A Prayer After a Turbulent Election 7NOV24

 I am disgusted, hurt, angry, horrified, embarrassed, and ashamed over the election of  donald drumpf / trump for president, jd vance for vice-president and what seems will be a gop / greed over people -republican party controlled congress. With God's help I will not let these negative feelings and emotions determine how I treat and interact with people who voted for them and those who didn't. I do not want to encourage people who supported and voted for the Harris-Walz campaign and democratic candidates at the local, state and national level to resort to the same dishonesty, apostacy, deception, fearmongering, hate, class warfare, sexism and racism the opposition used to win. Instead I will try to hold fast to my faith and to practice the the teachings of  my Christian upbringing while dealing with the results of this election. This prayer from Sojourners is a beginning....

A Prayer After a Turbulent Election

Kaeley McEvoy

Rev. Kaeley McEvoy is the the fellowship program director and staff chaplain at Sojourners.

NOV 7, 2024

After a turbulent election season, we know the results. And while elections have real consequences, we know that regardless of which party controls the government, the earthly empire never has the final say.

As I’ve thought about what will sustain me in the days ahead, I’ve been heartened to remember that we are not the first people who have struggled to be faithful under the thumb of oppressive leadership. I’ve especially been thinking of the stories in Exodus: Shiphrah and Puah, the courageous midwives who rejected Pharaoh’s demand to murder male children (Exodus 1:15-22), God’s promise to Moses (Exodus 3:12), and Miriam who led her people in song after escaping the confines of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 15:20-21). The God of Exodus and our God of today are one and the same. Our God is one who remains steady in times of great upheaval and tyrannical leadership.

Therefore, with a great cloud of witnesses, we pray:

Ageless God, we seek the wisdom of Shiphrah and Puah,
midwives who defied Pharaoh’s orders and instead protected life.

Like the Hebrew women living under empire,
teach us how to create systems of mutual aid, community care, and resistance.

Help us center the vulnerable, so that all may experience abundant life, resisting the pain of empire. 

We know, O God, that white supremacy, xenophobia, and homophobia must be defeated, no matter who holds dominion. 

Give us strength to resist whenever a child of God is dehumanized. 

God who is greater than all kings, may we remember the wisdom of our ancestors — their songs, prayers, and guidance. 

May we remember your words to Moses when he feared Pharaoh’s wrath:
“I will be with you.”

In times of trial, faith has always found a way. 

Along with the midwives, we hold on to the witness of Miriam,
who in fleeing Egypt had the forethought to grab her tambourine,
knowing that one day joy would be necessary.

God of liberation, we know that one day the captives shall be free.
We know that one day your peace shall have the final word.
Until that day, may we hold each other tightly,
work for your beloved community to reign supreme,
and live together in pursuit of peace for all of God’s children.

Amen.

WAS POLITICALLY INCORRECT UNTIL JD VANCE

 

MOTHER JONES DAILY: Trump Called for Placing Liz Cheney Before Guns “Trained on Her Face.” But What About “Garbage”?How Harris could go beyond Roe, The effort to ban noncitizen voting where it is already illegal, Musk gave $1 million to the PAC of QAnon promoter who allegedly photographed sex in GOP office, Now's the time to take the idea of President JD Vance seriously, The killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi and who America protects. 1NOV24

 

November 1, 2024 It's down to the wire and Donald Trump is embracing a scenario in which Liz Cheney is positioned to have guns "trained on her face." The vicious remarks, which Cheney has since condemned as echoing the behavior of a dictator, came at an event with Tucker Carlson that also saw the former president calling Joe Biden a "stupid bastard" and Kamala Harris a "sleazebag." But headlines are still laser-focused on Biden reportedly calling Trump supporters "garbage" after a comedian called Puerto Rico an "island of garbage" at a MAGA rally last weekend. Now, I don't think Biden's words were exactly wise; no one wants to repeat the supposed outrage of "deplorables." But days out of an election that could open a horrific new chapter in US history, how is the media still covering this "garbage" moment? "Did Biden's 'garbage' gaffe upstage Harris's closing argument?" Politico asked this week. Even this morning, alongside coverage of Trump's violent remarks, the New York Times ran an opinion piece headlined "Can we please mute the president for a few more days?" Maybe it's my anxious state, but all this has me livid today. Hear me out: Trump’s menacing language—a constant for almost a decade—rarely draws the notice that Garbage-gate has received. To call this imbalance typical both-sidesism fails to adequately convey the failures of the media in 2024. We’re all a bit desensitized. But the use of such violent rhetoric by hideous men within reach of the White House should still shock us. Anything less, well, is garbage. That strange yelp you hear in the background? Yeah, that's your newsletter writer shrieking in pure agony. —Inae Oh

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Trump Called for Placing Liz Cheney Before Guns “Trained on Her Face.” But What About “Garbage”? In the election's final stretch, the media is chasing the wrong stuff. BY INAE OH

MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY You’re a Mother Jones Daily reader, so you know the stakes and you know reporting like ours matters so freaking much in the month ahead (and beyond).   About that: We need the support of our newsletter readers like never before to vigorously fight back against the existential threats American democracy and journalism face. We urgently need all hands on deck. We can’t afford to come up short—we have no cushion; we leave it all on the field. Please help with a donation if you can—even just a few bucks helps. A monthly gift would be incredible. Donate Now

How Harris could go beyond Roe BY JULIANNE MCSHANE The effort to ban noncitizen voting where it is already illegal BY ISABELA DIAS Musk gave $1 million to the PAC of QAnon promoter who allegedly photographed sex in GOP office BY STEPHANIE MENCIMER Now's the time to take the idea of President JD Vance seriously BY PEMA LEVY

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The killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi and who America protects President Joe Biden said, “If you harm an American, we will respond.” After an Israeli soldier shot and killed a US citizen and activist in the West Bank, fellow peace protesters wonder whether that’s true. BY SOPHIE HURWITZ

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Army report on Trump’s Arlington cemetery visit cites ‘simple assault’ 25&28OKT24

 MORE on cadet bone spurs donald drumpf's / trump's disgusting and shameful propaganda visit to Arlington National Cemetery on 26AUG24, confirmation from the U.S. Army that the cemetery employee who tried to stop the drumpf / trump entourage from taking pictures and filming in section 60 was assaulted while doing her job. That entire group is guilty of violating the sanctity of Arlington National Cemetery and the memory of those interred there. I would say all of them should be ashamed but they are to vile to even consider that. From the Washington Post.....

Army report on Trump’s Arlington cemetery visit cites ‘simple assault’

Service officials had repeatedly declined to release the report but were ordered to do so by a judge this week.

By Dan Lamothe

Dan Lamothe joined The Washington Post in 2014 to cover the U.S. military. He has written about the Armed Forces for more than 15 years, traveling extensively, embedding with five branches of service and covering combat in Afghanistan.follow on X @danlamothe

An Army report released by a government transparency organization late Friday described an altercation at Arlington National Cemetery involving Trump campaign staff members as a “simple assault,” and affirmed that a cemetery employee gave a statement to police and did not wish to press charges.

The redacted document was published by the nonprofit American Oversight, which had sued the federal government, and then was released several minutes later by the Army. A federal judge, Paul Friedman, had ordered the service to do so by Friday.

The incident occurred Aug. 26 while Trump was at the cemetery — sacred ground for many Americans — to mark the third anniversary of a bombing during the evacuation of Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghans. Trump has repeatedly sought to highlight the bombing in political attacks on President Joe Biden and Trump’s election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Defense officials have previously said that the altercation occurred when the cemetery employee sought to enforce a federal law that prohibits “partisan political activities” at national military cemeteries.

Defense officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said that before the event, they told Trump’s team that campaign photographers would not be allowed in Section 60 of the cemetery, an especially sensitive area where many recently deceased service members are buried. A campaign employee pushed past the cemetery official who sought to enforce the rule, the officials said.

The Trump campaign disputed the employee’s version of events and then released a campaign video relying on footage recorded during the visit.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to questions about the Army report’s release.

The document states that police at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall received a report about the alleged assault at roughly 10:30 a.m. the day of the confrontation and that the cemetery employee “did not require medical attention on scene and later refused when offered.” While Army officials said in a statement in August that it considered the matter settled, the report said the investigation “continues” — a point the Army affirmed on Friday.

“The law enforcement investigation into the incident remains open and we are therefore unable to provide further information at this time,” Army officials said in an email to reporters.

The report had been pursued through Freedom of Information Act requests by numerous news organizations, including The Washington Post, and the Army had repeatedly declined to release it. Chioma Chukwu, a senior official with American Oversight, said in a statement that the nonprofit was “pleased” that it was able to share the report with the American public “so they can see for themselves that there is still an ongoing federal law enforcement investigation into the August incident at Arlington National Cemetery.”

“The alleged conduct of the former president and his staff aligns with his history of politicizing the military and violating clear ethical boundaries, and it’s time for the public to have all the facts,” Chukwu said. “American Oversight will be closely reviewing the redactions and continuing our fight to get information to the people.”

The Army said it released the records to American Oversight “in compliance with the deadline provided in an order issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.”

In August, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung initially accused the cemetery employee, without evidence, of suffering a “mental health episode” during the confrontation and later said she was “the one who initiated physical contact and verbal harassment that was unwarranted and unnecessary.” Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita called her a “despicable individual.”

The Army defended the employee in a statement at the time.

“This incident was unfortunate, and it is also unfortunate that the ANC employee and her professionalism has been unfairly attacked,” the statement said. “ANC is a national shrine to the honored dead of the Armed Forces, and its dedicated staff will continue to ensure public ceremonies are conducted with the dignity and respect the nation’s fallen deserve.”

The families of some of the U.S. troops killed in the Kabul bombing defended Trump in August, saying he was at Arlington National Cemetery at their invitation and appreciated his comfort. They have become a pro-Trump force, appearing frequently at campaign events and organizing with the assistance of Republican officials.

Josh Dawsey contributed to this report.

correction

A previous version of this article, in one instance, incorrectly referred to the nonprofit American Oversight as Government Oversight. The article has been corrected.