The Boeskool

Four Things Our Grandchildren Are Going to Be Ashamed Of

Posted on August 7, 2015 by theboeskool

“When I was a kid, THIS is what an insurance salesman looked like.”

Have you ever looked back in history at things people did and asked yourself, “How the hell did they think that was okay?!?” As a kid learning about U.S. history, I remember thinking, “You mean to tell me that women couldn’t vote until 1920?!?” And, “Wait…. The majority of the people in the country used to believe it was okay to OWN black people?!?” And, “What do you mean there was a time when a country actually tried to kill ALL the Jewish people?” It all seemed barbaric—like a time before fire, where some Neanderthal with a club dragged his woman around by her hair. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably thought to yourself, “How could we have been alright with this?” And this question SHOULD lead you to ask, “I wonder what things are happening today that our grandkids are going to be horrified by?” I can envision our descendants—picking up whatever new technology has replaced history books—and looking back on the time we live in. And I can hear those voices from the future asking….

“Wait…. You mean to tell me that they were okay with a system that saddles their young people with tens of thousands of dollars of debt in college loans?!? How could they possibly be okay with that?? And they had to pay back those loans with INTEREST?!? One of the most important roles of a society is the education of its children, and they were alright with a system that forces poor kids to go into serious debt in order to attempt to obtain an education? How the hell did they think that was okay?!?”
“Wait…. You mean to tell me that they used to allow for unlimited financial contributions to political campaigns?!? And the Supreme Court actually voted in Citizens United to say that ‘money was speech?!?’ That would have given so much more power and influence to the wealthiest members of society! That sort of policy would essentially require candidates to find one of a handful of billionaires to fund their campaign in order to get elected, and that influence would be a threat to the very fabric or our democracy. How the hell did they think that was okay?!?”
“Wait…. You mean to tell me that there was a time in U.S. history when 1 out of every 100 people was incarcerated?!? How is that even possible? AND 1 in 3 BLACK MEN USED TO EXPECT TO GO TO PRISON IN THEIR LIFETIME!?! Impossible…. And you’r telling me that each of those people convicted of felonies lost their right to VOTE?!? That seems like it was just a new version of slavery! And black offenders received sentences that were 10 percent longer than white offenders for the SAME CRIMES?!? And people were alright with this??? How the hell did they think that was okay?!?”
“Wait…. You mean to tell me that all the scientists KNEW that humans were causing climate change, but they STILL didn’t do anything about it?!? That can’t be right! Look at all the people today who have died as a result of all these famines, and super storms, and wars…. All caused in part by environmental issues resulting from a callous generation, whose anti-intellectualism and greed were seemingly more important to them than the lives of their own grandchildren. Think of the things we could focus on if we didn’t have to focus on trying to reverse the effects of all their dirty energy…. How the hell did they think that was okay?!?”

They totally put Chris Christie closest to the camera as punishment for hugging Obama. Lame…

Classrooms of kids are getting gunned down, and they didn’t do anything to try to make guns harder for criminals to get?!? Wealth inequality was at its greatest point since the Great Depression, and they didn’t do anything about it?!? They gutted the Voting Rights Act while people in power attempted to suppress voter turnout, and people just accepted it?!? They demonized poor people needing help from welfare, but they continually voted to hand out billions of dollars is CORPORATE WELFARE to giant to companies who send jobs overseas?!? And on and on and on…. That is not anywhere close to an exhaustive list. And yet, if you noticed during the first republican presidential candidate’s debate, NOT ONCE did any one of these important issues come up.

“This country has socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for the poor.” ~ Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now, just in case you’re reading this and cynicism sinks in and you think to yourself, “Screw it. There’s nothing we do to change things”—PLEASE DON’T! I want to point out that if you take a close look at history, you’ll find evidence of that famous MLK quote that says, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Women won the right to vote in almost every country in the world (though not in Saudi Arabia—one of our closest allies—but that is a human rights abuse it seems we can overlook if you have enough oil). We passed the Civil Rights Act (though much of the policies in place right now still equate to a new version of Jim Crow). The global community came together to pass laws in an attempt to prevent the horrors of genocide from ever happening again (though little was done about Darfur). And we just saw a historic step forward for equal rights for people who are LGBT. We are far from where we need to be, but we are closer than we used to be…. And there is reason there for hope.

If we’re not careful, we could end up with another one of these….

And this is why it is so important for you to vote! Here are some numbers for you: 79, 76, 76, 74, 64, 62, 58, 57, and 52. These are the ages of the Supreme Court Justices we have right now. It is very possible that over the next 4-8 years, one or more of these justices will step down, and their replacement will be chosen by the people WE put into office. This stuff actually does matter. The ones with all the money and the influence are trying very hard to take the power out of the hands of the people…. But “the power being in the hands of the people” is EXACTLY the thing that makes this country great. The opportunity to get rich is NOT what makes America great–What makes it great is our ability to change things. And there are some things that really need to be changed.

It matters.

Someday our kids, or their kids, are going to look back on this time, and they are going to shake their heads with wonder and disappointment at some of the things we could have changed, but didn’t. It will be hard for them to imagine forcing kids into incredible debt in order for them to get an education. They will marvel that there existed a time when the very rich could give as much money as they wanted to politicians, and basically choose who the rest of us get to pick from. As they look at back at our prison system, they will be filled with the same sort of shame that we feel when we look back at pictures of the horrors of slavery. And they will try to figure out—probably while living in countries with very different shorelines—why we didn’t do something about the environment when we actually could.

Together, we are powerful! Please, please organize… Please, please don’t lose hope… And please, PLEASE VOTE!!!

Posted in 2) Politics | Tagged Bernie Sanders, Citizens United, Climate Change, College Debt, Cynicism, Hope, Martin Luther King Jr, Prison System, Republican Presidential Debate, Voting | Leave a comment

If You Don’t Want To Support Planned Parenthood, Here’s What To Do….

