Sunday, November 27, 2016

First Sunday of Advent

In medieval England, November First marked the beginning of the Christmas (or at least Christmas preparation) season. Who knew the contemporary U.S. took a leaf from the Middle Age's book in any way? Traditionally, though, the western Christian churches mark the four weeks leading up to December Twenty-fifth as Advent, a time of special reflection and preparation for the coming of the Christ Child

This Advent, we have more than usual reason to search our hearts and do our best to be the good we want to see in the world. Whether we are Christian or not, let's take the coming weeks to reflect and gather our strength to embrace the Light and be ready to spread it, standing in solidarity and love with those all around the world who are fighting evil and darkness with peace and nonviolence.

Link

First Sunday of Advent (The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales)

20 comments:

  1. Courageous water defenders and those who stand with them are first. I'm sorry to say, Pres. Obama is last. A commentator I read said his failure to act in this matter will tarnish his legacy. It already has done in my m mind. Pity. I had come to admire him.

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    Replies
    1. I wouldn't want or expect President Obama dictate the outcome of the dispute, but he certainly has means to hand of defusing the situation. Based on his actions as a senator I figured he would be more of a go-along-to-get-along fellow that I should prefer in the Oval Office.

      Alan

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  2. I especially appreciate that second paragraph out front, Cat. 🕯 Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. I hope you won't mind that I borrowed your paragraph (properly credited, of course) to embellish my current Profile pic on FB. Perfect timing, Cat! 🕯

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    2. Not at all. I'm honored.

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  3. A YouTube video of RFK Jr. discussing in detail what Standing Rock are up against and what they are asking.

    Robert Kennedy Jr, "Trump Has A $2 Million Stake in the Dakota Pipeline"
    - Click

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  4. There was an article attributed to the NYT in this morning's newspaper explaining what the HRC campaign means by "joining" the recount effort. They will not contribute any money (I suppose they won't sponsor any taco trucks either, but that wasn't explicitly ruled out); but they will send some of their lawyers around to (at least some of) the recount venues to see that things are done right. That's kind of like me saying I will participate in a football game by sitting in the bleachers, as far as I can see. Or might we denigrate them as peanut gallery participants?

    --Alan

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  5. ‘A recipe for scandal’: Trump conflicts of interest point to constitutional crisis [Click] "Experts say president-elect does not understand the law and must sell businesses to avoid electoral college disaster. He seems loath to do so."

    --Alan

    P.S.: The recount funding updater doesn't seem to be moving much if at all. I wonder if contributions have stalled, or there is a computer problem. Well, we will see. Maybe I will send them a small amount more as a nest egg.

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    Replies
    1. Trump *can't* sell his businesses. And I mean it is literally impossible to complete any such sale in a matter of weeks or months.The usual solution in such situations is to put everything into a "blind trust," run by an independent group that tells the officeholder nothing about what is going on. But because Trump's holdings are mostly real estate rather than stocks, he would still pretty much know where they are located.
      Trump has said he will turn over business operations to his children. That does save him having to make day-to-day business decisions and thus frees up time to concentrate on the presidency, but it does nothing to solve the conflict of interest problem.

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  6. Look closer: What a background can reveal. [Click] A gently reminding think piece for the morning.

    --Alan

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    Replies
    1. Touching and thought provoking. Thanks, Alan.

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  7. From the inbox:

    Cat,

    Bernie Sanders called out Donald Trump's sham jobs plan in an op-ed this week:

    During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump correctly talked about rebuilding our country's infrastructure. But the plan he offered is a scam that gives massive tax breaks to large companies and billionaires on Wall Street who are already doing phenomenally well.

    Trump would allow corporations that have stashed their profits overseas to pay just a fraction of what the companies owe in federal taxes. And then he would allow the companies to "invest" in infrastructure projects in exchange for even more tax breaks. Trump's plan is corporate welfare coming and going.

    When Bernie Sanders first introduced his own trillion-dollar infrastructure plan in 2015, the PCCC was one of the only groups in America to stand with him. Bernie said:

    "Let me thank the PCCC members, who did exactly the right thing....We
    cannot be a great nation if our roads and our bridges, our rail system,
    and our water system is crumbling."

    Now, he will introduce his infrastructure bill again.

    [3]Can you chip in $3 to our work with Sanders and others in 2017 to fight Trump's corporate giveaway -- and build support for a true progressive infrastructure jobs plan? Donate here.

    Sanders writes,

    "Unlike Trump's plan, which creates new tax loopholes and is a corporate
    giveaway, my Rebuild America Act would be paid for by eliminating tax
    loopholes that allow hugely profitable multinational corporations to stash
    their profits in offshore tax havens around the world."

    Thanks for being a bold progressive.

    -- Keith Rouda, PCCC organizer

    P.S. You can also [4]join over 100,000 people who have signed our petition supporting a massive infrastructure jobs plan. Click here.
    [5]Turn on images to see Bernie Sanders

    References

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    donactblue&amount=3D10&t=3D1002&akid=3D36166.2918485.BtRPzo
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    4. http://act.boldprogressives.org/survey/pccc_2017_infrastructurejobs/?source=3De161124_0047-fin-donactblue&t=3D1004&akid=3D36166.2918485.BtRPzo
    5. http://act.boldprogressives.org/survey/pccc_2017_infrastructurejobs/?source=3De161124_0047-fin-donactblue&t=3D1005&akid=3D36166.2918485.BtRPzo


    Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our members--no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in $3 here. https://secure.actblue.c=
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    Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgress=ives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

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  8. There's a little girl up in Michigan, twelve or thirteen years old, named Autumn Peltier(sp?) who wants everyone to flash mob and block major highways from noon to 1:00 EST on December Fifth in solidarity with Standing Rock and other water-related actions and problems.

    Just putting the idear out there for folks to consider. Personally, I don't hold with blocking roads. People or animals might die by being delayed for an hour from reaching the hospital, and not all motorists have heat in their cars. So, this is not an action I favor or will publicize on FB. But I thought you guys might not hear about it otherwise

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    1. I agree with you, Cat. There are safer places to do flash mobs, and needlessly angering people doesn't help anything - and could hurt.

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    2. As the lady said ( I didn't catch her name), it is important to listen to youth and make sure they feel included, but thirteen-year-olds don't usually have the best ideas. I really feel that promoting this one is irresponsible. At the same time, if I say so I'll probably draw a lot of flak.

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  9. The fund for Vanessa, the lady with the serious eye injury currently stands at

    $64,570 of $200k goal
    Raised by 2,110 people in 4 days

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  10. Replies
    1. I am of the opinion that he is frankly psychotic.

      Alan

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