In the Garden of Good and Evil

No, not the book. Although I could understand if you might think that, since I do like to read. No, I am talking about what happened on September 11, 2001. On that day the world was witness to both great evil and greater good.

Hijackers at the behest of Osama bin Laden took over four American planes with the intent of killing as many people and destroying as many symbols of United States existence as they could. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York, both north and south. A third plane was flown into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The fourth plane was flown into the ground in a field in Pennsylvania. That fourth plane was retaken by a group of brave, steadfast, loyal Americans. Due to the amazing technology of cell phones they knew about the earlier planes crashing into buildings and killing innocent civilians. They were determined that they would not be used as a weapon, they were determined that they would do what they could to protect and defend our people and our country. Because of them that plane never reached its goal.

If Osama bin Laden's minions were the epitome of evil those who responded to their actions were the epitome of good, from those passengers of Flight 93, to the first responders who ran up the stairs of the World Trade Center towers to help those in need and to those on the ground who gave of themselves to help in some way shape or form. Too many to count.

As I sit here and listen to some of the speakers in Pennsylvania I was struck by the remarks made by Gordon Felt, whose brother was a passenger on Flight 93. His words embody my thoughts and I cannot see where I could improve upon them. I assume they will eventually show up on YouTube, everything does. I will watch and add that to this post if I run across a video of his remarks. Because they are important. Meanwhile, here is a written version of some of his thoughts:

Gordon Felt's thoughts

I too wish for a September 12^th moment, when we were all unified, intent on standing together as one. I too wonder, as I watch the pitiful behavior of some who would not even consider putting the well being of others before their “rights” as Americans, are we worthy of the sacrifice made by all of those on 9/11?

Update:

I have not been able to find a video yet of Gordon Felt. However, I do have one of President George W. Bush in Pennsylvania on 9/11.   As Lee pointed out in the comments section Dubya has something to say that we should listen to.

President Bush remarks on 9/11

American Taliban

We have watched in horror and disgust the Taliban in Afghanistan oppressing women and girls, using them as property with very little rights of their own. The Taliban have said they have changed, but that remains to be seen.

Now I am watching with horror and disgust as our own version of the Taliban force their religious beliefs on others, just like their brethren in Afghanistan. I am referring to the new law in Texas banning abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy. What is unusual about this law is that it allows average citizens to sue anyone helping a woman or girl obtain an abortion. The prize is $10,000. Not bad for someone who may be scrimping to live.

Texas abortion law

President Biden in remarks said it was almost un-American. Almost? No, I will go further and say it is un-American. It is exactly what the Taliban in Afghanistan have forced on the female population in that country. Now we are seeing it here. And so far our Supreme Court has allowed it to stand. Despite the fact that the issue of abortion has been argued and decided in Roe v Wade.

Let me be clear, no one, and I mean no one has the right to decide for a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. It is her right to decide.

Remember...

I Am Woman

I stand with my sisters who are facing the oppressive, un-American, actions of our American Taliban in Texas and elsewhere.

Withdrawal

 After 20 years the United States is removing its military forces from Afghanistan. For many in Afghanistan a tragedy, for many in the United States a relief. As we have seen the desperate scenes of terrified Afghans mobbing the Kabul airport, risking their lives to find a way out, some have second guessed our decision. Here I am just speculating on the validity of the reasons for withdrawal, not necessarily the way it was and is being conducted. Those are questions that will need to be addressed after all this is done.

We entered Afghanistan on the orders of George W, Bush, hunting terrorists. We made an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw on the orders of Donald Trump. The actual withdrawal is taking place during the administration of Joe Biden. This is a war that has occupied the attention of four presidents.

My first reaction was that this was a serious foreign policy mistake on the part of Biden. That may well prove to be so, but perhaps cooler heads are correct in that it is too soon to tell. As I listened to various voices expressing their agreement or disagreement I was struck by this video of an interview with a Taliban fighter earlier this year.

Interview with Taliban Fighter

He made two points which sum up the past and the future.

In 2020 Donald Trump made an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw our forces. It is this that has allowed the United States to maintain a residual force of soldiers in country in a state of relative peace. Joe Biden had a choice, break the agreement and resume a hot war with the Taliban, risking more lives and treasure, or keep the agreement. He appears to have made the choice that the United States has other pressing issues that will take our undivided attention and large amounts of financial resources to deal with. It is also true, as Biden pointed out, that it is for the Afghans to make a choice as to what kind of country they want. It is their place to fight for it. Their place to own it.

The second point made by that Taliban fighter suggests that Afghanistan's future is still to be decided, even after the Taliban have taken control of the country. “Afghanistan is run by the system they (the US) built.” The Taliban will have a challenging time running Afghanistan from a purely practical standpoint, let alone religious. Cutting a deal with others; the Russians, the Chinese or other regional players, may prove to be the ultimate solution for them, but given past history or current policies, that may prove to be problematic.