Posted on August 6, 2015 by theboeskool

There are a whole lot of folks who are very angry with Planned Parenthood right now. A video was released that appeared to show people from PP selling baby parts to an undercover buyer, and as a result of this very misleading video, there was a renewed attempt in congress to defund them–Despite the fact that (per the Hyde Amendment) no federal funds can be used by Planned Parenthood to pay for abortions. The attempt was defeated, but because of that video, many republican lawmakers have vowed to block any federal funding bill that contains any funding for PP–Even if it means shutting down the government (which, for many of these bozos, was probably the goal all along). But if we don’t look deeper into heavily-edited videos like these, we can end up with something other than the truth…. As evidenced by the following video, showing conclusive proof that Brian Williams knows all the words to Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ but a G Thang.”

Sure, a misleading video took down ACORN…. but really, an organization that is capable of mistaking this dork for an actual pimp probably shouldn’t be in business.

As a side note, if you want to damage the reputation of an organization, here is a really good recipe for how to do it: 1) Get hours and hours of undercover video. 2) Ask questions that are designed to get the kinds of soundbites that you desire. 3) Heavily edit the video to make it tell the story you are trying to sell, regardless if that story is anything close to truthful. 4) Leave out anything that doesn’t fit your narrative. 5) Release that heavily-edited, “bombshell” video online, secure in the fact that less than 1% of the people who view it will have the time or energy to plow through the ACTUAL TRANSCRIPTS to find out just how ethical the organization’s actions were. Voila… Damage done! It worked with ACORN and their “diabolical scheme” to help empower poor people, and now it’s being attempted on Planned Parenthood. And a viral lie is just like when my daughter spills a container of glitter–you can attempt to clean it up after it has gotten everywhere, but no matter how hard you try, you’re going to be finding that crap for years to come.

By the way, if you’re wanting an explanation of what was really happening in the PP sting video everyone was sharing, there is a very good explanation RIGHT HERE. But if you are not already a person who believes abortion should remain safe, legal, and rare, you are probably not going to click on it. Or if you do click on it, you will probably dismiss it as “more liberal lies.” If you want the short version, here it is: People are legally allowed to donate parts of themselves (tissue, limbs, organs, or my cadaver after I die). And if I donate a kidney, it doesn’t just appear at the lab/hospital I donated it to…. It costs money to transport things. Whether that thing is human tissue, flowers, or a Playstation 4.

Mark Zuckerberg: Baby Killer. OR, a philanthropist who donates billions of dollars in an attempt to make the world better. Can't be both....

Mark Zuckerberg: Baby Killer. OR, a philanthropist who donates billions of dollars in an attempt to make the world a little bit better. Can’t be both….

As a result of the collective outrage over this intentionally misleading video, a grassroots movement has started where people have called for a divestment in corporate sponsors of Planned Parenthood. Like me, you may have friends who posted lists of companies that give to Planned Parenthood on their Facebook page in an attempt to inspire people to stop supporting the names on that very extensive list. Well, if you want to boycott supporters of Planned Parenthood, maybe you should start with Facebook. Because Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated 19 million Facebook shares (valued at $992 Million) to a charity that funds Planned Parenthood. The year before, he donated 18 million shares to the same charity–the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Bye Felicia.

I know this is going to be hard for you, but I also know how important your integrity is to all of you, and I can’t imagine you being alright with supporting a man who supports a charity that supports Planned Parenthood. Even though the truth is that the VAST majority of Planned Parenthood’s work PREVENTS the sorts of circumstances that might lead to an abortion, there are many of you out there online who could never be convinced that PP is not a giant baby-murdering factory…. And I suggest that you start your divestment by leaving Facebook. I don’t know how you could sleep at night knowing that every time you post another misleading, overly-simplified meme or article about Planned Parenthood, you are putting more money into the pockets of a man who donates billions of dollars that goes toward helping them stay afloat. Every comment, every post, every unending argument…. You are helping fund abortions. And if you believe the lies that video presented, then you should understand (as one of my really funny friends said on a Facebook thread), “by commenting, you’re propagating the dismemberment, sale and distribution of baby parts, you sick bastards.”

So…. Farewell, “People Who Are Incapable For Some Reason Of Seeing The Complexity Of Situations Like The Issue Of Abortion.” You will be missed.

P.S. Before you decide to write all your angry responses, please do me a favor and read this post I wrote a little while ago called “Finding A Middle Ground On Abortion.” And if you’d like, feel free to follow me on Twitter or like my Facebook Page…. Something tells me I am going to lose more than a few people with this one.

Posted in 2) Politics, 3) Bathroom Humor | Tagged Abortion, Boycott Facebook, Bye Felicia, Mark Zuckerberg, Planned Parenthood, Truth, Undercover Video | 8 Comments

It’s Okay To Be Pissed Off About That Lion

Posted on July 31, 2015 by theboeskool

There’s something that keeps on happening that has been frustrating me. It goes like this:

Person A: “I think that [X] is significant/important/noteworthy in some way, and I believe it deserves your consideration.”

Person B: “You think [X] is significant/important/noteworthy?! How can you care about [X] when there is [Y]??!!??”

It happens all the time. For example, you might have noticed this pattern playing out online when someone said they thought Caitlyn Jenner was “brave,” just to be met with a bunch of comments about what REAL bravery looks like–Firemen, Soldiers, Cancer Survivors, etc…. But imagine if people did this with everything. Like if I said, “So & So is kind.” And then someone else said, “So & So isn’t kind! WHAT’S-HER-FACE IS KIND!!!” If someone said something like this, they would be universally recognized as a complete douche, right? One person’s virtue is not negated or diminished by the fact that you think you know someone who possesses a greater degree of that same virtue.

If people aren't allowed to be upset by anything else each time a police officer shoots another unarmed black person, then there is going to be very little time to get upset by other stuff.

First of all, this is what racism looks like. And secondly, if people aren’t allowed to be upset by anything else each time a police officer shoots another unarmed black person, then there is going to be very little time to get upset about other stuff.

And the same sort of thing is happening right now. A story came out recently about a beloved lion in Africa named Cecil being killed by a wealthy U.S. dentist from Minnesota. And people (rightly, I believe) were outraged. This story happened to coincide with a story about yet another unarmed black man being murdered by police. Immediately, there were thousands of voices saying things like, “I wish we cared about black lives as much as we care about lion’s lives” and “BlackLives > LionLives.” And from the other side, there are shouts of “How can you be upset about some lion when we’re aborting all these babies?” and “If you really think that ‘Black Lives Matter,’ you should be voting Pro-Life.” And on and on and on….

