Hello and Welcome! Come on over and sit down! Actually, it is pretty wet out, but there is a sheltered area – it’s like a wall-less room off of the side of the back barn just to the right of the photo at the top. I think the rain has stopped and it will be a nice day. Where are we? Some may recognize that photo as being from Cape Cod.
I’m not sure what to talk about this week. The same=old, same-old, of course – work, walking the dogs, exercise, etc. Weather – after being so hot, the temperatures crashed, but they have come back up to normal now. Lack of hair cuts – I tell people I am going after the Franz Liszt look… (google it ;) ) I haven’t been blogging much the last few days.
Then there is the wider world. Yeah. Perhaps I will do a longer post on that later. It is very complex, but people simplify it so much. Sigh. OK, real quick:
Anyone who doesn’t think racism is one of the biggest issues facing our country has their head in the sand. I don’t understand why people storming a statehouse with assault weapons because they want haircuts are heroes while people peacefully protesting for racial justice are treated as enemies of the state, but about a third of my “friends” on FaceBook feel that way and state it in very, very strong, occasionally ultra-violent (i.e., they want the army to kill all of the protesters), terms. I do not condone violence and/or looting and will make no excuses for it, but the people who commit these crimes are a small minority of the protesters, just as the “bad cops” are a minority of all police. I have loved seeing the police in some cities joining with the protesters. I have hated that some politicians have used whats going on to divide our already divided country more. I have hated reading foreign news and seeing what the world thinks of us. I have loved seeing older white people standing hand in hand with younger people of color, including my over-80-year-old parents.
I am never political on my blog, but this is important. On the other hand, is it political? It shouldn’t be! Look at this statement by George W Bush. See? It is not a left/right issue, it is a human rights issue, and this conservative ex-president also believes that it is a human issue. Thank you, George.
So, yeah, that is where my head was this week ;)
As the weather today improves, and it has since I began writing this, I will spend more time outside. I mowed a bit yesterday and need to finish when it is drier. I also need to clean up around here – it is so easy to just come down here and relax that cleaning goes by the way-side.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are having a great weekend! If you are having a coffee share, I will try to stop by, but as usual, no promises.
The coffee share is hosted over on Eclectic Alli. The link to join is here.
Trent's World (the Blog) 
Looks like a pretty spot. A lot has happened since this post and the problem seems to be getting deeper…
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Yes to both comments…
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I saw just a snap of the officer sitting on the guy’s neck. After that, I didn’t have the heart to watch the video. It is an immensely disturbing issue and going on for ages not only in US but throughout the world. Even M.K.Gandhi was thrown out of a first class coach because of not being white. So, colour of skin has brought out the mean mindset in many of us decade after decade.
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I could not watch more than a short clip of the video… It is a problem around the world, which is one reason there has been such an outcry from so many countries. And it has been a world problem for centuries. There will be no easy fixes, but hopefully we are starting to move in the right direction again, instead of the back-sliding we have been doing recently. I think this was a much needed wake-up call, I just wish it wasn’t at the cost of a life.
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The negative behaviour we have been seeing is not political Trent – though some are making it seem so. It is a human being’s right to be treated with dignity and our voices should be added to those who are shouting it above the voices of those who would wish to suppress them.
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I agree. We all do need to be speaking up, because those others who wish to suppress them are screaming so loud the world needs to hear our unified voice above the din.
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Trent, if I could WILL people to be better citizens, more just and fair, more a part of the solution than the problem and more concerned with leading than following, I would. This is a complicated issue and watching the media narrow it to politically biased sound bites is disturbing. There are many layers that need to be addressed, and my mind is overwhelmed with where to begin. Partisanship in our country blocks anything positive from happening and until we figure out how to elect good leaders who want to serve not just their party, but all people, that will continue.
I am not naive and I am not without biases, most people have them, whether they admit them or not. Behavior is what sets people apart. Changing humanity from those who adopt a herd mentality to individuals who rely on facts is a Herculean task. One neighborhood at a time might be a place to start.
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We as a country are so divided and dividing us even farther seems to play into some people’s plans. I have no idea how we are going to start coming together – you don’t win elections by agreeing with your “enemy”, an “enemy” who, for the most part, should be working for the same goals as you. That is one reason I like the George W Bush statement so much – it transcends politics and he speaks a human. I wish more politicians past and present would do that – I think that is what it will take. And, as you said, one neighbor at a time – think global but act local.
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The room without walls is pretty awesome..
I was just thinking about your post and a world without walls but looks like we have lot of learning and unlearning to go.
Sometimes I wonder what politics is exactly.
