Real People
“I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don't believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn't want brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I'm not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn't know how to return the treatment.” You believe in treating everybody right whether they put a rope around your neck or whether they put you in the grave. Well, my belief isn't that strong. I believe in the brotherhood of man, but I think that anybody who wants to lynch a Negro is not qualified for that brotherhood and I don't put forth any effort to get them into that brotherhood. You want to save him and I don't.”
~Malcolm X, Speech to the Peace Corps, December 1964.
apr 25, 2018
A people who elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and
traitors are not victims, ...accomplicies - "George Orwell"
reflections on today's events
*seventeen people dead in florida school shooting will do nothing to solve america's gun control problem since it is really based on greed and cowardice.
*trump's infrastructure plan is a roadmap to privatization of the commons while his budget plan is a roadmap to starvation of the people.
*why don't repubs emphasize collecting taxes instead of lower taxes? perhaps if everyone paid what they should we could have a fairer system.
*trump's grandfather was an ignorant immigrant and he was admitted to america.
*Why does the demo. party not heavily recruit for black voters because it is run by fools who think republicans will vote for demos.
*if you are not embarrassed by america's history, then you are living a history based on lies.
*trump voters elected a liar and thief as president who is now under multiple investigations, it just shows that you cannot tell stupid people anything
*if you pay attention, you will realize that you don't have a government that gives a shit about working people.
*people of france rejected a racist, right wing fool for president, what does that say about american voters?
*Ignorance, religion, and war are the greatest enemies of mankind.
*GOP plans to kill endangered species act, i guess they won't be happy until their are no animals/birds in the US.
*the great thing about having trump as president is that now there is no reason to watch main-stream-media for truth and "fair and balanced" journalism, you know that it is all bullshit.
*republicans pretend having taxpayers pay for stupid border wall is the same as Mexico paying for it. but what is sad, their dumbass supporters will believe it.
*everything you think is true about american institutions: media, banks, businesses, education, healthcare, etc. is a lie.
*the colonizers and their descendants claim to own this hemisphere like a burglar owns your tv set.
*if america had a real government, then there would not be homeless people, starving children, POLLUTED air and water...
The Informed American Voter
living in a shithole!!!
Black NFL player says cop pulled him over because he assumed Mercedes meant he was a drug dealer
Brad Reed - raw story
25 APR 2018 AT 13:34 ET
NFL wide receiver Paul Richardson
Paul Richardson, who plays wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, claimed this week that a police officer in Virginia pulled him over and told him that he must be either a drug dealer or gang member because he was driving a Mercedes SUV.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Richardson claims he was pulled over by a Virginia state trooper on Tuesday and was immediately asked by the officer if he sold drugs.
“Before asking my name, he asked me if I was in a gang, then minutes later told me he thought I was a dealer (drugs),” Richardson wrote in a since-deleted tweet about the incident. “What a welcome to the east coast. Finished up with asking me how much car cost me.”
Richardson, who played on the West Coast in Seattle before signing a five-year deal worth up to $40 million with Washington, said he deleted his original tweets because “tweeting about it wasn’t the right way to deal” with the incident.
The Times-Dispatch reports that the Virginia State Police Department is aware of Richardson’s claims and is now reviewing the incident.
“In a statement, police said that no formal complaint had been filed, but that they were looking into the matter,” the publication writes. “The review would extend to the trooper’s ‘in-car camera footage of the traffic stop’ to determine whether it conformed to state police policy.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Richardson claims he was pulled over by a Virginia state trooper on Tuesday and was immediately asked by the officer if he sold drugs.
“Before asking my name, he asked me if I was in a gang, then minutes later told me he thought I was a dealer (drugs),” Richardson wrote in a since-deleted tweet about the incident. “What a welcome to the east coast. Finished up with asking me how much car cost me.”
Richardson, who played on the West Coast in Seattle before signing a five-year deal worth up to $40 million with Washington, said he deleted his original tweets because “tweeting about it wasn’t the right way to deal” with the incident.
The Times-Dispatch reports that the Virginia State Police Department is aware of Richardson’s claims and is now reviewing the incident.
“In a statement, police said that no formal complaint had been filed, but that they were looking into the matter,” the publication writes. “The review would extend to the trooper’s ‘in-car camera footage of the traffic stop’ to determine whether it conformed to state police policy.”
Colin Kaepernick honored with Amnesty International award
BY LUIS SANCHEZ - the hill
04/21/18 12:45 PM EDT
Amnesty International has awarded civil rights activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick with its top award.
