Jane will definitely be missed. I had the privilege of visiting an exhibit about her life and work at Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC. What a remarkable woman.
As for the nice French couple - they have a point. BUT.... this is something our foreign friends don't seem to grasp. The right to work. And the connection between job and survival. Our employers can fire us without notice for any reason - including for protesting - unless we are part of a union, which most of us are not. Some of us don't even have unions. And no job doesn't just mean no income - it means no health insurance, which means, if you are fired - you could die. And not only you - your spouse could die. Your kids could die - that one is a real kicker.
So, we protest the way we do within the confines of that system, because we still need to function and we still need to provide for and protect our loved ones. It's not perfect - we are aware of that. But that's how it is.
Thank you for not biting my head off for it. I have a lot of friends abroad who used to ask the same thing, "Why don't you guys just all stop and come out." So, I had to come up with this... sort of... elevator speech to help them understand why this is a problem for so many of us and what's at stake. They think it's horrible (agreed) but at least now they get it.
Can't speak for Georgia or Iran (also probably can look it up), but, being actually from Ukraine, still having family there, and having been covering the war every single day since it started, I can speak for Ukraine. People in Ukraine actually protested much like we are currently in the United states.
While there were protests all over, the vast majority of rallies took place in Kyiv - mostly during weekends, over the course of several weeks. Here are the numbers.
- 400,000–800,000 protesters on the weekends of December 1 and December 8, 2013, according to a Russian opposition politician.
- Up to 500,000 on December 1, 2013, following the violent dispersal of students.
- Over 200,000 on December 15, 2013.
- 200,000 celebrating New Year's Eve on December 31, 2013.
- 10,000–50,000 on January 12, 2014.
- Up to 200,000 on January 19, 2014, to protest new anti-protest laws.
- 25,000 remained in the square on February 18, 2014, when the protests turned deadly.
That last one was when Yanukovich sent out the elite Berkut troops to fire on unarmed civilians and that was when we lost what is now known as the Heavenly Hundred - the just over a hundred protesters who were killed as the result of this action.
Also, Ukraine does have long-term vacation, long-term paid disability, and partly socialized medicine. So, even under the hideous Yanukovich, people literally could take a month off and go protest. Does that answer your question?
It does answer a lot of my question. Even with the social safety net, by your own account, Ukrainians were actually risking their lives to protest. And unfortunately are currently paying a horrible price right now defending themselves from an imperialist, murderous invader. Your original post implies the main reason Americans are not protesting en masse - something i would argue is not completely true depending on where you are in your country - is that they are afraid of losing their jobs.
I get taking to the streets is not possible for everyone for a variety of reasons and that there are many other ways to protest and pressure the government.
I didn't say ALL of Americans are reluctant to protest for that reason. And I didn't say ANYWHERE that this was the only or the main reason. Kindly do not put words into my mouth. But it is a big reason - and an important one, especially combined with other factors (such as, for example, the size of the country, the sheer number of people, the organizing challenges, the ICE presence, etc.)
The work and healthcare concerns are familiar to me, because, first of all I live in a "right to work" state, and n the area with a large Medicare/Medicaid population, where working poor families are struggling with 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. I work on the tech and billing side of healthcare - so I get to see what it's like for those people by working with their medical records day in - day out. They have an added challenge of when the heck are they supposed to go protest while they are struggling to support their families.
I dislike the implication that Americans, somehow, are lazy and not risking enough. They are risking plenty. My LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters are risking plenty. My fellow immigrants are risking plenty. My fellow physically impaired are risking plenty. My fellow neurodivergents are risking plenty. POCs are risking plenty.
I am fully aware of what happened in Ukraine, thank you. My parents live in a war-torn Zaporizhzhya with missiles dropping less than a mile from them - and because I am not wealthy or famous, I can't get them out of there. But I would not, under any circumstances, accuse my fellow Americans of not protesting enough or not risking enough, just because not enough of them have been arrested or killed by ICE yet.
It watched the entire interview yesterday, it left me in tears. Sadness she isn't with us any longer and happiness at her final words.
I'm not so sure any of this is 47*'s idea, yes he's a racist, raised to be one, but Miller is the instigator.
This little, hateful man is evil incarnate. His words about judges caused a family to lose their home to fire, injuring three. And many here to fear for their loved ones & lives.
We need states where his evil has touched to arrest & charge him with terrorism!
You are right. He doesn't know it, wouldn't believe it, because he is so 'smart', but he is being used, manipulated by the likes of Putin, Miller and others. He's been very accurately described as an ignorant puppet.