Or Jewish Extremism. And yes, knives can be used to commit horrible acts of violence as well. Still, nobody died.

Or Jewish Extremism. And yes, knives can be used to commit horrible acts of violence as well. Still, I wonder how many would have died if this guy had a gun…

Basically, people are saying “You shouldn’t care about THAT. You should care about [Insert Your Cause Here]—Racism, Abortion, Gun Control, Human Trafficking, The Death Penalty, Police Brutality, Economic Inequality, Gay Rights, Immigration, Climate Change, ISIS, Cancer, Homelessness, Mass Shootings, Alzheimers, Autism, Alcoholism, Healthcare, National Debt, Muslim Religious Extremism, Christian Religious Extremism, Animal Rights, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, or even insignificant stuff like War, Poverty, Genocide, and Lack Of Clean Drinking Water. But I think folks who are getting mad when people care about the “wrong” things are missing the point. There is so much indifference in the world, we should be celebrating every time people care about anything outside of themselves.

This is a picture of Jimmy John Liautaud, owner of Jimmy John's, bravely standing next to an elephant he just killed. Just in case you don't feel like supporting his trophy hunting habit anymore.

This is a picture of Jimmy John Liautaud, owner of Jimmy John’s, bravely squatting next to an elephant he just killed…. Just in case you don’t feel like supporting his trophy hunting habit anymore.

There’s a lot of stuff in the world to be care about. If you are one of the people who was genuinely horrified by the story of this dentist killing this lion–Just in case no one has told you yet–IT IS OKAY FOR YOU TO CARE ABOUT THAT. There are a lot of reasons to get upset about this story. Some rich, sadistic jackass paid $55,000 to kill a giant, healthy, beautiful animal that was living in a protected national park. They lured him out of the park by dragging a carcass behind their truck, they shined a spotlight on him as he ate, and then Walter Palmer shot him with a crossbow as he ate his dinner—missing his vitals, and sending him running away and dying slowly while they tracked him for 40 hours. Then they skinned him, cut his head off as a trophy, and attempted to destroy the radio collar he was wearing.

And if you’re not outraged by Cecil being killed, that doesn’t make you a bad person either. While I was talking about this story, my wife said, “I think my ‘carer’ is full….” Some people don’t have the capacity to care about another thing. And that’s okay too.

Here’s the thing: If you kill an animal for fun, it doesn’t make you a “hunter.” It makes you a person who fits the description of a serial killer. And it makes you a really gross human being in my opinion, but it doesn’t make you a hunter. Imagine me posting a picture of myself with a neighborhood dog I had just killed…. What kind of psychopath does something like that? And I eat meat. For me, there are two reasons to kill an animal: 1) If that animal is trying to kill you, and 2) If you’re using it for food. And I realize some of you might think I’m being a hypocrite to think it’s okay to use an animal for food, but not for the joy of having its dead carcass decorate my billiards room… and you may be right. But on the spectrum of things from morally questionable to morally reprehensible, shooting an elephant so that you can show your friends a picture of yourself next to the animal you just killed is way closer to “reprehensible” than eating a hamburger.

Say what you want about this guy.... he's got some nice teeth.

Say what you want about this guy…. he’s got himself some nice teeth.

When a person starts caring about something new, what you’re witnessing is the expanding of human consciousness. And that is something to be celebrated! It is the progressive movement toward the recognition that all life is precious…. and get used to seeing it, because it keeps on happening. It happened when people started saying, “Maybe we shouldn’t own people?” And, “Maybe women should be allowed to vote too?” And, “Maybe we shouldn’t be killing all these buffaloes?” And recently, “Maybe we shouldn’t have a different set of rules for gay folks than we have for the rest of us?” (And as a side note, just in case you’re wondering what privilege is, if you are in the group that decides who gets to be accepted…. That’s what it is. That’s privilege. If some other group of people wins the rights you already have, congratulations: You’re privileged!)

The frustrating this is that really, unless I write this within about 2-3 days of the story, it won't really matter anyway, because the vast majority of people will have forgotten all about it.

The frustrating this is that really, unless I write this within about 2-3 days of the story, it probably won’t matter anyway, because the vast majority of people will have forgotten all about it.

But getting upset at injustice is a good thing…. Even if you know of a greater injustice. Of course a lion getting killed is not as tragic as a human being getting killed—Of course black lives matter more than lion lives matter. And I understand that for those of you who view abortion as the single most important issue, seeing someone pitch a fit about a dead lion on the other side of the planet while seemingly ignoring babies dying here might seem like the height of hypocrisy. But I’ve got news for you: People could just as easily accuse either of these groups of not caring about the “important” stuff as well. There are three countries in Africa where over 20% of the population is HIV positive. There are about 358 million people in Africa without access to clean drinking water, and this is a problem we could fix fairly easily…. If we cared. In fact, just the money Americans spend on one “Black Friday” would be enough to provide every person on the planet with clean drinking water. And drinking dirty water kills thousands of people every day. That’s a lot of black lives…. And that’s a lot of babies.

Who knows…. Maybe if something inside of you starts thinking that a lion’s life matters, you might ask yourself the question, “What other things matter?” Those of us who find ourselves, more and more, caring about things outside of ourselves–We must remember what it was like for us when our consciousness was growing–When (whether it was from ignorance or indifference or just plain old selfishness) we didn’t care as much as we should have. And we can congratulate–we can cheer on–those other people whose souls are learning to love…. Whose souls are growing…. Whose consciousnesses are expanding. That is something to celebrate. Getting mad at someone for caring about this lion being killed without showing enough outrage over Sam DuBose being murdered is like me getting angry at a baby for crawling instead of running. Most of the time, people need to learn to crawl before they learn to run. Celebrate every step toward running!

