Flawed Leaders Turn American Dream into a Nightmare

 By: Mildred Robertson

The streets of America run blood-red from the senseless slaughters occurring daily in the U.S. due to rampant, unchecked gun violence. Yet Congress continues to avoid its responsibility to institute sensible gun laws to ensure that citizens enjoy the promise of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness our constitution espouses.

What exactly do those words mean? The Founders seemed to believe that by a matter of birth, each of us is endowed with certain rights from the Creator; rights that the government is called to protect. We each are entitled to freedom under the law, as long as OUR freedom does not deny that same freedom to someone else. As the current U.S. Supreme Court looks backward to legislate on pressing issues of the day, they seem to have overlooked that simple fact.

 A religious scholar back in 1853 defined liberty as follows:

“True liberty consists in the security of persons and property, so that every man, while he respects the persons of others, and suffers them to enjoy in quietness the fruits of their industry, is certain that he himself will be permitted to enjoy the same blessings at the hands of his fellow-citizens… [T]o live in a state, where the laws are equal for all, where they are sure to be executed with moderation and fairness, is to be free. But that is a wretched servitude, call it by what name you will, — democracy or aristocracy, a republic or despotism – where the laws are partial, uncertain, fluctuating, and feebly and irregularly administered.” 

 

--Commentaries on the Laws of the Ancient Hebrews; E.C. Wines, 1853 edition, p. 364; published by George Putnam and Company.

Using that Rubicon, America is sorely off track regarding the protection of freedom for all its citizens. Today America suffers from “wretched servitude” to guns, racism, partisanship, religious intolerance, the thirst for power, and frankly, ignorance that denies many of us the liberty promised by our founding document. We are plagued by the rule of the few over the desires of the many. Our laws have become so convoluted as to somehow allow minority rule to overtake the entire system. This upside-down world has resulted in an erosion of individual freedom for people of color, women, and the average citizen. Today, we are not free to worship, shop, go to school, attend a concert or a club, or simply celebrate the 4^th of July without fear of being gun down by a Second Amendment advocate who is unhinged, hate-filled, or just wants to go down in infamy.   

Today our Democracy is a mirage…a dream. Whereas the Founders attempted to fashion a nation where each of us could expect to be treated with “moderation and fairness,” we find that Americans currently enjoy neither. Our laws are in fact, “partial, uncertain, fluctuating and feebly and irregularly administered.” From our local government to the highest court in the land, our freedoms are under attack. Whereas these entities were designed to ensure our freedom, they are slowly, methodically taking them away. We have not yet lost the idyllic promise of America, but we must awaken from the nightmare in order to stop the demise of freedom.

We have never fully realized the promise of equality, justice, and freedom the Constitution exemplified though we made some meaningful strides toward that dream.   Yet, in just one administration we almost lost it all. We must rise up and reclaim our promise. We must strive again to reach the potential the Founders held out for us. We must lay aside partisan bickering, and racial and class strife and seek a path where we all can prosper.

The majority of Americans want reasonable gun laws. Most of us support a woman’s right to choose. Collectively we want a police force that protects and serves, not one that kills and terrorizes. We want freedom of religion, but we do not want religion to rule our government. Most folks believe in the right to live alternative lifestyles, even if we don’t personally want to live that way. Your average American doesn’t believe that a civilian should have access to weapons of war. If we all stand together and say that, we could have the dream rather than the nightmare. However, in order for that to happen “most folks” are going to have to vote. We know that, historically, most folks don’t.

I implore each of you who have had sleepless nights over the senseless murders that plague our nation; who agonize over the 10-year-old rape victim forced to carry her rapist’s child; who is fuming over Supreme Court decisions or state gerrymandering, who is outraged by police brutality, JUST VOTE!

You personally cannot address these issues. But together, we can shout loud enough to wake America from its nightmare.

Your vote is your voice.

 Use It!

