Happy July Readers! This Thursday is July 4th, the day we US Americans celebrate our nation’s founding. The the Declaration of Independence has always been a suspect document, a suite of lofty asprirations put to paper by a slave holder, that left most of the souls in the young nation out of its plans for a “more perfect union.” Over the last two centuries we have, oft grudgingly, expanded the definition of “all men” to include a larger and larger polity and extended the “blessings of liberty” promised in our Constitution to more and more of our brothers, sisters and siblings.
But there is always more work to do and always those working against that progress, those who see liberty to be a limited resource to be hoarded greedily rather than extended in friendship. They are wrong of course. Freedom only grows when it’s shared. It thrives on clean air and clear water, safe food and good schools. It blooms when people of good will share their bounty with one another, across borders, between cultures, and over generations.
So let’s try and use this Independance Day to remind our fellow citizens what “the land of the free and the home of the brave” can really mean. Now to some links…
The humanitarian emergency along the US’s southern border has become a grotesque display of aimless nativism. We’re keeping people who journeyed thousands of miles to seek asylum in what can only be described as concentration camps and we’re keeping hundreds of children in squalid conditions. Vice reports that the Trump administration has allowed 24 people to die in Immigrations and Customs Enforcement custody.
We cannot wait until the 2020 election to do something about this catastrophe. On July 2nd, while Congress is at home for 4th of July break, protests are being organized at Congressional offices across the nation. Go too closethecampsnow.org to find an event near you.
We’ll finish with a few bit of good news…
If you have an Art Kid like my Schmoo, (lemon_biscuts_ on Instagram,) then you are probably excruciatingly familiar with the Micheal’s chain of arts and crafts stores. Well good news, Micheal’s has officially signed on to the Open to All campaign…
To join the campaign, companies must pledge to provide and maintain a welcoming and safe environment for all employees, visitors, customers, vendors and clients, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability.
Guidance for schools in England recommends that children learn about stable and healthy same sex relationships in school.
“Children will of course find out about all sorts of things, including the diversity of our society, anyway – the question is where and how is it best to do so – in class, on the internet, or in the playground.
“I would strongly encourage schools to discuss with children in class that there are all sorts of different, strong and loving families, including families with same-sex parents, while they are at primary school.
“There is no reason why teaching children about the society that we live in and the different types of loving, healthy relationships that exist cannot be done in a way that respects everyone.”
Marvel Entertainment is producing a series of one act plays for students starring Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, and the Asgardian siblings Thor And Loki. Cool!
A couple of Cincinnati boys hooked up with Jack White again for another awesome Raconteurs album, enjoy!