Posted in 1) Jesus, 2) Politics, 5) Not Quite Sure | Tagged Abortion, BlackLivesMatter, Caitlyn Jenner, Cecil The Lion, Dentist Who Killed Lion, Sam Dubose, Simba, Trophy Hunting, Walter Palmer | 4 Comments

What We Can Learn About The Republican Presidential Candidates From Their Denouncing Of Donald Trump

Posted on July 20, 2015 by theboeskool

Surprisingly enough, with all his billions, Trump has never purchased a convertible….

Well, it finally happened. After literally hundreds of comments that were profoundly offensive to women, African Americans, Muslims, Jews, and Mexican immigrants, Donald Trump has finally gone too far…. He criticized a WHITE MAN! Earlier this week, “The Donald” (no relation) made fun of John McCain for getting captured in Vietnam. He said of McCain, “He’s not a war hero…. He’s a war hero ’cause he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, okay?” And it seems that THIS comment, for the republican presidential field, finally compelled them to speak up with a critical voice. Here are some of their responses from Twitter:

“@realDonaldTrump‘s comments today make him unfit to be Commander-in-Chief https://t.co/EVl1X66gHo”
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) July 18, 2015

“Enough with the slanderous attacks. @SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans – particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration.”
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) July 18, 2015

“At the heart of @realDonaldTrump statement is a lack of respect for those who have served – a disqualifying characteristic to be president”
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 18, 2015

“@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero, period. I’ll denounce any attack against his service and anyone else who wears the uniform.”
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) July 18, 2015

“After Donald Trump spends six years in a POW camp, he can weigh in on John McCain’s service.”
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) July 18, 2015

As expected, there was plenty of criticism from the other side of the aisle, but I don’t think anyone said it better than Secretary of State, John Kerry. This was the response of a veteran, defending one of his political adversaries:

“John McCain is a hero, a man of grit and guts and character personified. He served and bled and endured unspeakable acts of torture. His captors broke his bones, but they couldn’t break his spirit… which is why he refused early release when he had the chance. That’s heroism, pure and simple. And it is unimpeachable.”

And then there is Senator John McCain’s response to Donald Trump’s Criticism:

“I think he may owe an apology to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict and those who have undergone the prison experience in serving their country…. When Mr. Trump said he prefers to be with people who are not captured, well, the great honor of my life was to serve in the company of heroes. I’m not a hero. But those who were my senior ranking officers…those that inspired us to do things we otherwise wouldn’t have been capable of doing, those are the people that I think he owes an apology to.”

“We Shall Overcomb.” Someone please buy me this T-Shirt…. Seriously.

Trump could take a few lessons on how to respond to criticism with a shred of honor…. That is, he could learn that there are ways to respond other than simply calling people “Loser, Stupid, Pathetic, Dummy, and Lightweight.” Of course, most people in this country–at least the ones who are able to recognize Trump’s particular brand of toxic incompetence and hypocrisy–have always clearly seen his candidacy for the joke that it is. Except the joke isn’t funny. And the punchline is that the American people lose even more faith in the political process…. If that’s possible.

Here are some things Donald Trump has said that were NOT offensive enough to garner a critical response from the rest of the republican field:

“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems. When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

“#JebBush has to like Mexican illegals because of his wife.”

“Laziness is a trait in blacks.”

“Our great African-American president hasn’t exactly had a positive impact on the thugs who are so happily and openly destroying Baltimore!”

“I think the only difference between me and the other candidates is that I’m more honest and my women are more beautiful.”

“@ariannahuff [Arianna Huffington] is unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man- he made a good decision.”

“You know, it doesn’t really matter what they [the media] write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of ass.”

“Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are little short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.”

“I don’t think my daughter Ivanka would pose for Playboy, but she does have a very nice figure. I’ve said if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.”

It’s time to tell this smirking pile of smugness, “You’re Fired.”

So just to recap, this guy has insulted and offended just about every vulnerable group in the U.S., but it took Trump saying something mean about one of the most powerful men in the country for the republican candidates for president to stand up and say, “You’ve gone too far.“ And there are polls out there that have this guy polling at #1 right now. Frightening, right? But beyond being frightening, it is so very, very disappointing. There was a little bit of encouraging news this week when Huffington Post said that they were going to file all stories about Donald Trump under “Entertainment” instead of “Politics,” as they deemed that “Trump’s campaign is a sideshow.”

This cat is lees of a joke than Donald Trump. I’m completely honest when I say I would vote for “The Cat” for president before I’d vote for “The Donald.”

Imagine if one of the republican presidential candidates had, from the beginning, just said, “This guy is a joke. I’m not going to act like he is an actual presidential candidate, because he isn’t. He is a joke. And the joke is on us.” That candidate would be in the lead right now. But it seems like this one comment about McCain may have been the unforgivable sine that inspires the other men in the club to tell Trump that he’s no longer welcome…. Maybe they were keeping him around in the hopes that his shenanigans might make them look more competent… the same way the United States keeps Florida around. Or, maybe they have been keeping him around just to try to hurt people’s confidence in the system…. The same way they keep Fox”News” around. Either way, it’s a disgrace. And we are better than this!

Posted in 2) Politics | Tagged Donald Trump, John McCain, Not A Hero, Offensive Trump Quotes, Republican Candidates, Trump Quotes, We Shall Overcomb | 5 Comments

Why The Chattanooga Shooter’s Name Matters

Posted on July 18, 2015 by theboeskool

This apple has fallen very far…. #SorryNotSorry

On Thursday, four marines in Chattanooga were killed by a man named Muhammad Youssuf Abdulazeez. Now, there are basically two different types of people right now: 1) There are the kinds who hear this shooter’s name and think, “It figures.” And 2) There are the kinds who hear this shooter’s name and think, “Well crap….” Certainly, if you are a person living in America whose name sounds any sort of Muslim, you probably belong to the second group…. But there are a lot of people like me out there too–People whose names and physical features and culture has nothing Muslim about them. Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of people in the first group as well. People like Franklin Graham, who posted this steaming load of garbage on his Facebook page:

Franklin Graham is an embarrassment to the Church. Actually, “embarrassment” is not a strong enough word. He is the antithesis to a Christian leader.

And I don’t have the time or the energy to go into all the many reasons why Franklin Graham is such a sad, prejudiced old man who is doing way more to denigrate and defame the word “Christian” than he is doing to bring anyone into the knowledge of the love of God and the life of Jesus…. If you can’t already see it, nothing I’m going to say is going to change your mind. The moment Franklin Graham found out that the shooter’s name was Muhammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, he decided to use this tragedy as a fear-mongering tool to fan the flames of a centuries-old conflict between Christians and Muslims. But the thing is, the Chattanooga shooter’s name does matter. It matters very much.

Just like my name matters very much. It’s what distinguishes me from other people. That’s one of the things that names do. When people heard the shooter had a Muslim name, they were like, “See? That’s important to point out!” And yeah, it IS important to point out…. Because these actions were the actions of ONE PERSON–NOT A WHOLE COMMUNITY. His name is SUPPOSED to be the way you distinguish him from all of those other people with names. For example, if my wife heard that someone named “Chris” was seriously injured in a car wreck, she would probably be very concerned. Then, if she found out that it was actually someone named Chris McGillicuddy who was injured, she would probably be more than a little bit relieved…. Because she doesn’t know anyone by that name, and who cares if some dude we don’t know gets hurt, right?.

If people start being prejudiced against beards, I am going to be so sad.

SO joking obviously, but seriously, your chances of getting killed by a Christian extremist in this country are way more than your chances of getting killed by a Muslim extremist…. But you don’t see Franklin Graham calling for an immigration freeze on Christians. Actually, in this country since 9/11 you have more of a chance of being shot by a kid under five years old than you do of being shot by a Muslim extremist. Think about that for a moment. I’m really happy that we DON’T decide things in this country based solely on stereotyping–Especially as a white man. Guess what nearly 95% of serial killers and pedophiles look like…. That’s right, white men. Guys that look like me. And Franklin Graham. Probably a little more like Franklin Graham than me…. Whatever. White guys.

Oh cartoons. I love when you nail it.

When nine people were gunned down in a Charleston Church, right away there was a big effort to encourage people NOT say the murderer’s name, but instead focus on the names of the people who lost their lives to that colossal act of hatred. I doubt there is going to be the same sort of push to not say Muhammad Youssuf Abdulazeez’s name. Next to his yearbook picture, the shooter wrote, “My name causes national security alerts…. What does yours do?” He was making a joke about it at the time…. Man, it’s so tragic that this young man’s mind was poisoned by an extremist ideology. You mustn’t let your mind be poisoned by extremist ideology from the other side either. If Christians are to be any sort of extremist, we are called to be extremists of love. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is anything we can do to change the minds of the Franklin Grahams of the world. They are going to be all over social media talking about things that “walk like a duck and quack like a duck,” making hateful, prejudiced comments, and calling for some sort of holy war. But really, these folks are just the Christian version of the Taliban. And it’s very hard to change the Taliban’s mind.

But what you CAN do is you can find a Muslim friend, talk to him or her about how they felt when this guy’s name was released, and give your friend a hug. Take them out for a meal. Do something to let them know you are thinking of them, you love them, and you are with them. As hard as it is for you and me to deal with the sudden influx of jingoism and overt prejudice, it is way harder for someone walking around with a Muslim name. Maybe one of the haters will see you acting like Jesus and their heart will be changed…. Probably not. But at least you might make your Muslim neighbor’s day a little better. And I’m betting they need something like that right about now….

Posted in 1) Jesus, 2) Politics, 5) Not Quite Sure | Tagged Chattanooga Shooter, Christian Taliban, Franklin Graham, Jesus, Muhammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, Prejudice, Stereotyping | 6 Comments

Four Reasons I’m Not Sending My Kids To A Charter School

Posted on July 16, 2015 by theboeskool

I’m trying to figure out how to write this without offending just about every person I care about. Because this isn’t just about pulling your kids out of public school and sending them to a charter school. It’s about fear of public schools in general. It’s about fear. It’s about being afraid of what your kids are being taught in public schools, and pulling them out to go to a private school. Or homeschooling. And just in case you feel like I’m leaving you out, “People Who Moved To A Richer, Whiter County Because Of The Perception That They Have Better Schools,” I’m talking to you too.

If this post is already making you feel like this, hold on for just a little bit.

Now, before you start writing your angry response, I should say that I am aware that there are all kinds of good reasons to make a change in your child’s schooling. There are all kinds of families out there who are trying to tailor their kids’ educations to each individual child’s learning style. We know families who have some kids in public schools, some at private, some being homeschooled…. I get it. I’m not saying that you are a bad parent if you make sacrifices to move to the suburbs because of the school system. There are even good reasons to send your child to a charter school. I have friends who work for charter schools, I have other friends who have decided to send their kids to a charter school–I promise, I get it. I’m just going to try to explain a few reason why me and my family are proud to keep our kids in our lovely, somewhat-failing school district.

1) THE PLAYING FIELD ISN’T EVEN/AN IMBALANCE OF ASSETS
I went to a Christian school my whole life. My mom made huge sacrifices to provide a Christian education for me, and as far as I was concerned, I was going to the best school. Once a year, the paper would publish the standardized test scores for the different area schools. And our little school would always top the list. But there were a few assets that the kids at our school had that a lot of the kids at public schools DIDN’T have. Here are a few:

We had parents who were so invested in our educations that they were willing to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on something that is offered for free. If parents are willing to spend $20 on bottles of water, chances are pretty good their kids are going to be well-hydrated.
We had parents that were ABLE to pay thousands and thousands of dollars on our schooling. In other words, having actual assets is a significant asset to a child’s education. In many cases, being able to afford something like this means that there are two parents at home…. That’s worth something.
Even that pride was an asset. Feeling like you are “better than that” often leads to acting and even performing like you are “better than that.” Which is something that people might be willing to pay for, but it begs the question, “What about all the kids in the schools that AREN’T expected to do well?”

Don’t feel TOO good about your victory…. This might have been the field you were playing on.

