Tag: politics

Shining a Light on Child Marriage

Pat Liberty

In a recent vote, Oklahoma senate Republican legislators voted against Senate Bill 504, which is an outright ban on child marriage with no exceptions.  They argued that the bill amounted to government overreach into personal family choices. Despite the opposition, the measured passed and became law in May 2026.

In Wisconsin, State-level efforts to ban child marriage have repeatedly stalled in committees controlled by Republican leadership. They argue that proposed laws infringe on the rights of parents to decide what is right for their children

In Missouri, a Republican-controlled House committee killed a bill that would have completely outlawed marriage for anyone under eighteen. Opponents argued that the age requirement ignored “unique” family situations and undermined parental authority.

In South Dakota, the Senate killed a bi-partisan bill that would have removed exceptions allowing 16 and 17 year olds to marry with parental consent. Republicans argued that banning child marriage would criminalize young marriages and disrupt family values.

Eighteen states have fully banned child marriage with no exceptions: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Delaware became the first state to outlaw child marriage, with a law passed in 2018. Yes, 2018!!

Child marriage laws in the United States were based on English Common Law. Marriages in that time were often related to strategic land acquisitions or situations where one or both parties stood to make significant financial gains. The minimum age of consent was fourteen 14 for boys and twelve for girls, which was inherited from medieval canon law. Technically, girls as young as seven could be betrothed; the actual contract was invalid unless both parties reaffirmed the union at twelve or fourteen. The life span of the average person was 35-40 years. Even if you do the math and say they were “middle age”, it doesn’t add up. The law was overhauled in 1753 when the age of consent was 21. Marriages under the minimum age requirement parental approval.

Infringing on parental rights is dubious, at best. It basically means parents can sell their children into marriage and use the proceeds to either bail out their financial disaster or support a way of life. Government overreach is, perhaps, a matter of opinion; but one of the purposes of government is to protect the vulnerable, which includes children. They deserve to be protected from abusive parents.

To the infringement on religious rights, it’s important not to cherry pick verses out of context. It is true that in biblical times parents sometimes sold their children into indentured servitude or as temporary slaves. Generally, this was done to pay off debt. Oftentimes the debt was garnered through the oppression of the Roman Empire which charged outrageous taxes on peasants. When they were unable to pay the debt, their land was confiscated.

Jesus was overwhelmingly an advocate for the most vulnerable members of society. This included children. In Matthew 19 “children were being brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’”

In Luke 17, Jeus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe by whom they come. It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

When Jesus preached the sermon that began his public ministry, he proclaimed, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  The word “poor” is a catchphrase that represented society’s most vulnerable. It is frequently grouped with the widow, the orphan and the stranger/foreigner. These groups represent the most marginalized socially and economically powerless people in the ancient world. Children were included in that population. Jesus was always headed toward the margins, where the vulnerable people were.

The witness of scripture is that Jesus loved the little children, as the old song goes, and sought to protect them and help them grow to the full stature of their humanness.

Where these Republicans get the idea that child marriage is in the bible is a stretch. That said, when children reached puberty they were considered old enough to marry. Remember, the average life span was thirty years.

We do not live under ancient Common English Law, and we do not live in biblical times. It is time for white men in power to use their power to protect the vulnerable, not sell them off to the highest bidder. We need laws in all fifty states that make child marriage illegal. If you live in a state where child marriage is still legal, write to your legislators and tell them it is time to change this law.

The Road to Fascism, Part Two

Pat Liberty

A few weeks ago, I shared a blog about the warning signs that we are headed down the road to fascism. I was waylaid by other pressing news, so here is Part Two.

There are predictable things that happen on the road to fascism. We are further down the road than we think. As I said in Part One, I think we are underreacting to what is going on.

Here are other characteristics of fascism:

            1.Coerced Loyalty: The occupant has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to cater to his cronies and punish those who do not agree with him. Frivolous lawsuits, public shaming, name calling and such.

            2. Corruption, Grift and Greed: This is pretty much self-explanatory. There is no end to the schemes the occupant comes up with to benefit the organization, his children and those who make massive donations to his campaigns.

            3. Mythic Past: Curricula writers are rewriting history to show the US as a loving, Christian nation rather than telling the truth about colonialism. During the colonial period, Native Americans were slaughtered and those who managed to escape being murdered were put on the Trail of Tears to a reservation that was created “just for them.” We are talking millions of people. We will never know exactly how many because the colonialists didn’t care. There is still our original sin of slavery that continues to shape the present.

            4. Humiliation: The occupant frequently stoops to grade school tactics in name calling,  insulting and trying to call the character of leaders into question. In truth, it just makes him look like he brought a squirt gun to a Super Soaker event.