~B
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There is a word for the room without walls, but I can’t think o fit – it’s not an atrium, which is roe central. Oh well, I would like to see a world without walls.
Politics is often a way to artificially divide people so you can win at any costs… Yes, we need that room with no walls or things to divide us.
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Great points, Trent. I too was impressed by GWB staements. And I had never been too impressed with him before.
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Thanks. I do like GWB more now that he is no longer president ;)
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I cut my husband’s hair for the first time. He loves it short! Wow is it ever short!
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I had very long hair as a teen, though military short in college (I was in ROTC for two years). I kept shorter hair until I met my wife – she likes long hair in men, so it has been long-ish, but not as long as it is now! Of course, when I said that it is time for a cut, she said, “Why?” lol, my hair is almost as long as hers :)
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😉
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Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for stopping by :)
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I have read a lot about the issues in the US over the past while, Trent. I am going to be cutting my sons hairs tomorrow. I am getting better at it. There is not one to cut mine though so clips have become my best friends. At least I can say with authority now that I have no grey hair.
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It has been ugly here, but the change is long over due. I know that the road has been pretty rock for your country over the last 25 or 30 years, but hopefully the system is more fair than it was.
I don’t think I had a professional hair cut until I was 15, my mom always did it. I haven’t trimmed much, except keeping my sideburns in check. Unfortunately for me, there is a lot of grey…
I hope you are having a great weekend :)
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It has been good, Trent, I can’t every say I don’t enjoy the weekend though.
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I don’t understand why people storming a statehouse with assault weapons because they want haircuts are heroes while people peacefully protesting for racial justice are treated as enemies of the state. Great job Trent. Such a quotable moment.
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Thanks, Dottie, I’m not surprised that you liked that line :) It is a time for everyone to stand up, and I hope more do. We all need to speak – and to vote!
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Great blog, Trent and kudos to your parents for standing up for justice. It’s wonderful to see people of all ages, races, etc, joining together for change. God bless Americans and people from all over the world who speaking out against the senseless killings and violence. Enough is enough. It’s time for change.
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I would say that I am proud of my parents, but I expected no less – if I have a single good quality, it is because of them :) We have had these hopes many times before, that this is it, that change is coming, only for the moment to pass us by. Hopefully this time it won’t pass by. So many people across the world are speaking up. You are right, enough is enough, and it was enough back with Trevon Martin and back and back with too many to count, back to Emmett Till and even before. Hopefully it will come to an end now and will see the needed change.
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Yep. Buffalo, NY has finally made international news for something other than blizzards, and it’s not a good thing. Like you, I try not to be political, but enough is enough. Somehow, we all need to get along, no matter what race or nationality we are, no matter what our political viewpoints are, and no matter what our job title is. There’s simply no excuse for what’s going on, from either side.
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I am hoping that we have reached a tipping point. It seems that we have almost been there my entire life. I was just a kid, but I remember the optimism of the 70s, that we had some bugs to work out and there were still racist around, but it was over, a post racism society was just around the corner. And, of course, as you said, not just racism, but we need to find common ground on everything. United we stand, divided we fall – and we are falling! And there are some that just hammer on that wedge between us – we need to stand up to that pressure and not let it divide us.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by.
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I agree, it is hard to watch the news. We have lots of protests over here as well. The world is crazy at the moment. We have a big percentage of coloured people in Sweden since we have welcomed many refugees for years. Some big, important thoughts for todays coffee. Thank you.
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It is something the entire world needs to deal with. People have migrated and moved throughout history (and prehistory), but lately it seems more, with refugees pouring into Europe and such. And then in France and England there is the added bit of natives of the ex-colonies who emigrated to those countries in the past century or two. And then the issues in Australia! If you haven’t read about them, it is very sad, though in ways similar to issues that were faced in southern Africa. As you know from living here, in America we have that “original sin” of slavery still hanging over everything and the racism in some segments is still very deeply rooted and may never come out. Hopefully with the world waking up to it, better days will come. Thanks for stopping by!
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Totally agree. I don’t have much respect for people who refuse to admit that racism is a problem and needs to be addressed immediately.
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I agree. It is a huge problem, and most white people do have some racist tendencies – it is almost impossible not to. So some of us admit it and try to improve, but others say, “nope, not me, there isn’t a problem” and so it doesn’t improve with them… Like alcoholism, we need to admit there is a problem before we can fix it.
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It’s hard to watch the news, Trent, but I’m feeling a bit of hope in the way that ordinary citizens are standing up for justice and fairness and each other. Good for your parents!
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It is very hard to watch the news,but hopefully this time there is enough outrage that some good will come of it. Not holding my breath since I have thought it in the past, but still hoping.
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