Kaepernick was presented Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2018 in the Netherlands on Saturday.
“The Ambassador of Conscience award celebrates the spirit of activism and exceptional courage, as embodied by Colin Kaepernick. He is an athlete who is now widely recognized for his activism because of his refusal to ignore or accept racial discrimination,” said Salil Shetty, secretary general of Amnesty International.
Kaepernick first gained widespread attention in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games as a way to protest racial injustice against African-Americans. In the same year, Kaepernick also pledged to donate one million dollars to organizations that help oppressed communities.
His protests led a number of other players to do the same and triggered a backlash that included President Trump.
“I watched Colin Kaepernick, and I thought it was terrible, and then it got bigger and bigger and started mushrooming, and frankly the NFL should have suspended him for one game, and he would have never done it again,” Trump told Fox News last October.
“This is an award that I share with all of the countless people throughout the world combating the human rights violations of police officers, and their uses of oppressive and excessive force," Kaepernick said. “To quote Malcolm X, when he said that he, ‘will join in with anyone — I don’t care what color you are — as long as you want to change this miserable condition that exists on this earth,’ I am here to join with you all in this battle against police violence.”
Kaepernick was presented Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2018 in the Netherlands on Saturday.
“The Ambassador of Conscience award celebrates the spirit of activism and exceptional courage, as embodied by Colin Kaepernick. He is an athlete who is now widely recognized for his activism because of his refusal to ignore or accept racial discrimination,” said Salil Shetty, secretary general of Amnesty International.
Kaepernick first gained widespread attention in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games as a way to protest racial injustice against African-Americans. In the same year, Kaepernick also pledged to donate one million dollars to organizations that help oppressed communities.
His protests led a number of other players to do the same and triggered a backlash that included President Trump.
“I watched Colin Kaepernick, and I thought it was terrible, and then it got bigger and bigger and started mushrooming, and frankly the NFL should have suspended him for one game, and he would have never done it again,” Trump told Fox News last October.
“This is an award that I share with all of the countless people throughout the world combating the human rights violations of police officers, and their uses of oppressive and excessive force," Kaepernick said. “To quote Malcolm X, when he said that he, ‘will join in with anyone — I don’t care what color you are — as long as you want to change this miserable condition that exists on this earth,’ I am here to join with you all in this battle against police violence.”
Texas student defends merit of Harvard acceptance after question from former state official
BY AVERY ANAPOL - the hill
April 21, 2018 - 08:09 AM EDT
A former Texas state official this week questioned a biracial California high school student's Harvard acceptance, asking on Twitter if he was admitted on "merit" or "quota."
Drake Johnson tweeted a photo of himself on Wednesday holding his Harvard acceptance letter and sporting the Ivy League university's sweatshirt, adding: "It's official, I'm Harvard bound."
George Clayton, a former member of the Texas state board of education, according to the Dallas Morning News, responded to the tweet.
"Congrats," Clayton wrote. "Were you admitted on merit or quota?"
Clayton, who says in his Twitter bio that he is again running for the board, declined to comment on the tweet to the Dallas News, saying that he has retired from public life.
The Marina High School senior responded to Clayton's question with a "thank you" and a list of his accomplishments.
"Valedictorian, ASB President, World Champion, good SAT, and a couple handfuls of other involvements, so I would think merit?" Johnson wrote.
Johnson was accepted to 10 schools, including Dartmouth and Brown, according to the Monterey County Herald. He told the Dallas News that he wanted to craft a response to Clayton that would "civilly defuse" the situation.
"I wanted some subtle way to prove him wrong, but not be aggressive," he said. "I thought that was the best way to civilly defuse the situation and clearly show I was accepted on merit."
"In case anyone else thinks I just got accepted to fill a quota, I did actually get in based on merit lol," Johnson tweeted later.
Johnson's mother slammed Clayton's tweet, telling the paper that it was "frustrating" and racist.
"Why do you care, and why are you asking that particular question to a kid who is clearly of some type of mixed race?" she said. "That is just so frustrating."
She also praised her son's response.
"He's this kid who really thinks about what he's doing and saying," she told the paper. "He knows how hard he works to get where he's at. He wants people to understand that that's why he's getting what he's getting, nothing's being handed to him."
Drake Johnson tweeted a photo of himself on Wednesday holding his Harvard acceptance letter and sporting the Ivy League university's sweatshirt, adding: "It's official, I'm Harvard bound."
George Clayton, a former member of the Texas state board of education, according to the Dallas Morning News, responded to the tweet.
"Congrats," Clayton wrote. "Were you admitted on merit or quota?"