            5. Savior Complex: The occupant will try and tell people that he is the only one who can save democracy, this as he systematically takes our democracy apart. He points to his political enemies as the ones who are harming democracy, when in truth he is doing more than any other leader in American History to undermine our democracy.

            6. Purification: This is particularly heinous. The first “purification” came with the genocide of Native Americans. It manifests today as the desire to deport people of color, some for no apparent reason. Another, more subtle and more frightening manifestation is the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. When people don’t have access to health care and adequate food they will get sick and die sooner.  The white supremacist agenda is out in the open and unapologetically so.

            7. Propaganda: Now that the occupant has his cronies owning the major news outlets, it is interesting to watch how the same news story is spun by different stations. CBS has sold its soul. It’s hard to find reliable news outlets, but we can’t drink the Kool-Aid the regime is handing to us. Staying well informed and vocal are two of the best strategies to fight fascism. Reputable news outlets include Global News and Wire Service. Publicly funded outlets are generally recognized for having high journalistic standards, such as PBS, NPR and the BBC Written media that generally trust include the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Guardian and Reuters.

            8. State Sanctioned Violence: The deputized thugs that dress in fatigues, carry assault rifles and cover their faces regularly violate people’s civil rights. Peaceful protesters are routinely maced, pepper sprayed and attacked with pepper ball projectiles. Peaceful protesters are detained unlawfully. And we cannot forget the outright murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. There are other murders that have not received the publicity they have received. Another manifestation of state sponsored violence is the way people are treated in detention centers. Their civil rights are violated daily. ExampIes include inedible food, lack of medical care, and withholding medications needed to maintain health.  There have been numerous deaths in detention facilities, the exact number is not known. Estimates are eighteen or nineteen. This puts the thugs on schedule to break the record of 31-33 in 2025.

            9. Denial of Due Process: People are routinely arrested and sent to detention camps without access to lawyers, family and religious support. The construction of detention centers that house thousands of people tells the story. Get “those” people in there and who knows (or cares) what happens to them next. At the infamous “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida, hundreds of people simply disappeared, never to be heard from again. Our government is disappearing people! Tens of thousands were disappeared in system transfers. In times of mass deportations, and interstate transfers, migrants drop off the records of ICE and CBP. It is an “enforced disappearance.” No one knows where they are or if they are dead or alive.

Part of the strategy of fascism is to keep the news cycle spinning. The newest outrage quickly puts the outrages of yesterday in the dustbin of history. The hope is that the American people will get tired and cease to be outraged. Silence is the greatest factor in the proliferation of fascism.

Manifestations of all these signs of fascism are right in front of us. It’s time to pay attention.

Where’s the Tea?

Pat Liberty

In 1773, a group of Bostonians revolted against the British Empire. It arose from two challenges, the financial problems of the British East India Company and an ongoing dispute about the extent of Parliament’s authority over the British American Colonies. The claim was “taxation without representation.” Britain continued to levy taxes on the American Colonies without seating any representation in the British Parliament. As a result, Bostonians threw 342 cases of tea into Boston Harbor, and the famous Boston Tea Party became a part of American history.

We need another Tea Party. We pay our taxes and our tax dollars are used for things over which we have no say. For example, one billion dollars of our tax money has been appropriated for the “Ballroom.” You may remember that originally it was to be paid for with private donations (which is problematic in its own way). This is a classic bait and switch. One billion dollars. Let that sink in.

Former Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, appropriated tax-payer money to lease a Boeing 737 Max 8 for DHS operations. This luxury jet featured a queen-size bedroom, 3 showers, a bar and a kitchen. It came with a price tag of $170 million dollars. It was used primarily for her personal and cabinet travel. After Noem was fired from her position the White House appropriated the jet to support cabinet secretaries and First Lady Melania Trump’s office. Noem faced further push-back when she spent $172 million dollars of tax-payer money to purchase two Gulfstream G700 private jets during the government shut down.

In a blatant act of corruption, the occupant has appropriated 1.8 billion dollars of tax-payer money to create a slush fund of sorts that can funnel money directly into the pockets of his political allies, including the January 6th insurrectionists. It is widely agreed that this is the single most corrupt act in American political history. It is unconstitutional in a number of ways. This, however, seems immaterial to this regime.

A vanity war in Iran is costing $1 billion dollars a day. The money financing it is our tax money. At the same time the regime says there is no money to fund Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. There is money. It is a question of priorities.

All of this amounts to taxation without representation. Our tax dollars are being hijacked for purposes that do not serve the people of the United States. Where do we find 342 cases of tea when we need it? 

Oppressive regimes are fond of diverting funds to serve their political ends.

Oppressive regimes also levy taxes on their subjects that they are unable to pay. This was true under Roman Occupation in Jesus’ time. Regime officials would tax the land of peasants at a rate that they were unable to pay. Consequently, they had to forfeit their land for non-payment of taxes.

