I’m in my 70’s and had the great privilege to spend the last 20+ years of my working life as a sixth grade teacher in a “low socio-economic” Middle School where, at the time of my retirement, the percentage of students participating in the “Free and reduced” lunch (and breakfast) program exceeded 90%. It was a “tough” school in which to teach and it was filled with a staff of amazing public servants – from the teachers to the custodians – people who loved and cared for the students who came through the doors and, of course, it was full of some amazing students. As my career moved forward the diversity of our school increased. After I retired I was called back to “help” for a few more years until, at one point, I realized I was too old to relate appropriately with 12 – 13 year old students. However, I look back with thankfulness to virtually every day I was able to spend in the very classrooms I was a student back in 1959.

I mention this because my hope is many of my students are participating in the protests of the MURDER of George Floyd as most of them have graduated from high school by this point in time. I wasn’t the most sophisticated teacher – I had spent 7 years in a sawmill prior to becoming a teacher with the help of the federal government initiating the “timber workers re-location act” in regard to the “Spotted Owl” issue which closed down the mill for which I was working – but one thing I always emphasized to my students was the purpose of their education was to help them become “productive, responsible adults.” I never shared my personal opinions or beliefs regarding politics to my students, but I always emphasized to them the importance of them voting. That America is worth fighting for despite all her shortcomings and my hope was they would take their responsibility to vote seriously.

I’ve often wondered, since retiring, how many of my former students are “Dreamers” because many were/are first generation immigrants. My final days in the classroom included the day individual 1 was “elected.” (With, of course, 3 MILLION fewer votes than his opponent and the help of the Russians and James Comey) I was a substitute at that point in my career and had notified the administration it was “time” for me to call it “good.” I will never forget spending two of the final days of my career simply allowing the students to talk among themselves about what was happening. These were 7th graders who were not “good” students but who were extremely “street smart” – most of them Hispanic. The students were quizzing each other with questions like, “Are you legal?” The very day individual 1 “won” the election allowed these students to begin my education of the reality we were all to be facing in the next 4 years.

Clearly, I’ve read a lot of books since then and feel I now “get it,” but back then, right from the start, these 7th graders “got it.” These are kids who were rejecting school because of their collective experience in their previous 6 years and my “old school” ways wasn’t as effective as I would have liked – but, in teaching, it really does take a “village” and it’s critical for teachers and administrators to be on the same page which wasn’t clear to me at the time was the reality. School wasn’t working for these students and, to this day, I feel “school” had given up on them, but I still have hopes they “heard” some of what I was telling them – because, they were smart – as I said, “street smart” – and, I can picture them marching in these protests and if they remember anything from me I hope they are going to remember to VOTE!

These students knew individual 1 was an immoral, racist, xenophobic, and dishonest so-called president from day one. I was caught off guard because I was so focused on teaching them “pre-algebra” and frustrated by their unwillingness to “learn” when the reality they were really smart and they were the reason the changes which need to come from these protests are so incredibly important. These students were/have been living in “generational poverty” which I studied and tried to address – but, when I look back, I was just unable to really fully understand what was going on with them. These students were the children of fathers and mothers who get stopped by police at the whim of the officer. Often times thrown in jail at the whim of the officer. I realize MOST police officers are wonderfully awesome public servants, but the bad ones are like the “rotten apple” in the barrel – it affects the “whole bunch.”

My hope for the future of this nation is that our young people will fight for the “ideals” we all know are NOT being met. Those of us who weren’t as knowledgeable about individual 1 back in 2016 – we knew it was going to be bad, we just had no idea how bad it would be – have no excuses now. At this point it’s obvious “people of color” have been facing the brunt of virtually every crisis in this nation – income inequality, Covid-19, police racism, environmental crises, the economic crisis, etc. – and, hopefully, it will be all these people in the streets who become the leaders we need to turn the direction of the “ship of state.” That will begin the day individual 1 has officially been defeated at the polls. And, the turnout this November MUST be massive to offset the voter suppression tactics you can count on coming from the “White House” and his sycophants.

One thing I came to realize as I was understanding my time in the classroom was coming to an end was the use of technology – both what I wasn’t doing and what the students were doing. As the use of iPads increased and the use of pencils decreased I knew “it was time.” However, I tried to emphasize to my students the importance of checking multiple sources when “researching” and to, hopefully, avoid opinions created by someone else. I still believe in READING! This is why outlets like “Facebook” and “Twitter” (among others, many of which I know nothing about – I know next to nothing about Facebook and Twitter because I don’t participate), to me, are so dangerous. I consider, for example, Mark Zuckerberg as a contender for what Keith Olberman used to call, “The worst person in the world.”

