I bring you more news from Liberal Minded Ladies of Substance on this cloudy Thursday. It’s June 6, 2019, and it’s the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
This is, unsurprisingly to me, a big day in my house. My son is a self-proclaimed “World War 2 specialist” since he’s been studying it “for a really long time, since (he) was 4 or 5.” He does have multiple different books on World War 2, several movies on it, and has recently taken it upon himself to watch Man in the High Castle. We’ve watched Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Monuments Men, and I’m considering starting him on Band of Brothers. There are worse things to be than a historian. He could be like Trump.
I am lucky that my son is capable, at 13, of holding intelligent discussions on fascism and the rise of authoritarianism in the modern United States. However, we still try to impress on him that these conversations cannot happen in public places. I used to try and stop the conversations because a 4 year old discussing World War 2 and Hitler could lead people to think we supported the German side of the war. Now, I have the opposite fear. We’ve had White Supremacist groups recruiting in the area, and people are less afraid to reveal their beliefs and bigotry. With the continued rise in White Nationalist violence, I am concerned that my son, outspoken like his mother, will fall victim to that violence.
The country seems to be growing more violent by the day, and, like most mothers, I want to protect my son and yet still change the direction of society.
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News Stories
Rare photos reveal the chronology of D-Day -- -- (CNN) Today is the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
European leaders give Trump a history lesson -- -- (CNN) I miss having a President that wasn't willfully greedy and stupid. I apologize to our European brothers and sisters. Trump doesn't represent American values. With a 40% approval rating, most Americans dislike him.
Bernie Sanders Calls Out Anti-Medicare for All ‘Front Group’ -- -- (Newsweek) According to Opensecrets.org, The "Partnership for America's Health Care Future" is backed by BCBS, PhRMA, etc. Their goal is to "minimize the potential for this option in health care from becoming part of a national political party's platform in 2020." In 2018, members spent a combined $143,000,000 to combat Medicare For All. They are OK with people dying because it puts money in their pockets.
Third undocumented migrant in 3 days dies after being apprehended at US-Mexico border -- -- (CNN) 3 days. 3 deaths. And yet, the care of those in custody is "paramount" according to CBP. The detention centers are over crowded, they keep people behind fences under bridges, they take necessary medications away from people, and they have killed 6 kids that we know of. ICE is acting in violation of the basic rights of people. There IS a crisis at the border. It has nothing to do with the refugees seeking safety.
1972 Article Surfaces Showing Bernie Sanders Backed Abortion Rights Year Before Roe v Wade -- -- (Newsweek) Sanders' support for the rights of women has, historically, been consistent, even when that support was not culturally popular. He has steadfastly spoken in favor of access to abortions, and while other candidates may equivocate, saying their views have changed over time, I think it is important to note that one candidate has consistently favored the rights of the people and the rights of the workers.
YouTube just banned supremacist content, and thousands of channels are about to be removed -- -- (The Verge) This is a two part story. Part 1: Youtube plans on removing fake news, violent content, and white supremacy. This is a feel-good story where a company (like Facebook) says it's going to crackdown on troubling, hateful rhetoric. Yay, right? Well, wait for part 2.
Bowing to pressure, YouTube will reconsider its harassment policies -- -- (The Verge) Part 2 of the Youtube story: Youtube will only ban those videos which don't make it money. Stephen Crowder has consistently attacked someone for being a gay POC, and yet Youtube doesn't find those videos in violation of it's community guidelines. Like Facebook, the Community Guidelines seem to be applied haphazardly. I have constantly reported photos threatening Muslims, and today I even discovered a page promoting legitimate Nazi views and reported it. The response, almost to a one, is that those things do not violate the community guidelines. Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter need to stop bowing to the pressure of bigots and racists.
How Payday Lenders Spent $1 Million at a Trump Resort — and Cashed In -- -- (ProPublica) Payday lenders regularly charge loans at over 300% APR (which is why they aren't in favor of the Sanders proposal that interest be capped at 15%). However, the industry leaders are paying Trump's businesses to hold their meetings and conventions, and in return? Trump's pick for the CFPB has cut down a rule that the industry felt was a death sentence to them. Instead of regulating the industry, Trump continues to allow the greedy to make money off of those who can least afford it.
Walmart shareholders reject Sanders-backed proposal to put workers on board -- -- (The Hill) The workers want and deserve a seat at the table, in order to get the shareholders to listen to them, they brought in someone the Board could not ignore: Bernie Sanders. However, the Board (comprised of CEOs of companies like McDonald's and Billionaires) voted down that proposal, indicating that the needs of the workers are not their concern. In an additional insult, Doug McMillan (CEO of Walmart) suggested that Congress raise the federal minimum wage, continuing to indicate that companies will not pay employees a living wage unless forced to do so.
Trump honors D-Day vets, discusses Vietnam deferment -- -- (AP News) Trump was "never a fan" of the Vietnam war. It was "very far away" and "no one knew where it was." I'm sure the families of the almost 60K soldiers who died in Vietnam wish their daddy could have had a podiatrist write a letter to get them out of serving far away as well.
White nationalist attacks should be prosecuted as terrorism, lawmakers say -- -- (Yahoo) White nationalism and white supremacy pose dangers to all people in America. However, this Administration has done what it can to protect domestic terrorists, recognizing them as "very fine people" and defunding agencies who look into those instances. There are no laws where mass shooters can be charged with domestic terrorism, leaving localities to charge them with hate crimes or weapons violations, but the federal government refuses to treat these Alt-Right mass murderers as terrorists. Between 2009 and 2018, White nationalists accounted for 73% of extremist murders in the US. Instead of giving them more power, maybe our government should protect us from these terrorists.