Ever since Valentine’s Day 2018, the day the Parkland, Florida mass shooting happened, this phrase has become ingrained in my mind.
These teenagers are taking over this sad American reality.
Like Emma, there are plenty others. There are those we know already by name who have been thrust into adulthood too soon. They have taken their role as serious as the reality is.
They are claiming their future as they should.
Here’s one of the many examples seen on March 24, 2018 …
Emma González honored the Parkland shooting victims at the March for Our Lives with six minutes of silence, the amount of time it took for the shooter to kill 17 people.
WOULD NEVER …
~~Emma Gonzalez’s POWERFUL March For Our Lives Speech~~
~~Published on Mar 24, 201 ~~
Emma González’s powerful six minutes of silence speech at the Washington DC March For Our Lives rally
In my personal case, I wasn’t really aware about details related to the political status of North Korea. I knew only a bit.
In light of the prominence given to this country by the actions of the ‘so-called president’ as they relate to North Korea, I am paying more attention.
This is a ‘must watch’ video.
Even though the video was posted in 2014, most likely it still applies today.
Yeonmi Park has grown up to be a beautiful, free young woman!
North Korean woman, Yeonmi Park had a packed audience in tears as she relayed an account of her escape from ‘the darkest place in the world’ at the peace and conflict plenary session. The 21 year old said she was brainwashed by the propaganda of Kim Jong Il and three generations of imprisonment or execution was imposed on anyone that expressed doubt about the regime.
“North Korea is the only country in the world that executes people for making unauthorized international phone calls. North Koreans are being terrorized today,” said Park.
“When I was 9 years old, I saw my friend’s mother publicly executed. Her crime? Watching a Hollywood movie.There’s only one channel on TV. There’s no Internet. We aren’t free to move, sing, read, wear or think what we want,” Park continued. The repressive dictatorship led Park’s older sister to escape and gave Park and her mother no option but to escape themselves in order to find her sister. However as they escaped across the border, Yeonmi, at 13 years old witnessed her mother’s rape.
“I saw my mother raped. The rapist was a Chinese broker. I will never forget his face. The rapist had targeted me. I was only 13 years old,” said an emotional Park.
Park called on chinese One Young World delegates to speak out and petition china to stop repatriation, and called on everyone in attendance to support North Korean refugees that flee the country.
What followed was a standing ovation lasting over three minutes and many delegates leaving the auditorium red-eyed with tears, taking a moment to reflect on the atrocities of North Korea.
What is One Young World? One Young World was founded in 2009 by David Jones and Kate Robertson. We are a UK-based charity that gathers together the brightest young leaders from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections to create positive change.
We stage an annual Summit where the most valuable young talent from global and national companies, NGOs, universities and other forward-thinking organisations are joined by world leaders, acting as the One Young World Counselors.
At the Summit, delegates debate, formulate and share innovative solutions for the pressing issues the world faces.
At past Summits delegates were joined by a line-up of Counsellors that included Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Sir Bob Geldof, Kofi Annan, Sir Richard Branson, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Jamie Oliver, Jack Dorsey and Arianna Huffington.
After each Summit, the delegates, who are then known as One Young World Ambassadors, work on their own initiatives or lend the power of the One Young World network to those initiatives already in existence. Of those in employment, many return to their companies and set about creating change from within, energizing their corporate environment.
In Time of Critical Need for LGBTQ Americans, “Give OUT Day” 2017 is today
San Francisco, CA, April 19, 2017
(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
LGBTQ Americans are in a state of urgent need: an administration actively hostile to the community now occupies the White House; homophobic and transphobic hate crimes have spiked following the election; over 130 laws attacking LGBTQ rights are pending in state legislatures around the country; and the one-year anniversary of the horrific Pulse shooting in Orlando is fast approaching. In this difficult climate, Give OUT Day, a national day of giving for the LGBTQ community, will once again coordinate a 24-hour online fundraising event to support over 300 LGBTQ organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
Give OUT Day 2017 will take place on April 20, 2017 from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm Eastern. Last year, Give Out Day raised over $550,000.
