Doug Dillon's Blog

Enough is enough! The continuing stench of corruption, mismanagement and horrific power plays emanating from Washington DC call for immediate, constant, and unrelenting ANTI TRUMP ACTION. We Americans who oppose Donald Trump, and his sickening suck-up entourage, have absolutely got to join forces to contain and then defeat the evil menace that threatens our very way of life. God help us and the world if this doesn’t happen.

The Founders Declaration

      

A Little History Here

This point in time in the United States calls to mind when the founders of this country signed the Declaration of Independence. Those brave people back then in 1776 knew, without a doubt, that in order for critical change to happen, they had to risk everything. They made this very clear at the end of that document as follows (Take note – the capitalized words are the original spelling):

“. . . we mutually pledge to each other our Lives,

our Fortunes and

our sacred Honor.”

          Perhaps you are already involved in Anti Trump Action, and if so, that’s fantastic! But if you have yet to make that commitment, and still feel you need to “Do Something”, then take a few minutes to review the following list of links to key organizations that could definitely use your involvemnt. Volunteer opportunities abound, and together we can truly make a difference. That’s where we can join hands and hearts with like-minded people, unleashing a tidal wave of dedicated HONORABLE RESISTERS.

Like then, like now

What it Once Took and What it Takes Now 

Those founders of old were trying to build a nation. Our task, however, is to save the incredible sovereign state that they created by taking Anti Trump Action, now. Does that mean we too must pledge our Lives, Fortunes and sacred Honor to complete this task? Good question, one that shall be left hanging here for your consideration. But, at the very least, we can rearrange our already busy lives and strain our resources to stop this fascist takeover of our government. And if we don’t, well, the alternative is ALMOST unthinkable.

It’s happened before and it is happening now.History is repeating itself, but in the
United States of America.

Here’s the list of Organizations to Help With Your ANTI TRUMP ACTION.

ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)

ADA (Americans for Democratic Action)

Advocates for Trans Equality

Americans for Immigrant Justice

We are not alone.

Center for American Democracy(Dedicated to improvingthe lives of all Americans through bold, progressives ideas, strong leadership and concerted action.)

Common Cause (Defending and Strengthening America Democracy)

Democratic State Parties

Democratic Local Parties (Search online for Democratic Party Near Me)

An urgent SOS

Emily’s List (Working to elect Democratic Pro-Choice Women to Fight for Our Rights and Communities)

Human Rights Campaign (LBGTQ+ support)

Indivisible (Resisting Trump’s Agenda)

League of Women Voters (A Nonpartisan, Grassroots Organization Working to Protect and Expand Voting Rights and Ensure Everyone is Represented in Our Democracy)

Lincoln Project (Pro-Democracy Coalition of Grassroots Supporters and Organizations Dedicated to Defending our Democracy from the Trumpist Authoritarian Movement)

MoveOn.Org (Force for Social Justice and Political Progress)

NAACP (Working for Equity, Political Rights, and Social Justice of Black People and All Person of Color)

ORAM (Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Immigration: LGBTIQ Focus)

Pen America (Encouraging literacy, protecting free expression and human rights)

People for the American Way (Resisting fascism every day)

Planned Parenthood (Birth control, healthy relationships, identity issues and more)

Republican Voters Against Trump (Creating anti Trump billboards and publishing testimonials from those who have voted for Trump and now regret it.)

Run for Office (Our democracy depends upon citizens deeply engaging in the democratic process and choosing to lead by running for office.)

Keep her standing strong in this storm.

Running for Political Office Yourself (See “Articles and Videos” lists below)

Run For Something (Recruiting and Supporting Young Progressives)

Southern Poeverty Law Center (Fighting for Racial Justice Issues)

Supporting valued Local Government Officials and Policies: Legislators, County Commissioners, School Board Members, Boards of Trustees for Public Libraries, etc. (See “Articles and Videos” lists below.

Swing Left (Helping Win Elections for Democrats)

Transgender Law Center

Young Center: (For Immigrant Children’s Rights

An unholy alliance

Sad but so very true.

