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Here is a link to the story: https://www.yahoo.com/news/oklahoma-transgender-student-dies-allegedly-125629309.html
I am sick and tired of reading stories like this over and over again. I am sick of depraved people using other people as the others to rally votes. I am sick of conservatives saying they are the party of Jesus. I am sick of conservatives who will do nothing but offer thoughts and prayers when they have the power to do something. I am sick of people who vote those conservatives in and try to say they are allies for civil rights. You cannot vote for people in power who have as their main platform treating others as second-class citizens just because you think you are going to get another tax break. I am sick of conservatives saying they are for personal rights yet time and time they fight to take them away. I am sick of conservatives saying that we do not have issues with discrimination.
I am sick of people defending those they know who vote for the party of hate, saying they are good people. No they are not good people, they are nice to you. I am sick of people just saying it is getting better. It is not, the fear-mongering on the right against the LGBT community is on the rise. The amount of bills they put up to vote trying to deny LGBT rights grows year by year. They do it to get votes.
I am sick that I have not been as vocal as I could. Instead of just being reactive and defending when people bring up LGBT rights I will be proactive. I will volunteer more.
I think that people who use these wedge issues are scum. They are only worried about power and money. They do not care about others. I would call them cunts but they lack the depth and warmth to be one. I am pissed and sorry about the language but there was a warning.
I just want people to treat others how they want to be treated with respect and dignity. People need to quit trying to put their morals on others just because it is their morals. They go after things that cause no harm and that is wrong. It is just so they can get the warm feeling that society agrees with them because the law says so.
Thank you for taking the time to read me getting this off of my chest.
edit: I am also sick of how people try to frame the issue. Look at the headline it uses allegedly assaulted. That is just trying to cover up the hate we have in society and that the people in power in the school turned a blind eye to their responsibility of keeping the students in their care safe.
Comments
Comments
I don't know if the USA has the same idiom, but we talk about 'sh1t stirring'. One of the main stirrers, a supremely awful woman I am not going to name, whose rhetoric does so much to inflame the bigots, published a list of the 'lies' told about this young person's death.
Apparently, she didn't die on the school premises, so it's all 'lies'.
The child died in hospital of injuries sustained in a beating by cis girls on school premises, but because they died in hospital, the whole thing is 'untrue'. That's reminiscent of the 'discussions' about mass-murders of US school kids by people more determined to argue the difference between an automatic and a semi-automatic penis-extension murder weapon.
Sorry: not the most coherent of comments. Too much on my plate right now.
Reported here as well
by 'Beau of the Fifth Column'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DevaZeafwmQ
He complains that MSM is ignoring it because of a thing called 'passive voice'.
Tragic. That applies to both the case and the lack of reporting.
At the risk of being political, if Trump gets re-elected then one of the platforms of 'Project 2025' will be to take away all rights from us. no medical care at all. I'm sure that there will be one on these mega internment camps reserved for members of the LGBT community. Shades of the 1930's any one? Genetic women won't escape their return to Puritan times. Their rights to medical care will be restricted and will be expected to marry and have children. Gay/Lesbian marriage will be outlawed. Red Cloaks for all women.
There is a a recent MSNBC post on Youtube that runs through Trumps agenda starting on Jan 20 2025. It is chilling.
Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmnViC8Wn9Y
and here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ogH6j7CaI
Sad times if he gets elected.
Samantha
Parallel events
Oh, the Prohect 25 is also pushing to ban contraception.
Coming back to that murder, I saw a list of the local press headlines for it, and almost all of them described it as an 'unexpected death', because they can't say the truth out loud any more.
In the UK, British Transport Police, who cover policing functions for the rail system, have a new head, Karen Findlay. Karen is a cisgender woman, but as she us a former rugby international and isn't 'conventionally feminine', she has received a deluge of abuse online.
The abuse is almost exclusively transphobic, as it is mainly of the 'That's a man!' variety, nut has been described as 'misogynist and homophobic' They just can't bring themselves to admit that transphobia exists.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/police-chiefs-condemn-a...
https://twitter.com/transcopUK/status/1758893644168511879
women rugby players
are as tough as they come. I've been to a few matches at 'The Stoop' (home of Harlequins RFC) and across the road at Twickenham and they play a no style all of their own. There are some of the forwards who would take those giving that abuse a trip to the Hospital if they said it within their earshot. It is sad that these people are so insecure in their own bodies that they feel that they have to hurl abuse at others.