Clayton, who says in his Twitter bio that he is again running for the board, declined to comment on the tweet to the Dallas News, saying that he has retired from public life.
The Marina High School senior responded to Clayton's question with a "thank you" and a list of his accomplishments.
"Valedictorian, ASB President, World Champion, good SAT, and a couple handfuls of other involvements, so I would think merit?" Johnson wrote.
Johnson was accepted to 10 schools, including Dartmouth and Brown, according to the Monterey County Herald. He told the Dallas News that he wanted to craft a response to Clayton that would "civilly defuse" the situation.
"I wanted some subtle way to prove him wrong, but not be aggressive," he said. "I thought that was the best way to civilly defuse the situation and clearly show I was accepted on merit."
"In case anyone else thinks I just got accepted to fill a quota, I did actually get in based on merit lol," Johnson tweeted later.
Johnson's mother slammed Clayton's tweet, telling the paper that it was "frustrating" and racist.
"Why do you care, and why are you asking that particular question to a kid who is clearly of some type of mixed race?" she said. "That is just so frustrating."
She also praised her son's response.
"He's this kid who really thinks about what he's doing and saying," she told the paper. "He knows how hard he works to get where he's at. He wants people to understand that that's why he's getting what he's getting, nothing's being handed to him."
It's Him or Us
NanceGreggs - demo underround
Yes, Republicans, we’re there – the place none of us ever wanted to be. But nonetheless, here we are just the same.
Your “pResident”, Donald Shithole Trump, is a proven liar, a self-proclaimed pussy-grabbing sexual predator, an immature idiot who spends his days in office tweeting, watching TV, and playing golf.
He is lazy, mentally incompetent, and too stupid to understand the responsibilities of his office – oh, and he’s also under investigation for possible collusion with Russia in order to interfere with our elections, and the “great people” he was going to surround himself with are also under investigation and/or have already been indicted – and through it all, you have defended and supported him.
But there can no longer be any debate as to whether Donald Shithole Trump is a racist. He has called Mexicans “rapists and drug dealers”, has declared that all Haitians have AIDS, has tried to keep Muslims from entering the country because they’re terrorists, has stated that Nigerians live in “huts”, called white supremacists and KKK members “very fine people” – and he has now labelled countries with black and brown populations as “shitholes”.
Donald Shithole Trump epitomizes everything America stands against – misogyny, ignorance, divisiveness, bigotry, and racism. And there is no viable argument you can offer that alters that fact.
We are now at the crossroads, that place where you have no choice but to pick a side. The time for vacillating, obfuscating, parsing words, and defending the indefensible is over.
You either stand with Donald Shithole Trump, or you stand with your country. You either side with a racist, or you side with your fellow citizens. You either defend a lying, ignorant bigot, or you defend the principles our nation was founded upon.
There is NO middle ground here. You are either with US, the American people who believe in equality and justice for all, or you are with HIM, the man who thinks non-whites should be barred from the American dream because they’re from “shithole countries”. You are either with US, the citizens who want to welcome immigrants in the same way their own ancestors were welcomed, or you are with HIM, the man who wants that welcome restricted to people from lily-white countries like Norway.
It’s time to grow a pair. Either stand up for your country, or stand up for a man whose every action, every statement, every attitude is anti-American, and exemplifies everything our country is opposed to.
Silence is consent. And your collective silence on your “pResident’s” remarks about “shithole countries” is beyond consent – it is nothing less than collaboration with our nation’s enemies, foreign AND domestic.
If anyone ever wondered whether the GOP is the party of racists and bigots, you have finally managed to remove all doubt.
TOWARD A POLITICS OF UNGOVERNABILITY: SHUTTING DOWN AMERICAN-STYLE AUTHORITARIANISM
BY HENRY GIROUX | APRIL 17, 2017
"The established political parties and politicians are nothing more than crude lobbyists and shock troops for the financial elite who believe everything is for sale. The boundaries of humanity are now inscribed and defined exclusively through the metrics of the twin logic of commercial transactions and the politics of disposability. The horrors unfolding under the Trump administration are not only abetted by white supremacists, religious evangelicals, but also by liberals who still believe that capitalism and democracy are synonymous, and who appear to delight and rush to support any military intervention or act of aggression the United States wages against a foreign power. Liberals are affronted over alleged charges of Russian spying but say nothing about their own country which does far more than spy on other countries it disagrees with, it overthrows them through either illegal means or military force."