Regardless of the methods, the end is the same. Money is used for purposes that do not serve the people. Jesus’ answer to that was to hang out with people who were victimized by an unjust government system and speak truth to power.

It is what is needed today. Write/call your Senators and Representatives. Even if you live in a blue state, your legislators need to know that you appreciate that they are fighting corruption. Protest. It’s easy to think this makes no difference, but that is not true. The protests in Minnesota drove ICE into the shadows and caused them to draw down their presence. Numerous arrest warrants, felony charges and FBI investigations are under way. This would not have happened if it wasn’t for the protests and push-back. It matters.

Dose yourself on the news. It is depressing. If we are going to stay in this fight for the long haul, we have to keep ourselves centered and energized. Watching news 24/7 is not conducive to sanity. Get your news from reputable sources. The three major TV networks are owned by the occupant’s supporters. Main-stream media is selling its soul; get your news somewhere else. 

Attend an observer training, which will give you skills to protest peacefully. Above all, our protests must be non-violent. It would take very little for the regime to call a state of emergency and derail the midterms. As far as it is up to you, be peaceful and non-violent.

Believe that what you do makes a difference. Do not be afraid to speak. Oppressive regimes count on people becoming tired, burning out or being afraid enough to keep silent. Show them they are wrong.

Everyday people are being victimized by an unjust system. ICE agents shoot people in the streets. Thousands of children have watched one or both of their parents are carried off in handcuffs by ICE agents. Both legal citizens and those without papers are treated in inhumane and abusive ways. Medical care is denied; food is infested with maggots; there is no adequate sanitation; and beds are non-existent. The answer of this regime is to fund ICE and Customs and Border Patrol until 2029 at a rate of 29 billion dollars a year. 

 If we are to save our democracy, we need to act. Daily. Don’t give up the fight.

The Road to Fascism

Pat Liberty

Fascism is defined as: “An authoritarian, far-right, ultranationalist political ideology characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism and forcible suppression of opposition. It prioritizes the nation-state over individual rights, often promoting national rebirth, racial purity and traditional values.” (Politico)

We are probably under-reacting to what is happening in our nation, because fascism is here and advancing quickly. There are several ways of looking at the characteristics of fascism which I will be exploring over the next several weeks. Below is one assessment.

  1. Controlling the Media: All major news media outlets (CBS, NBC, and ABC) are owned by rabid Trump supporters. The news is now shaped and edited by a fascist agenda. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) threatens to pull the licenses of media outlets that criticize the Trump regime.
  2. Targeting Ethnic Groups: In Minneapolis the target group is Somalis. In most cities Hispanic and Latino Americans/Migrants are the target. Haitian Americans and refugees are also on the hitlist as are Hmong Americans, Venezuelan migrants and Asian Americans. 
  3. Scapegoating immigrants: The Trump regime consistently associates immigrants with complex social problems. Immigrants are blamed for crime and gang violence. The masked militia, also known as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), routinely target immigrants for detention regardless of their immigration status. It is straight up racial profiling. Their primary objective is to instill fear and anxiety. Travel bans and visa restrictions are another way the regime targets immigrants.
  4. Threatening Sovereign Nations: The regime has a track record, i.e. invading Venezuela, bombing Iran, threatening to take over Greenland (a Dutch territory), and ongoing genocide in Gaza. Threats are now directed at Cuba.
  5. Attacking Education: Trump strongarmed major universities into bowing to his educational agenda by threatening the termination of grants and research monies. Women’s Studies programs, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, support and study of LGBTQ+ communities, environmental sciences, and specific research areas are being defunded. The stated goal is to counter what he calls “radical indoctrination and woke spending.” In community schools, funds for school based social services have been discontinued and mental health and safety funding has been curtailed. In addition, desegregation grants have been discontinued. Millions of dollars for arts education and history/civics initiatives have been cut. Transgender inclusive policies have been terminated, as well as literacy and nutrition programs.
  6. Detaining Without Due Process: Trump is trying to build massive detention camps all around the United States. While towns are pushing back, it doesn’t change the fact that the end goal is to detain thousands of people without due process and with no access to an attorney. This means long term incarceration in prison camps with deplorable conditions.
  7. Punishing Free Speech: Peaceful protestors are regularly arrested for exercising their constitutional right to protest. Rebranding peaceful protestors as “domestic terrorists” means they can be arrested and held in detention camps.
  8. Weakening Separation of Church and State: The regime is cozying up to White Christian Nationalism, which is a political ideology that seeks to merge American identity with a specific interpretation of Christian faith, often prioritizing the interests of white conservative Christians. The regime has established the White House Faith Office, which focuses on strengthening ties with conservative Christianity and prioritizing a nationalist interpretation of faith at the expense of all other religious traditions.
  9. Dismantling Institutions of Democracy: The regime has taken a wrecking ball to the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Education and Independent agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission. Independent leaders have been removed and replaced with liaisons that are loyal to the regime.
  10. Oppressing the LGBTQIA+ Community: The regime is beginning to arrest LGBTQIA+ people simply for existing. The concentration camps in Germany did not begin with Jews, they began with the LGBTQIA+ community. Civil rights and legal rights are being eradicated. The trans community is disproportionately targeted.
  11. Rewriting History: Eradicating Black history and forbidding any teaching around Native American Genocide are just a few examples. Textbooks are being rewritten to suit the white agenda of the regime.
  12. Rejecting Election Results: Though it has been proven time and time again that voter fraud is virtually non-existent, the regime is sowing seeds of distrust in the electoral process (which is regulated by each state) and threatening to take over the election process. The results of the election, should they favor Democratic leaders, will be met with a cry of election tampering.
  13.  Advocating Cronyism: Trump surrounds himself with sycophants who unconditionally bow to his agenda. In return these oligarchs receive tax breaks, relaxation of environmental regulations and labor laws.
  14. Militarizing Secret Police: the regime has militarized the Immigration and Custom Enforcement Agency to function as a Secret Police force. They have little training and are free to use whatever tactics they want to arrest, terrorize and brutalize whomever they choose. They have even committed state sponsored murder in the death of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
  15. Denying Reality with Constant Lies: if Trump’s lips are moving, he is lying. He is increasingly losing control of the narrative around the Iran War. It has amped up his lies. He continues to deflect attention from the war to his pet peeves (immigration, anti-Trans legislation, threats to invade other sovereign counties, etc.).
  16. Fear Mongering to Gain Power: There is a part of the population who laps up his lies. They believe immigrants are the problem. They believe the United States was founded as a Christian Nation. They believe the government should have the power to create and enforce laws that feed their ignorance and bigotry.