Throughout the day-long event, thousands of people make gifts to support a diverse array of LGBTQ nonprofits, ranging from the arts to social services agencies, advocacy groups to sports leagues, and community centers to health care nonprofits.
Give OUT Dayis a project of Horizons Foundation.
Founded as a community foundation of, by, and for LGBTQ people, Horizons has been supporting LGBTQ nonprofit organizations, leaders, and donors for more than 35 years.
Michael Moore’s 5-Point Plan to Combat Trump in 2017
Well-known and loved liberal mind Michael Moore appeared on MSNBC to explain his five-point plan to resist Donald Trump in 2017.
Moore has already made waves several times since the election, most notably with his plan to immediately have Donald Trump impeached, but he has come back to the the public with a level-headed and practical way everyone can move into the new year with a plan – and hope.
Visit your Congressional representative, whether in the House or in the Senate.
(Moore reminds those watching that Congress is in recess, and all representatives will be home.)
Insist that the Democratic National Committee appoint leaders who fall within the progressive spectrum.
Form your very own rapid-response team.
(This is explained as a team made up of neighbors, friends, or family who will be part of a text, call, or Facebook tree designed to prompt immediate response to Trump by contacting representatives, applying social media pressure, etc. The goal? To make sure your voices are heard.)
Plan to be a part of a protest taking place during Trump’s inauguration weekend.
Have a Plan B – as bad as you think it’s going to be, it’s actually going to be worse.
(His behavior since the election, coupled with his cabinet picks have given us a “coming attraction.” Be prepared).
~~Michael Moore’s 5-Point Plan For 2017 And Donald Trump~~
The Last Word
~~Published on Dec 23, 2016~~
Filmmaker Michael Moore has his own guide on how Americans should resist the policies of Donald Trump, stay vigilant, and what you should be doing in the New Year. Michael Moore joins Lawrence.
Richard Williams, better known by his stage name Prince Ea, is an American rapper and activist.
Prince Ea was born as Richard Williams on September 16, 1988 in St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest of three children, and has resided there his whole life. The alias Prince Ea is derived from Sumerian mythology (“The prince of the Earth“). He has also graduated from the University of Missouri,St. Louis with Latin honors.
~~The “Make ‘SMART’ Cool” movement~~
In late 2009 Prince Ea, upset at the present state of the music industry, decided to form a movement named “Make ‘SMART’ Cool”. The “Make ‘SMART’ Cool” movement (SMART is an acronym for “Sophisticating Millions And Revolutionizing Thought“) attempts to “promote intelligence to everyone, everywhere and integrate it with hip-hop.
To create and nurture, without discrimination or preference, a community of free-thinking individuals under the singular purpose of promoting the ideals of education, intelligence, unity and creativity throughout the world at large.”
It’s been a bit more than one year that I started blogging.
This was a totally brand new endeavor for me. I found it very interesting, appealing and educational. Every day I learned something new. I still learn something new to this date.
When I chose topics to blog about, I research about them. I look for related links, references and the like.
One of the most important things that have become important to me are the connections which are established with other bloggers and the readers and followers who stop by our “spots”.
I find them to be teachers, leaders, inspirational. Another source of learning, sharing and connecting.
It’s funny how things change … and at the same time, it’s sad.
The sad reality is when those relationships sour. After connecting and being some part of our lives, situations get out of control and difference appear that the bonds. There’s a bittersweet taste in our mouths thinking that what we had … never was.
The only constant we have in life is change.
This is very well expressed in the lyrics of one of my favorite songs.
Once things change, can it be recovered? Can it be fixed?
Who can say?
~~Enya – Only Time~~
(Official Music Video)
~~Uploaded on Oct 25, 2009~~
“Only Time” Lyrics:
Who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
And who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose, only time
Who can say why your heart sighs
As your love flies, only time
And who can say why your heart cries
When your love lies, only time
Who can say when the roads meet
That love might be in your heart
And who can say when the day sleeps
If the night keeps all your heart
Night keeps all your heart
Who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose
– Only time
And who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
It Is What It Is 