Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 27 (217 total reports)
19.06.2023-25.06.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as Christian Nationalism reveals it’s craving to undermine the US Constitution.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
‘They Came for the Schools’ details how GOP targeted race and identity in classrooms
This is the type of in-depth reporting one can expect from Laura Barron-Lopez and the team at PBS. I’m so thankful for their nightly news hour and especially their Friday commentary with David Brooks and Jonathon Capehart. In this article, Barron-Lopez interviews Mike Hixenbaugh, Author of, "They Came for the Schools: One Town's Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America's Classrooms.” As we watch the Christian Right spread their indoctrination agenda to schools across the United States, this should remind us, “Why are these far right radicals focusing on religious indoctrination instead of education? What are their plans for when these young people leave their school system? Will they will go forth unable to compete in a multicultural world where other education systems have focused on mathematics, science, and technology, as well as civics and the arts, like Finland, Norway, and Sweden? Will they only be able to go “toe-to-toe” with countries like Iran, Iraq, and other nations that focus primarily on religious indoctrination or countries like South Korea and Russia, that focus on adulation for their authoritarian leaders.
Best Links of The Week
25.06.2024
It’s Unfortunately Time to Get to Know the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025”
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61238734/conservatives-project-2025-abortion/
Charles P Pierce is a regular commentator for Esquire and I always enjoy his pieces. In this insightful article, he reviews an interview with Project 2025 funder and president of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts. The interviewer, Symone Sanders-Townsend of MSNBC, does a great job at allowing Roberts the latitude to hang himself on issues of women’s rights, abortion, and Trumpism. This interview would be laughable, if Roberts, Project 2025, and the Heritage Foundation weren’t so dangerous to the democratic future of the United States and, in particular, to the freedom and rights of women. Please take a moment (that’s all it takes) to read this man’s words and see just how insane they are at the Heritage Foundation. Pass it on to others who might need a little extra emphasis to turn up at the voting booth this ROvember.
24.06.2024
Axios Explains: Christian nationalism on the march
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/24/christian-nationalism-america-trump-republicans
A big thank you to Russell Contreras, the author, for this article in Axios. If you haven’t been following this topic (and I hope you have) Chrisitan Nationalists under the Trump banner and supported by the GOP are seeking to establish a fundamentalist Christian government in the United States. Not just seeking to, but already started in many red states. Louisiana’s law mandatorily putting the 10 commandments in every classroom is only a tip of the iceberg for what Project 2025 has in store for abandoning the constitution’s fundamental dictum of “Separation of Church and State.” In many States, that are failing in the Basics of Education, forcing religion on children would hardly seem like an educational priority—and yet it is. Just like legally turning women into livestock, creating internment camps for immigrants and people who disagree with Trump, and even threatening the lives of people who identify as LGBTQ+. The truth is obvious, the people who support these policies and politicians are not going to be dissuaded. They have put aside their reasoning abilities and chosen to follow a cult. Let’s hope their leaders can be voted out. The US needs an incomparable turnout at the polls this November to send a message that won’t be possible to misread. We will NOT be taken back to the middle ages by religious zealots who are closer to the Taliban than they are to Americans.
23.06.2024
The Dark Reality of Poverty as a Big Business in America
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/dark-reality-poverty-big-business-america-bookbite/49956/
Anne Kim, the author of “Poverty for Profit: How Corporations Get Rich off America’s Poor,” takes a deep dive into who benefits from poverty and the history of the policies that support it. She reveals the practices of what she terms as, “Poverty Inc,” and the predatory practices that target low-income people and neighborhoods across the United States. She doesn’t turn a blind eye to government policies that promote poverty either. This is a worthy read for anyone who works with the impoverished or in impoverished areas. To influence poverty, we must understand that it is rooted deeply in our political and economic system and we need to “follow the money,” to where poverty is a for-profit enterprise. As with almost all social ills, it is imperative we ask the question, “Who benefits from this?” Kim, asks that question and presents compelling answers—and solutions.