The unspoken hope of the regime is that we will stop being shocked, stop being horrified and begin to normalize these behaviors as “just the way it is.” With each tactic being more outrageous than the last, we lose sight of the horrific things already accomplished and focus, until the next time, on what he is currently doing. The 24-hour news cycle quickly pushes that aside for something else.

We must not see any of this as normal. It is not “just the way it is.” It is tempting to despair and lose hope. It is tempting to ignore the encroaching fascism because it does not affect us (yet). It is tempting to minimize what is happening because it is too horrific to believe that our democracy is being disassembled right before our eyes. We cannot give them the satisfaction of being docile subjects who swallow whatever the regime declares is true. It is paramount that we stay informed, keep protesting and keep writing to legislators to decry what is happening. I know that is the advice all the time. But the truth is, it works. Don’t lose hope. Don’t despair. There are cracks in the regime’s foundations and one day they will be called to account. But only if we keep up the pressure.

Target: Trans People, and It’s Not Pretty

Pat Liberty

ans people make up less than one percent of the entire population of the United States. That translates to about 28 million people age 13 and older. They receive a disproportionate amount of vitriol from state and federal government. They are harassed and judged; violence is done to their person; they are mocked and disrespected.

So far, in 2026, 29 states have passed 126 bills and 125 have been signed into law. A total of 41 states are considering anti-transgender legislation with over 700 bills under consideration nationwide. They all target the trans community in some way. Recently Kansas recalled all the drivers’ licenses of trans people and will re-issue them conforming to the gender to which they were born.

In 2025, 896 anti-trans laws were introduced. Three states led the way in the number of bills targeting the trans community: Oklahoma 53 bills, Missouri 50 bills, Tennessee 40 bills.

The focus of most of the bills has to do with which bathrooms people use, the presence and participation of trans people in sports, limiting or eliminating gender-affirming care, and limiting legal recognition.  In some states, it is a criminal offense for health care providers to offer age-appropriate trans medical care. In some states educators are prohibited from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation. Some legislation seeks to penalize teachers or counselors who support social transition, even making it a felony.

Anti-LGBTQI hate groups and legislators across the country have overridden the recommendations of the American medical establishment when it comes to transgender care. As a result, transgender youth experience significantly elevated rates of suicidality, with studies showing 71-78% reporting feelings of hopelessness and 25-30% attempting suicide in a 12 -month period. Transgender, non-binary and gender expansive teens are more than five times more likely to screen positive for suicide risk compared to their cis-gender peers.

Transgender adults have disproportionately high rates of suicidality compared to the general population. Studies show 32% to 50% lifetime suicide attempt rates in comparison to the cis-gender population. Intense stigma, discrimination, family rejection, religious hatred, access to gender affirming medical care are the root cause.

