MUST READ

MUST READ FIRST:

This blog is meant to be a platform to see other perspectives. It is imperative that we not attack each other, but listen from a truly inquisitive perspective. If you're looking to speak before you think, judge without considering, or bait people to get your points across, this platform is not for you. We must keep an open mind if we expect to elicit change. Please comment with articulate analysis. One worded and inflammatory responses, or dismissal of anyone's opinions without explanation doesn't help anyone see your perspective.

This blog is a collection of other people’s opinions, which I’d like to offer as a starting point for discourse. These are not my opinions, but things that have provoked passionate conversations in their communities, and I present them to you to gain different perspectives on the current state of affairs.

This blog won't permit any form of bigotry. Bigoted language includes, but is not limited to, slurs based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and disability. If you encounter Bigotry please consider the power of speaking to the author in a manner that may illuminate them before shaming them.

Creating a place where mistakes can be learned from is one of the driving forces behind this blog.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

What is being said #5: I’m a Mexican-American from a small town. Here’s why poor white people voted for Trump

Disenfrachisement is a buzzword of how people are explaining the motivations of those that voted for Trump. There seems to be a very consistent statement that many people feel left behind or forgotten and that Trump has made them feel recognized. The reality is that this stands so parallel to the feeling of being a marginalized group of Americans, such as the ones the left have identified like People of Color, LGBQT, etc.

Does anyone feel enfranchised?
Are these enfranchised the 1%?
Do these broad sweeping labels of people help or hurt the search for answers to harmony?

Here is one Mexican-American's hypothesis on why the poor white Americans voted in masses for Trump:


Tuesday, November 22, 2016

How Could You? 19 Questions to Ask Loved Ones Who Voted the Other Way

How Could You? 19 Questions to Ask Loved Ones Who Voted the Other Way
The questions:

1. Describe your relationship to me.
2. Are we close?
3. Who did I vote for and why?
4. What was the most important issue for me?
5. Why do you feel differently about that issue?
6. How do you think our views came to be so different?
7. Has it been difficult to talk to me about this election? If so, why?
8. Do my views influence your politics at all?
9. What do you think most needs to change about this country?
10. Are you uncomfortable about any aspect of how America is changing?
11. Do you think I’m sexist or racist?
12. Do you feel ignored or misunderstood as a voter? If so, for how long?
13. What is a position my candidate held that you agree with?
14. What is a trait you find positive about my candidate?
15. What is something that you don’t like about the candidate you voted for?
16. Is there anything you are hopeful about in a Trump presidency?
17. Is there a goal Clinton talked about that you could get behind?
18. What do you think we agree on?
19. Do you still like me?

What you can do: Banks + Businesses - Is your money more important than your vote?

One of the major blindspots I see in our current US perspective is that so many people express the view that they're unhappy with the way that major corporations play govern their economy. These corporations displace our economy to foreign soil. They selfishly raise prices on pharmaceuticals, oil, and other commodities that have become modern necessities. They show no conscious when supporting a financial investment over human rights.

This issue is one of the most multi-partisan shared concerns, and yet...

...we fail to recognize that everyday we earn money and spend money callously supporting the value of these institutions. Every time you work for any employer you are an employee of all their decisions. Every time you spend your money, every cent, you have the ability to think where that money is going. I would argue that your personal choices with money have a larger effect on the outcome of this country's future than any of your votes.

What banks finance your employer?
Where does your employer purchase their supplies?
Who are you supporting when you buy groceries, gas, shoes, cars, clothes, restaurants, legal/illegal drugs?

Are you willing to displace your own comforts to support these offenses you so passionately argue are rights everyone deserves?

Related Topics
Credit Union Search Site

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Stumped: How does anyone rationalize racist/sexist language in leaders and claim they're not supporting racism/sexism?

How does anyone rationalize racist/sexist language in leaders and claim they're not supporting racism/sexism?

I am unable to answer this question, because I cannot rationalize how someone who claims to not support racism/sexism can vote for someone who has publicly made racist/sexist comments.

Yet, there are marginalized and minority community members who have voted for leaders that are directly related to racism/sexism and racists/sexists comments.


  1. Can we find some of these people in our own communities to make us understand how they answer this question?
  2. Can you submit examples of media that are fact-checked and accurate examples of how people rationalize this question?


Related topics




Are you responsible when you spread information?

Bernie Sanders Could Replace President Trump With Little-Known Loophole

The most important thing in a functional society is a well-informed public. What we have now is not only uninformed but misinformed masses.


How do we combat this problem? Easy, we have to do some work. While I could give a long dissertation on what exactly that means, no one has the patience to read it all, so here are five quick steps that’ll fit in a meme…


1. Read first. Then share. I myself am guilty of basing comments or even clicking share based on the headline. This is the worst thing any of us could do. Stop being lazy.


2. Check the source (and their sources). In the age of new media true and valid information comes from non-traditional sources but so does a lot of garbage. Any article that posts facts, figures or quotes should provide a source for that information. If there is no backup for their claims, move on.


3. Watch out for recycled stories. One thing that seems to be feeding into the misinformation problem is when old stories are being presented as happening now. Check the date on the story before you read on. You’ll be shocked to see how many are from another time and aren’t applicable to the current event you thought they were talking about.


4. If you care about facts, ignore the blatantly slanted. Having a slant or taking a position on a story is not wrong in itself. What is wrong is when these ideas are taken as unbiased fact. You can avoid all of this by simply avoiding those sites to start with. Any website with the words: Conservative, Liberal, Democrat, Republican, etc. in the title are just advertising how slanted they are. That’s ok if you choose to live in your side’s bubble but please don’t have any delusions that these stories reflect the whole picture.


5. Google it. God (and Sergey) gave us Google for a reason. If you see a story that’s unbelievable or has no sources or even if it does, verify. See if the same facts are reported across multiple outlets. See if anyone disputes these facts. Read these pieces and then make up your mind.


If we could all take these simple steps our society would be a better place. We all have opinions and leanings. There is nothing wrong with that but could we at least all come from a starting point based on facts and reality?


The truth is, sharing illogical things begins to erode YOUR credibility and it makes you look foolish. Trust me, I speak from experience.


Now go share this, please.

Monday, November 14, 2016

What is being said #4: British comedian John Oliver didn’t mince words in his response to the victory last week of US president-elect Donald Trump.

“How the fuck did we get here?” he asked on his HBO show, Last Week Tonight, on Nov. 13. “And what the fuck do we do now?”
Then Oliver went on to offer some answers the latter question: