My heart was warmed by the fact that Jill's dad brought this to her attention. Yes, I do imagine Jill as a white person, thus the heart warming.
Speaking of dads, apparently companies that specialize in high speed internet are really cheap. This certain company gave him a $5 starbucks card. WTF? He sent it to me and I got a large cream chai frappicino thingie. Much appreciated on my part, but $5? Dang that's cheap.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Yes, more messages sent to me in email blogging. But at least you can get a transcript of Bill Bennett's ignorant ass comments from this one.
Dear ColorOfChange.org member,
It will not be our usual practice at ColorOfChange.org to send out two action alerts in one day, but this was too outrageous to let slide.
On Wednesday, Republican operative Bill Bennett said the following on his national radio show:
But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.
Bennett, on public airwaves, implied that Blacks are a criminal race. It's disgusting. And instead of apologizing, he is going around defending his statements on national television and attacking anyone who dares to take him to task.
This is coming from the former U.S. Secretary of Education and close ally of the Bush family. If he won't admit his error and apologize, he should be taken off the air.
Please sign our petition. We are calling on his distributor, Salem Radio Network, to stand against racism and pull his show:
http://colorofchange.org/bennett
Don't get us wrong. We believe that Bill Bennett has a First Amendment right to think and say whatever he wants. The government should not interfere. But no radio distributor or radio station is legally obligated to broadcast his views—especially when they demean an entire race. In fact, we believe they have a moral obligation to stop broadcasting them.
Black folks have suffered and died because of racist assumptions like the ones underlying Bennett's comments. And it's race-based generalizations like Bennett's that have laid the groundwork for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, the genocide in Rwanda, and the genocide currently unfolding in the Sudan.
America still hasn't honestly engaged the issue of race in this country, and comments like Bennett's make things worse. They perpetuate the irrational view that as Blacks we are part of a criminal class, despite the fact that the theory has been debunked again and again. When you control for income and other factors, Blacks are no more likely to engage in criminal acts than anyone else.
But we are far more likely than whites to be arrested and convicted for committing the exact same crimes. Far more likely to be shortchanged when it comes to equality of education or opportunity. Far more likely to be pushed to the margins and forgotten, as we've just seen in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Those are the real problems we should be addressing. But this isn't a conversation that Bill Bennett wants to have.
We are calling on people of all colors to sign our petition calling for Bennett to admit his error or be removed from the air:
http://colorofchange.org/bennett
In the United States, free speech is a right. But a national radio show is a privilege. And until he apologizes, Bill Bennett has no place on our public airwaves.
-- James Rucker & Van Jones
ColorOfChange.org
September 30th, 2005
For a transcript or audio of Bennett's remarks, click here:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509280006
Dear ColorOfChange.org member,
It will not be our usual practice at ColorOfChange.org to send out two action alerts in one day, but this was too outrageous to let slide.
On Wednesday, Republican operative Bill Bennett said the following on his national radio show:
But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.
Bennett, on public airwaves, implied that Blacks are a criminal race. It's disgusting. And instead of apologizing, he is going around defending his statements on national television and attacking anyone who dares to take him to task.
This is coming from the former U.S. Secretary of Education and close ally of the Bush family. If he won't admit his error and apologize, he should be taken off the air.
Please sign our petition. We are calling on his distributor, Salem Radio Network, to stand against racism and pull his show:
http://colorofchange.org/bennett
Don't get us wrong. We believe that Bill Bennett has a First Amendment right to think and say whatever he wants. The government should not interfere. But no radio distributor or radio station is legally obligated to broadcast his views—especially when they demean an entire race. In fact, we believe they have a moral obligation to stop broadcasting them.
Black folks have suffered and died because of racist assumptions like the ones underlying Bennett's comments. And it's race-based generalizations like Bennett's that have laid the groundwork for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, the genocide in Rwanda, and the genocide currently unfolding in the Sudan.
America still hasn't honestly engaged the issue of race in this country, and comments like Bennett's make things worse. They perpetuate the irrational view that as Blacks we are part of a criminal class, despite the fact that the theory has been debunked again and again. When you control for income and other factors, Blacks are no more likely to engage in criminal acts than anyone else.
But we are far more likely than whites to be arrested and convicted for committing the exact same crimes. Far more likely to be shortchanged when it comes to equality of education or opportunity. Far more likely to be pushed to the margins and forgotten, as we've just seen in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Those are the real problems we should be addressing. But this isn't a conversation that Bill Bennett wants to have.