Zuckerberg created “Facebook” – as I said, I don’t use it so I just know what I’ve picked up peripherally – but that all encourages me to NOT use it – which is a breeding ground for misinformation – or, in the words of individual 1 – “fake news.” Of course, this is the real “fake news” which was the result of the Russians’ cyberwarfare attacks on Western Democracies, including, obviously, the U.S.A. and the tactics of the Russians have been “adopted” by who knows how many others. Well, one entity we KNOW has “adopted” the Russian’s tactics is the republican party and the campaign of individual 1. They’re spending MILLIONS (obviously, why Zuckerberg encourages it) to spew political LIES to a targeted group of Americans which was sophisticatedly put together by Cambridge Analytica – at the urging of Steven Bannon and others affiliated with individual 1 – (Read; “Mindf*ck Cambridge Analytica and the plot to Break America”) – Cambridge Analytica is “gone” but the data they “mined” is still in the hands of individual 1’s campaign and they’re surely using it to continue their propaganda campaign. (I’ve always believed the Russians and Cambridge Analytica were working together)

So, to me, Zuckerberg is a danger to our republic. But, then there’s “Twitter.” Another “social media” platform which is being masterfully manipulated by people who, like our IMPEACHED so-called president have no “scruples.” I’ve written lately about reading “Rising out of Hatred” by Eli Saslow – what to me was a great read and considerably increased my knowledge of the white nationalist movement in this country. As I’ve said in previous posts, I knew it was there I just didn’t know to what extent. Well, it appears “Twitter” is another place where right wing thugs are using their lack of moral clarity to foment misinformation, conspiracy theories, and outright violence. To me, these “social media” platforms are a menace to our society and, obviously, there are many more than just “Facebook” and “Twitter.”

I bring up “Twitter” because I’ve now read reports about white nationalist groups creating fake “Twitter” accounts so that they can “pretend” to be members of “Antifa” in order to place the blame of the violence they were committing in the recent protests away from themselves. And, with our IMPEACHED so-called president suggesting “Antifa” should be listed as a terrorist organization – well, why not place the blame there. Obviously, between individual 1 and William Barr you have two ready and willing recipients of any accusations toward – what appears to me to be almost no group at all – “Antifa.” From what I’ve read, “Antifa” is a “loose” group of left wing individuals who oppose the right wing fascist movement in America – which would include the administration of individual 1. I guess it should be obvious why individual 1 is making outlandish claims they are a “terrorist organization.”

My hope is the WHITE people who brought claw hammers, clubs, baseball bats, incendiary devices and other “stuff” not necessary for peaceful protesting to the protests around the country – and, then instigated violence, destruction of property, and arson have been arrested and will be identified as to whether they’re from “Antifa” or one of the many white nationalist groups who were, online, calling members to the protest with words like “we should be locked and loaded.” Regardless of which side of the political “spectrum” the instigators fall on, they were simply opportunists who are part of the problem which was exposed by the MURDER/LYNCHING of George Floyd. And, I have to add here, EVERY person I saw who was caught on video smashing a window or breaking down a door was WHITE. They were instigating the looting. Where they came from, that remains to be seen – I hope it comes out in the “wash.”

I knew, back in 2016 (as my students were almost in a state of shock) that the next four years were not going to be “good.” I just didn’t realize how BAD it was going to be. I’ve written about the DAMAGE being caused by individual 1 and his sycophants, I just had no idea how BAD it was going to become. It took me about a year to start viewing him as a mafia boss and virtually every day, it seems, he compounds all of his corruption. He’s attempting to destroy our traditional institutions and, when all is said and done, I believe we will all thank our young Americans for being the ones to say ENOUGH already! We’ll be thanking those Americans who live in the African American dominated communities for saying “NO MORE!” There absolutely MUST by systemic change in America and, hopefully, the “seeds” were “planted” this past week. I believe George Floyd will “live” as a martyr leading the “change we can believe in.” At least I hope that is the case – as opposed to simply moving on to the next crisis created by “you know who.”

Joe Biden must now make a critical decision because, well, he’s older than me. He MUST pick a “woman of color” to be his Vice Presidential “running mate,” in my (sometimes less than) humble opinion. Personally, I really admire Stacy Abrams who I consider a brilliant young leader who hails from Georgia. I also really like Kamala Harris of California and several others. There is a likelihood whoever he chooses will finally break the “glass ceiling” which Hillary Clinton would have broken – save for the Russians and James Comey – and we need someone strong because this white nationalist movement I’ve been writing about “aint goin nowhere.” They “hang around” like a bad cough which just won’t go away.

