Re ICE in Maine, and elsewhere: Don't get mad, do something real and constructive, like boycott. Folks are organizing in Minnesota, and a boycott list has emerged: Target, Home Depot, Enterprise rent-a-car and Hilton Hotels. Spread the word. Help hit these businesses where it hurts, in the bottom line.
EGAD!! I haven't visited/participated here since Jan, 8th! Alan Flat on my back in bed. Hard to say if I am getting better or not. Far better care than in the hospital, though. We have had a very little rain and some overcast. Very hard to type or wrlte becaue of right hand tremor.Expect I will be moving along in time; wish it were be after my good wife, but it will probably be the other way around.
Soooo good to see you posting, Alan! Thank you for making the effort. Every Day I think, "I miss Alan." You have always posted the most interesting, eclectic grouping of links! And you, yourself, are such a part of this blog. Feels more whole when you pop by.
Hi, Alan! Good to see you. I saw your comment a few hours ago and couldn't think of a good thing to say in response to what you posted. A teacher once told me that the French literally say "Courage!" to give encouragement. So imagine I said "courage!", but I said it the French way. ♥ Renee
I need to speak from personal experience about what is happening right now with immigrant employees within MaineHealth. This is not abstract. This is not something I read about or heard secondhand. I have heard the voices. I have looked into the eyes of people who are terrified. At MMC we have employees who have been detained despite having no criminal background and full legal status granting them active work visas. That IS happening. These are not undocumented workers. These are not criminals. If they were they would not have jobs within MaineHealth **FULL STOP** These are fully vetted, background checked employees who wear scrubs and MaineHealth badges. What people need to understand is THAT THESE ARE NOT targeted arrests. The people who are lying to themselves about the narrative in order to make it more palatable for themselves are single handedly allowing this to happen. People are being picked up and pushed into a system where—even when they are legally here, legally working…everything goes silent. Communication stops. Husbands do not know where their wives ended up on their way to work and calls come in asking if we have heard anything. The real life panic is here, ive seen, ive held it.
***The idea that “if they are legally here, they will have no problems” is a farce. I know this because I have now borne witness to the opposite. People with valid legal status are still being detained while their status is “investigated,” sometimes being told they must have money ready for bail just to be released while that process unfolds. No crimes. No records. Fully Legal working visas most asylum seekers. Filling the jobs within our hospital systems that frankly Americans were not, filling jobs that still have significant shortages meaning that these employees have had to work harder for years to cover the gaps… what about now?****
The real threat and the visceral fear is spreading rapidly. MMC alone is witnessing mass call-outs across departments—not because people don’t want to work, but because they are afraid to leave their homes. Staff calling out WHILE actively being detained in real time. Videos from coworkers, sent in real time, showing ICE agents outside their residences. People are whispering, crying, hiding, and begging for guidance from fellow MMC staff unable to leave to go to work terrified that stepping outside means disappearing into a system where their families may not be able to find them. They have done nothing to desvere such targeted hate and trauma.This is creating mass fear creating real mass workforce loss, with direct consequences for patient care and hospital operations. Simply put, this cannot be treated as business as usual. This can not be ignored.
Today, a hard working law abiding mother had to leave work in tears, not knowing if she would make it home to her children in time as ICE agents were in her home. MMC is a LARGE building who knows how many times over stories like this are, or have unfolded??? Or WILL unfold??Our is staff getting stopped walking to work, heading to the bus, MMC staff just trying to go to and from work are targeted simply based off how they look, some still taken despite having said paperwork on them!!! Yes. This is happening. You may want to think or hope its not, but it is. And please REMEMBER if you have received care at MMC you have recieved care from an immigrant, who I personally see as some of the most humble, hardest working people I know—and now they are being forced to choose between safety and survival. This is our MaineHealth family. These are our own. And family does not look away. If you are a MaineHealth employee, I am asking you to help in very real ways.