We are calling on people of all colors to sign our petition calling for Bennett to admit his error or be removed from the air:
http://colorofchange.org/bennett
In the United States, free speech is a right. But a national radio show is a privilege. And until he apologizes, Bill Bennett has no place on our public airwaves.
-- James Rucker & Van Jones
ColorOfChange.org
September 30th, 2005
For a transcript or audio of Bennett's remarks, click here:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509280006
My art history teacher passed around an article in the NY Times about fistula in Africa today. I urge everyone to donate to end fistula today. With the amount of money you spend on getting wasted this weekend, you could improve a woman's life.
Atlanta Bikers be on the alert. On the Citizens for Progressive Transit Mailing List I saw this email copied below. I'm sure they would take cash donations from anyone, just ask at the email address in the letter. I might donate prizes from my business to this group.
Howdy, folks.
Rachael here with the Sopo Bicycle Cooperative. Some of you may have met
Jay, my partner in organizing, at the last CPT meeting. I'm writing to share
with you that we've scored an enormous victory for the progressive transit
community. Our workshop found a permanent home in the East Atlanta Village,
thanks to the Southstar CDC, the East Atlanta Kids Club, and Don Bender.
This means that Atlanta will have it's very own cooperatively run nonprofit
free bicycle workshop where we will provide programming for children and
adults, low income folks, bicycle mechanics of all skill levels (including
zero), and anyone who wants to get on a bike and ride. Just imagine how many
people we're going to get out of cars! And how many people we will help
access sustainable transit!
You can help us! Aside from needing cash, we also need some items for our
workshop. Additionally, we're going to throw some benefit events, and we'll
need prizes to raffle off. Below you will find a wish list for our workshop.
If you have any of these things lying around and you'd like to donate it, or
if you'd like to contribute a prize or cash, please let me know! I can be
reached at sopobikes@[no spam]gmail.com or 404[XXX-XXXX]. We're having a general
meeting on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 7 pm at 981 Manigault St. Everyone is invited
to attend.
In solidarity for a cleaner and safer Atlanta!
Rachael Spiewak
Sopo Bicycle Cooperative Organizer
Sopo Bicycle Cooperative Workshop Wish List
- Spare Bicycle Parts
- Tools
- Cash Box
- Notepad
- Radio
- Minifridge
- Chairs
- Tables
- Shelving
- Storage Hooks
- Cleaning Supplies
- Trashcan
- Trashbags
- Recycling Bins
- Sign for Door
- Paint
- Mailbox
- Shade Tent
- Hand Cleaning Soap for Bike-greasy Hands
- Locking Cabinets
- Restaurant Prep Tables
- Towels/Rags
- Extension Cord
Howdy, folks.
Rachael here with the Sopo Bicycle Cooperative. Some of you may have met
Jay, my partner in organizing, at the last CPT meeting. I'm writing to share
with you that we've scored an enormous victory for the progressive transit
community. Our workshop found a permanent home in the East Atlanta Village,
thanks to the Southstar CDC, the East Atlanta Kids Club, and Don Bender.
This means that Atlanta will have it's very own cooperatively run nonprofit
free bicycle workshop where we will provide programming for children and
adults, low income folks, bicycle mechanics of all skill levels (including
zero), and anyone who wants to get on a bike and ride. Just imagine how many
people we're going to get out of cars! And how many people we will help
access sustainable transit!
You can help us! Aside from needing cash, we also need some items for our
workshop. Additionally, we're going to throw some benefit events, and we'll
need prizes to raffle off. Below you will find a wish list for our workshop.
If you have any of these things lying around and you'd like to donate it, or
if you'd like to contribute a prize or cash, please let me know! I can be
reached at sopobikes@[no spam]gmail.com or 404[XXX-XXXX]. We're having a general
meeting on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 7 pm at 981 Manigault St. Everyone is invited
to attend.
In solidarity for a cleaner and safer Atlanta!