Reasons why I will NEVER, EVER forgive Trump voters
Coventina
From Demo. Underground: All these things were done BEFORE the election, so don't try to tell me that Trump voters didn't know EXACTLY what they were voting for:
Calling Mexicans rapists
Shaming women for having menstrual cycles
Saying John McCain is not a hero for surviving torture
Signing up a white nationalist as a delegate
Saying he is against the First Amendment
Refusing to condemn the KKK
Mocking a disabled reporter
Praising Saddam Hussein
Praising Vladimir Putin
Re-tweeting white nationalists
Tweeting that most murders of white people are done by African Americans
Mocking women's personal appearance
Sexualizing his daughter
Lying about American Muslims celebrating on 9/11
"Two Corinthians"
Talking about his penis during a national debate
Saying a judge was partial due to his ethnic heritage
Supporting the Obama "birther" lies
Threatening to end the free press
Defrauding students of "Trump University"
Not releasing his taxes
Saying pumping breast milk is "disgusting"
Asking Russia to hack the United States
Of course there is so much more, but this hits the high (low) lights for me.
Calling Mexicans rapists
Shaming women for having menstrual cycles
Saying John McCain is not a hero for surviving torture
Signing up a white nationalist as a delegate
Saying he is against the First Amendment
Refusing to condemn the KKK
Mocking a disabled reporter
Praising Saddam Hussein
Praising Vladimir Putin
Re-tweeting white nationalists
Tweeting that most murders of white people are done by African Americans
Mocking women's personal appearance
Sexualizing his daughter
Lying about American Muslims celebrating on 9/11
"Two Corinthians"
Talking about his penis during a national debate
Saying a judge was partial due to his ethnic heritage
Supporting the Obama "birther" lies
Threatening to end the free press
Defrauding students of "Trump University"
Not releasing his taxes
Saying pumping breast milk is "disgusting"
Asking Russia to hack the United States
Of course there is so much more, but this hits the high (low) lights for me.
*real people short takes on reality*
apr 18, 2018
-democratic underground, etc-
Now, Do You See?
kentuck
Now, do you see what Republicans do to our country? Do you see the deterioration in every aspect of American life?
Do you see the decline in morality? Do you see the hate and intolerance? Do you see the fake politicians that pretend to be for the people?
Do you see the corruption and the criminality? Do you see the leaders that threaten to put people in jail if they do not agree? Do you see the decline in America's stature in the world?
Do you see the lies and division in our society? Do you see the road we are traveling?
Do you see what the Republicans are doing to our country?
--------
The American far-right is in the bed with Russia for 2 reasons
IluvPitties
If you have followed the white supremacist movement for some time, you will notice that they have, for decades being fixated with the idea of Eastern Europe and Russia being promised lands for white people. Several American white supremacists have been traveling to these areas for decades, some of them even marrying women from these countries. Russia, since the fall of the Soviet Union, has been taken over by far-right Christian, xenophobic ideologues, and it has been more and more hostile to its minorities as time goes by. Add to that the hostility they have shown towards Muslim minorities in their territory, and you have the perfect match for our far-right ideologues.
Add to that the desire of Russia to cripple the US economically and to finally become the world's main superpower. They have realized that the other moral weakness of those in the far-right is apart of their xenophobia is their greed. Our far-right is in love with money, and they want it no matter what. Russia has presented itself as the ideological and financial backbones of the American far-right, and the Republican Party has allowed this train of thought to take hold of them. Mainstream American conservatism has decided to follow the lead and example of present day Russian "soft" fascism, and they are, without realizing it, willing to sell our Nation down the drain just to satisfy their desire to establish a white American, Christian ethnostate, run by a select group of corrupt oligarchs.
From Donald Trump to Paul Ryan, from Steve Bannon to Sean Hannity, from Ann Coulter to Laura Ingraham, what you are witnessing is the ascension of white supremacism in the American political landscape... and Russia is their financial backer, their moral compass and their overseer.
---------
Danger at our doors!
rainy - demo underground
Donald Trump needs war to survive. Bolton is on board itching to attack Iran. Soon there will be a false flag excuse to attack Iran and the world is screwed! Thank you American voters and non voters for your lack of reason and intellectual curiosity. As long as our military is attacking all other issues are non existent and Trumps approval goes up. Thank you non-stop war supporting media.
----------
Slap them the fuck down.
LuckyCharms - demo underground
I don't know why Sunday mornings do this to me.
These "people" with the MAGA hats. Fox News. Rush Limbaugh. Mark Levin. All these motherfuckers.
These "people" who influence policy, and allow a lizard like Trump become POTUS.