Back to the USA.
Project 2025 seem to have used '1984', 'Brave New World' and 'A Handmaids Tale' as guidebooks to their new future.
If Trump gets elected next november, the border crisis will be reversed as millions head for the exits. At least you have a few weeks to try to plan an exit from 5th Nov to 20th Jan. If you are going to leave then do it quickly as one of the plans is to electrify the border fence.
Meanwhile MSM are trying to bothsides the issue and are still focusing on Joe B's occasional gaffs when Trump does them daily. Now he's admitted on the latest Fox 'Town Hall' that he took the documents. Come on DOJ get rid of that judge and get him on trial. It is IMHO, about the only chance that the USA has of surviving. With Trump Mk 2, the world will be a far more dangerous place.
Samantha
Call Anti-Woke By Its Real Name
White Male Supremacy.
The skinheads realized that "White Male Supremacy" had a negative cache. They've latched onto Anti-Woke because it sounds soooo much better.
These jackasses believe that being born white with a penis gives them the right to dictate lifestyle to everyone else. Can you imagine how crazy they think it is for someone born male to give up that status voluntarily?
Also, being anit-Woke gives their putrid group a common enemy, which is excellent for cohesiveness under their rock.
The good news is this. These ass-hats are delusional enough to think that everyone else thinks just like they do. That's why supposedly intelligent politicians put anti-abortion constitutional amendments on the ballot in Kansas and Ohio. The votes in those two states show us that we can expect a substantial female vote in November against any candidate stupid enough to take an anti-abortion position. An example is Trump, who has come out with a sixteen-week national ban. This is going to go over very poorly. You can expect that Biden will get an additional 3 to 4% of the vote in November solely because of the abortion issue.
That would mean Biden will win every state he won last time, plus Florida, NC, and Ohio. The down-ballot Republicans will suffer, especially if they shadow Trump's abortion approach.
A lot can happen during the next nine months, but that's how it looks today.
For all of you who worry about Biden's mental acuity, please remember that Reagan often stumbled over his words and fell asleep in public during his second term. The country can survive a mentally deficient but DECENT man at the helm. It's doubtful it can survive a dictator.
The Trump voters will be voting for Trump. Do you really think there are more Trump voters today than there were in November 2020? My guess is there are less.
The Biden voters will be voting against Trump. It's much easier to believe that given the insurrection and Dobbs, there are many, many more wanting to vote against Trump than there were four years ago.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
In defense
of the local media, They almost have to report the death as "sudden" until the medical examiner says what the cause was. They run the risk of embarrassment and possible legal action if this person's death turns out not to be directly related to the beating otherwise. I'm not saying it wasn't the cause, only that just because because "B" follows "A" does not necessarily prove that "A" caused "B". That doesn't excuse the beating in any case.
Left Out Details
Was she FtM or MtF? Was it a head injury or bleeding from internal injuries?
They were non binary.
They were non binary. Officially cause of death has not yet been released by the coroner. The police are supposedly investigating.
A teacher broke up a fight in the girls room, which is by stupid law, where Nex had to go, three girls against two. Nex hit their head on the floor, a witness says, they were pounded into the floor multiple times.
The school did not call an ambulance, or take a report, but they did suspend Nex. No word on if anyone else was suspended. The grandmother who had adopted Nex was called to pick them up, and she took them to the hospital. The hospital did file a report, and the school resource officer took a statement at the hospital. Nex was released. The next morning they collapsed, were taken back to the hospital, where they died.
There is so much wrong with hiw this was handled by the school system, and they should be held accountable, as should the students that beat them up.
Words can't describe
Words can't describe how infuriating crap like this is, with Raichik saying Nex 'got into a fight'... they did not get into a fight, they were beaten by bullies. I can't stand how they always try to reframe and victim blame, ARG!