In short, there is a nationwide effort to erase the presence of the trans community. Removing the terms “transgender identity” and “sexual orientation” from all federal regulations effectively eliminate legal protections against discrimination. By defining gender in strictly binary terms, male and female, the trans and non-binary community is effectively erased. The normalization of hateful rhetoric and the removal of legal protections increase the risk of physical violence and hate crimes against the transgender community, especially transgender women of color.

We know from history where this ends. Nazi Germany systematically persecuted the LGBTQ population as a threat to the German race and “traditional” gender roles. Between 1933-1945, an estimated 100, 000 men were arrested with 5,000-6,000 imprisoned in concentration camps, where as many as 60% died.

It is frightening to think that concentration camps in Germany didn’t start with Jews, but with the LGBTQ community. It was a convenient target that trafficked in the general population’s homophobia. The same dynamic is at work in the United States. The White Cristian Nationalists stoke a narrative that the LGBTQ community is dangerous to children and family values and must be stopped. This is furthered in conservative news media, and as a result the White Christian Nationalists and the conservative media feed off each other.

What is most troubling is the largely silent Christian church. The belief that every person is created in the image of God and is loved by God unconditionally is strangely absent from public discourse. We all know the loudest voice wins. The LGBTQIA+ community needs a strong Christian witness that pushes back against the dominant narrative. The voice of compassionate cis-gender allies is desperately needed.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Find out what legislation has been filed in your state. Write to your legislators to oppose any anti LGBTQ+ legislation. Write to the legislators who filed the legislation and set forth your position.
  • Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers educating the public on pending anti LGBTQI+ legislation.
  • Encourage your church, your pastor and your friends to care about this issue.
  • Educate yourself about transgender identity and counter anti-trans talk when you hear it. Passing comments betray beliefs.
  • Educate yourself about social reality and be prepared to counter anti LGBTQIA+ hyperbole.
  • Grow your own faith response and be prepared to articulate it.
  • Encourage your church to host an LGBTQIA+ coffee house or gathering space. Don’t underestimate the power of a safe space for people to meet.

The words of Martin Niemoller are pertinent:

First they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

then they came for the Socialists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a socialist.

then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

then they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew.

then they came for me

       and there was no one left

to speak for me.

First they came for the LGBTQIA+ community

and I did not speak out because I was not LGBTQIA+.

It goes on from there. At some point it will be you.

Now is the time to speak.

Sources

Human Rights Commission

American Civil Liberties Union

Williams Institute

Anti Trans Bill Tracker

TheFlax.org

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

Say Her Name

Pat Liberty

Renee Nicole Good. Say her name. And while you are at it, say the names of the other people who were murdered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Silvero Villegas Gonzalez, a father fatally shot by an agent during a brief altercation after dropping his children at school; Marimar Martinez, a US citizen and teacher shot by a Border Patrol agent during a dispute. Multiple people have been shot by immigration agents, claiming self-defense.

Say these names too; these people died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers. Genry Ruiz Gullen, 29; Serawit Gezahegn, 45; Maksym Chernyak, 44; Juan Alexis Tineo-Martinez, 44; Brian Garzon-Rayo, 27, Nhon Ngoc Nguyen, 55; Marie Ange Blaise, 44; Abelardo Avellaneda Delgado, 68; Jesus Molina-Veya, 45; Johnny Noviello; Isadiro Perez, 75; Tien Xuan Phan, 55; Chaofeng Ge, 32; Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas, 32; Oscar Rascon Duarte, 58; Santos Benegas Reyes, 42; Ismael Ayala-Uribe, 39; Norlan Guzman Fuentes, 37; Miguell Angel Garcia Medina, 31; Huabing Xie; Leo Cruz-Silva, 34; Hasan Ali Moh’D Saleh, 67; Josue Garcia Aviles, Shiraz Fatehali Sachwani, 4; Jean Wilson Brutus, 41; Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, 46; Delvin Francisco Ridriguez, 39; Nenko Stanev Gantchev, 56; Keith Porter.

So far this year, thirteen days into January, four people have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. All these people were husbands, fathers and sons. They were wives, moms and daughters. Each of them has a rich history and a story to tell.

Those who died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers died from not receiving proper medical care or receiving it too late to save their lives. A few died by suicide. Several others died from living in squalid conditions with improper nutrition

Renee Nicole Good was a US citizen and a mother of three. She was 37 years old, a veteran and the wife of Becca Good. Immediately after her murder, the regime started to smear her character. She was called a domestic terrorist. They said she engaged in threatening behavior. They said she threatened the agents with her vehicle and the agent fired in self-defense. This false narrative is eclipsing the truth of who she was. 

Controlling the narrative of these lives cut short by violence and neglect is a tactic of an authoritarian regime. That’s why we say their names, to remind ourselves that, whether in the country legally or not, they were human beings who deserved to be treated with respect and care.

