home.social

#civilliberties — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #civilliberties, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Texas: Faith, Freedom, and Mind Your Damn Business

    By Cliff Potts, CSO
    Editor-in-Chief, WPS News

    Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines — September 4, 2026, 9:15 p.m. PHT

    Texas talks about faith constantly and practices freedom inconsistently. Religion is waved like a banner while personal liberty is quietly narrowed, regulated, or punished when it doesn’t line up with political fashion. This contradiction has become so normal that many Texans barely notice it anymore.

    Faith is not the problem. Power is.

    Faith Is Personal, Not Administrative

    Texas is home to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, meeting houses, and people who believe quietly or not at all. That pluralism is not a flaw. It is a fact. Faith has always been part of Texas life, but it has never belonged to the state.

    When government begins enforcing one version of belief, it stops protecting faith and starts weaponizing it. That does not strengthen religion. It cheapens it. Faith that requires government backing is not faith—it is insecurity dressed up as authority.

    People believe deeply without being coerced. The state does not need to supervise that.

    Freedom Means Leaving People Alone

    Texas politicians love to invoke freedom while inserting themselves into private decisions about bodies, families, education, and belief. That is not freedom. It is control wrapped in familiar language.

    True freedom is not loud. It is boring. It is the quiet confidence that your neighbor’s life choices are none of your business unless they cause real harm. A free society tolerates disagreement without demanding conformity.

    If a belief system is strong, it does not need the force of law to survive.

    Religion in Schools Without Indoctrination

    Teaching about religion is not the same thing as preaching it. Students benefit from understanding the beliefs that shape history, culture, and global affairs. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Indigenous traditions, and secular ethics all belong in a serious education.

    Teaching one belief as truth while excluding others is not education. It is indoctrination. Texas should be confident enough to teach broadly without fear.

    Knowledge does not weaken faith. It strengthens discernment.

    The Myth of Moral Decline

    Texas politics often leans on claims of moral collapse to justify intrusion into private life. These claims rarely hold up under scrutiny. Crime trends, family structures, and social behavior are influenced far more by economics, education, and stability than by religious enforcement.

    Blaming social problems on belief differences avoids addressing harder causes like poverty, healthcare access, housing, and education. Moral panic is easier than policy work.

    A serious state solves problems instead of sermonizing about them.

    Faith Communities Do Real Work

    Faith-based organizations are often the first to respond when communities struggle. They feed people, shelter families, provide counseling, and show up quietly without demanding credit. That work matters. It deserves respect and support.

    What it does not require is political dominance. Faith communities are strongest when they act voluntarily, not when they are fused to state power.

    Service speaks louder than slogans.

    Freedom of Conscience Cuts Both Ways

    Freedom of religion includes the freedom not to believe. It includes the freedom to change beliefs. It includes the freedom to practice quietly without public approval. Protecting conscience means accepting outcomes you may personally dislike.

    That is the price of liberty. It is also its strength.

    Texas cannot claim to honor freedom while punishing people for living differently.

    When Government Picks Winners

    History offers no shortage of warnings about governments that decide which beliefs are acceptable. Even when intentions begin as sincere, outcomes tend toward exclusion, resentment, and abuse. Texas is not immune to that pattern.

    Keeping church and state separate does not weaken either. It protects both from corruption.

    Personal Faith, Public Restraint

    Leaders are allowed their faith. They are allowed to be guided by conscience. What they are not allowed to do is impose that conscience as law when it infringes on the rights of others.

    Restraint is not betrayal. It is maturity.

    What a Confident Texas Would Do

    A confident Texas would protect freedom of worship for everyone and freedom from coercion for everyone else. It would teach religion academically, not devotionally. It would trust families and individuals to handle belief without supervision.

    Most of all, it would stop confusing moral authority with legal power.

    Why This Matters Going Forward

    Faith will continue to shape Texas culture. That is not in question. The question is whether it will be used to inspire service and compassion—or to justify intrusion and control.

    Freedom survives only when people mind their own damn business.

    Texas is strong enough to do that.

    This essay will be archived as part of the ongoing WPS News Monthly Brief Series available through Amazon.

    References (APA)
    Pew Research Center. (2025). Religious diversity and belief in the United States.
    First Amendment Center. (2025). Religion, government, and constitutional boundaries.
    National Council of State Legislatures. (2025). Religious freedom and public policy analysis.
    Gallup. (2025). Public attitudes toward religion and government.
    American Academy of Religion. (2025). Teaching religion in public education.

