Special note: As I handed each police officer a flower today at the demonstration down Fifth Avenue in New York City, I said: “With this flower I’d like to show that we are peaceful protesters and I want to thank you for your service. We’re all in this together and I hope that your allegiance will be to the United States Constitution and not to the one person in the White House. Thanks again for being our partners in this. As I pointed around us, I said: “look at us—so beautiful—a nationa of immigrants!” We need to work together and we need the police force and the military to be with us. America does not believe in kings…
I have been to many demonstrations in my 60+ years and never before did I feel that the police force was actually on our side in this. Great feeling! I gave out probably thirty flowers and aside from smiles and thank yous from almost every single officer, I even got myself a warm hug from one of them.
Brave Souls in the Military
Today I feature a few very brave souls in the military who are daring to speak out, in the face of real life consequences, in order to make the point that as military people, they have sworn an oath to the consitution, not to one man...Call me an optimist, but I am hoping that there are many more people like them, who are not interested in entering into combat with their own fellow citizens...
Click this link to hear from another courageous soul standing up for freedom.
And Congressman Mike Levin calls attention to some more military personnel standing up-- Here's another hero he has highlighted on his website.
This is a very important part of our work in the future to counter the weaponization of our own military against us...
Immigrants Make America Beautiful
Illustration by Elizabeth Jabar of Hinge Collective, Waterville, Maine Click images to see more of her work.
Illustration by Elizabeth Jabar of Hinge Collective, Waterville, Maine
And here is an organization that reminds us of why people come to the United States. "NEW AMERICAN STORY PROJECT's current project, Welcome Children: Voices of the Central American Refugee Crisis focuses on unaccompanied Central American minors who journeyed thousands of miles to reach the U.S. They tell their stories in their own words while legal, social science and policy experts provide perspective, up-to-date data and detailed context. We hope to foster greater understanding about the ongoing humanitarian crises in Central America." To read their stories in person, click here.
Crispy Rice Paper Rolls
as seen on instagram @tastyiri_en
INGREDIENTS
10-15 rice paper sheets
3 cups shredded cabbage (approx. 9 0z)
1 medium carrot, grated
1 1/2 cups slided mushrooms
7 oz cooked shredded chicken
1 tbsp soy sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all the ingredients and cook in a skillet on medium-high heat.
Place ingredients on rice paper, fold it in four, repeat the process and cook in a pan on both sides...Watch Iri's video here for complete illustrated instructions...
Pam Smilow, mixed media on paper 52” x 52” sold
Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.