Such kindness and caring from a good souled person. TIs a matter of humane humanness: 47 has none. He is angry at the world for his failures as a human and citizen, not only of the nation, but of the world: NEVER paying his way, paying his fair share, acting on his responsibilities, always demeaning those around him, deceitful musings aloud to deter from the attention he does not want. Oh, and lying...outright deceitful words and trigger words to the lunatic right.,
Reflecting on the great visits from the kiddos yesterday, we are fortunate they are healthy, wealthy and wiser than us at that age! Bless Us All, Beloved One. We have Faith, beyond that we await the next round of whining blathering sob stories from the right about what the Dems could have done to stop 47. ahhhhh Blessed Be
I miss Jane already. I hope wherever her energy went, she's happy and content.
I feel like to make a true change we are going to have to take drastic measures. Every person in this country that is physically/financially able needs to stock up on provisions, stop going to work, descend upon DC and stay until change happens. If 2/3rds of the country made it, that would be over 200 million people. The economy would grind to a halt. This is where our power lies. But we have to all do it or it won't be enough. Unfortunately, I don't think people are ready for that level of protest.
I particularly like her statement about not losing hope because when one does, one becomes apathetic. And I understand, it can be incredibly hard at times.
This is wonderful thank you! I would love to be a fly on the wall when they send all of "THEM" to Mars to see what they can do. And when they realize that they don't have anything they can do they will all want to come back. Meanwhile all of the Earth would be rejoicing at them being swept away just like the ICE do with many in this country to fill a quota! It's so wrong on so many levels.
I am crying... Thank you God and thank you Jane, we need to hear that and be reminded of that constantly ❤️
Thank you for posting this- just what I needed to start my week 💕🦍
Jane will definitely be missed. I had the privilege of visiting an exhibit about her life and work at Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC. What a remarkable woman.
As for the nice French couple - they have a point. BUT.... this is something our foreign friends don't seem to grasp. The right to work. And the connection between job and survival. Our employers can fire us without notice for any reason - including for protesting - unless we are part of a union, which most of us are not. Some of us don't even have unions. And no job doesn't just mean no income - it means no health insurance, which means, if you are fired - you could die. And not only you - your spouse could die. Your kids could die - that one is a real kicker.
So, we protest the way we do within the confines of that system, because we still need to function and we still need to provide for and protect our loved ones. It's not perfect - we are aware of that. But that's how it is.
Thank you, Maria, for writing that!
Thank you for not biting my head off for it. I have a lot of friends abroad who used to ask the same thing, "Why don't you guys just all stop and come out." So, I had to come up with this... sort of... elevator speech to help them understand why this is a problem for so many of us and what's at stake. They think it's horrible (agreed) but at least now they get it.
Not here to bite off your head, but what kind of protections do you think the people in places like Ukraine, Georgia or Iran have/had?
Can't speak for Georgia or Iran (also probably can look it up), but, being actually from Ukraine, still having family there, and having been covering the war every single day since it started, I can speak for Ukraine. People in Ukraine actually protested much like we are currently in the United states.
While there were protests all over, the vast majority of rallies took place in Kyiv - mostly during weekends, over the course of several weeks. Here are the numbers.
- 400,000–800,000 protesters on the weekends of December 1 and December 8, 2013, according to a Russian opposition politician.
- Up to 500,000 on December 1, 2013, following the violent dispersal of students.
- Over 200,000 on December 15, 2013.
- 200,000 celebrating New Year's Eve on December 31, 2013.
- 10,000–50,000 on January 12, 2014.
- Up to 200,000 on January 19, 2014, to protest new anti-protest laws.
- 25,000 remained in the square on February 18, 2014, when the protests turned deadly.
That last one was when Yanukovich sent out the elite Berkut troops to fire on unarmed civilians and that was when we lost what is now known as the Heavenly Hundred - the just over a hundred protesters who were killed as the result of this action.
Also, Ukraine does have long-term vacation, long-term paid disability, and partly socialized medicine. So, even under the hideous Yanukovich, people literally could take a month off and go protest. Does that answer your question?
It does answer a lot of my question. Even with the social safety net, by your own account, Ukrainians were actually risking their lives to protest. And unfortunately are currently paying a horrible price right now defending themselves from an imperialist, murderous invader. Your original post implies the main reason Americans are not protesting en masse - something i would argue is not completely true depending on where you are in your country - is that they are afraid of losing their jobs.