    #churchAndState #CivilLiberties #educationPolicy #personalFreedom #religiousFreedom #TexasPolitics #TexasReligion #WPSNews
  2. Texas: Faith, Freedom, and Mind Your Damn Business

    By Cliff Potts, CSO
    Editor-in-Chief, WPS News

    Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines — September 4, 2026, 9:15 p.m. PHT

    Texas talks about faith constantly and practices freedom inconsistently. Religion is waved like a banner while personal liberty is quietly narrowed, regulated, or punished when it doesn’t line up with political fashion. This contradiction has become so normal that many Texans barely notice it anymore.

    Faith is not the problem. Power is.

    Faith Is Personal, Not Administrative

    Texas is home to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, meeting houses, and people who believe quietly or not at all. That pluralism is not a flaw. It is a fact. Faith has always been part of Texas life, but it has never belonged to the state.

    When government begins enforcing one version of belief, it stops protecting faith and starts weaponizing it. That does not strengthen religion. It cheapens it. Faith that requires government backing is not faith—it is insecurity dressed up as authority.

    People believe deeply without being coerced. The state does not need to supervise that.

    Freedom Means Leaving People Alone

    Texas politicians love to invoke freedom while inserting themselves into private decisions about bodies, families, education, and belief. That is not freedom. It is control wrapped in familiar language.

    True freedom is not loud. It is boring. It is the quiet confidence that your neighbor’s life choices are none of your business unless they cause real harm. A free society tolerates disagreement without demanding conformity.

    If a belief system is strong, it does not need the force of law to survive.

    Religion in Schools Without Indoctrination

    Teaching about religion is not the same thing as preaching it. Students benefit from understanding the beliefs that shape history, culture, and global affairs. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Indigenous traditions, and secular ethics all belong in a serious education.

    Teaching one belief as truth while excluding others is not education. It is indoctrination. Texas should be confident enough to teach broadly without fear.

    Knowledge does not weaken faith. It strengthens discernment.

    The Myth of Moral Decline

    Texas politics often leans on claims of moral collapse to justify intrusion into private life. These claims rarely hold up under scrutiny. Crime trends, family structures, and social behavior are influenced far more by economics, education, and stability than by religious enforcement.

    Blaming social problems on belief differences avoids addressing harder causes like poverty, healthcare access, housing, and education. Moral panic is easier than policy work.

    A serious state solves problems instead of sermonizing about them.

    Faith Communities Do Real Work

    Faith-based organizations are often the first to respond when communities struggle. They feed people, shelter families, provide counseling, and show up quietly without demanding credit. That work matters. It deserves respect and support.

    What it does not require is political dominance. Faith communities are strongest when they act voluntarily, not when they are fused to state power.

    Service speaks louder than slogans.

    Freedom of Conscience Cuts Both Ways

    Freedom of religion includes the freedom not to believe. It includes the freedom to change beliefs. It includes the freedom to practice quietly without public approval. Protecting conscience means accepting outcomes you may personally dislike.

    That is the price of liberty. It is also its strength.

    Texas cannot claim to honor freedom while punishing people for living differently.

    When Government Picks Winners

    History offers no shortage of warnings about governments that decide which beliefs are acceptable. Even when intentions begin as sincere, outcomes tend toward exclusion, resentment, and abuse. Texas is not immune to that pattern.

    Keeping church and state separate does not weaken either. It protects both from corruption.

    Personal Faith, Public Restraint

    Leaders are allowed their faith. They are allowed to be guided by conscience. What they are not allowed to do is impose that conscience as law when it infringes on the rights of others.

    Restraint is not betrayal. It is maturity.

    What a Confident Texas Would Do

    A confident Texas would protect freedom of worship for everyone and freedom from coercion for everyone else. It would teach religion academically, not devotionally. It would trust families and individuals to handle belief without supervision.

    Most of all, it would stop confusing moral authority with legal power.

    Why This Matters Going Forward

    Faith will continue to shape Texas culture. That is not in question. The question is whether it will be used to inspire service and compassion—or to justify intrusion and control.

    Freedom survives only when people mind their own damn business.

    Texas is strong enough to do that.

    This essay will be archived as part of the ongoing WPS News Monthly Brief Series available through Amazon.