Rachael Spiewak
Sopo Bicycle Cooperative Organizer
Sopo Bicycle Cooperative Workshop Wish List
- Spare Bicycle Parts
- Tools
- Cash Box
- Notepad
- Radio
- Minifridge
- Chairs
- Tables
- Shelving
- Storage Hooks
- Cleaning Supplies
- Trashcan
- Trashbags
- Recycling Bins
- Sign for Door
- Paint
- Mailbox
- Shade Tent
- Hand Cleaning Soap for Bike-greasy Hands
- Locking Cabinets
- Restaurant Prep Tables
- Towels/Rags
- Extension Cord
A white man yet again shows his total and complete lack of personal responsibility. Are we not good enough for a real apology, you racist asshat? And yea, if you say racist shit- you're a racist. Take some responsibility, you douchebag. We constantly have to suffer this no responsibility taking behavior, and then hear about how white males somehow magically are more responsible than us just because they are rich. Fuck them. Fuck them in the ear. If you're so responsible, why don't you show us, instead of just telling us? Not to mention, why do we have these sorts of loserific assholes in government posts (under Reagan and Bush Pere) when there are so many people who aren't total choads?
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Today I achieved a lot. I got a MARTA card for October, I got across the deep end of the pool(OK, I had to use a kick board and fins and was behind the rest of the class, but considering I have a phobia of the water, it was pretty good for me) and turned in my rough draft of my methods paper, although it was only nine pages, and only mostly in APA style. I really don't understand the difference between a regular figure and an APA style figure.
James Finberg, an attorney representing the class, said FedEx normally promotes from within, yet three times the number of package handlers and loaders are minorities compared to drivers, who earn more. Twice the number of minorities fail promotional tests than do whites, Finberg added.
"FedEx knows that black and Hispanics fail at a much higher rate, but yet has not changed the test," Finberg said. from this story.I'm sure we'll hear from ignorant whites about how that's not equal, blah blah, waaaaah. But I'm sure they'll be happy to have their jobs dependant on a test that I make that measures their merit. All you have to do is pass a test based on historical knowledge that I knew before I was menstruating. What was the Harlem Renaiscance? What did it mean to be sold down river? What was the grandfather clause, and what was it used for? What were the vagrancy laws in the Jim Crow South used for? Who was Harriet Tubman? What was the Great Migration? I bet 99% of these people wouldn't know. Hey, it's easy to talk about merit when it doesn't have to be conected to anything.
Did you know that you can bias a test? An easy way to bias a test is to do item selection. You can do this intentionally by simply selecting the items that whites tend to do well on, or unintentionally by merely following tests normed on whites, and thus that they tend to do well on. You could also bias a test by selecting for a certain educational level. For example, if someone goes to a shitty ass school, they may know the concept of a synonym, such as “happy” and “glad” means the same thing, but they might not know the meaning of the word. Also, do we know if this test actually has anything to do with what they are doing? For example, for a job as a waitress, they could give me a test on calculus. I’d fail(I got a C in calculus) but does that disqualify me from being a waitress? No, but white people would say I was unqualified even though that has nothing to do with anything. I also question the assumption that all tests magically pick the right person for the job and are the best tests we could ever create. Every human enterprise has flaws, even the ones created by the most well meaning people. It is always important to review our criteria and to improve things.
Not to mention, there may be other bottlenecks blocking promotion that people who have no knowledge of the situation may not know about. The facts on the ground are always the key. The white way of thinking is not very effective in questions of equality, in my opinion. Saying everyone gets the same test, so it is fair, leaves out so many details of real life as to be meaningless. Of course, by equality, I mean actual equality, not the kind where there’s not actual equality of outcome, but we get to be told we are stupid. Of course I have a different idea of what qualified means. Basically to me, it’s if you’re able to do your job. I don’t think for example that Mike Brown is qualified, although to the white mindset he is. A white CEO who runs his company into the ground is apparently qualified according to white people. I’m not sure what qualified means in white speak, but I think it means the same thing as ‘merit’ i.e. being white.
"FedEx knows that black and Hispanics fail at a much higher rate, but yet has not changed the test," Finberg said. from this story.I'm sure we'll hear from ignorant whites about how that's not equal, blah blah, waaaaah. But I'm sure they'll be happy to have their jobs dependant on a test that I make that measures their merit. All you have to do is pass a test based on historical knowledge that I knew before I was menstruating. What was the Harlem Renaiscance? What did it mean to be sold down river? What was the grandfather clause, and what was it used for? What were the vagrancy laws in the Jim Crow South used for? Who was Harriet Tubman? What was the Great Migration? I bet 99% of these people wouldn't know. Hey, it's easy to talk about merit when it doesn't have to be conected to anything.