SCOTUS Turns America Into Real-Life Gilead

 By Mildred Robertson

We all knew it was coming from the day Mitch McConnell stole the first Supreme Court seat from Barack Obama. He and his cohorts relentlessly worked to pack as many ultra-conservative justices on the court as passive Democrats would allow. These well-groomed sycophants said just the right things to make the likes of Susan Collins and Joe Manchin publicly confirm that these nominees would honor prior Supreme Court decisions such as Roe v. Wade.

We all knew better. But, that didn’t make it any easier when it actually happened.

So as I approach the close of June 24, 2022, I do so with fewer rights than I had when I went to bed last night. Because today, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a ruling that had governed most of my life. They ended a ruling that said I had autonomy over my own body. It dragged me back to a time when my life could be regulated based on a menstrual cycle or the lack thereof. That is the reality of young women all over America today. The Court has stepped into their bedrooms; their doctor’s offices, their minister’s study, their mother’s kitchen, and removed their ability to make life-changing choices based upon decisions they arrive upon with the counsel of one, all, or none of those mentioned.

You see, pro-choice advocates seem to think young women take lightly the decision to end a pregnancy. But it is, in fact, an agonizing decision for most. There are factors too numerous to mention here that can complicate bringing an unplanned pregnancy to fruition. Obvious factors include rape and incest, the youth or health of the mother, marriage or partner complications, finances…and a myriad of other factors. The timing of an unplanned pregnancy can halt a woman’s climb up the corporate ladder. It can happen at a time when a budding entrepreneur just got her feet under her or just when a woman has lost her job. It can be a decision that changes the entire trajectory of her life, and therefore, it should be no one’s decision but her own.

I know the agony of the choice. You see, my second child was conceived while I was on the pill. I had a bad case of the flu and could keep nothing on my stomach, including my birth control pills. When I found out I was pregnant, we weren’t particularly thrilled, since we already had a child in diapers. But after the initial shock, we were both okay with it…until the ultrasound. It turns out that I had been carrying twins, but one sack was empty. The doctors said that meant that there was a defect that could possibly be present in the remaining embryo as well. He said that we could do an amino synthesis, but that could cause injury to the embryo; carry to term, and take our chances or we could abort. My husband and I cried, prayed, and finally made the decision to take our chances. It was a horrible six months. But we were lucky. God granted us a healthy baby boy. I share that story with you to show how private and intimate the decisions related to abortion are. It almost feels like you are spying on my private life, right? This is a space that should be shared only by those on the “invited” list. There is no time when the government is invited.

You do not know what challenges a couple or a single mother must face when making the decision to terminate a pregnancy. You do not know her circumstances, resources, or her mental health, all factors which will impact her ability to love and care for a child.

The final outcome of government interference in this private decision is an increase in children forced upon a system that already cannot handle the load. Having women serve as human incubators to “increase the domestic supply” of babies is among the most absurd reasons I have heard to date. It sounds like a line from Margaret Atwood’s “A Handmaid’s Tale.” Unfortunately, that is the position of at least one seated Supreme Court Justice.

In my situation, I made the choice that worked for me. I am glad that it was MY decision and my consequences. If someone else in the same position made a decision that was different than mine it would be just as valid as my own.

I think that is the point. Whether another person should abort or carry to term is a decision that I have neither the right to make nor the wisdom to judge. That’s a lesson that the SCOTUS and legislators around the nation should learn. We should help them learn that lesson on November 8^th by creating a “Blue Wave” that will wash away any hint of Gilead and return us to an America where women are free.

True American Patriots Should “Stand Back and Stand By”

 By Mildred Robertson

“Stand Back and Stand By” are the infamous words of the 45^th President of the United States that launched the most hideous attack on this nation since the Civil War. His clarion call to the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys was issued during the September 29, 2020, presidential debate. His command resonated throughout our politics over the past two years, and on January 6, 2021, culminated in an insurrection death, and destruction.  