    References (APA)
    Pew Research Center. (2025). Religious diversity and belief in the United States.
    First Amendment Center. (2025). Religion, government, and constitutional boundaries.
    National Council of State Legislatures. (2025). Religious freedom and public policy analysis.
    Gallup. (2025). Public attitudes toward religion and government.
    American Academy of Religion. (2025). Teaching religion in public education.

    #churchAndState #CivilLiberties #educationPolicy #personalFreedom #religiousFreedom #TexasPolitics #TexasReligion #WPSNews
  3. Texas: Faith, Freedom, and Mind Your Damn Business

    By Cliff Potts, CSO
    Editor-in-Chief, WPS News

    Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines — September 4, 2026, 9:15 p.m. PHT

    Texas talks about faith constantly and practices freedom inconsistently. Religion is waved like a banner while personal liberty is quietly narrowed, regulated, or punished when it doesn’t line up with political fashion. This contradiction has become so normal that many Texans barely notice it anymore.

    Faith is not the problem. Power is.

    Faith Is Personal, Not Administrative

    Texas is home to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, meeting houses, and people who believe quietly or not at all. That pluralism is not a flaw. It is a fact. Faith has always been part of Texas life, but it has never belonged to the state.

    When government begins enforcing one version of belief, it stops protecting faith and starts weaponizing it. That does not strengthen religion. It cheapens it. Faith that requires government backing is not faith—it is insecurity dressed up as authority.

    People believe deeply without being coerced. The state does not need to supervise that.

    Freedom Means Leaving People Alone

    Texas politicians love to invoke freedom while inserting themselves into private decisions about bodies, families, education, and belief. That is not freedom. It is control wrapped in familiar language.

    True freedom is not loud. It is boring. It is the quiet confidence that your neighbor’s life choices are none of your business unless they cause real harm. A free society tolerates disagreement without demanding conformity.

    If a belief system is strong, it does not need the force of law to survive.

    Religion in Schools Without Indoctrination

    Teaching about religion is not the same thing as preaching it. Students benefit from understanding the beliefs that shape history, culture, and global affairs. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Indigenous traditions, and secular ethics all belong in a serious education.

    Teaching one belief as truth while excluding others is not education. It is indoctrination. Texas should be confident enough to teach broadly without fear.

    Knowledge does not weaken faith. It strengthens discernment.

    The Myth of Moral Decline

    Texas politics often leans on claims of moral collapse to justify intrusion into private life. These claims rarely hold up under scrutiny. Crime trends, family structures, and social behavior are influenced far more by economics, education, and stability than by religious enforcement.

    Blaming social problems on belief differences avoids addressing harder causes like poverty, healthcare access, housing, and education. Moral panic is easier than policy work.

    A serious state solves problems instead of sermonizing about them.

    Faith Communities Do Real Work

    Faith-based organizations are often the first to respond when communities struggle. They feed people, shelter families, provide counseling, and show up quietly without demanding credit. That work matters. It deserves respect and support.

    What it does not require is political dominance. Faith communities are strongest when they act voluntarily, not when they are fused to state power.

    Service speaks louder than slogans.

    Freedom of Conscience Cuts Both Ways

    Freedom of religion includes the freedom not to believe. It includes the freedom to change beliefs. It includes the freedom to practice quietly without public approval. Protecting conscience means accepting outcomes you may personally dislike.

    That is the price of liberty. It is also its strength.

    Texas cannot claim to honor freedom while punishing people for living differently.

    When Government Picks Winners

    History offers no shortage of warnings about governments that decide which beliefs are acceptable. Even when intentions begin as sincere, outcomes tend toward exclusion, resentment, and abuse. Texas is not immune to that pattern.

    Keeping church and state separate does not weaken either. It protects both from corruption.

    Personal Faith, Public Restraint

    Leaders are allowed their faith. They are allowed to be guided by conscience. What they are not allowed to do is impose that conscience as law when it infringes on the rights of others.

    Restraint is not betrayal. It is maturity.

    What a Confident Texas Would Do

    A confident Texas would protect freedom of worship for everyone and freedom from coercion for everyone else. It would teach religion academically, not devotionally. It would trust families and individuals to handle belief without supervision.

    Most of all, it would stop confusing moral authority with legal power.

    Why This Matters Going Forward

    Faith will continue to shape Texas culture. That is not in question. The question is whether it will be used to inspire service and compassion—or to justify intrusion and control.

    Freedom survives only when people mind their own damn business.

    Texas is strong enough to do that.