Did you know that you can bias a test? An easy way to bias a test is to do item selection. You can do this intentionally by simply selecting the items that whites tend to do well on, or unintentionally by merely following tests normed on whites, and thus that they tend to do well on. You could also bias a test by selecting for a certain educational level. For example, if someone goes to a shitty ass school, they may know the concept of a synonym, such as “happy” and “glad” means the same thing, but they might not know the meaning of the word. Also, do we know if this test actually has anything to do with what they are doing? For example, for a job as a waitress, they could give me a test on calculus. I’d fail(I got a C in calculus) but does that disqualify me from being a waitress? No, but white people would say I was unqualified even though that has nothing to do with anything. I also question the assumption that all tests magically pick the right person for the job and are the best tests we could ever create. Every human enterprise has flaws, even the ones created by the most well meaning people. It is always important to review our criteria and to improve things.
Not to mention, there may be other bottlenecks blocking promotion that people who have no knowledge of the situation may not know about. The facts on the ground are always the key. The white way of thinking is not very effective in questions of equality, in my opinion. Saying everyone gets the same test, so it is fair, leaves out so many details of real life as to be meaningless. Of course, by equality, I mean actual equality, not the kind where there’s not actual equality of outcome, but we get to be told we are stupid. Of course I have a different idea of what qualified means. Basically to me, it’s if you’re able to do your job. I don’t think for example that Mike Brown is qualified, although to the white mindset he is. A white CEO who runs his company into the ground is apparently qualified according to white people. I’m not sure what qualified means in white speak, but I think it means the same thing as ‘merit’ i.e. being white.
Here's an interesting editorial on Perdue's decision to close the schools. I'm glad that the author pointed out the disconnect from the suggestion that the workers telecommute, and the reality of many worker's lives. I was reading When Affirmative Action was White, and one thing that I learned from it was to always monitor the proposed implementation of legislation. One chapter of this book deals with the GI Bill. The author argues that even though the GI Bill was written as a color blind bill, the fact that local authorities were in charge of implementing it caused many of the benefits to denied to blacks. One example that he uses is schooling. Many qualified blacks were denied higher education because there were simply not enough spots in black only schools. This is an important thing to keep in mind because there is often a disconnect between what seems like a good idea at the top, and how it is actually carried out, and that bad implementation can often hurt a good idea.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Let's work hard to get healthy food in all communities. Speaking of that there are sprouts in the community garden now. I wonder if any of them are the broccoli and peas I planted?
Yes, I have put up trial jewelry of the month club memberships starting at the low low price of 9.99. You have to get this limited time deal! It ends on Monday!
Anyone who talks about how people of color just don't have enough 'merit' or about so called personal responsibility after reading this should be beaten violently around the head.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Here are two documents about the school closings:
One is a press release from the Citizens for Progressive Transit:
PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, Monday 26, 2005
Contact: Rebecca Serna
(404) [XXX-XXXX]
à Commuters to Governor Perdue: send emergency funds to public transportation
Advocacy group says school closings wrong response; calls for emergency funds for
increased transit service and greater use of public transportation by public officials.
Working families, already hard-hit by rising transportation costs, are scrambling to make lastminute
arrangements for childcare after the Governor announced schools will close Monday
and Tuesday.
The recent spate of hurricanes and subsequent high gas prices sparked demand for public
transportation in metro Atlanta. In response, Gwinnett County Transit increased service on
its popular express bus routes, and MARTA increased the frequency of train service
temporarily.
MARTA and other transit agencies across the state also acted quickly to provide emergency
transportation for the displaced after the flooding of New Orleans.
“Although the Georgia State House of Representatives passed a timely resolution highly
commending MARTA for its ‘magnanimous deeds in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,’”
said Citizens for Progressive Transit President Rebecca Serna, “this written commendation is
not enough. New waves of people are using public transportation for their commutes, and
transit agencies need more than words to keep up with the increased demand -- they need
the state to invest in the mode of transportation that makes the most sense for the times.”
Citizens for Progressive Transit, representing both existing and prospective riders, asks
Governor Perdue and the state legislature to respond as quickly as they did in suspending the
gas tax when gas prices first spiked, to authorize emergency funds to assist victims of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well Georgia families whose transportation budgets are
stretched thin.