Related Articles

A Nascent Backlash Against Musk Sharpens Risk for Trump and GOP. (CNN)

Anti-Trump Forces Build a Network to Aid Targets of the Incoming Administration. (NBC)

Anti-Trump Summit’s Message to Attendees: The Backlash Is Coming (Time)

Here Are 26 Organizations Fighting Donald Trump That You Can Donate To (The Advocate.com)

Here’s How Democrats Should Fight Back Against Trump (The Guardian)

How to Organize Our Way Out of the Trump-Musk Putsch (The Nation)

Lessons for the Resistance 2.0 on How to Fight Back Against Trump (The Guardian)

List of Political Action Committees (Wikipedia)

 Organizations Fighting Donald Trump You Can Donate To (The Advocate.com)

 Protesters Across the US Rally Against Trump Administration Policies (ABC)

The Donald Trump Resistance Is Ready for When Democrats Are Done Grieving (USA Today)

Trump Backlash Drives Record Wave of First-Time Interest in Running for Office (MSNBC)

Trump is Carrying out Project 2025. Here’s How We Democrats are Fighting Back (MSNBC)

What Does It Mean to Resist Trump in 2025? (The New Yorker)

3 Ways to Get Involved in Local Government (She Should Run.com)

The face of a dangerous child oligarch

VIDEOS

Americans Protest Against Donald Trump and Project 2025 (Youtube)

Pro-Ukraine Rallies Held Across US After Trump-Zelenskyy Clash (The Guardian)

Really Empowering’: Anti-Trump Protesters Rally Against Project 2025 (Youtube)

What did Donald Trump say in his address to US Congress? (BBC)

Can it be any clarer than this?

The post Anti Trump Action: All of Us Together appeared first on Doug Dillon.

A Time of Remembrance

On a cold, wet and windy day, 93+ people gathered to shine a spotlight on the Georgia Indian Removal. It was in November, shortly before the U.S. Presidential Election of 2024. And for just a while, this crowd was able to leave the rancor of that event behind in order to pay tribute to Native Americans of the region who were so horribly wronged long ago.

Representatives of the Daughters of the American RevolutionDAR Regent Helen Robertson Powell

Sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), those participants shivered on a mountain top in northern Georgia under fog shrouded trees. As a result, they recalled what it must have been like for those indigenous people back in the winter of 1838. Those were the days of the Georgia Indian Removal. That sad event was part of a regional 1830s “Ethnic Cleansing” in the southeastern United States known as the “Trail of Tears.”

The Trail of Tears

During that larger, unspeakable action, US soldiers and state militias ripped 60,000 people, or more, from their homes, men and women of all ages, as well as children. In excess of 13,000 died during their inhumane march to exile in Oklahoma.

Steve Stone’s marble monument to the Trail of TearsEtched in Stone

The focal point for this DAR remembrance was an 8 by 5 foot, 5,000 pound marble monument to the “Trail of Tears.” Created by local sculptor from Marble Hill, Georgia, Steve Stone, it was truly a spiritual creation in a way. Steve’s many times great grandmother known as “Little Flower”, was one of the unwilling participants who survived that forced migration, the Georgia Indian Removal. For a more complete story about this sculptor’s life and work, see the first link at the end of this article.

Sculptor, Steve Stone

Steve completed the sculpture in 2020 as a personal project and then worked diligently to have it set in a place of honor. Eventually, he was able to have it installed on Mt. Oglethorpe at Eagle’s Rest Park, Jasper, Georgia . Unfortunately, his hopes for a commemoration of the Georgia Indian Removal were dashed by the COVID epidemic. It wasn’t until the DAR got involved that this finally happened in 2024.

What a Difference the Years Make

The DAR sponsors of this event were joined by members of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Children of the American Revolution (CAR). And in an ironic twist, SAR Revolutionary War reenactors fired a musket salute to those Native Americans who were so savagely uprooted by members of the United States Army during the Georgia Indian Removal.

Reenactors from the Sons of the American Revolution firing their salute to the
Georgia Indian Removal victims.An Idea Comes to FruitionLibby Lively, foreground, white shoes

Front: Dale Yount
Rear: Suzanne Hartman, local Sequoyah Chapter Regent

As often happens when such meaningful events as this DAR recognition takes place, its local origins are traced back to two members, Dale Yount and Libby Lively. Dale, who knew the sculptor, Steve Stone, and was aware of his monument, came up with the idea. She then enlisted the help of the Historical Preservation Committee Chair for her local Sequoyah Chapter of the Georgia DAR, Libby.