The Art of the Bully - 101
As everyone who has been subject to bullying (in any of its many forms) knows only too well that the bully is skilled at making out that they are the victim and that everyone is out there to get them. Poor babies.
The biggest one around the moment is trying to get re-elected as POTUS. You know who I mean... The one who claims that 'I never did anything wrong' and 'I don't know who she is and I never met her' at every opportunity.
Samantha
Duty of Care?
It seems to me that the school failed their duty of care responsibilities. We need change the laws so that those in charge of schools, churches and businesses can be charged with negligent homicide if they fail their duty of care and someone dies as the result.
Michelle B
A very good point……
But keep in mind that you are dealing with a state that does not believe that we, as transgender people, have a right to exist - let alone to equal protection under the law. This is a state where the head of the state BOE is a well known anti-LGBTQ+ advocate, who openly advocates against transgender rights.
Having said that, your point is well taken. Even if we ignore the fact that two of the children involved in the incident were non-binary or transgender, the school has a responsibility to provide a safe environment for learning. They obviously failed to do this. But currently the only recourse is in civil court - not criminal court. Although perhaps a case could be made for negligent homicide?
D. Eden
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus
negligent homicide
The school was clearly negligent by not calling an ambulance. They could claim that they didn't think the injury was that serious, but since it resulted in death, their judgement was faulty. If in doubt, medical attention should have been sought. The doctor at the hospital also committed medical malpractice by sending them home instead of thoroughly examining them.
Can we please not misgender the victim here?
I keep seeing people refer to the victim as "she" and "her."
The victim in this case, from everything I have read, identified as non-binary, and -- as far as I am aware -- was genetically female, hence being in the bathrooms they were -- the bathrooms they were mandated to HAVE to use.
We're not really helping anything if, in the process of getting angry at others for bigotry, we ourselves are perpetuating many of the same things they do -- mis-gendering, forcing others into cubbyholes they themselves do not identify with.
This happens a lot on our site... but in this case, when we're talking about living, breathing people and not just fictional characters, I feel like it's especially important to point out the hypocrisy of it.
Melanie E.
Non-Binary ????
For me, one is either male, female, or rarely intersex. The term Non-Binary is meaningless to me.
Nonbinary Defined
from the National Center for Transgender Equality:
Most people – including most transgender people – are either male or female. But some people don't neatly fit into the categories of "man" or "woman," or “male” or “female.” For example, some people have a gender that blends elements of being a man or a woman, or a gender that is different than either male or female. Some people don't identify with any gender. Some people's gender changes over time.
People whose gender is not male or female use many different terms to describe themselves, with nonbinary being one of the most common (sometimes spelled with a hyphen, as “non-binary”). Other terms include genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid, and more. None of these terms mean exactly the same thing – but all speak to an experience of gender that is not simply male or female. If you’re not sure what a word means, you can usually just ask politely.
Love, Andrea Lena
Agreed
Non-binary people exist.
To suggest otherwise is to disrespect them, including disrespecting the child who was killed.
Respecting a non-binary person's identity
is something I strongly believe in, but it gets a bit difficult when I see comments talking about "a boy in the girl's bathroom who got what he deserved", because that's their go-to narrative and what they're assuming happened. Replying to these clowns by pointing out that Nex was assigned female at birth does disrespect the victim's sense of self as nonbinary, but in this case I can't think of any other way to inform them that Nex was doing EXACTLY what they and these bathroom bills they voted for demand us trans and nonbinary people do, and that they, the commenters ARE FULL OF SHIT + SHOULD SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!
~hugs, Veronica
What borders on stupidity?
Canada and Mexico.
.
Thank you, I went back and
Thank you, I went back and reviewed my comment, and found that despite as careful as I was trying to be, I did use the wrong prounoun in several places. I have corrected them.
It is infuriating and a bit depressing…….
To read the news reports regarding this incident. Follow the links or do your own research to get more about the story, but several things stand out:
1) The obvious bias of the Oklahoma Board of Education. It is absolutely disgusting how a person can sit on an organization whose only purpose for being is to provide children with a safe place to get an education, and yet be so obviously involved in pushing hate. To the point that they are publicly linked with another person who has been posting anti-LGBTQ+ information on social media.