    This essay will be archived as part of the ongoing WPS News Monthly Brief Series available through Amazon.

    References (APA)
    Pew Research Center. (2025). Religious diversity and belief in the United States.
    First Amendment Center. (2025). Religion, government, and constitutional boundaries.
    National Council of State Legislatures. (2025). Religious freedom and public policy analysis.
    Gallup. (2025). Public attitudes toward religion and government.
    American Academy of Religion. (2025). Teaching religion in public education.

    #churchAndState #CivilLiberties #educationPolicy #personalFreedom #religiousFreedom #TexasPolitics #TexasReligion #WPSNews
  4. Texas: Faith, Freedom, and Mind Your Damn Business

    By Cliff Potts, CSO
    Editor-in-Chief, WPS News

    Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines — September 4, 2026, 9:15 p.m. PHT

    Texas talks about faith constantly and practices freedom inconsistently. Religion is waved like a banner while personal liberty is quietly narrowed, regulated, or punished when it doesn’t line up with political fashion. This contradiction has become so normal that many Texans barely notice it anymore.

    Faith is not the problem. Power is.

    Faith Is Personal, Not Administrative

    Texas is home to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, meeting houses, and people who believe quietly or not at all. That pluralism is not a flaw. It is a fact. Faith has always been part of Texas life, but it has never belonged to the state.

    When government begins enforcing one version of belief, it stops protecting faith and starts weaponizing it. That does not strengthen religion. It cheapens it. Faith that requires government backing is not faith—it is insecurity dressed up as authority.

    People believe deeply without being coerced. The state does not need to supervise that.

    Freedom Means Leaving People Alone

    Texas politicians love to invoke freedom while inserting themselves into private decisions about bodies, families, education, and belief. That is not freedom. It is control wrapped in familiar language.

    True freedom is not loud. It is boring. It is the quiet confidence that your neighbor’s life choices are none of your business unless they cause real harm. A free society tolerates disagreement without demanding conformity.

    If a belief system is strong, it does not need the force of law to survive.

    Religion in Schools Without Indoctrination

    Teaching about religion is not the same thing as preaching it. Students benefit from understanding the beliefs that shape history, culture, and global affairs. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Indigenous traditions, and secular ethics all belong in a serious education.

    Teaching one belief as truth while excluding others is not education. It is indoctrination. Texas should be confident enough to teach broadly without fear.

    Knowledge does not weaken faith. It strengthens discernment.

    The Myth of Moral Decline

    Texas politics often leans on claims of moral collapse to justify intrusion into private life. These claims rarely hold up under scrutiny. Crime trends, family structures, and social behavior are influenced far more by economics, education, and stability than by religious enforcement.

    Blaming social problems on belief differences avoids addressing harder causes like poverty, healthcare access, housing, and education. Moral panic is easier than policy work.

    A serious state solves problems instead of sermonizing about them.

    Faith Communities Do Real Work

    Faith-based organizations are often the first to respond when communities struggle. They feed people, shelter families, provide counseling, and show up quietly without demanding credit. That work matters. It deserves respect and support.

    What it does not require is political dominance. Faith communities are strongest when they act voluntarily, not when they are fused to state power.

    Service speaks louder than slogans.

    Freedom of Conscience Cuts Both Ways

    Freedom of religion includes the freedom not to believe. It includes the freedom to change beliefs. It includes the freedom to practice quietly without public approval. Protecting conscience means accepting outcomes you may personally dislike.

    That is the price of liberty. It is also its strength.

    Texas cannot claim to honor freedom while punishing people for living differently.

    When Government Picks Winners

    History offers no shortage of warnings about governments that decide which beliefs are acceptable. Even when intentions begin as sincere, outcomes tend toward exclusion, resentment, and abuse. Texas is not immune to that pattern.

    Keeping church and state separate does not weaken either. It protects both from corruption.

    Personal Faith, Public Restraint

    Leaders are allowed their faith. They are allowed to be guided by conscience. What they are not allowed to do is impose that conscience as law when it infringes on the rights of others.

    Restraint is not betrayal. It is maturity.

    What a Confident Texas Would Do

    A confident Texas would protect freedom of worship for everyone and freedom from coercion for everyone else. It would teach religion academically, not devotionally. It would trust families and individuals to handle belief without supervision.

    Most of all, it would stop confusing moral authority with legal power.

    Why This Matters Going Forward

    Faith will continue to shape Texas culture. That is not in question. The question is whether it will be used to inspire service and compassion—or to justify intrusion and control.

