Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 30 (220 total reports)
10.07.2023-16.07.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as the US’s addiction to guns causes more havoc.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Adverse Childhood Experiences: Who Stumbles and Who Thrives?
This article is a review of the book, “The Kite that Couldn’t Fly: And Other May Avenue Stories,” by Michael Menard. Mr. Menard’s books reflects on his personal experience of being raised in an impoverished family of 14 with an alcoholic father but loving mom. It examines why some children were able to overcome ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences) while other siblings were emotionally crippled. It is a heart-rending peek into an inspirational life and both the article and the book are worth your time.
Best Links of The Week
16.07.2024
‘What the Heck Just Happened?’
Perhaps my favorite quote in this morning’s news feed was by Charles Pierce of Esquire. In his opinion column, he states the primary two things he has gleaned from the Trump assassination attempt are: Too many nuts, too many guns.
The man who shot Trump was young, white, a registered Republican, and an avid Trump supporter. We have no real leads as to what his motives were and everything else is conjecture, so Pierce’s commentary is down to the facts and straightforward. It sticks to what we actually know, “Too many nuts, too many guns.”
In other news, Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate. This is the same J.D. Vance that said that Trump is cultural heroine, and that his followers are duped by his demagoguery. But first, let’s remember why Trump is picking a new Vice Presidential candidate? Do we remember the gallows outside the capital and the chants of, “Hang Mike Pence?” Why, because Pence followed the constitution instead of Trump and the GOP in admitting who won the fairest, most observed, election in US history. Why pick Vance? Because Vance has already stated that he would choose Trump over the constitution in a similar situation.
15.07.2024
Biden addresses Trump rally shooting in Oval Office address: "Politics must never be a literal battlefield"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-oval-office-address-trump-shot/
As we would expect from a seasoned statesman, President Biden’s response to the shooting of Donald Trump is reasoned, compassionate, and contextual. That should be compared with the statements of leading Republicans (see below), who are already pointing fingers at Joe Biden and the Democrats. This is not the time that responsible leaders should start issuing more calls for revenge and violence. But, then, the Republican Hacks spouting conspiracy theories are not leaders. They are attention-hogs with histrionic personality disorders looking for the longest news cycle they can attain, a chance at working for Fox news, or—the coveted prize—a thumbs up from their felon/nominee. We need to remember what rhetoric brought us to the point that an individual (in this case, white, Republican, and a gun enthusiast) believed it was his right—for whatever reason—to decide the election for all of us with one act of violence. Who fomented the belief that democracy is optional if you don’t get what you want? Who started pushing the political strategy that force was justifiable if your party did not win? Who encouraged people to riot and try to prevent the democratic process underwritten by the constitution if your candidate was a loser?
14.07.2024
A Moment to Seek Our Better Angels
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-pennsylvania/679004/
Nothing is clear about the motives behind the shooting of Donald Trump, so no conjecture should be spoken or promoted. The only thing that should be attended to is that violence is unacceptable, without exception. Falling back to the words of President Abraham Lincoln, this article resurrects his phrase, “Better Angels.” To quote Lincoln’s first inaugural address, “The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely, they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
This article chooses to focus on another statement by the former president that he made in response to the hideous Dred Scott decision, “To give the victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary.”
This is not a moment for humor or conjecture, this is a moment of grave concern for a nation whose penchant for “expressing your opinion through violence” has become acceptable. We need to resoundingly say it is NOT!
13.07.2024
Shocker Poll Suggests Trump’s Lying May Be Huge Weakness for Him
https://newrepublic.com/article/183784/poll-trump-lying-huge-weakness
Shocker: No one votes for Donald Trump because they trust him. People don’t trust him and they can’t trust him. He is a compulsive liar who fears the truth about his own insincerity, inner ugliness, incompetence, and how history will finally judge him. He has to cover up all of that with bullying and belligerence. The older he gets and the more his feebleness shows, the more he falls back to his modus operandi of lying and sidestepping pertinent issues. People vote for Donald Trump because he lets them vent the worst of themselves. The part of themselves that wants to bully others into believing their viewpoint, their religion, or their racism. He captures their fear, anger and desire for revenge—against whatever made-up enemy the GOP is conjuring up this week. Donald Trump gives free rein to people’s worst desires. For some reason, people don’t realize that his lies apply to them as well and that, unless they are among the US’s richest rich people, his policies will undercut their own lives and economy. One truth that Donald Trump has told this year, “I don’t care about you, I just want your vote.”