2) This same member of the state BOE appointed this self-same anti-LGBTQ+ individual to the state Library Oversight organization - even though they don’t even live in Oklahoma. The same person who has not only posted rabid anti-LGBTQ+ speech online, but has then basked in the attention it has brought them.
3) No one at the school sought any medical attention for a student who was bruised about the head and face from having their head repeatedly bashed into the floor. Nor was the school resource officer notified or involved until the child was brought to the hospital by a relative after the school day was over.
4) The child who was assaulted was suspended for two weeks by the school. There is no mention of action being taken against the three girls who assaulted them.
5) There is no indication of the actual cause of death - the police are apparently still investigating and awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology report.
OK - many schools have a policy wherein anyone involved in a fight is suspended. This is quite often unfair as a child who is simply defending themselves in an assault is punished as well as the perpetrators, but it is a “zero tolerance policy”. Having been involved with a school board, I can understand the reasoning behind the policy - but I have always disagreed with it. However, there is no mention of what happened to the three girls who assaulted the victims. Were they punished as well? Or since this is Oklahoma was it simply swept under the rug as “they deserved it for being trans”?
It is a revolting development that the more a person stands out in our society, the more they are victimized. It reminds me of the story of the green monkey. Are we so far gone that we are willing to allow a vocal minority to dictate the terms of our lives?
We used to value people for being willing to express their individuality. This country used to brag about challenging authority and being innovative. But now, it seems that if you stand out you get hammered down like a nail that sticks out.
Trump and his followers run around spouting their crap about, “Make America Great Again” - well, we used to be great. But that doesn’t mean what they think it does. Trump preys on the older, white generation - mostly uneducated males, who see themselves being sidelined by a society that has moved forward; a society that no longer looks like them. Progress is like birth - it hurts. But if we stop progress then we will stagnate and the world will pass us by.
But I digress…….
The most important thing here is justice. Will the family and friends of this poor teen get it? Is there justice for those of us who are transgender? For those of us who are different? Or like the green monkey, will society tear us apart?
If there is a God in Heaven, how can they let these things continue to pass? This is exactly why I have lost my faith………..
The things I have seen in this world, the things I have done, the evil I have seen perpetrated by man upon his fellows……… It was bad enough when I was in some third world shit hole and saw it, but now it is happening here.
How can a loving God stand by and allow this to happen? How can we, as a people, stand by and allow this to happen?
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
D. Eden
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus
Irrespective
of descriptions, definitions, labels, nouns, pronouns, etc? There is a large and growing portion of our populace who will beat the holy fuck out of me and anybody else here just because we're different! We don't even have to be 'out.' We don't have to present in any particular manner. Just expressing ourselves in a non-descript manner online or in print earns us threats of violence or worse.
I have no idea which report of this act of violence is correct. At the end of the day, this poor child was killed because they were different.
This child was killed....PERIOD!
Love, Andrea Lena
I posted this story on FB,
and got this response from my sister-in-law
Carol: "Are you honestly going to tell me that as a teenager you wouldn't have pushed a girl to the ground? Would you expect others to call it a hate crime or because some political party made you do it? As a teenager you didn't understand or respect a girls right to say no and it's important, every woman knows it's important to have safe places and to be able to say no. You could have been a murder just as easy and it wouldn't have been any political party's fault."
Didn’t know it was your
Didn’t know it was your sister-in-law, but I definitely called her out!
preliminary autopsy results
The police are now saying that the preliminary results indicate that Nex's death was not caused by the beating.
Whether directly or not, this
Whether directly or not, this was a result of the beating. Frankly that report smells fishy to me. I hope the family can get help in getting an independent autopsy done.
Some facts
The bottom line here is that a child is dead, but this thread is full of speculation. These are some facts from a limited internet search.
1 Based on their last text message to a relative, the fight started when Nex Benedict poured water on the three girls they were mad at for picking on their friends. It had nothing to do with being required to use the girl's restroom.
2 According to the school, all participants in the fight were seen by the school nurse who recommended that Nex see a doctor for further evaluation. They were taken to the hospital by their grandmother who had been called to the school. Their injuries were not ignored.
