AND SO, IT BEGINS

     The tears well at the corners of my eyes. I am not ashamed. I AM an honorably discharged combat arms veteran of the U.S. Army which approaches its 250th anniversary. I WAS a member of the Initial Response Group of American Airlines on 9/11.  I have recited the pledge of allegiance, stood and sung the national anthem, saluted as the colors pass, read the declaration of independence and the constitution, familiarized myself with U.S. and world history. I love my fellows and wish upon them only peace, grace and mercy     

     I am aware of the rise and fall of the earth's empires. The geographically largest empire was the Mongol. Genghis Khan subdued tribes from Asia to thru eastern Europe. It existed from 1206-1368. The Roman empire followed the Roman republic and existed from 27 BCE til 476 CE, 503 years. The British empire, upon which the sun never set in its geographical but discontinuous expanse. They varied in their composition and duration. The characteristic they all share is their fall. 

     The emergence of the United States as a force to be reckoned with upon the international stage is commonly considered to be the Spanish-American war of 1898.  At its conclusion the U.S. possessed lands far beyond its contiguous boundaries, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Preceding this expansion the U.S. had expanded upon the continent thru conquest (genocide), war, and commerce (Louisiana Purchase, Alaska Purchase).

    Through industrial capabilities spurred by military actions and capitalist greed, the U.S. has come to be considered a superpower. The influence of the United States has ebbed and flowed. Generally, its course has been the expansion of influence and power through economic coercion, covert political action, and military force.

     During the 20th century, and now, with the first 2 decades of the 21st there have been those who have sought to emulate the influence and power of the United Sates. They have failed. They have shared a vision but have lacked scope or commitment to suffer for a goal.  Their primary choice to gain positions of authority and power was not to engage the voice and spirit of the people but to instill fear through police and military action.

     Joseph Stalin had millions imprisoned and executed. Mao Zedong practiced reeducation and capital punishment. Rodrigo Duterte, a man who Trump has professed to admire engaged in extrajudicial executions. He has praised the Chines President Xi JinPing as “an exceptionally brilliant individual who governs 1.4 billion people with an iron fist.”

     We must recognize our current President has no commitment to the maintenance of our republic but seeks to grasp and expand his personal power and fortune. 

     What is beginning in Los Angeles is just a starting point for martial law and fascist oppression.  He has historical figures upon which to derive methodology and cautions.  We have numbers and for the moment, the ability to resist this catastrophe.  Do not naively deny a lifetime of self-interest and narcissism. He has surrounded himself with those who are willing to act in any manner to accrue his approval. They will act as commanded.  Their role models are among civilization's worst. Prepare for the likes of this.

     Trump, a man previously endorsed by a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke. Trump, speaking of immigrants "poisoning the blood of our country", then denying he was aware Hitler has used the same words about Jews.

     Regarding previous protestors, “Can’t you just shoot them, just shoot them in the legs or something?”  This man is afraid to perform violence but is utterly comfortable in ordering others to implement it in his stead. Punishment, even torture is not so much the goal as instituting fear that others will not oppose him.

     He has contemplated shooting citizens who have not bent their knee. He has federalized the National Guard to force compliance with his desires. He has deployed active-duty Marines to "provide security". The Marine Corp mission is to close with and destroy the enemy, not to provide security.

     If you are old enough to remember Kent State, then you must know that 4 dead is not even a beginning.  The U.S. has previously exercised violence upon its citizens.  If you are not willing to resist the current regime at personal risk, you are complicit.  Will you act as an American patriot with rights and responsibilities, or will you pledge fealty to a King and assume you place as a peasant?

     Will I shed tears of joy or despair?

Whaduyathink?

  

      

     

                                                     The American Kristallnacht

June 6, 2025, ICE and other Federal law enforcement officers engaged in immigration enforcement operations.

They encountered protests and demonstrations opposed to their operations.

According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt , The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK.

The Department of Homeland Security said "Last night, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer-funded property," according to DHS. "Our ICE enforcement officers are facing a 413% increase in assaults against them."  "In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California."

I find it amazing that based upon the statements of the government making declarations of purported violence, assaults, and overwhelming numerical superiority of "rioters" and "looters" I have not come upon any reports of injury or death among law enforcement engaged in the "normal" immigration enforcement actions.

The White House released a statement, "These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States."

I assume this invasion is the reason the current administration and legislature has developed and is debating a comprehensive immigration policy. Oh, wait, that's not a thing yet, but no doubt it will be offered "very soon" and be the "best ever".

While ICE raids places of employment, schools, immigration courts and other locations where undocumented workers are engaged in other than criminal activity, I have yet to hear of any hiring managers being arrested and arraigned. This regime is engrossed in political theater and will not be distracted by the rule of law.

Citizen, immigrant, refugee, foreign national, permanent resident, they are ALL our fellow members of humanity. Manifold claims have been made the U.S. is a Christian nation. I understand that without Jesus, there is no Christianity. That being the case, let me refer you to him and his stance on foreigners. Matthew 25:35-40 35 "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?"40 And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." 

Are there criminals among the undocumented immigrant population? Of course there are. Those currently empowered to form and execute the policies and laws of the nation would have you believe criminals from other countries are overwhelming our cities and states. They do not want you to have the facts that immigrants have a lower rate of criminal activity than citizens.

The goal here is to promote fear. A fearful populace is a more easily controlled and manipulated populace. They are more easily convinced to allow their "leaders" to amass and exercise power and authority over the "other". They fail to realize this power will also be exercised upon them.

The current regime has dehumanized undocumented immigrants for years. "... Many of those people will probably have AIDS, and they’re coming into our country. And we don’t do anything about it, we let everybody come in. ... It’s like a death wish for our country.”  "...they’re not humans, they’re not humans. They’re animals.’” “They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.” All of these are an effort to convince us to unite to protect ourselves from the threat of the "other". It is propaganda. However, my favorite is, “I think the real number is 15, 16 million people into our country. When they do that, we got a lot of work to do. They’re poisoning the blood of our country.” A fellow named Adolf Hitler used the same terms in a book, Mein Kampf.

This is ALL a ploy to promote authoritarianism and permit the complete exercise of power by the executive. According to this regime, laws are not to serve and protect you but are merely unreasonable constraints upon the power of the President.

Protests and demonstrations are not protected activities. You may not assemble if your views are counter to those presented by Trump and his ilk. Seeking redress is only to be characterized as politicizing the legal system and therefore invalid.

The President of the United States is federalizing the National Guard of the state of California to repress citizens exercising their constitutional rights.  We will learn that due process is a burden upon the current administration to be ignored for immigrants AND citizens.

How many of you have entertained the thought you would have resisted the Nazis in the 1930's? Well, the 2030's are almost here, so, prove it.

Whaduyathink?