And these same assets apply to kids whose parents are moving to the richer counties as well. Having parents who can afford to live in the more expensive neighborhoods is an asset most kids don’t have. And you don’t see a whole lot of single moms deciding to homeschool their kids either. A lot of parents look at the cost of private school, compare it with the higher housing costs, and decide to move away and get that money back when they sell their house. And again, that may make sense for one family, but it pulls yet another family that cares away from a school that is perceived as “lesser.” Maybe it wasn’t lesser until all those families moved away? Maybe it started being perceived as “lesser” when all “THOSE” people moved into the neighborhood…. If the makeup of a school consists only of families who cared enough about their child’s education to pull them out of their assigned schools, of course they are going to have some better test scores. Which brings me to my next point….

2) THE MYTH OF TEST SCORES
Every once in a while, people who are considering moving to the Nashville area ask questions about where they should be looking for houses, and a main consideration for where to live is how “successful” the school system is. Here is the thing about those scores: They are complete BS. There is a school down the road from our house where there are almost 30 different languages spoken. THIRTY! And you know what? Those kids take the same tests that the rest of the kids take. I’m a relatively smart guy, and I couldn’t pass an elementary standardized test that was given to me in Spanish…. And I have taken four years of Spanish!

Slow down….

How many of those immigrant families can afford to live in the rich neighborhoods and counties? How many of them have the skills necessary to apply for a charter school? How many of those parents are able to homeschool and teach their kids english? Most of these kids have parents who don’t speak any english at home…. And they are being given the same tests as the kids who have been speaking english their whole lives. They’re not getting home and getting help at home with their home work like my kids do…. In a lot of cases, they’re getting home and teaching their parents. And they’re able to do this because of dedicated teachers who did not abandon a difficult teaching environment. Or the kids there who desperately need good teachers. Which brings me to my next point….

3) A GOOD TEACHER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A GOOD SCHOOL
For my job, I see the insides of more schools than just about any other occupation I can think of. And although school climate is very important, I have seen so many example of crappy teachers who are teaching in “desirable” schools. My wife volunteers for the PTA, and she spends a lot of time in our kids’ school. Within a short period of time, it’s easy to tell which teachers go above and beyond. You can go to a terrific school, have a bad experience with a teacher, and come away thinking that it was the school that was lacking. And sometimes, it might just be a good teacher who was a bad fit for your child. A good teacher makes a world of difference–Someone who educates, but also someone who inspires, challenges, and prepares the learner for the real world. Which brings me to my next point….

4) CHARTER SCHOOLS DON’T PLAY BY THE SAME RULES

“I used to ‘sweat the small stuff,’ but now I basically just sweat vodka.”

Beyond the longer school day and the frequent removal of special subjects like art and music, there are other reasons to be skeptical about charter schools. A lot of charters have a discipline policy of “Sweat the small stuff,” but that way of doing things can actually be really harmful. As nice as it seems seeing kids in straight lines, not saying a single word while they are out on a field trip, this hyper-structured, almost militaristic, “Sweat the small stuff” way of doing things leaves kids floundering once they experience the freedom of college…. Much like the kids from the super-sheltered Christian families who ended up being the REALLY drunk kids in college. There’s a really good This American Life about this issue that you can listen to HERE.

Seems like the ones who have the “discipline problems” always seem to be the ones with the low test scores….

Also, when kids go to a charter school, the tax money allotted for that child goes with them. And statistics show that kids are getting kicked out of charters at much higher rates than public schools. This is one of the reasons there is an influx of charter school kids into public school just before it’s time for state testing. And [not so] coincidentally, these expunged kids are the same ones whose pre-tests show scores which aren’t predicted to meet the standards they advertise in order to sell the charters to parents. They cover this practice by saying the kids are “not living up to their high standards.” So basically, they are getting rid of the kids who are going to do poorly on the test in order to keep their numbers looking good. It’s a gross practice that many teachers in school systems effected by charters will tell you is widespread. And then worst of all, if those charters stop being profitable, they are outta here. You can READ HERE about what happened to a Michigan school system when the system was turned over to for-profit charters, and how those charters said “Buh bye” when there was no more money to be made.

“Is there any room for anyone else on those lifeboats, ladies?

The single greatest indicator of how well a child does in school is how involved that child’s parents are in their education. If all of the parents who actually care about their child’s education start abandoning ship, what do you think that does to the school? Our kids get a lot out of attending a school that is diverse. They are exposed to different languages and beliefs and customs, and that is a valuable thing. But it’s not just what our kids get out of it…. Those other kids that attend our school–They need our kids there. They need families like our who are invested in that community.

Those kids speaking English as a second language, those kids with parents who couldn’t care less about their child’s education, those kids with no other options–they NEED my kids at that school. There are some good reasons make changes in your child’s schooling, and honestly, there are some schools that I wouldn’t send my kids to. But before you pack up and move one county over or enroll you kids in one of the 18 new charter schools that have popped up, I hope you give some of what I have written some consideration. Here is another REALLY GOOD ARTICLE discussion this issue. And as I’m sure someone other than me has probably said before, “Ask not what your school can do for you…. Ask what you can do for your school.”

Posted in 2) Politics, 5) Not Quite Sure | Tagged Ask not what your school can do for you, Charter School Expulsions, Charter Schools, Good Teachers, Homeschooling, Private Schools, The myth of test scores, White Flight | 19 Comments

The One Where I Share Some Music Or Whatever….

Posted on July 13, 2015 by theboeskool

They did this themselves. We’re thinking about getting the band back together….

Most people who have only known me since I moved to Nashville don’t know this, but I actually moved here for music. I expected there to be someone at the Tennessee state line who was handing out record contracts…. but all I found was some construction. In Michigan, if you told someone that you write songs, they would not let you leave their house until you played at least one song…. In Nashville, if you tell someone that you are a songwriter, you can expect them to say something along the lines of “I will literally pay you $20 NOT to play me a song.” Long story short, in addition to my mad blogging skillz, I’m kind of a musician–Even though I don’t really write anymore. Writing music, for me, takes a whole lot of time and solitude…. And those two things are hard to come by with three kids and two jobs. Anyway, I won’t submit you to any of the stuff I actually sang on, but I wanted to share an instrumental I wrote to what I consider one of the best hymns ever written: “This Is My Father’s World”

So here is what I want you to do: I want you to push play on the track (that I just learned how to embed), and then I want you to read the lyrics as you listen to the music. Even if you’re reading this in Nashville…. Don’t worry, I don’t want anything from you, and I don’t have any industry connections for you either. The words of this song are so good. And so true. And in the midst of all the garbage around us, it’s good to be reminded every once in a while of some goodness and truth. Enjoy!

