a photo op. Religion is not a political tool. And God is not a plaything."

Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, said in a statement Monday, 

"Seeing President Trump stand in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church while holding a Bible in response to calls for racial justice — right after using military force to clear peaceful protesters out of the area — is one of the most flagrant misuses of religion I have ever seen. This only underscores the president's complete lack of compassion for Black Americans and the lethal consequences of racism."

Additional link:

REPORTER: "Is that your Bible?" 
TRUMP: "It's A Bible."

Having defamed an Episcopal church, 
 Trump decides to violate the sanctity of Catholic shrine

Shameless.

The man is shameless.

Thanks, Republicans.

#VOTEBLUE

Quote of the Day -- Timely, Protest, Riot Version

"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are."

--Benjamin Franklin

The Donald Trump Presidency

What it's like having Donald Trump "steering", leading---if you can call it that--the nation.


The good news?

We haven't crashed yet.

Well, not completely crashed, anyway.

Yet.

God help us.

No Justice. No Peace

God
It's my face man
I didn't do nothing serious man
please
please
please I can't breathe
please man
please somebody
please man
I can't breathe
I can't breathe
please
(inaudible)
man can't breathe my face
just get up
I can't breathe
please (inaudible)
I can't breath sh*t
I will
I can't move
Mama
Mama
I can't
my knee
my nuts
I'm through
I'm through
I'm claustrophobic
my stomach hurt
my neck hurts
everything hurts
some water or something
please
please
I can't breath officer
don't kill me
they gonna kill me man
come on man
I cannot breathe
I cannot breathe
they gon kill me
they gon kill me
I can't breathe
I can't breathe
please sir
please
please
please I can't breathe

Fascinating, Even Surprising, Fantastic Information From “Most Violent Cities” List

There is an article just out today with fascinating statistics from the FBI on crime in the US, in our cities and which of them have the most violent crime per 100,000 residents.

FBI data reveals some of the most violent cities in nearly every state

There are some surprises on it, at least to me.

Little old Topeka, Kansas is on the list at number 32 with 29.2 violent crimes per 10,000 residents

Omaha, too, is at number 30 on the list with 31.4 violent crimes per 10,000 residents

Minneapolis is on the list at number 12 w/ 23.7 violent crimes per 10,000 people.

Tulsa at number 14 with 50.9 violent crimes per 10,000 residents.

Little Rock, Arkansas on the list at a scary, depressing #4 w/ 87.4 violent crimes per 10,000.

Our own St. Louis, however, is on the list and at a depressing #3 w/ 91.5 violent crimes per 10,000.

Memphis hit #2 and poor Baltimore, Maryland is at number 1 with 98.6 violent crimes per 10,000.

But here’s the kicker, Kansas City.


We aren’t on the list.


We aren’t even on the list.


Not Kansas City, Missouri.

Not Kansas City, Kansas.

Neither one.

It gets better, too.

We're not in the top 20 worst.

Not in the top 10.

Not the top 5.

Nothing.

So kudos to you, Kansas City. Great on you, great on us.

Don’t let some blogger in his mother’s basement scare you, folks, with ALL CAPITOL LETTERS and yellow journalism tactics.

We’re not going to Hell in any handbasket.

Jobs and infrastructure both possible for America

If only the Republican Congress would let it happen.

How many more bridges collapse in America until we get a jobs/projects bill from Congress?

First a bridge collapses in Minneapolis, Minnesota last year--a major city of the nation--and now one in Seattle.

How long, how long until our Congress gives us a jobs bill so we can take care of the infrastructure of our nation and, at the same time, create jobs the nation also needs so badly?

How long?

How long until we stop paying attention to trumped-up, imagined "scandals" and start taking care of the business, the true business, of the nation?

How long until we stop being partisan for our political party and start doing what's right for the entire country?

This is America? We have bridges collapsing now? And this is acceptable?

We need more thought and thinkers like this, instead:

Links:

A bridge falling into the water and a vision for the future gone missing

Radioman's Kansas City: Every Single Senate Republican Voted ...

