UMCOR Depot West in Salt Lake City
I’m mega torqued today. The church that I attend has two large main warehouses where volunteers put together all kinds of kits. Birthing kits, cleaning kits, hygiene kits, etc. One of them is back in Alabama, the other is here in Salt Lake. We have put together countless kits over the years. UMCOR has a partner network across the country to help distribute these kits where needed, even overseas. ALL for FREE.
It seems that UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), an arm of the Methodist Church, has offered to send as many hygiene kits as needed to the detention centers where the children separated from their families are being held. If you’ve watched the news at all, then you’re most likely aware of the deplorable conditions the kids are living in.
Problem is, the US government won’t accept those donations from a religious organization because it’s not a part of the government. How stupid is that?
But that’s not what really made me angry. It’s more the fact that churches — and I don’t care WHAT church you belong to or WHAT side of the aisle you plant your butt on come election day — were more than likely singing wonderfully patriotic songs in their services yesterday in honor of Independence Day knowing damn well this is NOT the America they are singing about!
“My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. (Liberty for whom?)
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, from ev’ry mountain side
let freedom ring! (Freedom for whom?)
Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light… (I sure don’t see that light shining on these new “pilgrims!” Although those who have visited them say the lights are never turned off, even at night.)
or
O beautiful for Pilgrim feet, whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat, across the wilderness… (Wouldn’t you call that long trek to the US across a desert a wilderness?)
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It just totally gets my goat, and I want to yell at people to wake up, open their eyes, and see what a travesty we’ve made out of this once-proud country! Then get off their keisters and do something about it. Now is the time to raise our voices, not in 2020. Of course we NEED to vote if we want to reclaim our souls as Americans, but how many kids must we sacrifice in the meantime to the white house on the hill???
(Ok. You can take your hat off now. Rant over… I think…)
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Picture Sources:
UMCOR Depot West — cnumc.org
Detention Center — CBS Los Angeles
“My Country ‘Tis of Thee” — Goodreads
Impromptu Promptlings 
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Your adopted daughter from Bangalore is a beautiful girl. It’s lovely she’s now happily married. ❤ — Suzanne
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Sigh, America as an ideal is what immigrants come here for. The hope for relief from persecution and harassment seems reasonable. Yet, to be treated as cattle, rounded up by militias then treated as if we do not have the same red blood is unbelievably callous.
As far as being asked if my mixed kids were mine, that happens often in rural Ohio. The other invasive questions usually are about the ethnicity of their father. Is their father hispanic? My very caucasian ex gets the same questions.
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I know what you mean about both the American Dream and the kids. It was so great to talk with you today. It had been a long time. And I was serious! I think you should run for a local office of some kind! 😀 ❤
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I thought about Erma Bombeck, who wrote “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” That’s what the 4th of July still means to me.
And Sandra Boynton’s cartoon from yesterday: https://www.facebook.com/sandraboynton/photos/happy-birthday-my-country/1626028800765350/
The little creature’s face is so wistful and heartbroken. We can become that country again. We need to hang onto that love of our country. Love those in need. And vote and work for change.
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LOVE that Bombeck quote, Karen! Especially the part about the “iffy” potato salad. LOL I’m guessing poor Erma is rolling over in her grave after this year’s big Washington to-do… ❤
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Thank you! I plan to go to a Lights for Liberty vigil on July 12, they are all over this country and even in other countries. Meanwhile, I call my Senators almost daily. I know they won’t respond, but I refuse to let them shrug and say no one cared or called.
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Yes. At least buggin’ the heck out of them (or their office staff) might irritate them enough to get their keisters in gear and do SOMETHING! ANYTHING! That’s one of my son’s favorite hobbies! 😀 ❤
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Grim. How much has to go awry before people sit up and take notice? It’s the sense of impotence that makes us angry, isn’t it? I hope you find a way round this ridiculous situation.
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You’d think the government would be ashamed of itself, wouldn’t you, Julia? UMCOR changed it’s tactics now. They are providing lawyers to let the migrants know what their rights are — for free. I suppose it’s good that they pushed on doing something, but it sure doesn’t help the kids that much… Sigh… ❤
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The exact words that flashed onto the computer screen were: “Your message couldn’t be sent because it includes content that other people on Facebook have reported as abusive.”
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Just freakin’ nuts! I haven’t even gotten to abusive yet!!! (rolls eyes)
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It really makes me wonder who those “other people” are. I’ve stopped sending them anything that’s the least bit controversial. About the only things that seem permissible are stories about happy people in a happy land and cute animals. 😦 Suzanne
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Reminds me a bit of “Fahrenheit 451”! “Where’s my happy pill,” she cries, running from the television.