This is my Father’s world
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world
the birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world
He shines in all that’s fair
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God Reigns; let the earth be glad!

The Lord is King… let the heavens ring
God reigns… let the earth be glad!

Posted in 1) Jesus, 5) Not Quite Sure | Tagged Hymns, Lyrics, Mad Blogging Skillz, Music, Music City, This Is My Father's World | 13 Comments

How To Keep Yourself From Becoming A Cynical A-Hole

Posted on July 8, 2015 by theboeskool

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”~ Marianne Williamson

This country is not as good without Stephen Colbert’s voice…. I can’t wait for him to come back to TV.

Have you ever felt powerless? Felt like there is nothing you can do? It is a terrible feeling– a feeling that we have all had to one extent or another. I believe this feeling is the beating heart of the darkness that we refer to as “depression.” It is a feeling that keeps things the same. It is a feeling that keeps us from taking action. It is a feeling that keeps us from realizing our true selves. And–most importantly to understand–This feeling is a lie. You are not inadequate. WE are most certainly NOT inadequate. We are powerful enough to change the world around us, especially when we work together. And like the quote above proclaims, “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

This is not our destiny.

This feeling of powerlessness presents itself in many areas of our lives, but one place where people are becoming increasingly hopeless is in the area of political change. There’s this feeling of “They’re all crooks, and there’s nothing we can do about it.” And though the first part of that statement may indeed be more true than not, the second part of that statement–once again–is a complete lie. If there is anything at all that is great about this country, it is that the people have the power to change things…. The power to make this “A More Perfect Union.” But in order for that to take place, two things have to happen: 1) We, the people, have to be educated and informed. And 2) We have to believe that it is possible for change to take place. Most of the efforts of the people in power to maintain the status quo are directed at these two points. If the electorate is kept uneducated and misinformed, and if they can be made cynical enough to believe that they are powerless, then the ones with all the power and the money can do what they want with impunity.

This is part of Oak Flat. The yellow dot on that spire is a climber. Why in the world would we destroy this land for some copper?

For example, yesterday I was made aware of a brazen act of congressional corruption and heartless greed that strikes at both of the above threats to democracy. It is a new low–even for congress–and it should enrage you and stir you to action, regardless of whether you call yourself a democrat or a republican. Recently, a rider was added at the last minute to a must-pass military spending bill. This rider takes a protected public land in Arizona called Oak Flat–Land that is a holy site to the people of the San Carlos Apache Reservation–and turns over that sacred land to a foreign-owned mining company. Did you get that? We are handing over sacred Apache lands to a foreign mining company so that they can turn their holy site into a two-mile-wide, 1000 foot deep crater…. because there is some copper in the ground.

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., reacts as a lightning hit a nearby building while answering to questions from students of the Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) at the Tokyo American Center in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. McCain on Wednesday called on US officials to use their influence over Egypt, as members of Congress remain spilt over whether to cut off military aid to the country. (AP Photo/Franck Robichon, Pool)

I’m not super into shaming people, but you should be ashamed of yourself, John McCain.

Now, you might ask yourself, “Why–OH WHY–would we give protected lands that are sacred to Native Americans living in the area to a foreign mining company to exploit and plunder?” Well, the answer might not surprise you. It turns out that Arizona senators John McCain and Jeff Flake slipped in the rider to the military spending bill to avoid public scrutiny. It has been attempted before by Arizona congressmen…. Including former representative Rick Renzi, was sent to a federal prison for three years on corruption charges, based on an earlier version of this shady deal for Resolution Copper Mining, and their parent company, Rio Tinto. You can learn more about it in this terrific article by The New York Times’ Lydia Millet. In the article, she writes “It’s worth noting that Rio Tinto affiliates have been McCain campaign contributors, and that Mr. Flake, before he made it to Congress, was a paid lobbyist for Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium (a huge uranium mine in Namibia).”

Seriously–Have we not done enough to the Native Americans in this country?

These are some of the Apache Elders who are protesting this mine. Without adding our voices to theirs, they might not be able to make enough noise….

The act of taking sacred Apache lands and handing them over to a mining company to exploit is, by any standard, a completely despicable and disgraceful action. It is even beneath the tarnished dignity of Congress. So here’s the thing: We are not powerless to do something about this. We are powerful beyond measure. Every one of you has a phone in your pocket or your purse or your hand right now. Here is what you can do: You can click on this LINK RIGHT HERE. You put in your zip code, and it gives you the names and telephone numbers of your state senators, as well as your representatives. Call them up, and DEMAND that they work to repeal the rider that hands the Oak Flat lands in Arizona over to Resolution and Rio Tinto. Remind them that we, as a country, are so much better than this. Let them know that if they don’t take a stand on an issue as clear as this, you–as well as your friends and family–will work as hard as it takes to insure that the next elected official in their position will be one with a moral compass…. And one who listens and responds to the voices of the people he or she was elected to represent.

Cynicism makes everything seem shitty. But it’s a lie!

But most of all, do two things: Firstly–Educate yourselves! When you hear about stories like this one, read more links about them. Take a few minutes and find out what is actually happening. And then, take a freaking moment to share the story on social media. There are probably a lot of other people like you who have never heard about this before. And secondly–Don’t give up! There is hope. You are powerful…. WE are even more powerful together. This shameful action by these Arizona senators not only hurts the Apache people, it hurts our nation by building a distrust of government and a growing cynicism….And cynicism is the death of democracy. It is the tool that powerful people wield to insure that they obtain even more power.

But the fight is not over. Just like any law, it can be reversed through legislation, but the time is getting short. Please join with the hundreds of Apache people who are protesting on the Oak Flat lands in an attempt to make their voices heard. Please share this post, or share one of the posts I’ve linked to–whatever speaks to you. And PLEASE, call your state congressperson and demand action on this travesty–Demand they repeal the rider. I did, and it felt really good. You will be surprised how one little act of civic action works as a catalyst toward even more action…. And even more hope. And we desperately need that.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Apache Holy Lands, Cynicism, Jeff Flake, John McCain, Marianne Williamson, Oak Flat, Rio Tinto, San Carlos, We are powerful beyond measure | 2 Comments

My “Sort-Of-Friend” Bob

Posted on July 7, 2015 by theboeskool

My friend Bob just died.