Because of these people, your life will never be the same again. Ever. You won't live long enough to see significant improvement. Pandora's box has been opened.
It's not the tweets. It's not Trump. It's the people who allowed him to rise. It's THE LACK OF PROGRESSION that will literally kill us.
It's not unfortunate or discouraging, but rather, it is dangerous and fatal. Because of people who are dumbasses. These COWARDS who need a daddy to fix things for them. These COWARDS who perceive that their lives will get better if others who are not like them get hurt.
Slap them down. Belittle them. Mock them. Shame them. Go all snowflake on their ass. Anyone who supports Trump at this point in time deserves it. Make them socially unacceptable. It was done with cigarettes, it can be done with assholes too.
-------
MSNBC’S STEVE SCHMIDT WARNS TRUMP IS STARTING TO WRECK THE ECONOMY BECAUSE HE’S AN ‘IMBECILE’
TRAVIS GETTYS- RAW STORY
“Maybe this will be experiential learning for the American people, as Donald Trump precipitates for no good reason a trade war that will have devastating consequences in the country, not just in the equities market but for real jobs, real people, real towns and cities in this country,” Schmidt said.
“The consequences of an inept and incompetent president, whether it’s a from a national security perspective with people being killed in wars or economically, will start to come home now,” he continued. “I think that’s what we’re starting to see here. This is very bad news for the American people, for people who are trying to get ahead, people trying to put their kids through college. You look at the attacks on Amazon, for example. If you’re a retired teacher, if you’re a pensioner, you’re devastated by the drop in stock price caused by a political attack by the president.”
---------
By definition, anyone who voted for Trump is an idiot.
MineralMan demo underground
Further, as everyone knows, talking to idiots makes you stupid by osmosis.
Therefore, talking to Trump supporters is not only a waste of time, it can harm your own ability to reason.
I recommend against doing that on general principles.
And that's my opinion for this Sunday.
-----
When idiots say "both parties are the same"
SHRED
From Demo Underground: Here's a partial list.
Things that Democrats would not be doing:
Escalating towards nuclear war with NK.
Pulling out of Paris Climate Agreement.
Reducing National Monuments.
Defunding renewable energy.
Defunding CHIP.
Not helping Puerto Rico sufficiently.
Threatening and deporting DACA.
Building a wall on the southern border.
Attacking our allies and praising Russia.
Trying to revive the war on cannabis.
Backing expansion of private prisons.
Sabotaging the ACA.
Pushing an obscene tax bill which trigger cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Preparing to decimate the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.
A State Department in shambles.
Privatization schemes against public education.
Expanding the private prison system.
Attacking the BLM movement.
Praising White Supremacists.
Renewing attacks on our LGBT brothers and sisters.
Destroying Net Neutrality.
To name a few for those idiots who think "both parties are the same".
I've shutdown fools online with this list.
----------
Things that Democrats would not be doing:
Escalating towards nuclear war with NK.
Pulling out of Paris Climate Agreement.
Reducing National Monuments.
Defunding renewable energy.
Defunding CHIP.
Not helping Puerto Rico sufficiently.
Threatening and deporting DACA.
Building a wall on the southern border.
Attacking our allies and praising Russia.
Trying to revive the war on cannabis.
Backing expansion of private prisons.
Sabotaging the ACA.
Pushing an obscene tax bill which trigger cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Preparing to decimate the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.
A State Department in shambles.
Privatization schemes against public education.
Expanding the private prison system.
Attacking the BLM movement.
Praising White Supremacists.
Renewing attacks on our LGBT brothers and sisters.
Destroying Net Neutrality.
To name a few for those idiots who think "both parties are the same".
I've shutdown fools online with this list.
----------
stupid is as stupid does!!!
Please Stop Giving Trump Supporters a Stupidity Pass
babylonsister
From Demo Underground: Ignorance is not a compelling argument.
snip//
It’s time we stopped giving adult human beings the benefit of the doubt, simply because we think they’re not smart enough not to be fooled by religious shysters, fake news peddlers, and political snake oil salesmen. If that is true, then they’re also not smart or mentally available enough to be presented with objective data or compelling argument and to filter them responsibility. They are practically speaking, unreachable with rational measures.
I’m tired of having to treat people like children, when they aren’t capable or willing to see what even a child can see, what my children can see. They know hatred and bullying without needing to read a think piece or do online research or unpack layers of religion and history.
I’m over justifying bigotry and racism and the horrible stuff happening in the country, and giving people who perpetuate it a pass because they supposedly don’t realize they’re supporting a monster,—when most of the watching world seems to get it.
