Sunday Salon --- Minnesota!

Standing up against tyranny in Minneapolis. Photo: Reuters.

Weather: Cold and clear. Look at a weather map of the US. We are in the part with regular cold weather, but not the extreme cold and snow. Right now it is sunny but it won't get above the 30s today.

Minnesota: My heart is with those in Minnesota who are fighting for humanity. Here I sit comfortably in my warm house and can look outside on a calm environment. Minnesotans, particularly Minneapolitans,  are out in the bitterly cold weather right now fighting for our whole country against the authoritarian activities of the ICE agents. Some have put their lives on the line, with another person being murdered just yesterday. (CNN) As I pondered how I could help, the thought occurred to me maybe I could do something through my Presbyterian denomination. I found an article "A Church at the Center of the Crisis Speaks." The church is Westminster Presbyterian in Minneapolis. They made a statement of faith which really moves me. (Read it all on the above link,) Here are a few highlights:

• Those who are, and have been, exercising their right to support, observe, protest, and peacefully assemble are also being subjected to harm by government actions. We believe these actions are motivated and informed by white Christian nationalism in our country and its influence on our federal government’s elected officials. We believe white Christian nationalism furthers the sins of systemic racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism in the United States, and carries assumptions about nativism, white supremacy, authoritarianism, patriarchy, and militarism. It threatens the very core of our democracy. It is counter to God’s hope for the world and how God seeks for us to make our life together.
• Jesus teaches us through Scripture to love our neighbors as ourselves, with no exceptions. We commit ourselves to the way of Christ—nonviolent and courageous love, especially toward those most at risk. We proclaim a God who values the full humanity and inherent dignity of all people.

Today I commit: to take action within my congregation to send support to our brothers and sisters in Minneapolis and to work with those who have a larger megaphone than I do to spread the word, to try and activate other congregations to join us. If no one is moved, I will lend my support alone. 

Now I urge you: to find out what your church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other community centers are doing to end the trouble with ICE and how you can send financial or physical support. Figure it out and publish your actions on your blog. It is time for us behind the scenes book-bloggers to get activated! We can't sit this one out. 

A declarative statement: I am a Christian. I believe that God loves me and you, and you, and you. He calls me to love my neighbors as myself. No one falls outside God's love, so if something happens to my Hispanic, Black, Native American, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, LGBTQ, or immigrant neighbor, it happens to me. If I can do something to help, I will! 

I’m done trusting in what’s sinking
These boats weren’t built for me
I’m done drifting on the water of insecurity
In the noise and the distractions
In the storms of arguing
I hear Your voice callin’
And I’m gonna fix my eyes on Jesus
Walking with the One who walks on the sea.

Lyrics: "Wherever You Lead."

Laugh or Cry? Cry/Cringe while laughing?

It sure seems like this is who they are hiring for ICE.

This is not funny. It is frightening.

Amen!

Sometimes the only news I can stand is from the comedy channels. This SNL segment of Weekend Update features Tony Brennan on Trump's ICE Deployments in Minnesota.

For those of you who know the Hamilton musical. King George singing "You'll Be Back". First verse: "I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love."  And the the second verse: "I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love."

I will update what I am reading tomorrow and will post on: It's Monday. What Are You Reading.

Stand up. Speak up. Do what you can!

-Anne