Here we are, yet again, watching the appalling video of a POC being murdered ruthlessly for no reason, and by law enforcement. May 2020 has been an ugly month for POC, but let's face it...every day is hard for POC in America. And it is impossible to continue to sit by and watch without saying anything.
America has a war on its hands, and it is time that our Government do something about it by enacting real change that will truly make a difference. If I were the President of the United States of America, I would do the following:
1) Criminal Justice System Reform and Policing - I would implement reform of the whole system and encourage the Attorney General to create a plan to fix the broken system on all levels to address incarceration rates, recidivism, programs to rebuild the lives of people convicted of crimes, police interactions and community policing models to offer better programs and opportunities for communities and police to work together, implement tougher screening processes of police officers and implement 0-tolerance policies for incidents regarding inappropriate policing behavior. I would also establish an ethical council to look at and evaluate previous police-related brutality situations and to investigate whether the situations were handled correctly and appropriately. We can ensure that those lost will always be remembered and that their loss, though tragic and unjust, can serve as an opportunity to bring about real change to policing methods and investigations into these matters 2) Education - I would invest more money into areas of lower-income and urban environments. Ensuring that schools are giving people in these communities the best possible chance for success. Implementing honors and AP classes, installing trained teachers and counselors into the school to establish opportunities to talk about college, the future and success. Giving hope is extremely important in sparking fire for the future. I would also establish stronger curriculums in schools to talk about diversity, embracing diversity and being aware of all people different from you. We have a captive audience and it is time we really focus on what our schools are teaching people in relationship to difference. 3) Fear and Communities - studies prove that people who live in violent neighborhoods and communities have a higher chance of being killed but also have a higher chance of being a perpetrator of violence later. I would implement opportunities in communities to stop the fear. Why do gangs exist? Gangs exist as a form of protection. I would reach out to gang members and find ways to stop this violence. 4) Gun Reform - I would enact gun reform that would ensure that specific weapons could not be bought or sold and that smart technology would be developed on guns to ensure that guns are not being mis-used. Think about how the automakers created anti-theft technology in cars to solve a problem of automobile theft in the 1990s and 2000s. 5) Drugs - We have a problem in this country with drugs and it is time we address it. Drugs have become a major commodity and many acts of violence happen because of drugs. Drugs are an easy way to make lots of money and better one's place in life but it also comes with all the dangers that surround communities that suffer from drug use and transaction. 6) Jobs and the minimum wage - I would find ways to offer better paying job opportunities to people in lower income classes so that they can actually have a fighting chance to get out of where they are and advance. Creating job opportunities that are meaningful, worthwhile, rewarding and pays well is extremely important. I would raise the minimum wage to ensure that people are able to earn a living wage. If prices of rent, utilities, etc are going up every year, wages should go up to accommodate and pay for these increases. 7) Hate and Discrimination have no place in this country. I understand fully that you will never be able to remove racism or intolerance from people, but I would enact new laws and policies that embrace the human dignity and rights of everyone. All humans rights are civil rights and I would make it the Status Quo that violence towards, against or discrimination towards any marginalized group is not acceptable and not tolerable. I would add the appropriate designations and distinctions to the civil rights act and ensure all people are protected under these laws regardless of race, gender, orientation, ethnicity, religious belief, etc. All lives matter when Black Lives Matter...is true...but all lives matter when all lives matter and it is high time that we embrace it. You will never be able to convince everyone that all people's lives have value (sadly, right), but you can enact stronger policies towards discrimination, hate crimes, and intolerance. 8) Healthcare reform - I would create better healthcare for everyone. Sadly healthcare is extremely expensive and not affordable and because of this it creates a major divide in this country between people who can and cannot afford it. Healthcare would no longer be for the rich or privileged, but for everyone. Please feel free to drop a comment, policy or idea that you would implement to improve the current state of America and what is going on presently around our issue with Racism... #FreddieGray, #EricGarner, #WalterScott, #AmadouDiallo, #YvonneSmallwood, #RandyEvans, #ClaudeReese, #CliffordGlover, #KeithScott, #TerrenceCrutcher, #JohnCrawford, #CoreyJones, #PhilandoCastile, #SandraBland, #OscarGrant, #SeanBell, #TrayvonMartin, #Charleston9, #TamirRice, #MikeBrown, #AiyanaJones, #AltonSterling, #JordanDavis, #JordanEdwards, StephonClark, #RenishaMcBride, #JonathanFerrell, #BothemSean, #AtatianaJefferson, #AmaudArbery, #GeorgeFloyd
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Today (May 27th, 2020) at 4:32pm from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will board the SpaceX's Crew Dragon Spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket, with a mission to carry the first US Astronauts to the International Space Station since the grounding of the Space craft in 2011. SpaceX has sent 21 uncrewed rockets to the ISS over the past 10 years for supplies, cargo and equipment, but today changes with the first crewed launch. This mission (Demo-2) will be the final validation test of SpaceX's rocket system, validating all aspects of the SpaceX program including the launch pad, Crew Dragon Spacecraft, Falcon 9 launch capabilities and human/spacecraft operational systems in orbit. Over the past 9 years, the US has had to purchase seats upon Russian spacecrafts in upwards of millions of dollars to ensure US presence at the International Space Station. Today marks the day that the United States, in collaboration with a public company, returns to the skies with complete control over our involvement in the space race, and the beginning of the Artemis program to land the next man and first woman on the Lunar Surface in 2024 with sights on landing the first man or woman on Mars. This will also serve as a bittersweet moment as Hurley was a part of the last American Space Flight Crew (mission STS-135) of the spacecraft Atlantis to the ISS before the United States retired its American Space Craft. **UPDATE** This launch was scrubbed because of weather and is pending a new launch on Saturday May 30th at 3:22pm. **UPDATE UPDATE** This launch was successful and both astronauts made it to the International Space Station safe and sound. Not really sure why these "murder hornets" are just now becoming viral because I have been following these Japanese Hornets for over 10 years now as they were found in the United States a while ago. However, what is uniquely sad about these buggers is that they feed off of many various things but more specifically, they love attacking honey bees. A few years ago, I read a stat that 1 murder hornet could kill 100 honey bees in an hour. Literally 1 or 2 of these hornets could decimate an entire honey bee hive in no time flat. This is all sad when you consider that the honey bee population is drastically on the decline, however there is a silver lining. Honey bees are way more resilient than they seem and they can truly hold their own against a murder hornet. So the murder hornet can only live at a certain temperature and if their body gets above that temperature it begins to shut down. Honey Bees know this so when they see a murder hornet approaching, these little resilient honey bees swarm around the murder hornet and flap their wings so hard and so fast that it raises the temperature to 116F of the swarm and kills the murder hornet. Below is a video of this happening: So I guess this video proves several things:
1) There sometimes really is power in numbers. Remember your voice/your participation really does matter and can make all the difference. 2) Even in the worst of times, resiliency is extremely important and being able to adapt, develop new techniques and manage new challenges can be extremely important 3) Sometimes even the biggest of obstacles can be defeated if you work hard and flap your wings fast enough. |