12.07.2024
We Still Don’t Know What to Do With the Endless Stream of Trump Lies
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-lies-nato-alliance/678968/
Most people would prefer to tell the truth if they were able, but the more we learn about convicted felon and sex offender, Donald Trump, the more we learn that he would prefer a lie—even when it’s obvious he is telling one. It’s not just habitual with Trump, it’s compulsive—even addictive. It continues to be exacerbated as his mental decline becomes increasingly obvious. At the root of this is a man deeply flawed and grossly insecure in the undermining knowledge that he is an imposter, a poser, a loser.
11.07.2024
Project 2025 Continues The Historic Racist, Fascist Project – OpEd
This article points out that Project 2025 (the contemporary version of Mein Kampf according to one author below) isn’t anything new in US politics. It continues a whites-only playbook used by Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell (The Powell Memo) and then by Newt Gingrich (Contract with America). Wanting to make America a safe haven for fascist, White and Wealthy Theocrats is sadly a mindset, that people seeking fairness and justice have had to confront since the development of the Constitution—indeed, it was the reason for the constitution.
10.07.2024
It’s our democracy, America! A second Trump presidency would be nothing like the first
As Pro-Trumpers become more violent and find support for their tyrannical outbursts, we need to become increasingly aware, vocal, and alarmed. There is no sidelines on this issue. This week, pro-life, MAGA Republican nominee for North Carolina Governor, Mark Robinson, remarked, “Some folks need killing!” he said to a church audience in White Lake, a small town in the state’s southeastern corner. He went on to tell the congregation, “It’s not a matter of vengeance,” he emphasized. “It’s a matter of necessity!” Killing people who disagree with you in a Democracy is a NECESSITY?!! How did this become even remotely acceptable to say and still remain a viable candidate for office. It’s part of the slow-slide to acceptable violence that Donald Trump has led his followers, a part that most of his supporters not only condone, but encourage. These are NOT the values of the United States, this is not how candidates for office should be given credence to speak. There is NO excuse for this type of behavior. Imagine a 2025 where such people have been voted into the dust, a 2025 where such people find no platform, a 2025 where it is acceptable to voice your opinion without the threat of violence to you or your loved ones. It is time to stop this ever-increasing slide into fascism—and that’s exactly what this is.
This Week’s Links
16.07.2024
‘What the Heck Just Happened?’
MAGA World’s Reckless Point-Scoring
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/07/trump-shooting-republicans-criticism/679026/
Stop Pretending You Know How This Will End
One Sure Thing About the Trump Assassination Attempt
Trump’s Ugly New Post-Shooting Rant Instantly Wrecks His “Unity” Pivot
https://newrepublic.com/article/183860/trumps-post-shooting-rant-wrecks-unity-pivot
An Astonishing Ruling in Trump’s Classified-Documents Case
7 ways to avoid becoming a misinformation superspreader when the news is shocking
J.D. Vance's horrendous record of homophobia and transphobia
https://www.advocate.com/politics/jd-vance-anti-lgbtq-record
School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget.
https://www.propublica.org/article/arizona-school-vouchers-budget-meltdown
Benefits of Parent Education in Raising Children With ADHD
15.07.2024
Biden addresses Trump rally shooting in Oval Office address: "Politics must never be a literal battlefield"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-oval-office-address-trump-shot/
The Republican response to Trump’s shooting is beyond irresponsible
The Trump Shooting Conspiracies Outpaced Reality
Five Questions for the Secret Service
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/five-questions-secret-service/679013/
SCOTUS Says Cruelty Is a Solution to Homelessness
https://jacobin.com/2024/07/supreme-court-grants-pass-homelessness/
14.07.2024
A Moment to Seek Our Better Angels
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-pennsylvania/679004/
How to Save Democracy When You Don’t Know Where to Start
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/save-democracy-dont-know-start-bookbite/50657/
A Terrible New Era of Political Violence in America
Biden Digs In
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2024/07/biden-digs-in-washington-week/678999/
White supremacy with a law degree: How do we escape "The Originalism Trap"?