3 As I stated above, the preliminary results of the autopsy indicate that their death was not caused by their injuries.
Your facts
1)The three girls who attacked Nex and her friends were not picking on them. They were bullying them about being either transgender or non-binary. The school should have put a stop to the bullying a long time ago.
2) the injuries were ignored. When a student is at school they are in the care of the school. The school is responsible for their well-being and if they believed that any student need further evaluation then they should have provided it. Like I said it is the school's responsibility to do so.
3) Come on just look at the statement the police first gave at the murder of George Floyd. It said Floyd “physically resisted officers” and “appeared to be suffering medical distress” after he was handcuffed. They left out the fact that what caused George Floyd to physically resist the officer and suffer medical distress was them having him in the prone position still in handcuffs with a knee to his neck.
Facts Don't Matter
The nation watched in horror as a mob that was assembled by Trump savaged the Capitol Police and desecrated our Capitol in an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power.
Yet, the Republican party has conspired to whitewash the whole affair.
What makes you think the death of a trans person will be different?
Even to this day there are a significant number of people in the Twin Cities who believe the treatment of George Floyd was justified. Many believe he died due to ingesting drugs he was carrying to avoid arrest for possession. Many believe the choke hold was proper technique. Many believe the police body camera footage for the thirty minutes prior to his death exonerates Chauvin.
I'm a staunch liberal and I have my doubts.
History is written by the victors and who the victors are is decided many times by the spin doctors.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
And now the police are backtracking and suspect foul play
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/lgbtq-leaders-call-for-do...
The police have now bactracked on the statement that Nex did not die from trauma.
I am shocked, shocked to fin out there is gambling going on in this establishment..
Here’s your winnings sir…
Oh, thank you.
Transparency
If I was the local government, I'd call in a 3rd party group to validate my findings as well. You know that the locals aren't going to likely give an honest showing. To avoid the crap show that will follow if it doesn't end in the arrest or punishment of SOMEONE they'd be way better off getting outside assistance.
Republicans' bigoted cruelty
Republicans' bigoted cruelty is harming other trans and non-binary people in Oklahoma.
Nex's death isn't just an outcome. It's the goal.
They want trans people eradicated.
https://kfor.com/news/local/2slgbtq-crisis-hotline-calls-inc...?
I Agree, Marissa
When Trump came down that escalator, I wrongly predicted that he would top out at twenty percent of the voting population.
Trumpland has shown us a hard twenty percent of our voters are asshats. Unfortunately, it's also indicated an additional twenty percent will be asshats if someone like Trump gives them a license.
Schools have always been a tinderbox. This horrendous incident is the Republican party striking a match.
According to reporting I heard today the Republican party has over 50 anti LGBTQ bills pending in Oklahoma.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
In 1945 the USA as part of
In 1945 the USA as part of the alliance rescued Europe from the nazis (much appreciated). Does Europe has to rescue the USA from the new nazis (i.e. the republicans and christian fanatics), now?
Oh, and the concept behind this? The Romans called it "divide et impera": devide and conquer: devide the society into groups (claases) and sic them onto each other. While the groups are busy bashing in each other's heads the leader(s) can plan their next tee times and think on the next cocktail party to be at.
There's a quote by Abraham Lincoln I've always liked.
There's a quote by Abraham Lincoln I've always liked. He titled it 'The perpetuation of our political institutions' and he made it in response to the lynching of a black man in St. Louis. Lincoln was 28 years old when he made this speech:
Modern society can quibble with some of Lincoln's words however, his sentiment holds true -- No outsiders are going to save the United States. It is up to citizens to fulfill the challenge given by our forefathers to make the country 'a more perfect union'.
While the United States is still far from perfect, every generation of Americans has left behind a country a little freer and more accepting than the world they entered. That isn't to say any of it has been easy or fast. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I like to believe this is true.
If the United States is going to be saved, it will need to come from within. The saddest part is both sides in this new uncivil 'war' think they are the ones doing the saving. I'm fairly confident I know which side Mr. Lincoln would be backing.