After that, these two dedicated, industrious ladies did the research and wrote the proposal needed to get the full DAR support necessary in making this mountain top commemoration of the Georgia Indian Removal possible.

One of the two benches created by Steve Stone with its DAR plaque.

As a result of all those efforts, the DAR involvement included having Steve Stone create two marble benches at the monument site. In this way, people would be able to sit and reflect on the Geogia Indian Removal. And so, to each bench, the DAR added the inscribed metal plaque pictured below. This recognition and commemoration was a long time coming, but it finally arrived.

The DAR inscription on each bench plaque

The monument, alone, but still radiating its history

NOTE: All photos for this article were generously contributed by the DAR except for the one above and the closeup of Steve Stone’s sculpture.

For Further Information see links below:

Georgia Indian Removal Project

Georgia Trail of Tears Association

DAR Georgia State Society

“DAR Holds Ceremony Honoring Indigenous People of Georgia.” (Pickens County Progress Nov. 7, 2024. See page 22)

DAR Sequoyah Chapter, Jasper, Georgia

Family Search: Georgia Indigenous Peoples

How the Brutal Trail of Tears Got Its Name (Smithsonian video 2:44)

Muscogee (Creek) Nation 

Museum of the Cherokee People

National Historic Trail Museum of the Cherokee Indian

National Park Service: Trail of Tears

National Trail of Tears Assocition

Sculptor Creates Trail of Tears Memorial piece for Georgia park (Eastern Band of Cherokee newsletter)

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma

Trail of Tears Memorial Update: Mt. Oglethorpe Foundation (Video)

The post The Georgia Indian Removal Issue: A DAR Recognition appeared first on Doug Dillon.

Like the 32nd U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vice President Kamala Harris is America’s current Happy Warrior. That smile you see, that wonderful laugh, that’s the positive joy of great leadership so badly needed in this country.

FDR, our former Happy Warrior

Kamala Harris’ smile and laughter are twin beacons of her humanity telling us she has our best interests at heart. That Happy Warrior outlook is the face of absolute commitment to preserving and improving the American way of life as President, instead of tearing it apart.

The choice in this upcoming election is so stark, so startling and so incredibly important: Vice President Kamala Harris, the Happy Warrior, or what you see below?

The face of weird destruction

If this article rings a bell for you, help us all out by sharing this link far and wide. Seriously, you know the drill. The more we communicate with others about such vital information, the more we build a wave of TRUTH that will inundate the opposition.

Most importantly, are you registered to vote? Have you given up on voting? Our freedom, our constitution and our very way of life are all threatened now like no time in history. Your vote and your involvement in this election are unbelievably crucial. Be a Happy Warrior yourself!

For more about Vice President Kamala Harris and her smile/laugh vs Donald Trump, see the links below:

Kamala Harris’s Laugh is a Campaign Issue: Out Comedy Critic Weighs in. (New York Times, July 28, 2024)

“Say it to My Face’:Kamala Harris Fights Back with Humor (U.S. News and World Report, July 31, 2024)

VP Kamala Harris Explain Why She Laughs Loud: ‘O have My Mother’s Laugh’

Kamala Harris’ Smile (Psychology Today, January 29, 2019)

100 Trump Words to Describe Him and His Presidency?

The post Kamala Harris: The Nation’s Happy Warrior appeared first on Doug Dillon.

When COVID hit last March, my wife, Barbara and I, like a lot of older people with health conditions, pretty much isolated ourselves in our home here in Central Florida. That isolation included separating from our daughter, her husband, and our granddaughter, as well as our son, who all live in nearby communities. But, recently, Barb and I began working with our children to see if we could possibly create a COVID bubble plan that might allow us all to safely visit in at least a little freer atmosphere.

Those family members get more exposed to the world than we do, to varying degrees, but use masks, carefully social distance, and work hard to avoid unmasked people, especially indoors. And, thankfully, they have remained free of this horrible illness. But, with the rising infection rate all over the country, making our COVID bubble plan a safe one was quite a challenge.