In a time when information is available at our fingertips and when conversation and study and exploration are limitless, I’ve through excusing adult men and women for not being able to make a decision that is based in reality, simply because they’re in some hateful, self-righteous, nationalistic bubble. That’s their fault, not ours. I don’t hate these people but I’m also not going to coddle them and encourage their ignorance anymore because lots of people are damaged when that happens.
Sooner or later we adults all have to own our stupidity–and choose to be wiser.
https://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/11/28/please-stop-giving-trump-supporters-stupidity-pass/
-------
snip//
It’s time we stopped giving adult human beings the benefit of the doubt, simply because we think they’re not smart enough not to be fooled by religious shysters, fake news peddlers, and political snake oil salesmen. If that is true, then they’re also not smart or mentally available enough to be presented with objective data or compelling argument and to filter them responsibility. They are practically speaking, unreachable with rational measures.
I’m tired of having to treat people like children, when they aren’t capable or willing to see what even a child can see, what my children can see. They know hatred and bullying without needing to read a think piece or do online research or unpack layers of religion and history.
I’m over justifying bigotry and racism and the horrible stuff happening in the country, and giving people who perpetuate it a pass because they supposedly don’t realize they’re supporting a monster,—when most of the watching world seems to get it.
In a time when information is available at our fingertips and when conversation and study and exploration are limitless, I’ve through excusing adult men and women for not being able to make a decision that is based in reality, simply because they’re in some hateful, self-righteous, nationalistic bubble. That’s their fault, not ours. I don’t hate these people but I’m also not going to coddle them and encourage their ignorance anymore because lots of people are damaged when that happens.
Sooner or later we adults all have to own our stupidity–and choose to be wiser.
https://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/11/28/please-stop-giving-trump-supporters-stupidity-pass/
-------
Tour exposes students to their unconscious bias
Ayana Jones Tribune Staff Writer
From Philly Tribune: CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace, has launched the “Check Your Blind Spots” tour at Villanova University.
The tour is visiting college campuses across the country to expose students to their unconscious biases and empower them to take part in diversity and inclusion conversations in their communities and with their future employers.
“We’re proud to be working with some of our signatory colleges and universities to bring the “Check Your Blind Spots” program to young people across the country,” said Tim Ryan, U.S. chairman and senior partner of PwC and chair of the steering committee for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™.
“As CEOs of major companies, we’ve seen how valuable this coalition has been in helping our employees make better and more inclusive decisions. We believe that as tomorrow’s workforce, today’s students must leave school with the right set of skills for the job. This not only includes technical skills, but also the ability to be inclusive, and to support and encourage diverse perspectives and contributions.”
When the interactive tour stopped on Villanova’s campus this week, participating students, faculty and staff took an implicit bias test featuring 15 different blind spots that range from race to gender and workplace bias.
“It’s just another time at Villanova where we can sort of stop and think about diversity and inclusion in a real way and how it impacts our lives as people, “ Terry Nance, associate vice provost for Diversity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer at Villanova University, said in reference to the tour.
At each tour stop, students will be taken through a video experience, overhearing unexpected conversations that happen in the real world and reveal society’s biases – and ultimately, their own. Officials said this experience will equip students with the knowledge and resources needed to help address preexisting biases and better understand their role in advancing diversity and inclusion.
The first leg of the Check Your Blind Spots campaign will visit Bentley University, Miami University, Binghamton University and Pennsylvania State University.
The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace.
By signing on to this commitment, the CEOs pledge to cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, where employees feel encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion, and where best known and unsuccessful actions can be shared across organizations via a unified hub, CEOAction.com.
The initiative, which was launched in June, brings together more than 300 CEO of Americas leading organizations and leaders of colleges and universities. Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue has signed on to the commitment.
Nance said the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion is a timely initiative.
“If not now, when? I think of that old saying if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem so I am so glad to see people really committing time, effort and energy to beginning to come up with solutions,” she stated.
“The other thing that I am excited about is breaking down the silos between business and the academic world. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn from our colleagues in all arenas how we can ultimately do this business of diversity and inclusion better.”
The tour is visiting college campuses across the country to expose students to their unconscious biases and empower them to take part in diversity and inclusion conversations in their communities and with their future employers.
“We’re proud to be working with some of our signatory colleges and universities to bring the “Check Your Blind Spots” program to young people across the country,” said Tim Ryan, U.S. chairman and senior partner of PwC and chair of the steering committee for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™.