His inappropriate use of the presidential bully pulpit resulted in an uprising that left as many as seven people dead, and numerous injured, including approximately 150 Capitol and Metropolitan police officers and other responders. In addition, hundreds of government workers, including the vice president of the United States were traumatized by the mob as they hunted them in the halls of the U.S. Capitol building. The mob threatened to hang Vice President Mike Pence and assassinate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, among others.  All this was based on the words of a twice impeached, morally corrupt, failed president who desperately sought to hold on to power in the waning hours of his presidency.

As we examine these infamous words, at first glance, they disgust and repel most loyal Americans. But in my view, these words can take on a life of their own, much as the derogatory “n-word” has done in the Black community. That contemptuous, evil word meant to offend has been co-opted by Blacks who have decided to own this insult, stripping it of its power and violence and designing it to be used by Blacks alone.  

I posit that this is the path Democrats and liberals should take with the phrase “Stand back and Stand By.” I suggest that we strip this phrase of its venom, hatred, and its call to negative action. We should, I believe replace it in the American psyche as a call to all Americans who love democracy to take up the true arms given to us by the Founding Fathers. I do not speak of Second Amendment armaments, but the one most powerful weapon we hold as Americans…our voice at the polls…our VOTE.

There is a historical understanding of the power of the vote that hearkens back to our Founding. Our country was conceived on the concept that American citizens had the right to a say in how they would be governed. The fledgling nation took up arms to make that point. Throughout our history, the struggle remains as to who is an American…and how each citizen that dwells on our soil can be so defined.

While many have fought and died to gain or hold on to that privilege—that right; many have become disillusioned and disengaged believing that it is too difficult or too pointless to participate in American politics. Many have fallen prey to the propaganda offered by opponents of freedom. Many have become discouraged at the constant political bickering; the constant polarization and unrest in our nation. And frankly, many are consumed by the challenges of daily living such as the high cost of living, healthcare challenges, and instability in the world caused by war and other worldwide challenges.

Some question how the simple act of casting a vote can have a meaningful impact on their day-to-day lives. But it is that simple act that has the power to exponentially change our current situation. Everyone who checks out on their responsibility to vote checks out on their ability to change their own circumstance.

We do not need flagpoles whittled into a spear. We do not need men and women dressed in armor or carrying hand ties to capture and kill our opponents. We do not need gallows to hang our adversaries. We do not even need to march in the streets. We just need to vote!

That is how we conquer the horde. Those who love democracy…those who believe in the promise of America for all who come to our shores…those who desire “A more perfect union,” should Stand Back and Stand By to cast their vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/us/politics/jan-6-capitol-deaths.html

http://www.blackbottomarchives.com/blackpapersocialjustice/on-non-black-people-saying-nigga

https://80000hours.org/articles/is-voting-important/

It is Long Past Time for Sensible Gun Regulation in America

 By Mildred Robertson

Like many love affairs, America’s infatuation with guns has yet again resulted in violence and death. NPR reported on May 15, 2022, that just five months into the year America had already experienced 198 mass shootings. That averages about 10 such attacks per week. The article came on the heels of a racially motivated mass shooting that took the lives of 10 people in a Buffalo, N.Y. supermarket. The massacre was touted as the deadliest mass shooting of the year in the U.S. according to the “Gun Violence Archive,” an independent data collection organization.  Unfortunately, The Buffalo shooter did not hold the title for long, because on May 24^th an 18-year-old suspect slaughtered at least 19 children and two adults in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Uvalde is about 85 miles west of San Antonio.

Republican and Democrat leaders all over America sent their thoughts and prayers to the victims of the latest bloodbath.  And then they took sides…one talking about the need to regulate weapons of mass destruction running rampant in America, while the other stubbornly clung to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, touting the philosophy that we need a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun. This is in face of the fact that in Buffalo an armed retired police officer lost his life putting that philosophy into practice. In Uvalde the local police had to call in SWAT to take out the reportedly armored, well-armed assailant. But not before he snuffed out the life of those nineteen children and the teachers who attempted to shield them with their own bodies.