22.06.2024
Open the Door Wider for Refugees
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/06/ilhan-omar-refugees/678735/
Ilhan Omar has a unique perspective on refugee issues, she is one herself. The Somalian refugee and now Minnesotan congresswoman, passionately loves the country she has made her own, and—despite near-impossible odds—she has thrived in her new country. Donald Trump seems to have forgotten that his latest wife is also a refugee (or perhaps he prefers not to be reminded), of course this is not the only hypocritical stance that Trump and his flunkeys have taken since the convicted felon, ex-president, said immigrants are “animals.” The beauty of Omar’s article lies in her historical—as well as personal—perspective of immigration. She points to the unprecedented displacement our world is seeing because of wars, but also a climate crisis leading to severe droughts. Congresswoman Omar indicates that the number of people seeking refugee status reveals a key factor—people are trying to come to the US legally. She enjoins us to remember that immigration is a moral right and a global reality. There is no stemming this tide and since that is true, it would be better to get ahead of it and create more legal pathways for people to enter the US. That moral mandate is especially true since (unless one is Native American) our families were also immigrants.
21.06.2024
Why the posting of the Ten Commandments is wrong
https://religionnews.com/2024/06/20/ten-commandments-louisiana/
Jeffrey Salkin, who penned this article, has an in-depth (and somewhat tongue-in-cheek) analysis of why posting sacred texts of Judaism in every Louisiana classroom might not result in the developments this state is seeking. Not mentioned in the article is the fact that this State ranks 49th in the US for education. Perhaps religious nationalism shouldn’t be the top priority of this Governor. But, Governor Jeff Landry showed his true empathy for children around him as a girl right behind the governor fainted while the man was extolling the virtues of this new bill and he didn’t even stop to offer assistance. That is so representative of what this bill signifies; “Focus on our religious agenda, the hell with children.” As Salkin points out, why choose this sacred text? Why not choose a more appropriate text for Christ followers, like Leviticus 19 (the Holiness Code)? I enjoyed Salkin’s satirical ending, “What would Moses do?”
20.06.2024
The Most Dangerous Bias in Today’s America
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/06/detroit-station-donald-trump-election/678722/
David Frum, the author of this article, points out that our minds take time to catch up to the changes around us—especially when it comes to good news, like the economy. It doesn’t help to be surrounded by people who are intentionally setting out to deceive us, like Convicted Felon Donald Trump alongside his many stooges. They love to latch on to age-old recitations of problems (like how bad crime, immigration, or the economy was) and expand on those myths, even while they are concealing that those issues were at their worst under his presidency or other Republican administrations. This misdirection keeps most people from seeing the truth and develops a bias for dangerous falsehoods that can lead people to embrace the fear and lies of Trump and his handlers.
19.06.2024
What to Read to Understand How People Get Tricked
https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2024/06/six-books-about-art-deception/678710/
The author of this piece, Vanessa Armstrong, is married to a magician, which gives her a leg up into the tricks that prestidigitators use to manipulate (and sometimes, entertain) us. In the con person’s favor is the fact that we are genetically predisposed to WANT to trust people. This is the manipulator’s greatest edge. Armstrong’s piece is important as we confront so many deep-fakes from a growing myriad of sources that present themselves as trusting and factual—even beneficial to humanity (if not just selfishly to ourselves). Her list of books and their summaries is very interesting and I will add a few to my audible list. I’m particularly interested in “The Confidence Men,” how two POW’s escaped a Turkish prison in WWI, by convincing the guards they were masters at the Ouija Board and could find them buried treasure. I would add the common manipulation by the wealthiest 0.01% in making the middle income and poor think they can become like them and that has historically been used to support wealth and corporate tax breaks. As Project 2025 and the Republicans under Trump continually seek to take away public education, health care, and Social Security to fund the expanding wealth of a billionaire class, we need to become increasingly adept at recognizing when we are being tricked.