Another Bridge Falls — Fixing Infrastructure Fixes Jobs And Deficits

Collapse: Does Washington Bridge Expose the Crumbling of a Nation

St. Louis ranked 9th highest in "America's Most Literate Cities"

Read it and weep, Kansas City, if everything, including this, is a competition. St. Louis beat us out in the "most literate city" ranking, this past year:

America's Most (and Least) Literate Cities - 24/7 Wall St

For the third year in a row, Washington, D.C., was rated the most literate city in the United States, with Seattle and Minneapolis close behind. That is according to a study conducted by Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) of the literacy of the nation’s largest cities.

The study ranked the cities based on six dimensions of literacy, including size of library systems, presence of bookstores, educational attainment, digital readership, circulation of newspapers and other publications. The most literate cities in the country were often, but not always, in tech-heavy regions with highly educated populations. Based on the university’s report, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the most and least literate cities in the country.


What they found about our state neighbor:

9. St. Louis, Mo.

> Weekday newspaper circulation per 100: 56.21 (10th highest)
> Pct. adults with college degree: 28.2% (34th lowest)
> Retail bookstores per 10,000: 2.92 (13th most)
> Median income: $32,570 (7th lowest)

St. Louis ranked third in terms of library resources, which takes into account the number of libraries and the number of books carried by them. The city also ranked second for publishing, with a high circulation of magazines and journals. The one area where St. Louis scored relatively poorly was in educational attainment, ranking 45th out of the 76 cities. Nearly 84% of adults aged 25 and over had a high-school diploma as of 2011, while just over 28% had at least a bachelor’s degree — both below the national rate.

Now, that said, we didn't do too badly as Kansas City did come in 13th, overall, as "most literate and we did beat out Lincoln, Nebraska this time, too.

I think we should take the ranking of Minneapolis as a challenge to improve where we are on this list, personally.

I also noted one thing from of the list of "least literate" cities and that is that both states of Texas and California seemed to have the most cities on that list, of all the states. I thought that interesting. Texas didn't surprise me, frankly, but California did.

Read more:  http://homes.yahoo.com/news/america-s-most-and-least-literate-cities-224612878.html

Full report here: http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=15608

Quote of the day

"...when a gunman takes out kindergartners in a bucolic Connecticut suburb, three days after a gunman shot up a mall in Oregon, in the same year as fatal mass shootings in Minneapolis, in Tulsa, in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, in a theater in Colorado, a coffee bar in Seattle and a college in California — then we’re doing this to ourselves.

...Every country has a sizable contingent of mentally ill citizens. We’re the one that gives them the technological power to play god.

...America needs to tackle gun violence because we need to redefine who we are. We have come to regard ourselves — and the world has come to regard us — as a country that’s so gun happy that the right to traffic freely in the most obscene quantities of weapons is regarded as far more precious than an American’s right to health care or a good education."

--Gail Collins, "Looking for America", The New York Times

Link to complete article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/opinion/collins-looking-for-america.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fopinion%2Findex.jsonp

HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, SARAH!!!

"America's Most Dangerous Cities"---and we ain't on it

Yes, another new list out, this one also by Forbes Magazine and in spite of what some people--some locals, (Tony?)--might think, Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas--both, are no where on the list. (Link: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efel45mde/1-detroit-mich#content?partner=yahoore). By contrast, on their "Best Places for Careers and Business" list, Des Moines, IA is number two while Cedar Rapids from that same state is number 11. Also on the list are Lincoln, Nebraska at 12 and Omahama at 20. St. Loo, across the state, hits at 23. Oklahoma City gets in at 28. Even the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul gets in ahead of Kansas City at their number 34 ranking. (More: Little Rock, AR, 41, Indianapolis, IN at 43, Tulsa, OK, 46). Kansas City isn't on the list in the top 50. The good news? We're safer, maybe, than we thought. The bad? We don't coddle business enough, I guess. Link: http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/27/best-places-11-top-50_slide.html

For the Gleeks in the area



Who knew?

There is a "Glee Live" Tour for 2011.

And it's with the actual cast members.

Apparently there was one last year, too.

How did I miss that?

That's the good news.

The bad news?

The closest it gets to Kansas City is just outside Chicago, in Rosemont, Illinois.  (It also gets to Minneapolis, MN and Indianapolis, IN this Summer, too but that's it).

Maybe next year.

Link:  http://www.gleetour.net/