A Pew study indicates strong support for public transportation. Sixty-eight percent of
respondents in a Pew Research Center poll taken in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
support increased funding for mass transit.
“Now is the time to support public transportation. The Governor should alleviate the
burden on families and hurricane victims as well as everyone stuck in traffic by allocating
emergency state funds for transit and calling on Georgians who live in places where public
transportation is available to use it,” said Citizens for Progressive Transit member Josh
Woiderski.
I personally have noticed a strong run on transit cards. I hope I can get an October monthly! I support increased funding for mass transit. I wonder if it would be helpful for me to send a letter about this to the governor, as I don't vote in Georgia. If I stay here though, I'll get my registration changed.
Parents Plan 'Snow Day' Protests
Web Editor: Ian Stinson
Last Modified: 9/26/2005 11:54:25 AM
Some parents plan to protest the two-days of "snow days" requested by
Gov. Sonny Perdue in advance of Hurricane Rita striking the Gulf Coast.
On Friday, the governor requested that all Georgia schools close for
two days to conserve fuel after Rita. All but three of Georgia's 181
school systems voluntarily went along with the governor's request.
Now, some angry parents are planning to take their children to the
state capitol Monday and hold a protest on the lawn. Some others said
they would take their children straight to the governor's mansion. The
reason: they are upset that they must find day care for their
children, or stay home from work.
The governor made the decision Friday afternoon, after learning that a
Houston-to-New York pipeline that supplies most of Georgia's gasoline
had been shut down, said Dan McLagan, Perdue's spokesman. On Sunday,
the pipeline was operating sporadically.
"The politically safe thing to would be to do nothing, and then blame
the hurricane for any subsequent problems. But that's not leadership,"
McLagan said.
Perdue's decision had ripple effects.
It was immediately criticized by Secretary of State Cathy Cox, a
Democratic gubernatorial candidate, who called the school closings a
"stunt."
Some parents said it's a lot of trouble for a hurricane that didn't
turn out to be as bad as predicted - especially for parents of public
school children.
"People still have to go to work, and the freeways are still going to
be packed. I mean I could see if the governor said, 'All right,
everybody stay home Monday and Tuesday!' " said Kyle Glenn, 44,
stepmother of a 10-year-old pupil at Fulton County's Mimosa Elementary
School.
Although Perdue doesn't have the authority to shut down private
businesses, he did ban all nonessential travel by state employees and
called on businesses to conserve fuel.
Today I noticed kids fricking everywhere. Kids in Doc Chey's, kids in CVS, I swear, even kids in the school library! I think that the gas spent driving these kids around might have offset the savings. However, everyone remember to conserve gas. Even the President says we should. Combine trips, use public transit, walk places, etc.
One is a press release from the Citizens for Progressive Transit:
PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, Monday 26, 2005
Contact: Rebecca Serna
(404) [XXX-XXXX]
à Commuters to Governor Perdue: send emergency funds to public transportation
Advocacy group says school closings wrong response; calls for emergency funds for
increased transit service and greater use of public transportation by public officials.
Working families, already hard-hit by rising transportation costs, are scrambling to make lastminute
arrangements for childcare after the Governor announced schools will close Monday
and Tuesday.
The recent spate of hurricanes and subsequent high gas prices sparked demand for public
transportation in metro Atlanta. In response, Gwinnett County Transit increased service on
its popular express bus routes, and MARTA increased the frequency of train service
temporarily.
MARTA and other transit agencies across the state also acted quickly to provide emergency
transportation for the displaced after the flooding of New Orleans.
“Although the Georgia State House of Representatives passed a timely resolution highly
commending MARTA for its ‘magnanimous deeds in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,’”
said Citizens for Progressive Transit President Rebecca Serna, “this written commendation is
not enough. New waves of people are using public transportation for their commutes, and
transit agencies need more than words to keep up with the increased demand -- they need
the state to invest in the mode of transportation that makes the most sense for the times.”
Citizens for Progressive Transit, representing both existing and prospective riders, asks
Governor Perdue and the state legislature to respond as quickly as they did in suspending the
gas tax when gas prices first spiked, to authorize emergency funds to assist victims of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well Georgia families whose transportation budgets are
stretched thin.
A Pew study indicates strong support for public transportation. Sixty-eight percent of
respondents in a Pew Research Center poll taken in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
support increased funding for mass transit.