-Please offer rides to and from work when you can. Ask your coworkers what they need. We are working on a list of “safe numbers” where staff can approach nurses stations and see who is available to give rides that day. Yesterday we were able to secure 12 rides, but we can do way way way more if we organize! -Designating spots within the hosptial where those scared to leave the hospital can be met by those willing to give rides home. Don’t be afraid to ask those you see on your unit, or around the hospital do you have a safe way home? Instead of ignoring their fear, let’s face it with them straight on. Wouldn’t it be better if they were asked by 20 people rather than zero? -Donate to the food pantry, Not just food but household items we have two families in need of diapers to terrified to leave their homes. And with that also consider donating your time to help bring food directly to homes, because some employees are too afraid to leave their houses. -Donate PTO so MaineHealth can help distribute time to staff in need! -ORGANIZE… it needs to start unit based if not from the top, look out for those on your unit start there and ask them if they know of any others. Even if its just for that day—that one day, that one ride could be EVERYTHING ***and most importantly BE VOCAL*** MMC has incredible staff that are wanting and willingly to help, so be loud about it and ask what people need. Check in with our employees throughout the day, ask how they are, how their family is listen to their stories even if it’s hard to hear, even if there is nothing you can do. ***ADVOCATE****for more help, more visibility from top. Be vocal. Ask what more can be done as an institution. Ask what is being done now? Dont be afraid to seek these answers from the top. If you have ideas share them don’t be afraid to go to our highest leaders to have a conversation*** I personally met with them and you can too!! Reach out!! Push to be heard!! Start a conversation!! Ask questions!! Work together!! Be willing to not only speak up but be willingly to listen. To collebrate, to hear all that is going from all angles. Reach out to the very top, speak your truth, share your opinions, do not fear asking and collectively collaborating. We can all be doing better, we all can and I have faith in us… we are healthcare workers, we work in the hospital because we have all dedicated our lives to helping people in need. And now is the time to help some of our own. 
This is about humanity. This is about standing together when fear is being carried quietly by the people beside us. RIGHT BESIDE US. Now is NOT the time to convince ourselves its not as bad as it is We need to show a REAL united front that moves past lip service, we need action rooted in compassion, dignity, and solidarity.
And let us remember this: hospitals are built on hands that heal, but they are sustained by hearts that refuse to harden. When fear tries to scatter us, we choose to gather! When silence tries to erase people, we speak their names! When our coworkers are made to feel invisible, we stand shoulder to shoulder and say—you belong here! You are not alone! We will not let you disappear! ****YOU MATTER!!*****
Re ICE in Maine, and elsewhere: Don't get mad, do something real and constructive, like boycott. Folks are organizing in Minnesota, and a boycott list has emerged: Target, Home Depot, Enterprise rent-a-car and Hilton Hotels. Spread the word. Help hit these businesses where it hurts, in the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteEGAD!! I haven't visited/participated here since Jan, 8th!
ReplyDeleteAlan
Flat on my back in bed. Hard to say if I am getting better or not. Far better care than in the hospital, though. We have had a very little rain and some overcast. Very hard to type or wrlte becaue of right hand tremor.Expect I will be moving along in time; wish it were be after my good wife, but it will probably be the other way around.
Good to hear from you, Alan. You've been missed. Sending love and hugs!
DeleteSoooo good to see you posting, Alan! Thank you for making the effort. Every Day I think, "I miss Alan." You have always posted the most interesting, eclectic grouping of links! And you, yourself, are such a part of this blog. Feels more whole when you pop by.
DeleteMay you and your better half have more time to snuggle and converse and simply be together. Life is precious. ❤️
DeleteHi, Alan! Good to see you. I saw your comment a few hours ago and couldn't think of a good thing to say in response to what you posted. A teacher once told me that the French literally say "Courage!" to give encouragement. So imagine I said "courage!", but I said it the French way. ♥
ReplyDeleteRenee
Video: BREAKING: Second Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis - Click
ReplyDeleteVideo: BREAKING: MN Shooting Victim IDed, New Video of Incident - Click
DeleteMore from The Bulwark's continuing coverage:
DeleteVideo: First They Kill. Then They Smear. (w/ Andrew Weissmann) - Click
I have just written to my DC Delgation demanding that ICE be abolished.
DeleteI need to speak from personal experience about what is happening right now with immigrant employees within MaineHealth. This is not abstract. This is not something I read about or heard secondhand. I have heard the voices. I have looked into the eyes of people who are terrified.
ReplyDeleteAt MMC we have employees who have been detained despite having no criminal background and full legal status granting them active work visas. That IS happening. These are not undocumented workers. These are not criminals. If they were they would not have jobs within MaineHealth **FULL STOP** These are fully vetted, background checked employees who wear scrubs and MaineHealth badges. What people need to understand is THAT THESE ARE NOT targeted arrests. The people who are lying to themselves about the narrative in order to make it more palatable for themselves are single handedly allowing this to happen. People are being picked up and pushed into a system where—even when they are legally here, legally working…everything goes silent. Communication stops. Husbands do not know where their wives ended up on their way to work and calls come in asking if we have heard anything. The real life panic is here, ive seen, ive held it.