Doug and Barb Dillon in happier days before COVID

Up to this point, we had gotten together occasionally, but outside, masked, and social distanced of at least 6 feet. Or if we wanted to share a meal, we did it outside, and unmasked, but at a much great distance from each other.  Unsatisfactory, for sure, but better than nothing. However, with winter on the way, even here in Florida, it can get much too cold for extended outdoor visits. So, using our existing outdoor visiting structure as a floor for our COVID bubble plan, we set to work.

Of course, we did all kinds of online research. In fact, at the end of this article, you will see links to the information I found. And once we collected all that data, we did a lot of talking on the phone. And talking. And talking. All those conversations went on and on and we got so confused, we just keep going in circles. It got very difficult and we wondered if we could ever come up with a safe COVID bubble plan.

The Dillon family burns up the cell towers

Finally, we determined we had enough knowledge that we could put some of that down in writing in the form of questions that we all would have to answer about what we might be able to safely tolerate in visiting each other’s homes: quick, simply stated questions requiring only yes/no/maybe responses. And if we could agree on those things, only THEN could we actually create a COVID bubble plan. And, amazingly, it worked.

It was my son-in-law who finally came up with the basic questions and a format for allowing us as a family to respond before attempting to make an actual COVID bubble plan. The result was two questionnaires, one focusing on family gatherings and the other on behaviors and activities that we engage in that some of us might view, even the slightest bit, as COVID risky. That last one was mainly for Barb and me, looking at our daughter, her family, and our son, because they are more “out there” in the world than we are.

Just a couple of checklists in a simple, user friendy format

The results, once we compiled them, then gave my daughter a solid basis to create that illusive COVID bubble plan and she did. Yes, it still took a good bit of work and some more conversation, but with the agreed upon “tolerance guidelines,” we didn’t get all bogged down in endless talking like we had before. And the results are tailer made just for our family, based on our COVID understanding and tolerance levels. Everyone had to agree on each item and if anyone disagreed, that item was thrown out, recognizing that it took unanimous approval to make the thing work.

I’m not going to tell you what our final plan was because that is not the point of this article. I will say that we didn’t change a lot of our previous behaviors because we felt that going too far afield from them woulldn’t be safe. What I will share with you are the two questionnaires. But, keep in mind that some of those questions were sturctured to fit just one family member. Even so, we hope they might at least be a starting point for you in case you might want to create your own COVID bubble plan.

Click here to see our COVID Questionnaires.

We aren’t doctors or researchers and we make no claims that what we came up with has value beyond our own little group, but they just might. Those two documents were created in Microsoft Word using the “table” format for easy viewing and changing. So, do your own research, scrutinize our questions, see if the formats make sense, make changes to your hearts content and print them up for your family. How very much we hope this will assist you in developing your own COVID bubble plan.

I would love to hear about how our little effort was of benefit to you, or not. So, feel free to use the comment link below, either to tell me how things went or ask a question.

For Further Reading

“Coronavirus: How to keep grandparents in social bubble as kids go back to school.” September 2020.  (Global News Canada) “COVID-19 Social Bubbles.” September 2020. (State of Indiana) “Creating bubbles that work for families and kids.” June 2020. (MIT Medical) “Frequently Asked Questions on Social Bubbling.” October 2020. (Marin County Health and Human Services, CA) “How To Avoid Bursting Your Social ‘Bubble’ During The Coronavirus Pandemic.”  July 2020.(Forbes) “How to bubble: A guide to forming your COVID-19 social circle.” September 2020.(CBC News Toronto, Canada) “How to form a COVID-19 social bubble.” June 2020. (ABC News) “Making a support bubble with another household.”  September 2020.(UK Government) “Quarantine bubbles – when done right – limit coronavirus risk and help fight loneliness.” June 2020. (PBS Newshour) “Support bubbles: How do they work and who is in yours?” October 2020. (BBC, UK) “Strategy Can Help During COVID-19: Here’s How to Do It Properly.” June 2020. (Healthline Media, San Francisco and NYC) “Sorry to burst your COVID-19 ‘social bubble’ but even small gatherings are getting riskier.” September 2020. (CBC, Canada) What are ‘Bubble Families’ in the Coronavirus Pandemic?” June 2020. (Parentology, Canada)  “What’s a Social Bubble?” June 2020. (Marin County Healt and Human Services, CA) “Why You Need to Shrink Your Covid Social Bubble Right Now.” October 2020. (Parentology, Canada) “Why the Idea of Social Bubble Might Need to be Reevaluated.” August 2020. (CBC Radio, Ottowa, Canada) “Your winter COVID bubble: How can you decide who’s in, who’s out?”  September 2020. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis)

The post Creating a SAFE Family COVID Bubble Plan appeared first on .