In the first testament, stories  were how people came to know who they were. They were the people of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  They traced their line back through the generations as a way of grounding themselves in history. In the second testament, the gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus. All the generations are represented. They connect Jesus to his history. Men’s last names were often bar-___ a last name. It means son of, like Simon bar Jonah. The naming reaches back in history to claim a familial identity.

Every family has its stories that they tell over and over again. Aunt Bessie and Uncle Clyde and the way the used to…. These stories keep us connected to our history and to our family line. They are passed down generation to generation and form an integral part of who we are. At family gatherings, funerals and wakes, there is story telling. The stories bring laughter and sometimes tears. They lead us to daydream and connect us to our clan.

There is power in saying the names, being reminded that these people are more than a number. They were beloved family members. They had jobs and careers. They were people of faith and people of no faith. Each an individual with a story. Learn their stories; tell their stories; lest we forget.

There is power in naming. It is why I have stopped saying ICE and say the whole name. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is a reminder that goon squad is not law enforcement. They have no jurisdiction to detain citizens, issue driving or parking violations. Their work is with the immigrant communities. And for the record, they suck at that. By targeting immigrant communities they are often detaining US citizens. Their presence is an attempt to normalize uniformed personnel with tactical gear, war guns and face masks in cities and neighborhoods. Make no mistake; this is not about immigrants. It is about terrorizing cities and neighborhoods in order to make us afraid. It takes us one step closer to a police state.

Say their names. Keep their names and stories before your friends, neighbors and families. Refuse to be silenced.

Power Grabs and Executive Overreach

Pat Liberty

 The recent military invasion of Venezuela and subsequent kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro is outrageous on many levels. It is true many Venezuelans are cheering Maduro’s ouster from the presidency; he was an authoritarian ruler who oppressed people and treated the government like his personal law keeping force (not unlike the occupant and the US military).

The possibility of a better life that has Venezuelans dancing in the streets doesn’t change the larger situation. Venezuela is a sovereign country, and the US had no authority to attack it. Some have argued that the occupant didn’t need congressional approval under the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and the War Powers Resolution (WPR). The WPR is intended to limit presidential power by requiring consultation and potential withdrawal of troops after 60-90 days if Congress doesn’t authorize the force, though presidents often claim inherent authority or cite other laws (like the AUMF). The AUMF is a congressional resolution granting the president authority to use military force, most famously after 9/11 that authorized action against those responsible for the attacks. There have been several incarnations of the AUMF. In 2002 it authorized use of military forces against Iraq. In 1991 it authorized military forces against Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait.

The AUMF provides broad, open-ended authority for military action, unlike formal declarations of war. Critics argue they have enabled “endless wars” by allowing presidents to use force against evolving threats (like ISIS) without new congressional approval. Many others believe AUMF unconstitutionally transfers Congress’ war-making powers to the executive branch.

While all of this adds some murkiness around who gets to do what and when, it doesn’t change the fact that international law, primarily through the United Nations, prohibits the invasion of a sovereign country. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US invasion of Venezuela are illegal actions under the UN charter.

The occupant is a wannabe king who, if not able to be a king, is content to be a tyrant. This has angered the international community and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO’s charter says an attack on one country is an attack on all member nations of NATO. There is bound to be some retaliation from the NATO nations.

The precedent this sets on the world stage is terrifying. The occupant’s unilateral action gives tacit permission for other authoritarian regimes to continue their own land grabs, China to Taiwan and Russia to Ukraine and beyond. War is surely on the nearer horizon. It’s hard to know where it will all end, but chances are good it will not be pretty.

Reaching back into Bible times, the occupant is acting like King Herod the Great. He was a puppet ruler for Rome and was so insecure and frightened of losing his power that he squashed all dissent and imprisoned those he saw as a threat. After Jesus was born, Herod was so threatened that he “took out a hit on a toddler” to quote Nadia Bolz-Weber. Herod ordered the death of all children under the age of two when he heard that the king of the Jews had been born.

The occupant is a malignant narcissist, like Herod, who is content to kill, imprison, arrest and silence opposition for the sake of his power. Like Herod, he seeks power for power’s sake. His thugs are now murdering people in the name of immigration enforcement. So far, in the occupant’s great immigration crackdown, a full 73% of people rounded up have no criminal record. This isn’t about immigration; it is about intimidation and silencing opposition. It is about terrifying communities, so they do not voice their anger at the inhumanity of this regime.  

Following the rule of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas (his son) became the Tetrarch ruler. This Herod was the ruler through all of Jesus’ ministry and through his crucifixion.