Surely There Must Be
Decent, fair-minded Republicans. Are all of them in lockstep with the idea of depriving a section of US citizens of their rights?
When I was working in Hong Kong and Singapore I had friends who were Republicans (and others who were Democrats). We could disagree and hurl good-natured insults at each other but there was never this rabid antipathy towards transgender people nor any overt racism. A couple of them were married to local girls, had mixed-race kids, and we were all living in multi-racial societies. Where are they now?
Let me remind you "First they came for the communists, then they came for the Jews....etc."
Some of those decent Republicans…….
Are alive and well and actually reading this site.
D. Eden
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus
You Can't Get More Republican Than. . .
. . .Liz Cheney, and they cast her aside for not kissing Trump's ring. Not one word out of her mouth has been a lie. Her "sin" was to abide by her constitutional oath.
I have many, many Republican friends. One was a Governor and my business partner in two ventures. He is no longer mentally with us, but he would puke at what Trump and Co. have done. He and I argued politics endlessly, but I could always see his point -- and him mine. He was also a close friend of Bill Clinton. That's how things used to be.
What the Republicans have done to the trans community is an abomination. What they've done to women and what they plan to do to women is as bad. Their next announced target is same-sex marriage. Then, they want a ban on birth control.
Two of my grandchildren were conceived through IVF. My daughter-in-law is a Yale graduate midwife. What the hell are they thinking?
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Murdered is now the charge
Is it darkest before the dawn? I choose to think so. I agree 100% with you Jill. But are the Dems going to march out goofy Joe again?
How about Nikki Haley vs Gretchen Whitmer? We desperately need a competent woman in the White House. Preferably a Trans Woman!
I just can't see Trump winning but maybe if he is beaten soundly as the Republican candidate there will be a backlash against the Trans hysteria.
God help us. :DD TAF
DeeDee
Haley
Haley is a lot more sensible than her primary rhetoric. Her base, unfortunately, would never vote for her.
I would be okay with Gretchen or Amy Klobuchar. I feel sorry for Joe. He's done a great job (up until now . . . he needs to get tough with Netanyahu.) I would have preferred a less robust spending bill, but I suppose someone had to address the infrastructure situation.
I don't walk so straight, and my mind drifts aimlessly more often than it should. I hung it up from business because I could no longer cut it, and I'm younger than Trump or Biden.
Both of them would lose badly against me in Jeopardy.
It's a joke to say Biden's too old without admitting Trump will be 78 if he's elected and has trouble keeping facts straight. Neither one stands much of a chance of finishing out their terms.
I take great comfort knowing that Haley is not stupid. She knows how vindictive Trump is. She is willing to talk openly about his shortcomings. At least Haley, for one, has looked at the tea leaves and has decided he won't get elected.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Nikki Haley
Is still chorusing the anti-LGBT rhetoric and the anti-abortion lines that her party espouses. While she is infinitely better than Trump (who is far less cognitive than Biden) I am not a fan. If it is a choice of the lesser of two weevils then I could grit my teeth with respect to her candidacy. Trump wouldn't know a fact if it bit him on the bum, and couldn't care less if it didn't suit his aims.
When it comes to the Dems I have no idea who would be my preferred candidate. I like Pete Buttigieg but could he get elected? I don't know.
The first rule in politics should always be WIN.
As I'm not a US citizen you don't have to take any notice of my opinions.
You're not a US citizen?!!
SHUCKS! I was gonna cast a write-in vote for you for President...
A BARBARELLA/RASCH ticket woulda been a winning combo!
~hugs, Veronica
What borders on stupidity?
Canada and Mexico.
.
Electing Mayor Pete
Would make a lot of people on the right in the USA spontaneously combust. Part of the Project 2025 agenda is to outlaw same sex marriage. The even loonier faction wants to exterminate anyone who identifies as LGBT. Scary indeed.
Haley is just as bad as Trumpo when it comes to womens rights.
Add in the recent supreme court judgement in Alabama that confers full rights to frozen embryos, they are working hard to revert to the way things were at the height of the Puritan era in the 17th Century.