The wonderful picture above was taken in the depth of the Jim Crow era. The date, sometime in 1906 and the location was the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. And yet, somehow, despite living under the crushing legal and cultural racism of that time, the beautiful faces and physical stances of those three youngsters speak of youthful joy and hope for the future.  And without a doubt, if those children were asked under trusted conditions, they would have immediately said, “What’s the matter with you? Hell yes, Black Lives Matter.”

Fast forward 52 years to 1964 and sadly, racial equality in St. Augustine, as in much of the South, had changed little. But having reached their limits of patience, local African Americans, and the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. protested this lack of movement and were met with viscious white violence. In the end, though, those efforts by Dr. King, and many others, led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Black Lives Matter. A great start.

Dr. King being arrested in St. Augustine

Eventually, in 2011, the City of St. Augustine took a momentous step of recognition and reconciliation by establishing a monument honoring those local heroes who protested inequality during the 1960s and who helped make the Civil Rights Act possible. Known as the St. Augustine Foot Soldiers, that monument was placed in the city’s central plaza. Black Lives Matter. Getting there.

The Foot Soldiers monument

Thing is, though, another monument existed in that same plaza in direct contradiction to the one honoring the civil rights Foot Soldiers. Established in 1872, the older and much taller monument honored Confederate Soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War. Something had to give and it did during the summer of 2020 after the historic Black Lives Matter protests erupted across the nation and the world. And, much to their credit, the St. Augustine City Council voted 3-2 to have the Confederate monument removed from the plaza and placed somewhere else. Black Lives Matter, but only only 3-2.

The Confederate monument

And so, we say goodbye to those exuberant youngsters from the past. But in departing, let us ever remember them as symbols of how enduring and critically important is the term, “Black Lives Matter.” There is so much more yet to do. Keep up the good fight.

In front of the Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida, 1906

For further reading

City unveils Foot Soldiers monument

Dr. Martin King, Jr. in St. Augustine

End Entrenched Racist Policing Now

Florida Frontiers “St. Augustine Foot Soldiers”

Oldest City to Relocate Confederate Memorial

Racism in St. Augustine: not just a thing of the past

St. Augustine commissioners vote to remove Confederate monument

The post Black Lives Matter: St. Augustine, Florida 1906 Onward appeared first on .

Incredibly, our state governor refuses to protect the people he has sworn to serve and is willing to allow the spread of COVID-19 beyond our borders. Ron DeSantis endangers Florida and is making it the primary hot-spot for the virus in the United States.

Enough is enough! The man’s decision making on this issue has been flawed from the start when he refused to stop the annual migration of spring breakers to our beaches. Now, DeSantis endangers Florida by refusing to mandate face masks in public places and is trying his best to force children and teachers back into our public schools without adequate safety measures.

Face masks are crucial in preventing the spread of COVID-19

As of today, July 9, 2020, Florida has in excess of 232,000 COVID cases, over 4,000 people have died and the rate of infection per day is trending towards an average of 10,000 and rising. 43 of our hospitals in 21 counties have reached capacity loads with no more ICU beds available.

DeSantis endangers Florida by refusing to recognize these dire circumstances, hiding crucial health data and abandoning his responsibility for it all. Instead, Ron DeSantis continues to emulate the completely discredited actions and words of his role-model, President Donald Trump.

Even Trump enabler, Senate leader Mitch McConnell advocates using a face mask.

With Floridians increasingly sickening and dying, each day as summer progresses means that we will inevitably share the virus with those who visit our state. And, of course, they in turn will share it not only throughout the United States but much of the world as well. Ron DeSantis endangers Florida and beyond and must be brought to his senses. And here’s where you come in.