Herod Antipas is responsible for the beheading of John the Baptist. The Herods (or Herodians as they were known) were not good or righteous kings. However, given their authority they fashioned themselves as lords and kings over the Jewish people. By whatever means they could, they silenced dissent, imposed order and intimidated people. It is what all authoritarian rulers have in common.  The occupant fits the bill to a T.

We are watching history repeat itself.

Alligator Auschwitz

Pat Liberty

The difference between Alcatraz and Auschwitz is the difference between having due process to convict one of crimes versus rounding up people who look suspicious simply because of their black or brown skin. The facility in Florida is a concentration camp. Full stop.

The conditions of the camp are also reminiscent of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. According to truthout.org, detainees (read prisoners) are “enduring inhumane conditions including inadequate and maggot infested food, inability to bathe, flooding and denial of religious practice.” There are also documented cases of sexual violence against women, failure to give adequate care during pregnancy and lack of treatment during a miscarriage.

The people imprisoned at Alligator Auschwitz are supposedly the “worst of the worst” criminals, but there are documented cases of US citizens being detained despite having no criminal record or current charges against them. Even if they WERE the “worst of the worst” they deserve to be treated as human beings.

The facility uses outside contractors to run day-to-day operations. This amounts to millions of dollars in federal funding given to the occupant’s cronies. Less than $2.00 per day is spent on food for those imprisoned at the camp. Prisoners receive one meal a day and inadequate water to tolerate the stifling heat.

It is nauseating to realize that there is merchandise advertising “Alligator Alcatraz.” Mugs, T-shirts and hats are available online and connected to the Republican party in Florida.

Cruelty has always been the point. This is not primarily about deportation. It is about treating people as less than human and scaring them into admitting just about anything to get out of there. If this facility were operating outside the United States, there would be political and social condemnation. There is precious little protesting from the American people, a sad commentary on our apathy and willingness to acquiesce to avoid landing on the occupant’s radar.

It will not be long before people die, suffer mental breakdown or attempt suicide. Given the fact that there is not even an accurate list of who is in the camp, loved ones may never know the fate of the prisoners.

This is below inhumane. This is torture sanctioned by the state of Florida and the occupant’s authoritarian regime. Somehow the news that all people are created in the image of the Divine and bear the imprint of God’s love and grace has not reached the Everglades in Florida.

In addition to the conditions at the prison, there is also impact on the delicate Everglades ecosystem. The degradation of this environment endangers the entire state of Florida and beyond. There are also tribal lands that are being desecrated by this monstrous monument to the depth of human cruelty. Apparently, the sanctity of God’s creation and the inherent dignity of tribal peoples have not reached the occupant or the Florida government.

And we who are aware of these atrocities are complicit if we keep silent. Contact your Senators and Representatives. This is not a partisan issue. This is a human dignity issue. This is a moral crisis for our nation and for each person who claims this nation as home. The lack of public outcry and the willingness of so many to purchase merchandise advertising this human rights debacle signals that the country is okay with this. Make it clear that it is not okay. Phone calls, letters, e-mails are all ways to register your outrage about Alligator Auschwitz. Act today. People are waiting for relief and justice.

This is a Test

Pat Liberty

Fascism depends on people thinking that:

  • things aren’t that bad.
  • what’s happening there won’t happen in my area.
  • it will all work itself out and I don’t need to do anything.
  • it won’t impact me because I’m a citizen.
  • democracy has always survived; it will this time, too.

Fascism assumes we will be lulled into a false sense of security because the horrors are not knocking on our door. Fascism assumes we will grow tired of protesting and contacting senators and representatives because we think it won’t do any good. In short, fascism depends on our docility.

It is, however, time that we ask the question, how long will we:

  • tolerate the federal government deploying national guard troops against US citizens when the national guard is called out at the state’s behest?
  • ignore the inhumane conditions at Alligator Auschwitz because we don’t personally know anyone who has ended up there?
  • dismiss the attacks on civil rights for the LGBTQI community because we are not in that population?
  • Ignore an undone, mentally incompetent, megalomanic presiding over the demise of our democracy while we twiddle our thumbs?

It’s past time we remember Hitler didn’t start with concentration camps. He started by creating “us” and “them.” He started by dehumanizing groups of people and giving people a common “enemy.” He started by suppressing dissent and punishing those who publicly disagreed with him. He started by creating disinformation campaigns.

We cannot ignore that all of that, and more, is already happening here. And we cannot forget that Hitler’s rise to power could not have happened without the tacit consent of the German Church. The state church became the Reich church and supported the policies and pogroms Hitler promoted. The Roman Catholic church was largely silent as the horrors unfolded. Even the Confessing Church eventually capitulated to the pressures of the third Reich.

