One of the issues I have right now with coming to Daily Kos is the extreme number of Sanders v. Clinto diaries that dominate the rec list and the discussion here. I know, I know — it’s an election year. We have a contested primary. Based on the past it was inevitable that once Sanders became a viable alternative to Clinton, this would be the result. And people have a right to read what they want and rec what they want and blast each other in the comments sections to their heart’s content. I get it.
But …
There are a number of great diaries here to which few people are paying attention. Diaries about important significant matters. Well written, heart rending diaries. Community Spotlight includes only a few of them, sadly. So, if you have met your Sanders/Clinton quota for the day, please consider reading the following six diaries I found in the recent list, all well worth your time, all well worth a rec and a tip. Here thye are with links and a summary of their content and/or excerpts:
Why it’s Black Lives Matter and not ALL Lives Matter.
A diary from Alec Singer, a Democrat running for Congress in the 3rd District of Nevada, who lays out the case why objections to the Black Lives Matters movement are misguided and wrong. Certainly seems like a guy who I would support if I lived in Nevada. An excerpt:
A lot of people in this country who are opposing Black Lives Matter like to either cite the victories of ’65, the desegregation of schools or the election of our first African-American President, Barack Obama. But the truth is, the fight has only become more difficult, as many people would rather ignore the plight of Black America than acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that too many of our black youth are being killed and jailed. The uncomfortable truth is that we have put a price on a black youth’s life that we don’t dare to put on that of white youth. We don’t discuss school shootings until they hit middle-class neighborhoods, all while we continue to ignore the gun crisis that afflicts many inner city schools in our cities. Until we acknowledge this reality, yes, Black Lives Matter.
Congress to Military Kids: Drop Dead
A brief diary about a bill passed by the House Republicans and now up for a vote in the Senate to cut benefits to the children of Post 9/11 vets.
Deportation Is A Death Sentence
Excerpt:
El Salvador and Honduras now have the dubious distinction of being the two most dangerous places on earth - yes, you heard that correctly. It is actually more lethal to be deported to either of these two "peaceful" countries than to be dropped right in the middle of the Syrian civil war or even the failed state of Somalia.
Even more frightening is the the fact that this isn't a "proposed policy;" it's reality. We deport innocent women and children back to this hell hole every day. We do so not because they're terrorist, or pose any type of violent threat to anyone in this country. No, we do it because they're undocumented and in the jurisprudence of many, the mere act of defying the law in order get away from the ceaseless violence is a crime worthy of a de facto death sentence.
A Case Demonstrating the Need For Criminal Justice Reform: The Murder of Malik Drummond
A story about racial injustice in our criminal justice system. Malik Drummond was a two year old who went missing in 2014 in a small Arkansas town. His father, an African American male, Jeffrey Clifton, was living with Lesley Marcotte, his white girlfriend, who was 8 months pregnant. Originally, both said that the child had wandered off when left unattended. No charges were filed.
A year later, after a break-up, police re-interviewed Lesley Marcotte, who suddenly had a new tale to tell, saying Jeffrey beat his son Malik to death, concocted the story he wandered off, and coerced her to lie to the police.
Jeffrey now faces the death penalty and will be tried in the county where this crime allegedly occurred. Please read for more details and links in this diary by Maracat in which she lays out reasons she believes that Jeffrey has little if any chance of receiving a fair trial from a jury selected from a community that is 85% white.
NY Post Plugs Pro-CO2 Propaganda Profiteers
ClimateDenierRoundup’s diary that tells of the New York Post’s granting space on its Op-Ed page to two climate deniers, who wrote an editorial full of the standard myths and lies about the reality of carbon dioxide emissions contributing to climate change. Both writers work for the CO2 Coalition, a new “fossil fuel backed front group” with links to Exxon.
Florida Immigrants Rally Against Anti-Immigrant Legislation In Tallahassee
Excerpt:
Hundredths of immigration advocates gathered at the Florida Capitol yesterday afternoon for a press conference and rally in opposition to various anti-immigrant measures that are currently being considered by state lawmakers.
This is the second statewide mobilization from the We Are Florida! campaign, which is driven by several pro-migrant organizations from all across Florida. This time, immigrant families were joined by Democrats and Republicans alike - most notably Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami), who pledged to “stand in the way” of any anti-immigrant measures that came before his committee ...
As always, please read the recent list for more good diaries that are about important and timely subjects of concern to everyone here, even if they don’t involve Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders and the primary campaign.
Thank you all,
Steve D