Whether you are a Floridian or not, you and those you hold dear could well be impacted by what is happening in this state. Please, contact the governor and at the very least forcefully remind him that a mandatory mask wearing law is crucial for the safety of all. Medical science proves that mask wearing can greatly reduce the infection rate and is denied at our peril. Perhaps if our governor makes these changes, then we would no longer have to say, “DeSantis endangers Florida and beyond.”

Here is the contact information. And to increase the impact, multiple contacts can really make a difference. Also, if you would share this article with other like-minded people and suggest that they too take action, you could multiply our efforts greatly. Thanks.

email: [email protected]

Snail Mail: Governor Ron DeSantis, 400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Phone: (850) 717-9337

And here is further information for your consideration:

As DeSantis Stumbles, Will Florida’s Skyrocketing Coronavirus Cases Sink Trump?

DeSantis: COVID was more prevalent than state admitted

Fact-checking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ claims that coronavirus cases have stabilized in his state

Florida Coronavirus Map and Case Count

Florida Coronavirus Statistics: July 9, 2020

Florida needs an executive order requiring wearing of face masks

Florida still not reporting how many hospitalized with COVID. DeSantis won’t say why.

No Florida mask mandate: DeSantis trusting people to ‘make good decisions’ as coronavirus cases spike

100 Words Describing Trump’s Leadership (And those who support him)

 

The post DeSantis Endangers Florida Population and Beyond appeared first on Doug Dillon.

Racist policing, whether it emanates from a cop on the beat, a police chief, a police union official, an FBI agent or the President of the United States, must be torn from our society by its festering roots, now.

The horrible, unforgivable death of George Floyd in Minneapolis is sadly only a current and very explicit example of such crimes perpetrated on the African American community, and other minorities, even before the founding of the United States of America. Justice, true, everlasting justice in this arena is long overdue and must result in an end to racist policing.

The following video includes graphic violence.

Indeed, the fish does rot from the head and Donald Trump’s own racist policing and authoritarian administration show exactly that. His threats to use federal troops to dominate protest throughout the United States is unconscionable and most likely illegal. And, his cold-hearted use of force against peaceful protesters right outside of the White House, just so he could have a photo op, is one of the most vile actions ever taken by a sitting president of the United States.

Whether at the federal, state or local levels, We the People of the United States can rise up and cleanse the stench of racist policing from our country starting now. This is the turning point, the fulcrum upon which we can leverage the beginning of a new era if we will only seize it. But, we don’t do it by employing violence, destruction and theft, nor should we allow others to engage in any if that if at all possible.

Preamble to the Constitution

What we can do initially is to keep up the pressure on problematic authorities in the area of racist policing while maintaining a watch on those that seem to be doing well and giving them reasonable recognition. Pressure in the form of protesting, confronting and continuously speaking truth to power are an absolute must. But finding and supporting good candidates for pollical office are just as crucial, and even more so, in order to make lasting change. So please, please avail yourself of those opportunities as we move towards the crucial election coming up in November.

In the following video, the Bishop of the church Donald Trump used for his photo op after ordering peaceful protesters attacked speaks out on that event.

There is hope out there, candidates and other people who could run for office and who could also put a lasting end to racist policing. Find them. Encourage them. Support them. Question them. And hold their feet to the fire.  And even if they are not quite as perfect as you would like to see, they have to be better than any of those  problem individuals already in positions of power.

And if you don’t believe there is a difference in candidates or people who might run for office, think again. Just look at the differences between Donald Trump and Joe Biden at this point in history.

Whether you like Biden or the Democrats isn’t the point here. The point is to compare those two, and others, with regard to their stances on racist policing just for starters. And then look at their values. basic philosophies of life, capacities for empathy and their overall moral authority. To help you give consideration to that point, below is Biden’s speech he gave on June 2, the day after Donald Trump had police forces attack peaceful demonstrators with tear gas, flash-bangs and rubber bullets. The contrast between the two cannot be more stark and instructive.

The path ahead is hard but well worth the effort. Good luck.

For Further Information

Racist policing

National black law enforcement group slams alleged racism in St. Louis police department (ABC News)

 

When keepers of the peace harbor hate (Christian Science Monitor)

The Donald Trump Administration

100 Words Describing What Trump’s Administration is Not?

100 Trump Words to Describe Him and His Presidency?

 

 

The post End Entrenched Racist Policing in the U.S. Now! appeared first on Doug Dillon.