He was my age. We met at Chick Fil A. Back in the day (if three years ago can be considered “back in the day”), my wife and I would take our three kids to Chick Fil A for family night on Tuesday nights for music and a balloon guy and free ice cream and cheap food…. It was right up our alley. Bob’s family and my family looked very similar. They had three little girls who were near the ages of our three kids…. Similar temperament as well. I think we met because I congratulated him on his beard, and I instantly liked him. For a while there, we went to Family Night at Chick Fil A just about every Tuesday. It got to where I was disappointed when Bob and his family weren’t there.

When we first met, he was a teacher, but he was working on his masters in administration stuff because he wanted to be a principal. He was soft-spoken and kind and confidant. The more we talked, the more it became clear that he was adventurous in a way that I genuinely envied. And it wasn’t like he was name-dropping the places he had been or the things he had done…. It was just unavoidable that those sorts of accomplishments were going to come up if you spent any time talking to Bob.

One night, Chick Fil A had this thing where you could get free food if you came dressed up like a cow. In my normal half-assed fashion, I safety-pinned some pieces of black construction paper to my kids’ white shirts, and I told them to moo. One of my kids was cold, so I went out to our van to get her a sweater, and there, in the parking lot, were Bob and Jennifer and the girls–all of them under one cow-patterned sheet–trying to take steps through the parking lot, but not going anywhere. The sounds of a child crying came from somewhere near the udders, and it was the kind of crying that didn’t seem like it was going to end any time soon. You could tell they had put a lot of effort into that costume, but one of their girls was just not having it. I remember thinking that I would have probably yelled in that situation, but both of them–husband and wife–just laughed. It was no big deal.

We talked many times about trying to get our families together away from the organized chaos that was Chick Fil A’s Family Night. I carried the card that he gave me with his number on it in my make-shift wallet (it’s basically just bills wrapped around some cards and whatnot) to remind me to make plans, but–as so often happens–all of a sudden it would be Tuesday again, and we hadn’t gotten together.

We finally got together one Sunday afternoon in the summer. They invited us over to their house to go swimming in their pool. Our kids were small enough to have the afternoon be nothing resembling relaxing–I was on high alert the whole time trying to keep all those small people from dying. It turns out that they had invited us over for their daughter’s birthday party, and we didn’t even know. Still they gave our kids these party favors that might as well have been bars of solid gold to them. The sun had gotten lower, and the pool was in the shade. The kids were out of the pool, and most of the other guests had left, but there my family was…. like a bunch of goofballs, talking about “What are you guys doing for dinner?” If we were imposing, they didn’t let on. It was a complete day. The kind of day that makes your bed feel so. Freaking. Good.

While talking with Bob on that perfect summer day, I started to suspect that our political ideologies might be a bit dissonant. I think he had an NRA sticker on his car, or something. Plus it’s hard for me to keep that stuff completely out of my conversations–It was even harder for me three years or so ago. Right around the bend was all the hullabaloo about Chick Fil A donating money to anti-gay groups, and those Chick Fil A run-ins with Bob and his family became a thing of the past.

After we lost touch, they had another baby…. A boy. Little Bobby. And if you’re wondering why I’m writing this about a person who truly is more of an acquaintance than a “friend,” here’s why: Bob Fraser was a good dude. It took almost no time for you to tell that the bearded man standing in front of you was a good father. He was smart, he was driven, and he was kind. I don’t know how he died, but it was sudden and unexpected and what matters is that his family needs help right now…. He leaves behind an amazing wife and three beautiful daughters who are hurting. And he leaves behind a son who will only have the stories of the people who loved his father to know how cool his daddy was–Maybe even people like me who made a friend at a Chick Fil A.

So if you are able, GIVE SOME MONEY to this family who really needs your help. Money should be the last thing on their minds right now as they grieve the loss of a father and husband. People can raise $100,000 in eight hours for a florist who refuses to sell flowers to a gay couple, this kind of thing should be as easy as anything. There are several thousand people who read this blog, and I know some of you value it…. Help this family out. If you consider yourself part of the Church, this is what Church looks like. It’s taking care of people who need it…. And if you feel like praying, that’s fine, but also pray that God will stir your heart enough to help take care of this family in their time of need. Please GIVE!

Posted in 1) Jesus | Tagged Bob Fraser, GoFundMe | 18 Comments

America’s Newest Hero

Posted on June 29, 2015 by theboeskool

Like something out of a comic book….

So just in case you missed it while you were celebrating the SCOTUS ruling on Marriage equality this weekend, there is one more reason to celebrate. The world gained one more hero over the weekend, and her name is Bree Newsome. This past Saturday morning, Newsome, a 30 year old filmmaker, musician, and activist scaled the pole in Columbia, South Carolina that flies the Confederate battle flag. Here is a short video of the event:

While she was up on the pole, holding that symbol in her hand, she declared, “You come against me with hatred and oppression and violence…. I come against you in the name of God. This Flag come down today!” And then, after she finished her act of civil disobedience and climbed down, she put her hands behind her back and got arrested. And yes, I realize what she did was illegal, but as @WillBrianna tweeted so perfectly:

Within hours, the hashtag #FreeBree was trending…. But don’t worry, there have been many people who have offered to pay her bond and court costs. Before Bree Newsome spent a couple days learning how to climb a pole, before she put on her black superhero clothes–fully expecting to get arrested–and took down that flag, she tweeted a few things worth reading:

Those are some tough questions…. Within hours of being taken down, that symbol of the “hatred and violence and oppression” that Bree Newsome spoke of was raised right back up that flagpole. You might wonder then…. What’s the point? Well, here’s your answer:

It’s still up right now. And even though we don’t have one less symbol of hatred and violence and oppression right now, we DO have ONE MORE symbol of bravery and sacrifice and love…. And that’s worth something. That’s worth a whole lot. What a time to be alive!