https://www.salon.com/2024/07/14/supremacy-with-a-law-degree-how-do-we-escape-the-originalism-trap/
Robert Reich: Debunking Myth #7: America Is Socialist – OpEd
https://www.eurasiareview.com/14072024-robert-reich-debunking-myth-7-america-is-socialist-oped/
These are America's 10 worst states for quality of life in 2024
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/13/10-states-worst-quality-of-life-america.html
Greg Abbott Hightailed It Out Of Texas Just In Time For Hurricane Beryl
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61586567/greg-abbott-hurricane-beryl/
13.07.2024
Shocker Poll Suggests Trump’s Lying May Be Huge Weakness for Him
https://newrepublic.com/article/183784/poll-trump-lying-huge-weakness
Project 2025 Is the Rare Policy Tome to Go Viral
GOP’s 2024 platform mirrors extremist Project 2025 as threat to women, LGBTQ+ people, and minorities
https://www.advocate.com/news/2024-gop-platform-project-2025
Republican Rep. Goes on Unhinged Rant About Women “Emasculating Men”
https://newrepublic.com/post/183778/republican-rep-goes-unhinged-rant-women-emasculating-men
Media Literacy Is an Essential Skill. Schools Should Teach It That Way (Opinion)
Houston Is on a Path to an All-Out Power Crisis
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/07/houston-power-outage-beryl/678990/
Why Hurricane Beryl was more than Houston could handle
https://www.vox.com/climate/360181/climate-hurricane-beryl-blackout-houston-flood
Frustration mounts into threats for Texas power crews as 1 million still in dark after Beryl
This is exactly how to hone your personal leadership style
https://www.fastcompany.com/91154854/this-is-exactly-how-to-hone-your-personal-leadership-style
The One Unexpected Thing Infectious Disease Experts Are Begging You to Stop Doing If You Don't Want to Get COVID This Summer
12.07.2024
We Still Don’t Know What to Do With the Endless Stream of Trump Lies
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-lies-nato-alliance/678968/
The Trump National Convention
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-republican-national-convention/678974/
Trump’s Sleazy New Project 2025 Disavowal Scam Blows Up in His Face
https://newrepublic.com/article/183737/trumps-sleazy-new-project-2025-disavowal-scam-blows-face
The deep and enduring history of universal basic income
https://bigthink.com/the-past/history-of-universal-basic-income/
Five takeaways from Biden’s pivotal press conference
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4767854-biden-nato-summit-reassure-democrats/
11.07.2024
Project 2025 Continues The Historic Racist, Fascist Project – OpEd
The Rebellion Against Biden Is Over
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/rebellion-against-biden-over-now/678954/
Project 2025 is the American, modified Mein Kampf
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/project-2025-is-the-american-modified-mein-kampf/
Stop Soft-Pedaling the GOP’s Extreme Positions
Oklahoma is having right-wing media figures rewrite its social studies curriculum. Here’s what you need to know about them.
The 2016 Election Reshaped the Supreme Court. So Will 2024.
https://newrepublic.com/article/183551/2016-election-reshaped-supreme-court-will-2024
The ACLU has a blueprint to constrain Trump in a second presidential term
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/11/nx-s1-5034884/aclu-trump-second-term
Adverse Childhood Experiences: Who Stumbles and Who Thrives?
Persuasion expert shares how one word makes people 30% more likely to change their minds
10.07.2024
It’s our democracy, America! A second Trump presidency would be nothing like the first
Trump is just a con man from New York
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/7/9/trump-is-just-a-con-man-from-new-york
Senator Josh Hawley is proudly revealing the truth about the Republican agenda.
https://newrepublic.com/maz/post/183576/josh-hawley-threat-revive-christian-nationalism
Greg Abbott Feels the Heat Over Texas Power Outage Failure
https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-feels-heat-texas-power-outage-failure-1923105
Biden blames Texas officials for delayed federal response to Hurricane Beryl
The Supreme Court curbed federal oversight of schools. It's a big deal.
Humorous Comics By Tom Gauld For All The Book And Science Lovers Out There (35 New Pics)
https://www.boredpanda.com/comics-about-books-art-science-tom-gauld-part-3/