I wrote the following essay a couple of weeks before the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict came in. These were the contest specs:
Every year for Thanksgiving, the Wall Street Journal features a passage from a pilgrim detailing what colonists perceived when they arrived in the “New World.” The passage is full of disdain and racism towards indigenous people, and petition starter Randy, an indigenous activist, thinks it’s time to stop publishing this story.
But what should one of the nation’s most widely-read newspapers publish on Thanksgiving? How can we as a nation stop telling the false story behind the holiday and instead tell a story of our nation that honors indigenous people? We want to read something which positions the descendants of the U.S.’ original inhabitants and settlers as modern day accomplices in the fight for a more just nation...
So, in spite of the fight for a fair and just nation taking a bit of a blow from the Kenosha, Wisconsin trial, here's what I came up from the contest prompt. I really hope channels of communication stay open wide enough so we can continue to work through our conflicts and truly become thankful for each other.
Let Us Be Thankful For Each Other
by C.A. Matthews
If
lockdowns and self-isolation have taught us anything, it's this: People need
people. Real flesh and blood people,
not just online people. We need a variety of people in our lives actually,
because it can get awfully tiresome seeing the same four walls and the same few
faces for weeks on end. Variety is the
spice of life is how the old saying goes. So, let us enjoy meeting a variety
of folks this holiday season along with hanging out with those most familiar to
us.
One thing that Americans should be thankful for is
that we have each other--and we're definitely not lacking in variety. We have a
lovely diversity of Native peoples whose ancestors gifted those peoples who
came to this continent later with their extensive knowledge of the flora and
fauna. In return, these latecomers deprived the Native gift-givers of their
lands, languages, and cultures. To make things even worse, the latecomers have
up until recently made spurious claims that they are somehow the heroes of the story of how our peoples
came together.
These outrageous wrongs should be addressed. Reparations
should be made to the children of both our Native peoples as well as the
children of those whose ancestors were brought to America in chains and forced
to labor as slaves. Americans should make amends to all we have denied civil
rights to because of their race, creed, or country of origin.
Let's not kid ourselves. Americans are not perfect. Those
Americans who don't appreciate our diversity of peoples are to be pitied, not
lauded. They should be thankful that the majority have shown tolerance of their
intolerance. We've been far too tolerant of this evil for far too long. On a
holiday dedicated to thankfulness, let us practice forgiveness as well. First,
we must beg forgiveness from all peoples we have wronged. Second, we must
forgive ourselves for not acting sooner to end the harms of systemic racism.
As we gather around the Thanksgiving table to enjoy
time-honored favorite dishes and conversation with friend and stranger alike,
let us give thanks for each other. Sure, things could be better--much better--between us and our
neighbors, but all is not lost. We still have each other. It's the one thing
that in spite of our checkered past and our uncertain future we can count
on--each other. And while there are open channels of communication, there is a
possibility of healing.
Combining the strength of our different viewpoints,
we can learn how to help each other and save our hurting world. There's no need
to rely on only one viewpoint, only on one people's culture, overlooking all others'.
Diversity is our strength. Variety is
the spice that makes our homemade pumpkin pie recipes sing!
Americans, let us remember our past and vow not to
repeat the worst parts of it. Let's put our self-centered ways behind us. Let
us be there for our fellow Americans today and every day. This and every
Thanksgiving, let us truly be thankful for each other.
***
Our Afghan friends need your support.
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Most of our Afghan neighbors are arriving with humanitarian parole, which only temporarily allows
people fleeing danger to remain in the U.S. These Afghans will need to
find another pathway to safety once their parole expires.
To
ensure that Afghans find real, lasting safety in the U.S., Congress
must pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghan
humanitarian parolees to seek legal permanent residence in the United
States.
Call on your Senators and Representative to urge them to pass the Afghan
Adjustment Act! This is one of the most important things you can do to
ensure Afghans have an opportunity to build a life in the United States.
We are asking for broad, bipartisan support—please ask your friends, family, congregations, and communities to join us! Contact Your Congresspersonhttps://www.votervoice.net/LIRS/campaigns/89654/respond
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Contact Your Congressperson ***
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If
the FEC ruling is allowed to stand, grassroots candidates running
independently of the big money corporate parties will simply run out of
money before overcoming onerous ballot access hurdles around the
country.
To make matters worse, the precedent of receiving a ruinous bill from
the government years after the election would be an obvious deterrent to
future grassroots candidates who rely on matching funds to challenge
power without selling out to corporate political machines. In many
states this would also make it far more difficult to run in local
“down-ballot” races where Greens and other independents have had the
most success.
After fighting for over a year within the FEC bureaucracy, we and our
legal team are eager to challenge this injustice in court. But to move
forward, we must urgently raise at least $20,000 to cover the latest
round of legal costs and our barebones operating expenses. And, in case
justice does not prevail, we must prepare to pay down the penalties.
Incredibly, the FEC’s rules prohibit me from contributing critically
needed funds to my own defense because it would exceed the maximum I’m
allowed to donate to my own campaign! That means I am essentially
dependent on your generosity for defending myself and the matching funds
program.
To make this fight winnable, please donate by visiting jillstein.net or
make out a check to “Jill Stein for President (2016)”. Every donation,
no matter the size, is greatly appreciated! (Maximum donation is $2,700
for the primary election period, which is how the FEC classifies our
current expenses.) Send checks to James Lane, Treasurer, 269 12th
Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. For FEC compliance, please write in the
memo: "2016, debt". Include address, occupation, and employer.
(Additional details below.)
Polls show unprecedented hunger for a new party, disgust with the
political establishment, and strong support for our visionary proposals.
That’s why this battle for public funding is so critical — to protect
our right to a politics that’s independent of the corporate money
machine and to advance the solutions we so urgently need.
Thank you so much for your support at this critical moment, as
the future of humanity and the planet are truly in our hands!
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All my best,
Jill Stein
Green Party nominee for president 2012, 2016
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***
From the Juggernaut Project:
Surprise! Nearly 100 years since it was first
introduced, the Equal Rights Amendment, which reads, “Equality of
rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any state on account of sex,” was finally ratified by a
quorum of states. Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the amendment
in January 2020.
The House of Representatives had recently
passed a law removing the time limitation on ratification of the
amendment, and the bill is still pending in the Senate. But during the
Trump administration, former Attorney General Bill Barr improperly
weighed in on the process. The Constitution gives absolutely no
authority to the Executive Branch when it comes to the Amendment process
— but the Trump Administration was determined to pull out all the stops
to stop equality under the law.
Sign the petition: Get rid of Trump-era roadblocks and advance the Equal Rights Amendment!
SIGN THE PETITION
The Equal Rights Amendment has satisfied all
Constitutional requirements, but that has not stopped the enemies of
equality to prevent it from moving forward. The Trump administration
purposely used questions about the timing of ratification to kill the
amendment. But the current Justice Department under President Joe Biden
has the power to remove these roadblocks.
The ERA will help people of all genders
achieve equality under the law, and women in particular, have waited
long enough for the highest legal protections against discrimination in
the land. It’s time for Attorney General Merrick Garland to act to
protect this process.
Add
your name today. Tell Biden’s Justice Department to overrule Trump’s
unconstitutional roadblocks and advance the Equal Rights Amendment.
Thanks for taking action.
The Juggernaut Project
