Another Memorial Day. I took the trumpeter to maybe the last event. She's not taking band next year.
.
The downtown square will be closed, of course, and the detour is posted. Oh, the irony of it all. HTWP stands for Hudson Township something. Hudson Township was annexed by Hudson, oh, about 1990. It no longer exists, except in equipment.
Chairs lining the square as we went to the high school. Uncle Tom was there, in his Vietnam Vet cap, I'm sure. He always shows up early, to watch everything. We didn't see him, but Laura found him, for a ride home.
Coming home, the chairs are beginning to fill, about nine in the beautiful morning. The police were beginning to close SR303. Instead of waiting, not knowing how long to be let through, I turned left from the center lane and took another route home.
Flags everywhere. Lining side walks. Flying from front porches. How proud we are!
One thousand, four hundred seventy five immigrant children unaccounted for last year. Swept from their parent's arms. Sleeping on concrete floors, surrounded by wire fence. Daily, children lifted away, put in child seats and driven off, no forwarding address. No tissue for any tears or screams.
One hundred one mass shootings in America this year. Ten students killed in the last high school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas. Five thousand seven hundred death by gun violence. One thousand three hundred children to age seventeen, killed by gunfire.
Perhaps America is waging war on children. This can't be the America I know, but it's the America that's happening. The America that cares is close to out of time to re-enact the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, One Nation, with Liberty and Justice for All. If you do nothing else, Vote.
Yes.
ReplyDeleteIt is an appalling situation Joanne as you quite rightly say.
ReplyDeleteBut then there's that powerful pro life movement.
ReplyDeleteThe current stats, John, are 50% pro choice, 44% pro life. Just like guns, the 44 are organized to vote. I have become an organized voter registrant. This disregard of law must end.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWell spoken!!! Blow that horn... YAM xx
And, register 18 year olds to vote.
DeleteA tearful Amen
ReplyDeleteYou said it all in your observation that "This can't be the America I know, but it's the America that's happening." Shocking, really, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI vote. All my children vote. I try to encourage others to vote. The situation just now is heartbreaking, horrifying, and disgusting.
ReplyDeleteYes. And thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. How proud some of us are. No more band? I'm shocked.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
"Perhaps America is waging war on children". It certainly looks like it. The toll of dead, missing, and poverty-stricken children is horrifying. Not that the situation in the UK is much better. Child poverty increasing daily, teachers having to buy essentials for their pupils, more and more children with mental health problems. Children are getting a raw deal.
ReplyDeleteVote! Vote! Vote! It was never more important!
ReplyDeleteAnd challenge those who prevent people from voting.
ReplyDeleteAmen sister...get off your over priviledged butt and vote. I say the same to people here.
ReplyDeleteOh Joanne. I know so many republicans and they all turn a deaf ear. He is destroying our country. I guess his minions are just louder. I long to hear members from his party call him out. Can't wait for Mueller's reports.
ReplyDeleteWow, no band next year for Laura! What will she take instead? At least you won't have to worry about retrieving her from football games and prolonged seasons if they make it into the playoffs. Always good to see the flag on display!
ReplyDeletebetty
She added art and creative writing. Band knowledge and expertise comes at the price of a lot of time. She has so many interests. It's OK with me.
Delete1745 missing immigrant children??? WTH? Any idea why? which is probably a silly question, but why? Are they targeted because they are immigrants?
ReplyDeleteThe mass shootings and all those young ones killed by the gunfire is horrible enough, but to have children just picked up and driven away is beyond comprehension.
It's use of power with no fear of consequence.
DeleteTrump ordered it done, separating the children from their mothers as punishment for them coming here and wanting asylum and safety and then blamed it on the democrats. he is despicable.
Deletedidn't put our flag out this year. this is not my America.
ReplyDeleteI brought out my 48 star flag. Boy it smelled bad. LOL
ReplyDeleteVoting is more than our duty this year, it is our only hope.
ReplyDeleteand add 16 year olds to vote..we've done it in Scotland....
ReplyDeleteI've never met anyone who actually seems to want refugee children to suffer, yet it carries on happening. At WHOSE bequest?
ReplyDeletePerhaps we should be marching with pitchforks?