“Now is the time to support public transportation. The Governor should alleviate the
burden on families and hurricane victims as well as everyone stuck in traffic by allocating
emergency state funds for transit and calling on Georgians who live in places where public
transportation is available to use it,” said Citizens for Progressive Transit member Josh
Woiderski.
I personally have noticed a strong run on transit cards. I hope I can get an October monthly! I support increased funding for mass transit. I wonder if it would be helpful for me to send a letter about this to the governor, as I don't vote in Georgia. If I stay here though, I'll get my registration changed.
Parents Plan 'Snow Day' Protests
Web Editor: Ian Stinson
Last Modified: 9/26/2005 11:54:25 AM
Some parents plan to protest the two-days of "snow days" requested by
Gov. Sonny Perdue in advance of Hurricane Rita striking the Gulf Coast.
On Friday, the governor requested that all Georgia schools close for
two days to conserve fuel after Rita. All but three of Georgia's 181
school systems voluntarily went along with the governor's request.
Now, some angry parents are planning to take their children to the
state capitol Monday and hold a protest on the lawn. Some others said
they would take their children straight to the governor's mansion. The
reason: they are upset that they must find day care for their
children, or stay home from work.
The governor made the decision Friday afternoon, after learning that a
Houston-to-New York pipeline that supplies most of Georgia's gasoline
had been shut down, said Dan McLagan, Perdue's spokesman. On Sunday,
the pipeline was operating sporadically.
"The politically safe thing to would be to do nothing, and then blame
the hurricane for any subsequent problems. But that's not leadership,"
McLagan said.
Perdue's decision had ripple effects.
It was immediately criticized by Secretary of State Cathy Cox, a
Democratic gubernatorial candidate, who called the school closings a
"stunt."
Some parents said it's a lot of trouble for a hurricane that didn't
turn out to be as bad as predicted - especially for parents of public
school children.
"People still have to go to work, and the freeways are still going to
be packed. I mean I could see if the governor said, 'All right,
everybody stay home Monday and Tuesday!' " said Kyle Glenn, 44,
stepmother of a 10-year-old pupil at Fulton County's Mimosa Elementary
School.
Although Perdue doesn't have the authority to shut down private
businesses, he did ban all nonessential travel by state employees and
called on businesses to conserve fuel.
Today I noticed kids fricking everywhere. Kids in Doc Chey's, kids in CVS, I swear, even kids in the school library! I think that the gas spent driving these kids around might have offset the savings. However, everyone remember to conserve gas. Even the President says we should. Combine trips, use public transit, walk places, etc.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Are you a skilled sewing Lolita? Please donate patterns to the Lolita pattern exchange. As for me, I'll learn...someday. I've already deprived my mom of my sewing machine, so now I do have a reason to learn...
Let's all promise to work hard to prevent the Katrina tragedy from happening again. Oh, and here's a petition about it. You can also get Kanye was right t shirts for $12. According to P6, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is behind this.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
I do not support these troops. I do not care if you hate the enemy or if you think that somehow posting grisly pictures of people you shot on the internet will stop the jihad. (I remember a picture of a Nashville Islamic center saying: stop the hate, stop the revenge, stop the war) You do not break Geneva convention rules. Ever. How dare they show the deaths of people and think it's funny? How dare they? I hate war. It just makes monsters out of men. How can we ever make amends for this? How can we ever say we're sorry? How can we ever fix this? I don't think anything in the world can make amends for this. It's terrible. I feel responsible somehow. Like if only I had worked harder, we could have stopped this from happening.
It's terrible. It's not like the deep shame I feel when I see photographs of lynchings. Yes, I feel shame that those men faced the camera, smiling after a murder. I feel shame that humans can even show their faces after this. The people doing this crime aren't showing their faces, but I feel like I somehow have blood on my hands. How could I explain this to an Iraqi kid whose parent's death was mocked on the internet? I couldn't. It's almost like they'd be justified in hating me. I know I'd hate me too.
It's terrible. It's not like the deep shame I feel when I see photographs of lynchings. Yes, I feel shame that those men faced the camera, smiling after a murder. I feel shame that humans can even show their faces after this. The people doing this crime aren't showing their faces, but I feel like I somehow have blood on my hands. How could I explain this to an Iraqi kid whose parent's death was mocked on the internet? I couldn't. It's almost like they'd be justified in hating me. I know I'd hate me too.
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