tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post9036575553224757132..comments2024-03-29T05:33:43.878-04:00Comments on Murder is Everywhere: A Fourth of July Call to ActionOvidia Yuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749549092493567689noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-26692919785876823202016-07-03T21:34:08.602-04:002016-07-03T21:34:08.602-04:00Yes, agree Annamaria, but also the rich initiated ...Yes, agree Annamaria, but also the rich initiated and carried out a brutal campaign of austerity against working and poor people, cuts in health care, disability benefits and more.<br />And the right wing is blaming immigrants when, in fact, everyone should get health care and other services. Right-wingers are yelling about Poles and Romanians using the National Health System. But they're human beings and need it, too.<br />There are demagogues who are only too glad to provide the racism and xenophobia in this situation, as Trump does in the States.<br />Hate crimes have gone up 500% in Britain since the Brexit.<br />And for movie-goers who want more revelations of reality, see "Truth," and "The Big Short." Both are excellent movies.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-92124490876472386352016-07-02T18:03:45.155-04:002016-07-02T18:03:45.155-04:00The young want to live in a multicultural society;...The young want to live in a multicultural society; they've grown up in one. Universities have diverse populations. The world of clubs, music, art, etc. is a multicultural one. London and other cities have very diverse populations. So, yes, the young are more progressive, and many are angry that their elders voted for Brexit.<br />But I don't think bigotry is innate. There are economic problems in Britain: Austerity policies have had an impact. So has unemployment, declining real wages, and cuts in health care and other government programs.<br />So, populist, right-wing politicians and media blame immigrants for it, just as Trump does here. And some people buy into that and believe it in Britain, other European countries (rise of ultra-right parties) and right here, which is why Trump can whip up a certain segment of the white population against people of color, immigrants, Jews, women, disabled people.<br />All this has to be opposed with words and deeds. On Sept. 12, 2015, thousands all over Europe marched in capital cities to say "Welcome, refugees." This is needed very much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-66594833226311215342016-07-02T10:48:23.574-04:002016-07-02T10:48:23.574-04:00I wouldn't dream of leaving you out of the par...I wouldn't dream of leaving you out of the party, Michael :). And absolutely yes, no one side in a moral battle ever has an exclusive claim on the enthusiasm and energy of the young. Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-52102263452373369652016-07-02T10:19:55.233-04:002016-07-02T10:19:55.233-04:00I'm pleased to see that you didn't leave S...I'm pleased to see that you didn't leave South Africa out of the picture. Zapiro's cartoon shows Julius Malema turning the Marikana massacre to his advantage. And he has a lot of young followers. Faced with no jobs, no prospects, and no future, they too can be led. Michael Sears (of Michael Stanley)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09886295534214542834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-14187178576289763632016-07-02T09:57:01.948-04:002016-07-02T09:57:01.948-04:00The young have always been among the first to see ...The young have always been among the first to see the need for a different approach and change of attitudes. In the US we saw that during the Vietnam War and Civil Rights days. <br /><br />BUT, it is also the young who have flocked to ISIS. In these times, nothing can be taken for granted except those who care must stand up and be counted. Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-34480747684253920102016-07-02T09:44:59.770-04:002016-07-02T09:44:59.770-04:00Interesting coincidence that you should cite the e...Interesting coincidence that you should cite the examples you did of optimistic signs! You see, I'm back in the States to attend the wedding tomorrow of two people who have been with Obama since the beginning, and worked in his White House; plus the groom's brother was one of the key people at the Justice Department involved in overturning the Defense of Marriage Act!<br /><br />But all we've seen achieved is always at risk without without relentless vigilance. It's the nature of things I'm sad to say.Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-19745053172117704782016-07-02T09:35:36.308-04:002016-07-02T09:35:36.308-04:00Thank you, my friend, and though we've both be...Thank you, my friend, and though we've both been on the same page on this for a very long time, it's now a matter of turning it into an audio book.Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-69332260368251560562016-07-02T08:07:24.102-04:002016-07-02T08:07:24.102-04:00In times of economic austerity, people look for a ...In times of economic austerity, people look for a blame hound and any ethnic minority is an easy target. I agree with Jeff that education is the way out, I agree with Annamaria that most young people today get it. Racism leads to exclusion and that exclusion concentrates the core of being different, and encourages 'like to be with like'...which leads to more separation and the whole thing starts again. As was said in the comments yesterday, young people overwhelmingly voted for a united Europe.<br />I have just seen the Smashot parade go past ( next weeks blog!), the most delightful sight was two pipers accompanied by two Jamaican steel drums boogieing their way down the street, paying no heed at all to the wind and the rain.....Caro Ramsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08499318515241879831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-1815311644299484772016-07-02T06:45:31.048-04:002016-07-02T06:45:31.048-04:00Jeff, just to set the record straight. Ali did not...Jeff, just to set the record straight. Ali did not ask us to post his story. I asked his permission to put it here. Stan volunteered his spot.<br /><br />Everything you say here is true about the prevalence and insidious strength of prejudice and hate. We MUST stand up against it. We WILL stand up against it. People die every day on this planet because of it. But let's not forget. People also die everyday in the service of what is good and right--combatting oppression, working to feed the hungry, to rescue the captives, to heal the wounded. There is a huge army of right-thinking people engaged and ready to be engaged in battle for justice.<br /><br />Ant the most heartening thing of all: THE YOUNG ARE LARGELY ON OUR SIDE. My optimism is not jejune. I have no illusion that the hate mongers will go down without a struggle. But look at the facts: The president of the United States is black! Marriage equality is the law of the land in many countries. More and more schools in London, in Rome, in Oslo are filled with children of varied backgrounds Struggle we must. But we SHALL overcome.Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-76097498979201552592016-07-02T04:47:23.617-04:002016-07-02T04:47:23.617-04:00Very astute reflection on our current situation, a...Very astute reflection on our current situation, and thank you for the very generous words in these troubling times -Ali Karimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00640079406581573368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-30796434195995346352016-07-02T01:01:41.573-04:002016-07-02T01:01:41.573-04:00Thank you, my friend. These are serious times.Thank you, my friend. These are serious times.Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-17462568844503141132016-07-02T00:59:24.443-04:002016-07-02T00:59:24.443-04:00Much as I hate to admit it... when you're righ...Much as I hate to admit it... when you're right, you're right on.Everett Kaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371555243187874414noreply@blogger.com