I was leading a bird watching retreat when my friend and co-leader asked me in a whisper, "Did you hear the news? Guilty on all counts" I whooped out loud and started dancing in place - spontaneous, unadulterated joy that 12 ordinary Americans had found him guilty - the justice system had worked, the man had been held accountable for his actions. I was profoundly happy, and still am, regardless of how his cult is spinning the conviction. The verdict restored my faith in the intelligence of ordinary Americans. The 2022 midterms gave me hope - that the "red wave" was not actually a wave. That American voters had the intelligence and the sense to defeat many election deniers who had been running for office. We must continue to vote to defeat them.
Other moments in time that gave me hope: When the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School organized the March for Our Lives in Washington, DC after Nicolas Cruz killed 17 of their classmates on Valentine's Day (also Ash Wednesday) in 2018 to demand changes in our gun laws.
The Black Lives Matter Movement after George Floyd was murdered gave me hope that the country had finally had enough of white people killing black people and had come together to demand it end.
I wanted to do what I could to make sure citizens could vote fairly and safely, so I signed up to be an election official and worked at the polls on our state Primary Day and at the ensuing Runoff election. Witnessing the process of how our elections are executed reinforced my faith in the system - it is very hard, if not impossible to cheat with the rules and safegurads that are in place.
Thank you, Jemar, for the space to share our thoughts and feelings.
Clearly, Donald Trump his followers, and sympathizers, are entirely disconnected from the concept of democracy and our justice system.
Worse, when things don't go their way they resort to name-calling and threats, not only against participants in any action that exposes the errors in crimes of Trump, they also threaten the families of those persons. They even turned against their own who reasonably state that the rule of law should be respected.
This man needs to lose the election, and lose in a landslide. For the sake of our country, the MAGA faction, like the Tea Party faction that proceeded it, needs to be buried under a wave of common sense and true patriotic actions.
"Allowing yourself to feel a glimmer of joy and hope is not foolish. It is inward the spark of the Creator that reminds you of your humanity and that you can still imagine a better future."
I needed to read this, especially in this regard. Thank you for these words and pointing us toward hope.
Followers of Christ are constantly faced with difficult choices. We encourage the "love one another's" and we strive to walk by faith, all impossible without Jesus. We look to the Scriptures for guidance and truth.
Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of the indictments against him. Though I am not celebrating, justice was served. This is an immoral blight on our country. But I have no doubt whatsoever that he is guilty on all counts. This was never a difficult choice.
My father-in-law, 37-year criminal defense attorney in Miami Fl. Both my grandfather and Uncle James were very successful attorneys. My wife attended Law School (all A's) but determined to follow her dream and became a World Language teacher of English, Spanish and French.
The unwritten law. If you did the crime do not testify! If you are innocent, your lawyer may let you testify! Donald Trump refused to testify!
"But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them." Ephesians 5:3-7.
Wise words…..still being able to imagine a better future! Yes! The Jesus of the Bible is my eternal hope eternally even in the brokenness of today.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I'M VERY GLAD TRUMP WAS CONVICTED. MY GLEE WAS SHORT LIVED BEAUSE I FEEL THE POWER IS IN THE CONTROL OF EVILISH PEOPLE MAINLY TRUMP AND CAN COERSE TOO MANY TO BACK DOWN AND BECOME PASSIVE THIS FALL.TED JOHNSTONE
I was leading a bird watching retreat when my friend and co-leader asked me in a whisper, "Did you hear the news? Guilty on all counts" I whooped out loud and started dancing in place - spontaneous, unadulterated joy that 12 ordinary Americans had found him guilty - the justice system had worked, the man had been held accountable for his actions. I was profoundly happy, and still am, regardless of how his cult is spinning the conviction. The verdict restored my faith in the intelligence of ordinary Americans. The 2022 midterms gave me hope - that the "red wave" was not actually a wave. That American voters had the intelligence and the sense to defeat many election deniers who had been running for office. We must continue to vote to defeat them.
Other moments in time that gave me hope: When the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School organized the March for Our Lives in Washington, DC after Nicolas Cruz killed 17 of their classmates on Valentine's Day (also Ash Wednesday) in 2018 to demand changes in our gun laws.
The Black Lives Matter Movement after George Floyd was murdered gave me hope that the country had finally had enough of white people killing black people and had come together to demand it end.
I wanted to do what I could to make sure citizens could vote fairly and safely, so I signed up to be an election official and worked at the polls on our state Primary Day and at the ensuing Runoff election. Witnessing the process of how our elections are executed reinforced my faith in the system - it is very hard, if not impossible to cheat with the rules and safegurads that are in place.
Thank you, Jemar, for the space to share our thoughts and feelings.
Clearly, Donald Trump his followers, and sympathizers, are entirely disconnected from the concept of democracy and our justice system.
Worse, when things don't go their way they resort to name-calling and threats, not only against participants in any action that exposes the errors in crimes of Trump, they also threaten the families of those persons. They even turned against their own who reasonably state that the rule of law should be respected.
This man needs to lose the election, and lose in a landslide. For the sake of our country, the MAGA faction, like the Tea Party faction that proceeded it, needs to be buried under a wave of common sense and true patriotic actions.
"Allowing yourself to feel a glimmer of joy and hope is not foolish. It is inward the spark of the Creator that reminds you of your humanity and that you can still imagine a better future."
I needed to read this, especially in this regard. Thank you for these words and pointing us toward hope.
Followers of Christ are constantly faced with difficult choices. We encourage the "love one another's" and we strive to walk by faith, all impossible without Jesus. We look to the Scriptures for guidance and truth.
Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of the indictments against him. Though I am not celebrating, justice was served. This is an immoral blight on our country. But I have no doubt whatsoever that he is guilty on all counts. This was never a difficult choice.
My father-in-law, 37-year criminal defense attorney in Miami Fl. Both my grandfather and Uncle James were very successful attorneys. My wife attended Law School (all A's) but determined to follow her dream and became a World Language teacher of English, Spanish and French.
The unwritten law. If you did the crime do not testify! If you are innocent, your lawyer may let you testify! Donald Trump refused to testify!
"But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them." Ephesians 5:3-7.
I felt that glimmer each time Obama won.
Wise words…..still being able to imagine a better future! Yes! The Jesus of the Bible is my eternal hope eternally even in the brokenness of today.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
I'M VERY GLAD TRUMP WAS CONVICTED. MY GLEE WAS SHORT LIVED BEAUSE I FEEL THE POWER IS IN THE CONTROL OF EVILISH PEOPLE MAINLY TRUMP AND CAN COERSE TOO MANY TO BACK DOWN AND BECOME PASSIVE THIS FALL.TED JOHNSTONE