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By the way, Suzanne, we have a beautiful adopted daughter from Bangalore. She came to us when she was 7. She and Jesse have four kiddos now. 😀
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It’s a worthy rant. I’m so angry right now. We will surely pay for the sins committed on the border.
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That’s what scares the beejeebers out of me!!!
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For myself I embrace the idea of “love my country, disappointed, hate or whatever word one might want to use – it’s government.” America is America is America. Yeah the face of it has changed, but to me? The SPIRIT remains the same. It’s PEOPLE (politicians) who’ve done that to those children. It’s politicians who are ruining everything with their greed, intolerance and narrow minded attitude. Am I flying the Stars & Stripes and singing America’s anthems in a loud voice and with feeling? You betcha. I think that’s the best way to show that despite the politicians, stupid, unfeeling, uncaring, narrow minded idiots and the rest, that America’s spirit is still strong. Why let the ‘bad’ guys win?
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Amen! Well said. I guess the songs bother me because I still think of the Neil Diamond song from The Jazz Singer — Coming to America. Folks that used to come here came with a hope that a better life awaited them. But you’re right about the cause. Until we reunite as a nation, though, I don’t think we can ever find out way back to the civility and humanity we once displayed. It makes me so sad. This is not the America I grew up in. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
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I’m not feeling celebratory at all. Children in cages. Authoritarianism. Twenty-two accusations of sexual misconduct/rape. Denial of climate change. On and on.
Never my president.
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I hear ya, Martha. It kind of sits on me like a weight. There’s just too much to process. My “hard drive” is full and ready to crash. Sigh…
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I was unable to post this on Facebook or reblog it here in India. We are apparently supposed to keep our mouths shut about this horrible condition. 😦 — Suzanne
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Yes. I’m pretty sure the powers that be here would want the same thing. But denial never fixes anything… Blessings, Suzanne!
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Facebook would not allow this because someone complained about it as being “abusive”. It’s odd what’s considered or not considered as “abusive” these days.
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Thank you so much for the reblog, Suzanne. That’s really interesting about Facebook.
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To citizens of America, especially THOSE ALONG THE BORDER WITH MEXICO, put on your marching shoes and surround these sites with your bodies, and use your cars to block the roads. Stay there. Do not let anyone in. And do whatever you must to release those already inside.
IF YOU LET THEM TAKE MORE CHILDREN IN, ADDING TO AN ALREADY HORRIBLE SITUATION, YOU ARE CONDEMNING THEM TO POSSIBLE DEATH. STOP THE TYRANT!
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I think there are some things like this going on right now. I know a group of Jewish folks surrounded one in New Jersey and they all got arrested for it. Sigh… Thanks so much for stopping by!
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They cannot arrest thousands of people at a time, nor would the public allow them to do that. I have not heard of such an event in New Jersey, but if true, the protesters should be supported by anyone who knows about it. Religion should not come into play at all.
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Question is, how do we get that many people there?
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A well-deserved rant if ever I read one. Trump’s uncaring approach is disgusting to witness. As he sucks up to tyrants like Kin Jong Un and Putin and turns his back on allies. His arrogance and vacillations, his tweets and racism – I’m afraid it is making a mockery of the US.
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You are so right, Opher. I was appalled at his behavior when he was visiting you all. He’s more like the Jester of the United States. And those who get caught up in his cult are just sheeple who will follow him anywhere…
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Don’t get me started! I get so angry by what is suppose to be OUR government does. The vast majority of citizens are appalled and heart sick at what our gov and the people in charge are doing. Kids in cages, rounding up people to deport. Did we learn nothing from WW2 and the Nazis?
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No we didn’t. That’s why history tends to repeat itself. People in Germany had no idea what a horrid mess they were going to end up in. We’re very much in the same boat with this administration, in my opinion. Republican, Democrat, Independent — it doesn’t matter. They’re ALL to blame. I’ll bet this election ends up being a zoo.
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Yes! Rant On! It’s All Good…And Yes, Vote!!! My baby will be voting for the first time in the 2020 election…she told me not to worry, positive changes are going to happen when her voice and the voices of her young friends are heard. But for the moment we need a solution for the donation issue…what if the donations came from individuals, rather than a church…would the donations be accepted from individual US citizens? It’s just a thought. Thanks for posting.
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Good grief! I can’t believe she’s that old!!! What a proud day that will be. Do you ever worry about the girls? The reason I ask is because one day when my daughter had the kids at a park, someone stopped her and asked if they were HER kids. That made me very nervous. And that was a few years ago. How much more paranoid are people now?
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