“As CEOs of major companies, we’ve seen how valuable this coalition has been in helping our employees make better and more inclusive decisions. We believe that as tomorrow’s workforce, today’s students must leave school with the right set of skills for the job. This not only includes technical skills, but also the ability to be inclusive, and to support and encourage diverse perspectives and contributions.”
When the interactive tour stopped on Villanova’s campus this week, participating students, faculty and staff took an implicit bias test featuring 15 different blind spots that range from race to gender and workplace bias.
“It’s just another time at Villanova where we can sort of stop and think about diversity and inclusion in a real way and how it impacts our lives as people, “ Terry Nance, associate vice provost for Diversity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer at Villanova University, said in reference to the tour.
At each tour stop, students will be taken through a video experience, overhearing unexpected conversations that happen in the real world and reveal society’s biases – and ultimately, their own. Officials said this experience will equip students with the knowledge and resources needed to help address preexisting biases and better understand their role in advancing diversity and inclusion.
The first leg of the Check Your Blind Spots campaign will visit Bentley University, Miami University, Binghamton University and Pennsylvania State University.
The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace.
By signing on to this commitment, the CEOs pledge to cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, where employees feel encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion, and where best known and unsuccessful actions can be shared across organizations via a unified hub, CEOAction.com.
The initiative, which was launched in June, brings together more than 300 CEO of Americas leading organizations and leaders of colleges and universities. Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue has signed on to the commitment.
Nance said the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion is a timely initiative.
“If not now, when? I think of that old saying if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem so I am so glad to see people really committing time, effort and energy to beginning to come up with solutions,” she stated.
“The other thing that I am excited about is breaking down the silos between business and the academic world. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn from our colleagues in all arenas how we can ultimately do this business of diversity and inclusion better.”
Pastor Explains: When White Folks Say Obama Was an “Embarrassment”, Here is Your Response
By
cpowell
From Bluedot Daily: One of the common responses to criticism of Donald Trump by his mostly white voters is something along the lines “we were embarrassed by Obama for 8 years.” One pastor is calling out that nonsense.
Progressive pastor John Pavlovitz, a favorite of ours here, has penned an open letter to those white Trump voters, informing them that no, in fact, they weren’t embarrassed by the former President.
Were you embarrassed by his lone and enduring twenty-five year marriage to a strong woman he’s never ceased to publicly praise, respect, or cherish?
Were you embarrassed by the way he lovingly and sweetly parented and protected his daughters?
I remember the day after the Election, a friend of mine who happens to be white, remarked on social media that he “finally wasn’t embarrassed of America and our President.”
I sprained my eyes rolling them and they have never fully recovered.
Since then I’ve heard this sentiment echoed by more white folks than I can count, especially in recent months; supposed relief at once again having a leader who instills pride.
Since I don’t have the time to ask each of the individually, I’ll ask here:
So, you were embarrassed for the past 8 years, huh?
Really?
What exactly were you embarrassed by?
Were you embarrassed by his lone and enduring twenty-five year marriage to a strong woman he’s never ceased to publicly praise, respect, or cherish?
Were you embarrassed by the way he lovingly and sweetly parented and protected his daughters?
Were you embarrassed by his Columbia University degree in Political Science or his graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School?
Maybe you were embarrassed by his white American and Black Kenyan parents, or the diversity he was raised in as normal?
Were you embarrassed by his eloquence, his quick wit, his easy humor, his seeming comfort meeting with both world leaders and street cleaners; by his bright smile or his sense of empathy or his steadiness—perhaps by his lack of personal scandals or verbal gaffes or impulsive tirades?
No. Of course you weren’t.
Honestly, I don’t believe you were ever embarrassed. That word implies an association that brings ridicule, one that makes you ashamed by association, and if that’s something you claim to have experienced over the past eight years by having Barack Obama representing you in the world—I’m going to suggest you rethink your word choice.
You weren’t “embarrassed” by Barack Obama.
You were threatened by him.
You were offended by him.
You were challenged by him.
You were enraged by him.
But I don’t believe it had anything to do with his resume or his experience or his character or his conduct in office—because you seem fully proud right now to be associated with a three-time married, serial adulterer and confessed predator; a man whose election and business dealings and relationships are riddled with controversy and malfeasance. You’re perfectly fine being represented by a bullying, obnoxious, genitalia-grabbing, Tweet-ranting, Prime Minister-shoving charlatan who’s managed to offended all our allies in a few short months. And you’re okay with him putting on religious faith like a rented, dusty, ill-fitting tuxedo and immediately tossing it in the garbage when he’s finished with it.
None of that you’re embarrassed of? I wonder how that works.