This Week’s Links
25.06.2024
It’s Unfortunately Time to Get to Know the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025”
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61238734/conservatives-project-2025-abortion/
Once Again, Originalism’s Hollow Core Is Revealed
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/06/failure-originalism-supreme-court/678783/
'This is America?' Migrants keep arriving at the border, despite tougher asylum rules
https://www.npr.org/2024/06/24/g-s1-5716/migrants-asylum-jacumba-border-patrol
7 in 10 Americans Want SCOTUS to Be Subject to Investigation Over Ethics Issues
US Surgeon General Murthy declares gun violence 'public health crisis' in America
Will Trump chicken out of the presidential debate? Probably. He's a Grade-A coward.
Scoop: 16 Nobel economists see a Trump inflation bomb
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/25/nobel-prize-winners-biden-economy-trump-inflation
Clergy, parents file suit against Louisiana Ten Commandments law
https://religionnews.com/2024/06/24/clergy-parents-file-suit-against-louisiana-ten-commandments-law/
Heritage Foundation President calls Project 2025 the “second American Revolution” intended “for the next century in the United States”
The Surprising Social Costs of American Highways
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/surprising-social-costs-american-highways-bookbite/50129/
24.06.2024
Axios Explains: Christian nationalism on the march
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/24/christian-nationalism-america-trump-republicans
The trouble with political Christianity
https://unherd.com/2024/06/the-trouble-with-political-christianity/
“The Dire Threat of Trump’s Ongoing Assault on Women’s Fundamental Freedoms”
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/06/dobbs-abortion-roe-trump-biden-campaign-kamala-harris/
Don the Con Keeps Faking Out the Media
https://whowhatwhy.org/cartoon/don-the-con-keeps-faking-out-the-media/
The 3 laws of shutting up that every leader needs for staying out of trouble
The Problem With ‘In Demand’ Jobs
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/06/federal-job-training-law/678759/
The Future of Jobs in an AI World
https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/the-future-of-jobs-in-an-ai-world/
How Arizona aims to reduce the number of teens aging out of foster care
23.06.2024
The Dark Reality of Poverty as a Big Business in America
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/dark-reality-poverty-big-business-america-bookbite/49956/
What is neurotargeting? How a data-fueled technique threatens democracy
https://www.popsci.com/technology/neurotargeting/
Trump backs Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments in schools in address to influential evangelicals
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-supports-louisiana-ten-commandments-law-in-schools-evangelicals/
There's a clear connection between Nazism & anti-abortion, anti-gay conservatism - LGBTQ Nation
22.06.2024
Open the Door Wider for Refugees
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/06/ilhan-omar-refugees/678735/
Brooks and Capehart on Biden’s immigration order and Trump’s mixed message
Trump Just Revealed How He’ll Attack Biden at Debate—and It’s Vile
https://newrepublic.com/article/182993/trump-biden-debate-attack
Is This the End of the Clarence Thomas Court?
https://newrepublic.com/article/182972/end-clarence-thomas-court
Robert Morris warned sex abuse accuser she could be prosecuted for seeking compensation, emails show
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/robert-morris-gateway-church-sex-abuse-emails-rcna158349
Ron "Don't Say Gay" DeSantis' shady behavior sends him back to court with another scandal looming - Queerty
The No. 1 regret people have when they die, from an ex-hospice worker—and how to get ahead of it
AI Is Coming for the Kids
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/06/ai-kids-schools/678766/
Study: Childhood trauma leads to lasting brain network changes
https://www.psypost.org/study-childhood-trauma-leads-to-lasting-brain-network-changes/
7 Signs You Grew Up With Emotionally Immature Parents, According To Therapists
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/signs-emotionally-immature-parents-ano_l_667476f4e4b043a634bd8c01
Your Religious Beliefs Might Not Make You Happy
3 Steps to Overcoming Organizational Fear of Change
https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/3-steps-to-overcoming-organizational-fear-of-change/474345
21.06.2024
Why the posting of the Ten Commandments is wrong
https://religionnews.com/2024/06/20/ten-commandments-louisiana/
‘They Came for the Schools’ details how GOP targeted race and identity in classrooms
We face a second insurrection in this country today, and most people have no idea how closely it’s modeled on the first one.