During this most difficult time of the Coronavirus pandemic, I have been keeping myself busy by teaching my 5-year-old granddaughter about geography on my iPhone via FaceTime. She and her parents only live 15 miles away but, we haven’t been able to maintain our close relationship in person for some time now. The FaceTime thing has been challenging but by tapping into my old career as a social studies teacher, we’re on our way and so far, having great fun. And in the process, I was startled to find tremendous COVID virus inspiration that I didn’t even know I needed from none other than our own planet.

I realize that sounds cryptic and strange but, let me explain. As part of my lesson planning, I’ve been scouring the Internet for geography related videos appropriate to use with a 5-year-old. After finding quite a few at the preschool and elementary school levels, I dug even deeper, wanting to quickly be able to give my granddaughter a truly full sense of Earth’s beauty and majesty as well the connectivity of all people.

Yup, a very tall order indeed but one that got rapidly filled when I focused on the northern lights and viewing the continents from space. Enter NASA and the International Space Station (ISS) to primarily meet my objective and lead me into my COVID virus inspiration.

Years ago, I had seen slices of NASA vids of earth from space but not the one I came upon in my lesson plan search: the one I want to share with you. This video is in time-lapse format since the slowness of a satellite circling the earth can’t possibly give you the fullest impact from what you are observing. As you will see, spread out below the ISS are the continents, oceans and seas with our planet’s atmosphere impossibly thin, but life-giving protective veil arching above it all.

Florida and part of Georgia at night

But, much of the 11-minute presentation is at night so that the light from linked population centers shine with a dazzling radiance. And blending with the atmosphere are the northern lights colorfully gyrating and pulsing like a living thing, giving evidence of the earth’s magnetism that shields it and us from the full effects of the sun’s deadly blasts.

Bursts of lightning far below

Moonlight reflects off the oceans as clouds shoot by between you and the earth, some exploding into vivid flashes, the pop, pop, pop, pop of darkness hidden thunderstorms. Then dawn rushes towards you with lightning speed beginning a new day and the moonlight on the water is replaced by the brilliance of the sun. And so, you might ask, that’s all very nice, but where is this COVID virus inspiration you keep talking about?

Well, it’s hard to put into words, but here is the best I can do. I think that this video opened me up like nothing else to the delicate yet long-term endurance of human existence on this gorgeous planet we call home. I, like many others, had been so wrapped up in the sudden suspension of normal life just trying to get by one day at a time that, I had lost touch with a truer essence of being. In that essence, I saw humanity eventually continuing to flourish if we will but learn to live in more harmony with each other and this incredible planet of ours. And I guess that outlook gave me the hope that I hadn’t realized must have been starting to ebb just a bit.

So, it’s your turn to consider having a COVID virus inspiration. As you view the presentation below, see if anything I have said speaks to you as well. And once it’s over, you will find a list of other similar videos of value. The first is a shorter version of the one below (3 min.) and the second one is a stunning 7-minute movie of the northern lights in the Arctic Circle. No matter what, just enjoy and hang in there. We’re all in this together.

For Further Viewing

Northern Lights at Night from the International Space Station (Shorter version than the one above @ 3:09 min.)

Into the Polar Night [Northern lights @ Arctic Circle]            (7 min.)

Earth at Night (2:11)

Earth from Space Live (If available at the moment)

Earth from Distant Space (2:47)

Northern Lights Scotland (2:22)

For Further Reading (Books)

The Self Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World

The Stardust Revolution: Our Origins in the Stars

 

 

 

The post COVID Virus Inspiration Courtesy of the Earth appeared first on Doug Dillon.

 In this extraordinarily dangerous time of COVID-19, President Trump’s leadership skills have been on full display, sadly so.

Protection of the American people is a president’s #1 priority.

Up until this election year of 2020, Donald Trumps disruptive, corrupt, vengeful, self-serving and uninformed ways of handling the country’s business, had brought a majority of Americans to the edge of despair. Now, however, Trump’s leadership skills, or lack thereof, have shown Trump’s incredible inability to effectively manage the current healthcare crisis, resulting in a late and erratic national COVID-19 response, confusion throughout the country, excessive fear, most likely increased infections, and probably needless loss of life.