The carnage in America outstrips that of any other civilized nation. The gun culture in America harkens back to this nation’s frontier history and revolutionary founding. At our inception, there was no federal army and little or no police force to provide security for isolated pioneers, so they were responsible for their own protection. The revered Second Amendment upon which the gun culture mythology is built states simply: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." At that time, the primary weapon used was a musket.

While the U.S. has the means to provide security to this nation’s citizens through the military, national guard, and state and local police, Americans continue to cling to the idea that they must take up personal arms to protect themselves. This has resulted in a higher population of weapons than people in the U.S. American citizens own about 400 million firearms, according to a 2018 survey conducted by the nonpartisan Small Arms Survey, and the U.S. population numbers approximately 331 million people.

The proliferation of guns has, in fact, made citizens less safe. We have become so accustomed to gun violence that at least 42 states require schools to conduct lockdown drills to prepare for possible active shooter incidents. Every day in America, more than 100 Americans are killed through gun violence. Another 200 are shot and wounded.  Many citizens witness this carnage and live in fear of it. Research indicates that access to a gun doubles the risk of death by homicide. Firearms are the leading cause of death among American youth. Women in the U.S. are 28 times more likely to be killed by a firearm than in other high-income countries. A national “Violence against Women” survey indicates that “Nearly one million women alive today have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner, and approximately 3.7 million American women alive today have been threatened with a gun by an intimate partner.”

Many who embrace the gun culture say that their weapons are primarily for hunting. Yet the sale of semiautomatic handguns outstrips that of rifles that are commonly used for hunting. An AR-15 would not be useful on a hunt…unless you are hunting humans. According to reports, the Uvalde shooter had a handgun, assault rifles, and high-capacity magazines which allowed him to fire multiple bullets quickly. This firepower allowed him to snuff out the life of innocent children and those trying to protect them. He reportedly bought the two assault rifles days after his 18^th birthday.

And so, here we are again; sending up our thoughts and prayers for the slaughtered. But that is not enough. After we pray, we need to get up off our knees and DO SOMETHING.

We seem to agree that the carnage must be stopped, but we cannot get those in power to take action to enact sensible gun control legislation. At least not those currently in control. We are midway through the primary season, with the general election just six months away. I implore those of you who believe that gun rights in America need to be overhauled to let candidates know that a proliferation of guns owned by civilians and permissive gun regulations is not in the best interest of this nation. If they will not hear you…vote for someone who will.

_________

1.        https://everytownresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/05/GVIA-CDC-Update-122221B-02-1024x1024.png

2.        Everytown Research & Policy Gun Violence in America, 5.19.2020; Last Updated: 1.26.2022

3.        Gun culture in the United States, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

4.       https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/24/us/uvalde-texas-elementary-school-shooting/index.html.

Increased Early Voting in NC Battleground State

By Mildred Robertson

We say this, it seems, every election cycle, but this primary election vote may be the most consequential ballot that a voter casts in his or her lifetime. Almost 250,000 North Carolinians appear to think so too, as they cast their ballots in the NC Primary Early Voting which ended Saturday, May 14 at 3 p.m. Primary voters will decide who will vie for the open Senate seat vacated by Republican Senator Thom Tillis on Election Day, May 17.

A number of local races across the state will also be decided, along with some mayoral and city council seats in Charlotte and Greensboro which were delayed last year due to redistricting.  Tillis’ departure casts North Carolina among the nation’s mid-term battleground states and provides an opportunity for Democrats to take the seat.

In 2020 Tillis only defeated challenger Cal Cunningham (D) by 1.8 percentage points. The most recent presidential election was decided by less than 1.3 percentage points solidifying North Carolina’s status as a purple state. The balance of power in Washington D.C. may well depend on who North Carolinians choose to represent them in November.