From here, some 3000 miles from the USA, the only hope for the world is to re-elect Joe Biden. If Trump or Hayley gets in then the same sort of isolationist policies that were in favour in the 1930's but 10 times worse will be enacted. The US will turn its back on the world allowing Putin and Ping and Iran and Norks to do as they please. Putin will invade Poland and the US will say... "It does not affect us." That is what happened until Dec 6th 1941.
Samantha
Nikki Haley
Is still chorusing the anti-LGBT rhetoric and the anti-abortion lines that her party espouses. While she is infinitely better than Trump (who is far less cognitive than Biden) I am not a fan. If it is a choice of the lesser of two weevils then I could grit my teeth with respect to her candidacy. Trump wouldn't know a fact if it bit him on the bum, and couldn't care less if it didn't suit his aims.
When it comes to the Dems I have no idea who would be my preferred candidate. I like Pete Buttigieg but could he get elected? I don't know.
The first rule in politics should always be WIN.
As I'm not a US citizen you don't have to take any notice of my opinions.
Your opinions matter
You always make thoughtful, heartfelt comments Jo. Sometimes we Americans get our collective nose out of joint from 'foreigners' butting in, but that is not the case with me. Isolationism is not an option.
It is very enlightening to me to know what other countries and cultures think of what goes on in the USA. I'm from Michigan which is trans friendly right now due to our governor, Gretchen Whitmer, plus the fact that her party controls both legislative branches. But some of our states seem like foreign countries. The political climate in Oklahoma and Florida and others are as trans-hostile as Michigan is trans-friendly.
Our global trans community is fragile. Depression and suicide is endemic and must be addressed by all of us. Thank you for sharing. :DD TAF
DeeDee
International
I went to a university that encouraged and sought out international students and ended up befriending a lot of them. 20 years later I still talk with quite a few of them and I can say with certainty that other countries look at the USA as a Jerry Springer show. I frequently get texts or messages on discord comforting me from them on a regular basis based on the news they get about us. While none of them think our military might has waned they all agree that as a country we're trash.
USA Is Not Trash
How many countries can you name that aren't trash?
Countries, like organized religion, are trash by their very nature.
Every day I listen to the news and wonder WTF! Then I interact with real people and experience the humanity around us.
The USA us Not trash. The USA allows asshats like Trump and Co. to foul our air. It's the price of freedom. It might look like Jerry Springer to you, but to me it's Jefferson and Lincoln's legacy.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Live in
I live in the same state as you, I'm quite aware that there are a lot of lovely people in our country. I'm also aware and not self deluded. There is a MASSIVE amount of hate/ignorance/violence in our country and no amount of flag waving and patriotic cheer is going to make that go away.
My reply was to the perception of other countries view of the USA, and from a lot of my international friends, is that American is militarily and economically strong but trash socially. That isn't a debate, that is their feelings and their compatriots that they associate withs feelings.
Not a Debate
I accept what you're saying as true.
I don't travel much but my children and spouse travel internationally extensively and tell me the same things you're saying.
When I say the USA is not trash, I'm not disputing your statement; I'm merely giving my perspective.
When I moved to St. Paul from Orono (in the western suburbs) six years ago it was my plan to be a real urban citizen. I wanted to ride the buses and the transit system.
You couldn't get me on our buses or the trains at gunpoint because that's exactly what I fear will happen. I'm extremely careful what I say around strangers. I don't look sideways on I-94. I can see ten to fifteen homeless people by walking less than five blocks from my home.
Yet -- at least half the homes in my neighborhood have been totally renovated in the last five years. Several years ago, I started a non-profit to augment my local school district's budget. That non-profit has raised over $eight million. I rarely was turned down when I asked people to help. I had the same experience when I worked on youth sports boards. People here love to help each other.
I think the USA is much closer to Ellen than Jerry Springer.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Update (With Trigger Warning)
The medical examiner's report is out.
Nex died by their own hand.
Imo, the Oklahoma conservatives still proudly have blood on their hands, having proudly encouraged this bullying, anti-trans environment.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/03/nex-benedicts-death-rule...
-HuGs-
I can't Like or Love this news, but I can and do thank you for posting it.
-HuGs-
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