 So, what is lacking in Trump’s leadership ability? What are those traits other presidents have displayed that are so increasingly needed in the United States of America? What follows is a listing of many such attributes that are found not only in the on-the-job performances of good American presidents of the past, but also in effective leaders in general.

Each word is linked to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary just in case you might want to refresh your memory with a quick definition. Be prepared for a feast of wonderfully positive characteristics and remember, We the People of the United States deserve nothing less.

Accountable
Accurate
Analytical
Articulate
Astute

What would they have thought?

Attentive
Balanced
Benevolent
Calm
Capable
Careful
Caring
Charitable
Circumspect
Civil
Clear-headed

FDR: Now there was a wartime leader.

Collaborative
Comforting
Compassionate
Competent
Congenial
Conscientious
Considerate
Cooperative
Courageous

JFK confronted adversaries and won.

Courteous
Curious
Decent
Dependable
Dignified
Diligent
Disciplined
Dutiful
Eloquent
Empathetic
Encouraging
Ethical

A true conservative who would have been horrified.

Fair
Farsighted
Flexible
Focused
Gracious
Hard-working
Honest
Honorable
Impartial
Incorruptible
Industrious
Inquisitive
Just
Kind

How far we have fallen since Obama.

Knowledgeable
Logical
Magnanimous
Mature
Merciful
Meticulous
Mindful
Objective
Observant
Open-minded

And then came Trump.

Organized
Patient
Perceptive
Positive
Presidential
Professional
Prudent
Reasonable
Reflective
Reliable

The rule of law is under attack by a president of the United States.

Resourceful
Respectful
Responsible
Righteous
Secure
Self-controlled
Sensible
Sincere
Skillful
Sober
Spiritual

Our institutions are being dangerously warped.

Stable
Steady
Sympathetic
Systematic
Tactful
Temperate
Thorough
Thoughtful
Tolerant
Trustworthy

This is a time for unity and throwing off the burden of Trump’s leadership.

Truthful
Unbiased
Unifying
Unselfish
Upright
Well-informed
Well-read
Wise

Listed below are some other resources related to this subject:

Descriptive Words for Leadership (Descriptive words.com)

Racist,’ ‘ignorant,’ ‘strong’ – The words you used to describe Donald Trump (LATimes.com)

The Inspiring Words of Donald Trump (Washington Post.com)

What are Some Adjectives to Describe People with Leadership Skills? (Quora.com)

100 Trump Words to Describe Him and His Presidency? (DougDillon.com)

101 Best Leadership Skills, Traits & Qualities – The Complete List (BrianDownard.com)

 

 

 

The post 100 Words Describing Trump’s Leadership?? appeared first on Doug Dillon.

Sculptor Steve Stone would like to invite you to an important Georgia Trail of Tears ceremony. At 1 PM on Saturday, March 21, 2020 the Mount Oglethorpe Foundation will dedicate Steve’s granite masterpiece to all those Native Americans who were so horribly affected by the United States Indian removal policies during the 19th century. And if you are reading this after the event, Steve still invites you to visit his memorial anyway.

Steve’s memorial is a big one, as you can see. It measures 5 1/2 by 8 and weighs in at a whopping 5,000 pounds.

The monument showing U.S. troops displacing a Cherokee family

 This dedication will take place near the entrance to Eagle’s Rest Park in northern Georgia near the town of Jasper. 

 

For further information, call the park @ (706) 301-8871

 

Educational walkway leading to the monument

One of the historical markers found on the way to the carving

The Native American community will be represented at this Georgia Trail of Tears ceremony. And, Steve will be speaking as well as reciting his haunting poem titled, Lost Lake Cherokee.

Steve Stone reading his poem, Lost Lake Cherokee.

Steve’s carving in place at Eagle’s Rest Park

See the following articles for further information about Steve, the development of his memorial sculpture and the Georgia Trail of Tears ceremony. Please share this information with others who might be interested.

Georgia Indian Removal Project

Trail of Tears memorial to be on Georgia’s Mount Oglethorpe (Cherokee Phoenix, newspaper of the Cherokee Nation)

Indian removal monument for Mt. Oglethorpe a ‘spiritual’ undertaking

 

The post Georgia Trail of Tears Ceremony appeared first on Doug Dillon.