    Freedom survives only when people mind their own damn business.

    Texas is strong enough to do that.

    This essay will be archived as part of the ongoing WPS News Monthly Brief Series available through Amazon.

    References (APA)
    Pew Research Center. (2025). Religious diversity and belief in the United States.
    First Amendment Center. (2025). Religion, government, and constitutional boundaries.
    National Council of State Legislatures. (2025). Religious freedom and public policy analysis.
    Gallup. (2025). Public attitudes toward religion and government.
    American Academy of Religion. (2025). Teaching religion in public education.

    #churchAndState #CivilLiberties #educationPolicy #personalFreedom #religiousFreedom #TexasPolitics #TexasReligion #WPSNews
  5. Texas: Faith, Freedom, and Mind Your Damn Business

    By Cliff Potts, CSO
    Editor-in-Chief, WPS News

    Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines — September 4, 2026, 9:15 p.m. PHT

    Texas talks about faith constantly and practices freedom inconsistently. Religion is waved like a banner while personal liberty is quietly narrowed, regulated, or punished when it doesn’t line up with political fashion. This contradiction has become so normal that many Texans barely notice it anymore.

    Faith is not the problem. Power is.

    Faith Is Personal, Not Administrative

    Texas is home to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, meeting houses, and people who believe quietly or not at all. That pluralism is not a flaw. It is a fact. Faith has always been part of Texas life, but it has never belonged to the state.

    When government begins enforcing one version of belief, it stops protecting faith and starts weaponizing it. That does not strengthen religion. It cheapens it. Faith that requires government backing is not faith—it is insecurity dressed up as authority.

    People believe deeply without being coerced. The state does not need to supervise that.

    Freedom Means Leaving People Alone

    Texas politicians love to invoke freedom while inserting themselves into private decisions about bodies, families, education, and belief. That is not freedom. It is control wrapped in familiar language.

    True freedom is not loud. It is boring. It is the quiet confidence that your neighbor’s life choices are none of your business unless they cause real harm. A free society tolerates disagreement without demanding conformity.

    If a belief system is strong, it does not need the force of law to survive.

    Religion in Schools Without Indoctrination

    Teaching about religion is not the same thing as preaching it. Students benefit from understanding the beliefs that shape history, culture, and global affairs. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Indigenous traditions, and secular ethics all belong in a serious education.

    Teaching one belief as truth while excluding others is not education. It is indoctrination. Texas should be confident enough to teach broadly without fear.

    Knowledge does not weaken faith. It strengthens discernment.

    The Myth of Moral Decline

    Texas politics often leans on claims of moral collapse to justify intrusion into private life. These claims rarely hold up under scrutiny. Crime trends, family structures, and social behavior are influenced far more by economics, education, and stability than by religious enforcement.

    Blaming social problems on belief differences avoids addressing harder causes like poverty, healthcare access, housing, and education. Moral panic is easier than policy work.

    A serious state solves problems instead of sermonizing about them.

    Faith Communities Do Real Work

    Faith-based organizations are often the first to respond when communities struggle. They feed people, shelter families, provide counseling, and show up quietly without demanding credit. That work matters. It deserves respect and support.

    What it does not require is political dominance. Faith communities are strongest when they act voluntarily, not when they are fused to state power.

    Service speaks louder than slogans.

    Freedom of Conscience Cuts Both Ways

    Freedom of religion includes the freedom not to believe. It includes the freedom to change beliefs. It includes the freedom to practice quietly without public approval. Protecting conscience means accepting outcomes you may personally dislike.

    That is the price of liberty. It is also its strength.

    Texas cannot claim to honor freedom while punishing people for living differently.

    When Government Picks Winners

    History offers no shortage of warnings about governments that decide which beliefs are acceptable. Even when intentions begin as sincere, outcomes tend toward exclusion, resentment, and abuse. Texas is not immune to that pattern.

    Keeping church and state separate does not weaken either. It protects both from corruption.

    Personal Faith, Public Restraint

    Leaders are allowed their faith. They are allowed to be guided by conscience. What they are not allowed to do is impose that conscience as law when it infringes on the rights of others.

    Restraint is not betrayal. It is maturity.

    What a Confident Texas Would Do

    A confident Texas would protect freedom of worship for everyone and freedom from coercion for everyone else. It would teach religion academically, not devotionally. It would trust families and individuals to handle belief without supervision.