In the United States, fascism and the entrenchment of white Christian Nationalism cannot happen without the tacit consent (or silence) of the church. In a world where the loudest voices get airtime, what is needed is a cogent voice that cuts across denominational and political lines. It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or granola groupie, what is happening to people across our country is wrong. It’s not about politics; it’s about being human. Standing by silently while ICE agents create terror (which is the point) is one sign of our agreement with these inhuman policies and procedures.

Make no mistake, this is all a carefully orchestrated plan. The goal is to create an authoritarian regime that gives the message that it cannot be challenged. It also gaslights people into thinking that this leader, in this case the not-so-great Cheeto, is the only one who can “save” the country.

With the demise of the integrity of the Supreme Court, there is no limit to the power this unhinged, deranged man-child can exercise. His minions all kiss his ass and carry out his bidding just to preserve their own political power.

So, what to do? Every single day make your voice heard. Contact senators and representatives (they do not have to be from your state) and protest the policies of this corrupt government. Stay informed about what is REALLY happening and not what you are fed by major news outlets. Listen carefully to the language that is used to describe what is happening. It will give you an idea of their “spin” and their priorities. Look for the most neutral news outlets you can find.

Read, read and read some more. Understand history and how it repeats, especially when our leader looks with admiration upon the most abominable human being in recent history. We can recite the statistic that says six million Jews died in the death camps, and it is true. What is also true is that four million LGBTQ persons, those with mental limitations, Roma people, Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, Jehovah’s Witnesses, artists, writers and political opponents (like Dietrich Bonhoeffer) also died.

We do well to remember the words of Martin Niemoller:

“First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist.

            Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”

This is how I rewrite it for our time:

            First they came for the immigrants, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t an immigrant.

            Then they came for the journalists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a journalist.

            Then they came for the transgender and LGBQI community and I didn’t speak up because I was not a part of that community.

            Then they came for the liberal church, and I didn’t speak up because I was not a practicing Christian.

            Then they came for the poor, and I didn’t speak up because I can afford my groceries,

            Then they came for the chronically ill and removed their health care coverage, and I didn’t speak up because I can afford to pay for my health care.

            Then they came for me and everyone was so pissed that I didn’t speak up for them, they ignored my cries for help.

The truth is, we are all in this together. We need to use our voice and our privilege to speak for those who are systematically disempowered by the fascist regime that is firmly established in our country. There is still time, but it is running short. What will you be remembered for?

Unfit for Office

Pat Liberty

While one could reasonably argue that the entire administration of the occupant is unfit for office, the particular focus of this blog is the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr..

Historically this position has been held by a physician with a broad knowledge of public health. Kennedy is neither a physician nor does he have a grip on the complex issue of public health. Under his reign of error, we are seeing vaccine rates diminish. So far this has led to a measles outbreak in Texas. It is only a matter of time before we see other diseases previously eradicated make a comeback due to declining vaccination rates.

Currently there is a resolution in the Senate (S.Res.217) which expresses the sense of the Senate that Kennedy does not have the confidence of the Senate or the American people to faithfully carry out the duties of his office. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Kennedy said to Congress: “I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.” Well, no kidding.

Kennedy is overhauling the Department of Health and Human Services and slashing millions of dollars from its congressionally approved budget. This is part of the occupant’s war on science as key health agencies are being closed. The norms for scientific review of health data are being ignored, research agencies are being defunded and public health department funding is being slashed.

According to NPR, the US public health service started in the 1700’s when doctors cared for seamen who were sick or injured. Their work helped prevent the spread of yellow fever and smallpox in the 1800’s and led to research on sanitation as a way to prevent disease.

Around 1900 the federal government started making sure that the food and medicine Americans consume is safe. Both the public health corps and the food regulation organization operated independently until President Dwight Eisenhower created the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in 1953.

Today the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for Medicare and Medicaid and the marketplace for health insurance created by the Affordable Care Act. Under Kennedy’s errant guidance, the HHS budget is being slashed by $880 billion over the next ten years, most of it affecting Medicaid.

Medicaid is jointly financed by states and the federal government but administered by states within broad federal rules. Cuts to Medicaid at the federal level leave states with difficult questions about how to fund the gap.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a leading independent sources for health policy, research, polling and news, these cuts represent 29% of State Medicaid spending per resident, 6% of state taxes per resident and 19% of education spending per pupil. No matter how you do the math, the impact is profound.

What we can expect as Medicaid is slashed is poorer health outcomes for America’s most vulnerable populations, increased hospital admissions and increased mortality. The population hardest hit by Medicaid cuts will be the poor, who already have disproportionately higher mortality rates. Poverty is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Cuts to Medicaid and other social safety net programs assures that poverty will continue to claim more lives.

The mark of any civilized society is how well it cares for its most vulnerable members. With Kennedy at the helm, the poor are even more screwed than they already are.

Kennedy is unfit to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Contact your Senators today to encourage their support for S.Res.217 calling for Kennedy’s ouster.