If I could say anything to the young people marching in the streets it would be first to VOTE! (That should be obvious from my previous remarks) Then I would add that VOTING the republicans out of office is simply “step one.” Once they’re gone, that’s when the hard work starts – and, those who are then in control of our nation’s capital MUST understand what “we the people” expect and we MUST continue to push for the changes which will create a nation where there truly is “Equal Justice for all.” No one’s asking for “privilege.” In fact, in my mind, (and, I hope I’m correct) it’s just the opposite. What “we the people” are asking for is a nation where one group is NOT privileged at the expense of others. Do we (white people of which I’m one) owe “reparations” to those in the African American community? Well, to me, that makes sense. How that actually “looks” – I don’t know. I can say this, it really is time for “we the people” to be listening to and supporting each other! And, there are many brilliant Black leaders in our country who MUST be part of Joe Biden’s administration. As I’m writing this I’m thinking Native Americans? Latinx Americans? Just sayin………….

The issues in America are complicated and, on top of all that, there are multiple crises to deal with – crises which affect as all with no discrimination in any way – and, I’m certainly not someone who understands where the solutions lie – other than where we MUST start. And, that place, as you could probably guess, begins with sending individual 1, William Barr, and hopefully the likes of Moscow Mitch, Lindsey Graham (I wanted to say Leningrad Lindsey), and a long list of republican Senators to the dark pages of the History books. I’ve said this many times here; individual 1 will end up next to Benedict Arnold in our History books. I have to thank my former students – students who I feel I failed to understand at the time – for helping me understand the seriousness of the threat individual 1 is to the foundation of our republic!

Final Thought: I’ve said this repeatedly in various forms, if you only watched what is happening on Wall Street you’d have NO idea of all the crises “we the people” are dealing with. A global pandemic continues to intensify, there’s likely more than 20% unemployment, MILLIONS of Americans in the streets, Hurricanes and wildfires on the horizon, and an incompetent pseudo fascist in the “White House” and, yet, every day the “DOW” continues to rise. Does that mean the economy is in good shape? I think this disconnect is going to be one of the headlines before long. Congress can’t come up with money for “Main Street” but, Wall Street? Jerome Powell has emphasized there are plenty more “tools in the toolshed” to keep the market propped up. Well, I guess the reality is he’s propping up the businesses which are in major stress, and investors are speculating he’ll continue to do so – no matter how depressing (pun intended) things get! (This morning it was reported there was an increase in jobs which brought the unemployment rate to [still] over 13%. More on that another day)

Do you think they (republicans and ???) will prop up Medicare? Medicaid??? Social Security??? Food stamps??? Do you think they’ll find the money for the Postal Service, an American treasure??? Will they agree people should be able to vote from home because of the pandemic – to protect their health??? Do you think they’ll support the State and local governments who’ve been fighting the pandemic and losing massive amounts of revenue??? Do you think there’s money to INVEST in our infrastructure which is falling WAY behind what is necessary and what is happening in other places around the world??? I could go on, but with republicans – and those who have purchased them (and, any democrats who may be “guilty”) – it’s been about Wall Street and not Main Street since the days of Ronald Reagan (at least, according to my memory ;o) Most notably, after what we’ve experienced in the previous week and a half, do you think they’ll find the money to address the needs of the communities in America which have been marginalized for – well, forever??? VOTE!!!

And, when you start wondering how bad do these Wall Street millionaires want to protect their “turf?” Well, I haven’ heard any of them publicly supporting the protesters. When I log into “Yahoo Finance” to check out what is happening with the market and read the comment sections following articles I’ve read a significant group of people have, what comes across to me as, abhorrent views. It appears they would be part of the group of Americans who would, sadly, support the use of American troops being called to “dominate” our streets. I can’t even imagine that happening in this country which just compounds my concern regarding the DAMAGE being caused by our IMPEACHED so-called president. As I’ve said, those who support individual 1 aren’t simply going away. The division in America is real and I’m thankful for the voting booth. The “changes” “we the people” will be pushing for once the Senate has turned “blue” will benefit even these Wall Street mavens over the long term. However, I believe the “markets” have been artificially propped up and there’s a lot of “pain” on the horizon. Our economy is in “tatters” not to mention the pandemic is on the rise. Hold on……………….