Subj : Perplexed
To   : All
From : The Godfather
Date : Sun Sep 20 2020 22:00:56

Hi All,

I hope this message reaches someone.  I know the networks have been a
bit slow lately unless they are sysop related.

I'm a bit beside myself lately.  I don't remember a time in history
where I've had to think so carefully about what I want to say or write
to avoid offending someone, or worse.  For example, saying I'm
Christian, or conservative, that I'm pro-life.  That does not mean
I do not care about equal rights for all; however apparently being an
over 40 year old white man is a bad things these days, and having any
conservative views are not received well, even if innocently expressed
unknowingly.

I bought a hat, from Blue Lines (I think) that had a blue stripe within
the American flag, to support the two police officers shot recently
execution style, while they were sitting in their car.  One a mother,
and as a father, that really weighed heavy within my heart.  I wore it
into a grocery store with my at the time 8 year old (he just turned 9,)
and had gotten some pretty nasty looks and disgusted sounds out of
somes mouths.

I've also watched the media, both CNN and Fox, and am just besides
myself on how angry and misleading both channels are in an effort to
promote their parties security of power.  It never used to be this bad,
and while I know some of you are from other countries and may not have
the experience of America other then through the lens of the media, we
really did get along well not too many years ago.

Black and Whites date, they get married, they have kids together; we
work side by side, play sports side by side, we shop within the same
stores at the same time, our childrens friends are of different races. 
Yet out of nowhere we are a divided racist country and it bothers me
that people actually believe that.

They've created this "Systemic Racism" thing .. which is merited in
that we have a Systemic Problem, but not exclusive to race in the
states.  It's a difference of budgets given to the rich versus poor.  I
live in a neighborhood surrounded by multi million dollar homes, yet my
home is not worth more than 250,000; nor any within my "hood."  We have
been surrounded by new construction and have needs from the city to
simply fill potholes within our streets and or patrol our
neighborhood for speeders as we do not have sidewalks yet lots of
children trying to ride bikes.  Yet our needs are not met because our
neighborhood do not bring in the property tax revenue that the more
expensive, adjacent hoods do. That is, in it of itself, a systemic
problem as an example.

Moreso, we have poor communities that are mixed, within Indiana. 
Poverty does not discriminate; yet location does within the US.  The
poor communities get horrible educators, budgets, and building
maintenance, broadened police patrols, poor waste management, and not
enough attention from social workers to assist in building stronger
communities throughout our state.  This also happens within Rural
communities where many are predominantly white, are significantly
weighted down by poverty, drugs, alcohol, and other stumbling blocks to
prosperity or at minimum comfortable middle class income levels.

I find more and more that the media, despite the ability to do a quick
search online to prove validity or not, have somehow found a way to
inject some new form of propaganda and disinformation campaigns that
are quite disturbing.  I find it odd that we live in a country where
this is not illegal and or at minimum restricted.  However our
constitution have a "freedom of the press" clause that talk show hosts
seem to be taking advantage of to instill anger and distrust within one
another.

I just had to get this off my chest as I'm praying deeply for our world
right now.  It bothers me that so many put government before God.  But
I understand that a lot of work has occurred by many institutions to
create a stigma that those who do believe in a higher power, are less
intelligent people within this world, and wrong in their beliefs.

I sincerely do not want to debate.  But if there is anyone out there
also concerned with what they are seeing being projecting on the
population as whole, I'd sure love to know how you are addressing those
who seem to lash out at every other word that leaves your lips.  I'm
finding it complicated to speak with anyone these days; frankly, I've
never felt more discriminated against -- I find myself more isolated as a
result.  Something isn't right, and I can't put my finger on it; but
some big players are really working hard to divide and isolate us for
unknown intents.

Whether conservative or liberal, I'd love to hear from anyone who also
sees through the propaganda and disinformation, and has a prospective
on how to pro actively combat this to bring us as a family closer
together.

-tG

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 * Origin: The Underground [@] www.theunderground.us:10023 (700:100/55)

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