Actually, I’m afraid I have an idea. I hope I’m wrong.
Listen, you’re perfectly within your rights to have disagreed with Barack Obama’s policies or to have taken issue with his tactics. No one’s claiming he was a flawless politician or a perfect human being. But somehow I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about here. I think the thing President Obama did that really upset you, white friend—was having a complexion that was far darker than you were ever comfortable with. I think the President we have now feels much better.
Because objectively speaking, if what’s happening in our country right now doesn’t cause you great shame and doesn’t induce the continual meeting of your palm to your face—I don’t believe embarrassment is ever something you struggle with.
No, if you claimed to be “embarrassed” by Barack Obama but you’re not embarrassed by Donald Trump—I’m going to strongly suggest it was largely a pigmentation issue.
And as an American and a Christian committed to diversity and equality and to the liberty at the heart of this nation--that, embarrasses me.
Well said, Pastor. Well said indeed.
Progressive pastor John Pavlovitz, a favorite of ours here, has penned an open letter to those white Trump voters, informing them that no, in fact, they weren’t embarrassed by the former President.
Were you embarrassed by his lone and enduring twenty-five year marriage to a strong woman he’s never ceased to publicly praise, respect, or cherish?
Were you embarrassed by the way he lovingly and sweetly parented and protected his daughters?
I remember the day after the Election, a friend of mine who happens to be white, remarked on social media that he “finally wasn’t embarrassed of America and our President.”
I sprained my eyes rolling them and they have never fully recovered.
Since then I’ve heard this sentiment echoed by more white folks than I can count, especially in recent months; supposed relief at once again having a leader who instills pride.
Since I don’t have the time to ask each of the individually, I’ll ask here:
So, you were embarrassed for the past 8 years, huh?
Really?
What exactly were you embarrassed by?
Were you embarrassed by his lone and enduring twenty-five year marriage to a strong woman he’s never ceased to publicly praise, respect, or cherish?
Were you embarrassed by the way he lovingly and sweetly parented and protected his daughters?
Were you embarrassed by his Columbia University degree in Political Science or his graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School?
Maybe you were embarrassed by his white American and Black Kenyan parents, or the diversity he was raised in as normal?
Were you embarrassed by his eloquence, his quick wit, his easy humor, his seeming comfort meeting with both world leaders and street cleaners; by his bright smile or his sense of empathy or his steadiness—perhaps by his lack of personal scandals or verbal gaffes or impulsive tirades?
No. Of course you weren’t.
Honestly, I don’t believe you were ever embarrassed. That word implies an association that brings ridicule, one that makes you ashamed by association, and if that’s something you claim to have experienced over the past eight years by having Barack Obama representing you in the world—I’m going to suggest you rethink your word choice.
You weren’t “embarrassed” by Barack Obama.
You were threatened by him.
You were offended by him.
You were challenged by him.
You were enraged by him.
But I don’t believe it had anything to do with his resume or his experience or his character or his conduct in office—because you seem fully proud right now to be associated with a three-time married, serial adulterer and confessed predator; a man whose election and business dealings and relationships are riddled with controversy and malfeasance. You’re perfectly fine being represented by a bullying, obnoxious, genitalia-grabbing, Tweet-ranting, Prime Minister-shoving charlatan who’s managed to offended all our allies in a few short months. And you’re okay with him putting on religious faith like a rented, dusty, ill-fitting tuxedo and immediately tossing it in the garbage when he’s finished with it.
None of that you’re embarrassed of? I wonder how that works.
Actually, I’m afraid I have an idea. I hope I’m wrong.
Listen, you’re perfectly within your rights to have disagreed with Barack Obama’s policies or to have taken issue with his tactics. No one’s claiming he was a flawless politician or a perfect human being. But somehow I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about here. I think the thing President Obama did that really upset you, white friend—was having a complexion that was far darker than you were ever comfortable with. I think the President we have now feels much better.
Because objectively speaking, if what’s happening in our country right now doesn’t cause you great shame and doesn’t induce the continual meeting of your palm to your face—I don’t believe embarrassment is ever something you struggle with.
No, if you claimed to be “embarrassed” by Barack Obama but you’re not embarrassed by Donald Trump—I’m going to strongly suggest it was largely a pigmentation issue.
And as an American and a Christian committed to diversity and equality and to the liberty at the heart of this nation--that, embarrasses me.
Well said, Pastor. Well said indeed.
“Ayn Rand's 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society.... To justify and extol human greed and egotism is to my mind not only immoral, but evil.” - Gore Vidal
real people funnies