    Most of all, it would stop confusing moral authority with legal power.

    Why This Matters Going Forward

    Faith will continue to shape Texas culture. That is not in question. The question is whether it will be used to inspire service and compassion—or to justify intrusion and control.

    Freedom survives only when people mind their own damn business.

    Texas is strong enough to do that.

    This essay will be archived as part of the ongoing WPS News Monthly Brief Series available through Amazon.

    References (APA)
    Pew Research Center. (2025). Religious diversity and belief in the United States.
    First Amendment Center. (2025). Religion, government, and constitutional boundaries.
    National Council of State Legislatures. (2025). Religious freedom and public policy analysis.
    Gallup. (2025). Public attitudes toward religion and government.
    American Academy of Religion. (2025). Teaching religion in public education.

    #churchAndState #CivilLiberties #educationPolicy #personalFreedom #religiousFreedom #TexasPolitics #TexasReligion #WPSNews
  6. A quotation from Henry Commager

    Who are those who are really disloyal? Those who inflame racial hatreds, who sow religious and class dissensions. Those who subvert the Constitution by violating the freedom of the ballot box. Those who make a mockery of majority rule by the use of the filibuster. Those who impair democracy by denying equal educational facilities. Those who frustrate justice by lynch law or by making a farce of jury trials. Those who deny freedom of speech and of the press and of assembly. Those who press for special favors against the interest of the commonwealth. Those who regard public office as a source of private gain. Those who would exalt the military over the civil. Those who for selfish and private purposes stir up national antagonisms and expose the world to the ruin of war.

    Henry Steele Commager (1902-1998) American historian, writer, activist
    Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 3, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168

    More about this quote: wist.info/commager-henry-steel…

    #quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #henrycommager #America #civilliberties #civilrights #corruption #demagoguery #democracy #disloyalty #division #firstamendment #freepress #freespeech #freedomofreligion #freedomofspeech #freedomofthepress #injustice #jingoism #justice #loyalty #loyaltyoath #military #patriotism #publicoffice #religiousfreedom #unAmerican #usvsthem #votersuppression #votingrights #war #warmongering

  7. 2025 #Elections : #Voters Came Out in Record Numbers to Defend Key #CivilLiberties Issues Across the Country

    Across the country, voters took to the ballot box to make their voices heard on Tuesday. The results overwhelmingly demonstrate that voters want leaders who will push against the #Trump administration’s cruel policies and abuses of power and work to make life better for the American people.
    #2025elections

    aclu.org/news/voting-rights/20

  8. Shortly before 7:00 am Friday morning, #FBI and #MontgomeryCounty #police were seen at Bethesda home of #John Bolton, who served as #nationalsecurity advisor for part of #DonaldTrump first term. Montgomery County police sealed off the street on which Bolton lives while an unmarked black #SUV parked in front of Bolton’s house. Montgomery County police confirmed that they were on site in support of the FBI. #autocracy #arresting #enemies Using FBI #police as private #army #despot #civilliberties

  9. Got up early to draw hot bath for Mom.
    I'm having morning tea & going to start watching the #documentary film, Where the Oilve Tree Weeps, now.

    You can donate to view it. There is also a free option for folks who are financially strapped.

    [ Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the #Palestinian people under #Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice.

    We follow, among others, Palestinian #journalist and #therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots #activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. We also witness Dr. Gabor Maté offer #TraumaHealing work to a group of women who were tortured in Israeli prisons.

    Ancient landscapes bear deep scars, having witnessed the brutal reality of ancestral land confiscation, expulsions, imprisonment, home demolitions, water deprivation, and denial of basic human rights. Yet, through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience—deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives.

    This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty? ]

    whereolivetreesweep.com/en-hom

    #Israel #Palestine #SettlerColonialism #Apartheid #HumanRights #CivilLiberties #RightOfReturn #RightToLife #EthnicCleansing #DocFilm #ZionismIsACult #Humanitarians #InternationalLaw #WatchAndLearn

  10. Members of a jury have the absolute, unfettered right to decline to be the executioners of unjust laws.

    The point of the exercise *should* be to introduce humanity to a system otherwise perfectly designed to repress, intimidate and make an example of deviants and rebels, and by extension the rest of us.

    Otherwise, all the jury system does is ensure that lots more people are walking around with blood on their hands.

    #TrialByJury #ClimateJustice #CivilLiberties #RightToProtest #TrudiWarner