***The idea that “if they are legally here, they will have no problems” is a farce. I know this because I have now borne witness to the opposite. People with valid legal status are still being detained while their status is “investigated,” sometimes being told they must have money ready for bail just to be released while that process unfolds. No crimes. No records. Fully Legal working visas most asylum seekers. Filling the jobs within our hospital systems that frankly Americans were not, filling jobs that still have significant shortages meaning that these employees have had to work harder for years to cover the gaps… what about now?****
The real threat and the visceral fear is spreading rapidly. MMC alone is witnessing mass call-outs across departments—not because people don’t want to work, but because they are afraid to leave their homes. Staff calling out WHILE actively being detained in real time. Videos from coworkers, sent in real time, showing ICE agents outside their residences. People are whispering, crying, hiding, and begging for guidance from fellow MMC staff unable to leave to go to work terrified that stepping outside means disappearing into a system where their families may not be able to find them. They have done nothing to desvere such targeted hate and trauma.This is creating mass fear creating real mass workforce loss, with direct consequences for patient care and hospital operations. Simply put, this cannot be treated as business as usual. This can not be ignored.
Today, a hard working law abiding mother had to leave work in tears, not knowing if she would make it home to her children in time as ICE agents were in her home.
MMC is a LARGE building who knows how many times over stories like this are, or have unfolded??? Or WILL unfold??Our is staff getting stopped walking to work, heading to the bus, MMC staff just trying to go to and from work are targeted simply based off how they look, some still taken despite having said paperwork on them!!! Yes. This is happening. You may want to think or hope its not, but it is. And please REMEMBER if you have received care at MMC you have recieved care from an immigrant, who I personally see as some of the most humble, hardest working people I know—and now they are being forced to choose between safety and survival.
This is our MaineHealth family. These are our own. And family does not look away.
If you are a MaineHealth employee, I am asking you to help in very real ways.
-Please offer rides to and from work when you can. Ask your coworkers what they need. We are working on a list of “safe numbers” where staff can approach nurses stations and see who is available to give rides that day. Yesterday we were able to secure 12 rides, but we can do way way way more if we organize!
Delete-Designating spots within the hosptial where those scared to leave the hospital can be met by those willing to give rides home. Don’t be afraid to ask those you see on your unit, or around the hospital do you have a safe way home? Instead of ignoring their fear, let’s face it with them straight on. Wouldn’t it be better if they were asked by 20 people rather than zero?
-Donate to the food pantry, Not just food but household items we have two families in need of diapers to terrified to leave their homes. And with that also consider donating your time to help bring food directly to homes, because some employees are too afraid to leave their houses.
-Donate PTO so MaineHealth can help distribute time to staff in need!
-ORGANIZE… it needs to start unit based if not from the top, look out for those on your unit start there and ask them if they know of any others. Even if its just for that day—that one day, that one ride could be EVERYTHING
***and most importantly BE VOCAL*** MMC has incredible staff that are wanting and willingly to help, so be loud about it and ask what people need. Check in with our employees throughout the day, ask how they are, how their family is listen to their stories even if it’s hard to hear, even if there is nothing you can do.
***ADVOCATE****for more help, more visibility from top. Be vocal. Ask what more can be done as an institution. Ask what is being done now? Dont be afraid to seek these answers from the top. If you have ideas share them don’t be afraid to go to our highest leaders to have a conversation*** I personally met with them and you can too!! Reach out!! Push to be heard!! Start a conversation!! Ask questions!! Work together!! Be willing to not only speak up but be willingly to listen. To collebrate, to hear all that is going from all angles. Reach out to the very top, speak your truth, share your opinions, do not fear asking and collectively collaborating. We can all be doing better, we all can and I have faith in us… we are healthcare workers, we work in the hospital because we have all dedicated our lives to helping people in need. And now is the time to help some of our own. 
This is about humanity. This is about standing together when fear is being carried quietly by the people beside us.
RIGHT BESIDE US. Now is NOT the time to convince ourselves its not as bad as it is We need to show a REAL united front that moves past lip service, we need action rooted in compassion, dignity, and solidarity.
And let us remember this: hospitals are built on hands that heal, but they are sustained by hearts that refuse to harden. When fear tries to scatter us, we choose to gather! When silence tries to erase people, we speak their names! When our coworkers are made to feel invisible, we stand shoulder to shoulder and say—you belong here! You are not alone! We will not let you disappear!
****YOU MATTER!!*****
where are the pol[ce and DA's?
Deletealan