I get taking to the streets is not possible for everyone for a variety of reasons and that there are many other ways to protest and pressure the government.
I didn't say ALL of Americans are reluctant to protest for that reason. And I didn't say ANYWHERE that this was the only or the main reason. Kindly do not put words into my mouth. But it is a big reason - and an important one, especially combined with other factors (such as, for example, the size of the country, the sheer number of people, the organizing challenges, the ICE presence, etc.)
The work and healthcare concerns are familiar to me, because, first of all I live in a "right to work" state, and n the area with a large Medicare/Medicaid population, where working poor families are struggling with 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. I work on the tech and billing side of healthcare - so I get to see what it's like for those people by working with their medical records day in - day out. They have an added challenge of when the heck are they supposed to go protest while they are struggling to support their families.
I dislike the implication that Americans, somehow, are lazy and not risking enough. They are risking plenty. My LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters are risking plenty. My fellow immigrants are risking plenty. My fellow physically impaired are risking plenty. My fellow neurodivergents are risking plenty. POCs are risking plenty.
I am fully aware of what happened in Ukraine, thank you. My parents live in a war-torn Zaporizhzhya with missiles dropping less than a mile from them - and because I am not wealthy or famous, I can't get them out of there. But I would not, under any circumstances, accuse my fellow Americans of not protesting enough or not risking enough, just because not enough of them have been arrested or killed by ICE yet.
It watched the entire interview yesterday, it left me in tears. Sadness she isn't with us any longer and happiness at her final words.
I'm not so sure any of this is 47*'s idea, yes he's a racist, raised to be one, but Miller is the instigator.
This little, hateful man is evil incarnate. His words about judges caused a family to lose their home to fire, injuring three. And many here to fear for their loved ones & lives.
We need states where his evil has touched to arrest & charge him with terrorism!
You are right. He doesn't know it, wouldn't believe it, because he is so 'smart', but he is being used, manipulated by the likes of Putin, Miller and others. He's been very accurately described as an ignorant puppet.
A "useful idiot." :-/
Miller's lethal injection should be a globally televised event.....
When I see a flag at half-mast, I like to think it's for Jane.
As it should be!
Such kindness and caring from a good souled person. TIs a matter of humane humanness: 47 has none. He is angry at the world for his failures as a human and citizen, not only of the nation, but of the world: NEVER paying his way, paying his fair share, acting on his responsibilities, always demeaning those around him, deceitful musings aloud to deter from the attention he does not want. Oh, and lying...outright deceitful words and trigger words to the lunatic right.,
Reflecting on the great visits from the kiddos yesterday, we are fortunate they are healthy, wealthy and wiser than us at that age! Bless Us All, Beloved One. We have Faith, beyond that we await the next round of whining blathering sob stories from the right about what the Dems could have done to stop 47. ahhhhh Blessed Be
grab that popcorn
Oh my. I am crying. Thank you God and bless you for bringing this message. Bless you Jane Goodall. What beautiful messages.
I miss Jane already. I hope wherever her energy went, she's happy and content.
I feel like to make a true change we are going to have to take drastic measures. Every person in this country that is physically/financially able needs to stock up on provisions, stop going to work, descend upon DC and stay until change happens. If 2/3rds of the country made it, that would be over 200 million people. The economy would grind to a halt. This is where our power lies. But we have to all do it or it won't be enough. Unfortunately, I don't think people are ready for that level of protest.
I particularly like her statement about not losing hope because when one does, one becomes apathetic. And I understand, it can be incredibly hard at times.
According to the /Sandman/ comic, the Greek word for "despair" is "Aponia," or "Inaction."
(Well, maybe that was ancient Greek; in the current Greek, it's apparently "Apelpisia".)
I needed to read that on a Monday morning. Thank you for making my heart smile. ❤️😊
Printing to read every morning.
I am crying as well. Jane Goodall speaks to my heart. I needed this. We all needed this post. Thanks, God.❤️
Amen!
Thank you, God for Jane Goodall!
May her life and words inspire billions.
Bless the French couple, too! They speak the truth.
Watched it last night here in the UK. As you say, she remains, and always be an absolute legend 🥰
I hope you two have met up and you have given her the well done good and faithful servant hug and welcome. Thanks for posting this.
This is wonderful thank you! I would love to be a fly on the wall when they send all of "THEM" to Mars to see what they can do. And when they realize that they don't have anything they can do they will all want to come back. Meanwhile all of the Earth would be rejoicing at them being swept away just like the ICE do with many in this country to fill a quota! It's so wrong on so many levels.