https://newrepublic.com/maz/article/182890/juneteenth-maga-old-south
The Flimsiness of Trumponomics
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/06/the-flimsiness-of-trumponomics/678753/
MAGA, the Next Generation
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/06/maga-recruiting-generation-trump-racine/678743/
Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law Couldn’t Have Happened Without Trump
https://time.com/6990381/ten-commandments-louisiana-trump/
Trump campaign gets $50m boost from single donor
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce448zzwp2go
Why Is Trump Doing So Well? This Democrat Blames the Democrats.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/06/trump-biden-2024-seth-moulton/678744/
7 traits found in adults lacking affection as kids revealed (and #2 is heartbreaking)
https://www.goodto.com/family/family-news/seven-traits-found-in-adults-lacking-affection-as-kids
12 Subtle Behaviors That Make People Like You Almost Immediately
https://www.yourtango.com/self/subtle-behaviors-make-people-like-you
How to train your brain to embrace change
https://www.fastcompany.com/91144179/how-to-train-your-brain-to-embrace-change
20.06.2024
The Most Dangerous Bias in Today’s America
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/06/detroit-station-donald-trump-election/678722/
Supreme Court gets ready to drop its bombshells
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/20/supreme-court-rulings-trump-abortion
Cheapfakes get an indefensible boost from powerful GOP partisans
Witness tells House Ethics Committee that Gaetz paid her for sex: Sources
https://apple.news/AdM0dlvBtQAmkpE358b_Z6Q
U.S. home prices have far outpaced paychecks. See what it looks like where you live
https://www.npr.org/2024/06/20/nx-s1-5005972/home-prices-wages-paychecks-rent-housing-harvard-report
Fauci on his fraught relationship with Trump and the attacks he has faced
19.06.2024
What to Read to Understand How People Get Tricked
https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2024/06/six-books-about-art-deception/678710/
Marjorie Taylor Greene Falls for Clearly Fake Trump Video
https://newrepublic.com/post/182846/marjorie-taylor-greene-fake-supreme-court-trump-video
Mapped: From the Emancipation Proclamation to Juneteenth
https://www.axios.com/2024/06/19/timeline-of-the-juneteenth
The American Climate Corps officially kicks off
https://grist.org/solutions/american-climate-corps-swearing-in-ceremony/
Dr. Anthony Fauci blames Fox News’ Laura Ingraham for Trump's obsession with COVID “miracle cures like hydroxychloroquine”
Trump’s Campaign Has Lost Whatever Substance It Once Had
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/06/trump-campaign-lost-substance/678727/
Trump Just Made His Most Extreme Threat Yet for If He Loses Election
https://newrepublic.com/post/182879/trump-extreme-threat-election-world-war-iii
Miami Is Entering a State of Unreality
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/06/miami-climate-change-floods/678718/
These are the companies paying to advertise on RNC co-chair Lara Trump's podcast
Donald Trump’s Wild ‘Apprentice’ Behavior: Meltdowns on Set, a Shocking Nickname for an NBC Exec, an ‘Obsession’ with Debra Messing and More
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/apprentice-in-wonderland-trump-meltdowns-behavior-1236040047/
Author Who Interviewed Trump 6 Times Offers Damning Examples Of Cognitive Struggles
Project 2025 leader The Heritage Foundation calls for Social Security cuts
A message to my fellow Christians: I hope you're having a super uncomfortable Pride month
https://www.upworthy.com/a-message-to-my-fellow-christians-pride-month
Achieving Balance: Mastering the Five Life Rhythms
Growing Up with a Seriously Mentally Ill Parent: 4 Themes