While the election features several contentious races that have drawn national interest, a recent Spectrum News/IPSOS poll found the top issues for North Carolina voters are inflation and rising costs for housing. Nevertheless, media has focused on the more controversial aspects of the race with national characters weighing in. Former President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Ted Budd who is seen as the Republican front-runner for the open Senate seat, closely followed by former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCory. Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley is the presumptive Democratic nominee, leaving most of the action on the GOP side. Also competing for the GOP nomination are former Rep. Mark Walker and U.S. Army combat veteran Marjorie Eastman.

Other controversial primaries include that of Madison Cawthon (R) in North Carolina’s 11^th Congressional District, whom Trump has endorsed. Cawthorn is facing stiff competition from the GOP establishment and the America First wing of the party.

On the Democratic side, in the 4th Congressional District, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam is up against state Sen. Valerie Foushee and former American Idol star Clay Aiken. Allam, who is endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), represents the Progressive wing of the party while Foushee is seen as a more establishment candidate. The 4th District includes Alamance, Orange, Durham, Person and Granville counties. The seat, vacated by Rep David Price (D), is considered a blue district, and the winner of the Democratic primary will likely win in the November General Election.

While the early voting numbers may at first glance appear anemic, they outstrip 2018 by close to 20,000 votes. Democratic ballots cast thus far slightly outstrip Republicans 124,000 to 122,000. More Democrats have mailed in ballots as well, according to the elections board.  

In each of these high-profile primaries, if no candidate gets more than 30% of the vote the races would go to runoff elections on July 26.

This is a lot of information to take in. But America faces unprecedented challenges. It is important that we be informed and that we participate despite shallow media coverage.

Elections matter. Whether your concern is inflation, housing costs, women’s rights, affirmative action, or the balance on the Supreme Court, your voice needs to be heard. If you did not vote in this year’s primary election, you still have a chance to speak up.

Here in North Carolina, your vote may change the nation’s trajectory. Prepare yourself. Ask questions. Get informed, and then cast your ballot on November 8, 2022.

Policing Black Bodies Still a Lethal Business

 By: Mildred, Robertson

So, the police have killed yet another unarmed black man for an administrative infraction. Patrick Lyoya, 26, was killed outside a house in Grand Rapids, Michigan after a traffic stop for driving with a license plate that did not match the vehicle. Video shows Lyoya running from the officer and then struggling with him while an onlooker taped the interaction. We see the actual murder on video shot by that onlooker because the officer's videocam mysteriously ceased to function. 

Of course, there will be discussions about the victim's behavior. He should not have run. He should not have "allegedly" grabbed the officer's taser. Both of these statements may well be true, but they do not justify a death penalty. Other narratives suggest the officer shot Lyoya because he was afraid. If an officer is too afraid to carry out his or her duty in a legal manner that does not endanger the public then he or she should not be afforded the shield or the power that accompanies it. 

Not only did the officer kill Lyoya, but he did so while the victim was face down on the ground. He did so with a shot to the back of Lyoya's head. 

The officer, who as yet is unidentified, could have made better decisions. He could have refrained from placing his hands on Lyoya when he first interacted with him. He could have called for backup when  Lyoya ran. He could have continued to subdue him without lethal force. But his first instinct was a kill shot to the back of the head. That is an officer I would not wish to patrol in my neighborhood. That is an officer with whom I do not wish to come into contact. 

I am a 69-year-old black woman. I don't speed. I don't carry a weapon. I don't have drugs in my car. I don't commit crimes. But when I look in my rear-view mirror and see a police car behind me, it is somewhat unnerving. That should not be the case. There is something wrong when average black folks have to be wary of someone who should actually be there to protect and serve. 

Don't get me wrong. I believe we need GOOD police. I even believe that most of them are. But in policing, it is just like a box of chocolates...you never know what you are going to get. I don't believe in "defunding" the police. I think that is a misnomer. We need to "repurpose" the police and fund the ancillary services necessary that would allow us NOT to dispatch a gun-totting Rambo to every traffic stop or family squabble.

