I want to amplify our next president's remarks, on Thurs., about the brutal killing of George Floyd
Last edited Fri May 29, 2020, 09:34 AM - Edit history (1)
"We can't ignore that we are in a country with an open wound right now — a wound far older and deeper than…George Floyd's killing — and his brutal, brutal death captured on film. His final words, pleading for breathe. 'Let me breathe, I can't breathe.' It's ripped open anew this—this ugly underbelly of our society," Joe Biden said during a virtual campaign fundraiser on Thursday.
"...people all across this country are enraged and rightly so," Biden said. "Every day African-Americans go about their lives with the constant anxiety and trauma of wondering 'Will I be next?' Sounds like an exaggeration, but it's not. These tragedies, these injustices cut at the very heart of our most sacred of beliefs — that all Americans, equal in rights and in dignity, are part of an ingrained systemic cycle of racism and oppression that throughout every part of our society."
"We need to make sure justice is real for the Floyd family, that the protections and the rule of law are real for every American, that officers in the Floyd case must be held accountable, including with the FBI investigation and independent Department of Justice civil rights investigation."
"If we're not committed as a nation, with every ounce of purpose in our beings — not just to binding up this wound in hope that somehow the scab once again will cover things over — but to treat the underlying injury, we're never going to eventually heal."
...this is the leadership the nation desperately needs today. Godspeed to the presidency, Mr. Biden.
= new reply since forum marked as read
instead of iq45 plugging violence, racism and unrest. The difference is stark.
OT, but how are you doing? Getting better or worse where you work? 
...it's an anxiety nightmare. So far, no one has taken ill, at least that we know of, but the pressure hasn't subsided.
We have the advantage of a small, but vocal few who ride herd on folks to keep their distance and mask-up, but you can sense a desire from many to just throw away our defenses and act as if it's all over. But of course, it's not. Our state is coming out of the 'stay-at-home' order, with several counties resisting sucessfully. The second most infected county is coming out the SAHO on June 1, so it's a bit surreal watching the number of people in the state testing positive rise steadily. The rhetoric of reopening is a strong lure, and has the effect of disarming many who don't have a strong resolve against the virus spread to begin with.
But LSS, it's still a minefield, as far as my own sense watching the numbers and the relaxing of restrictions is concerned. I do wonder what would happen to us if I wasn't there to keep folks adhering to even the meager protections we employ (no doubt tiring of me). I'm also very cynical, even as I'm eternally vigilant, that we're going to come out the other side untouched. Many workers have expressed concern about friends and family who have contracted the virus, some fatal. It's hard to imagine we're safe 'congregating' as we do every night, something the CDC recently alerted about.
My twitter handle is now 'Old Man Working,' a play on dead man walking. That about sums it up. Garden is blooming, though, and it's an enduring distraction - thank God for nature.
I do however appreciate the first-hand accounts you've been providing us. I occasionally think how bored I am, but don't know that I could endure that anxiety; seems I have plenty sitting at home.
I'm glad you have your garden; they provide succor to many of us, and that does help.
Please keep up your guard; it's probably keeping many people above ground!