Policing in America needs to be fixed.  It needs to be fixed now! The debate about what to call it is asinine. Police who have little care for the black and brown bodies they patrol must be ferreted out of the force. Those officers who really do wish to "protect and serve," should receive adequate training and appropriate funding to do their jobs. Our police forces need to be demilitarized. They should be peacekeepers, not warriors. Until that is accomplished, none of us are safe...not even peaceful, 69-year-old black women. 

You Can Defeat Voter Suppression

 By Mildred Robertson

Many citizens across this nation are gearing up for the 2022 primary election. They will make their way to the polls this summer to narrow the field and choose who will represent their respective parties in the November general election. As the most consequential election in the life of our democracy rapidly approaches, I wonder just how many voters are prepared to do the work necessary to maintain our freedom.

Although America touts itself as the world’s premier democracy, you might be surprised to learn that there are many democracies around the world with a higher percentage of registered voters than the U.S.  According to a 2021 report by the leadership Conference on Human Rights, only 64 percent of the U.S. voting-age population is registered to vote. That compared to 90 percent of the voting-age population in the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, and Slovakia.

Low voter participation in the United States is no accident. Even at its inception, only landed white men were allowed the privilege to vote. The evolution of voting rights eventually extended to most U.S. citizens, but the process remains cumbersome and controlled by states which institute their own voting regulations. This decentralized process puts an undue amount of stress on individual voters, as they must maintain their status from state to state and municipality to municipality. In addition to being confusing, this process allows states the flexibility to manipulate voting rules and regulations to maintain the status quo.

It seems, with the browning of America that is exactly what is happening.  Many White Americans fear losing control of a nation built on the backs of black and brown people who were shipped in as slaves, or who crossed the Southwestern border. While the labor provided by these voluntary and involuntary immigrants helped to build the foundation of this great nation, many wish to deny these individuals the benefit of full citizenship offered to Europeans who came here looking for a better life.

There is no better illustration of the threat perceived by conservatives than to examine the 2020 election. Joe Biden won the election by building a majority coalition of progressives that included Blacks, Latinos, and other minorities. This coalition ensured Biden’s win and narrowly empowered Democrats in the House and Senate. This victory caused a backlash across the nation as conservative Republican-led legislatures around the country began to plot ways to disenfranchise minorities and hold on to political power.

All efforts to make voting universally accessible to qualified voters seem to be under attack. Tactics range from gerrymandering, eliminating mail-in voting and drop-boxes, voter purges, and restrictive voter identification laws, to reducing the number of voting sites and limiting early voting. These tactics are targeted to negatively impact minority voters. 

However, these tactics can’t work if U.S. citizens determine that the right to vote is more powerful than the obstacles that stand between them and the ballot box. It is a path our ancestors took; estimating the number of Jelly Beans in a jar, paying poll taxes, and withstanding physical violence. Can we do any less?

While the all-out attack on minority voting this election cycle is substantial, voters don’t have to fall prey to the attacks. Despite the conservative effort to deny the vote to every citizen, if each of us takes personal responsibility, it is an obstacle we can overcome. We must prepare to ensure that we cast our ballot in both the primary and general elections.

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS

If you are registered, check your status to ensure that your name has not been purged from the voter registration rolls.

• If you are not registered, log on to your local county board of elections website to find out how, when, and where you can register.
• Know the dates and registration deadlines for the 2022 primary and general elections.
• Request a sample ballot from your county board of elections so you are familiar with candidates running in your precinct.
• Research candidates and ballot issues so you can make an informed decision.
• Vote on all municipal candidates…they are the ones that affect your day-to-day life.        
• Identify your polling place, drop-box, or early voting sites.
• Have a plan for in-person voting; i.e., comfortable clothes, seating if necessary, water & snacks.
• Plan to stay, no matter how long it takes.

If we fail to meet the challenge in 2022, we may never have the opportunity again. Democracy as we know it may well become extinct in America. So I urge every citizen to pledge to be committed to casting a vote that will count in 2022. It may be your last opportunity to participate in a free and fair election.