This even as climate change starts to roll ever more steadily over the planet.

The one thing I do know for sure, we must stand by those who stood by us. It is imperative to keep our word. Those who wish to leave, must be evacuated as expeditiously and safely, as possible.

Gooseberry Trickle

 

We all have them. Those places we fondly remember. For many Minnesotans it is “ Up North”. Every summer my family would spend weekends at my Uncle & Aunt's cabin. It was great. With my cousins there I always had someone to hang out with. One of the iconic attractions in Minnesota is Gooseberry Falls. I went there with my family and with friends. While it is farther up north than the cabin it is part of those “Up North” memories.

We can talk about climate change over and over, but perhaps it is its effects that are up close and personal that will finally make the reality of it sink in. Minnesota, like so many other areas of the country, is in drought. As I've posted about before. So, what? Can't we just wait a bit and the rains will come back and everything will be fine? Possibly, if it doesn't go on too long. But what happens if it doesn't turn around? What happens if this change becomes permanent? What happens to the plants and wildlife? What happens, ultimately, to the people?

Gooseberry Falls, before, the short version.

Gooseberry Falls, before

Gooseberry Falls, before, the longer version with narration.

Gooseberry Falls, before with narration

Gooseberry Falls, 2021.

Gooseberry Falls, 2021

Is this really the world we want to leave for future generations? Gooseberry trickle?

Citizenship

 Over the past two days I have seen two news stories that have resonated on this July 4^th.

The first was about a group of people sworn in as new American citizens. Their home countries were varied, but they all chose to come to the United States to try to build a new life. Some are already serving in our military, one built a life giving back to her adopted country through medical service as a nurse. She was the first person to get the Covid-19 vaccine outside of the test groups, making history and again serving her adopted country with her leadership.

The second story just occurred early this morning in Massachusetts around 1:30am. It involved a group of armed men wearing tactical gear who were stopped alongside the road refueling one of the two cars that were stopped. They were noticed by passing police who stopped to see what their situation was. The details are sparse at this time, but the gist of it was that these men told the police that they were not anti-government but were not subject to the laws of the United States. When the police first arrived some of the men fled into nearby woods, but others stayed. Eleven were arrested. The obvious question was what was their intent? That remains to be determined.

So I asked myself, what does it mean to be a citizen of the United States? It isn't just about taking advantage of services or opportunities if they are offered, it is about giving back, it is about taking responsibility in making our country a decent place for all of it's inhabitants. Which of those two groups of people embody those qualities? Many in the first group already appear to. The second group? Not so much.

I also ask, why are we seeing more of the second types of people crawling out of the woodwork? They have always been here, lurking in the weeds. But we are seeing more "we are above the law" types of behavior.  The Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol was that type of event, as was this.

Watch this story out of Massachusetts and decide, is it the far left that is the danger to our country or is it the far right? No one is above the law if they are truly a citizen of this country. We all bear responsibility in keeping our country safe. As you enjoy July 4^th, remember that it has more meaning than shooting off fireworks. It is the duty of us all, we the people, to make sure we elect officials that will show loyalty to the Constitution, not one man, and who will put the good of the country first before party.  It matters.

Happy July 4^th!

Heatwave

I know you have seen the pictures from the southwestern United States of dry fields and low water levels. Temps are in the 100's. I have too. But you don't really realize what it is like until you are experiencing something similar. In Minnesota we have been in the high 90's, even topping 100 a couple of days, for two weeks now. This with little rain. Yards are turning brown as people don't water. I know we are not nearly in the same position as places like California, but it is still a very concerning and depressing place to find ourselves in. It is June and June temps should be twenty degrees cooler here. My rhubarb is wilting in the heat even as I poor water on it. Today is the first day where we have had some rain in over two weeks. It is not a lot, maybe a quarter of an inch, but the temps are much cooler, in the 60's – 70's. It has helped a little, but it will not bring back all of those brown lawns or help our farmers. What we need is a good soaking rain over an extended period.

The consequences of drought or extended extreme temperatures can be severe.

Drought

One Minnesota farmer:

Minnesota farm

That was posted on June 12^th , a week ago. Today, June 20^th, we got around a quarter of an inch where I am. I hope he got more.

But I know there are places that have it worse.

Sin City

I wonder, will people ever wake up?  

Bird Watching

Voting laws are changed to make it more difficult for some people to vote. A prominent member of a political party is demoted because she refused to follow the lies of a former president. Innocent Asian-Americans are attacked all over the country. A number of members of the aforementioned political party vote in opposition to an Asian anti-hate bill. One Republican Congressional member equated the slaughter of Jewish people in WWII to the requirement of masks in the House chamber. A detailed investigation of the causes of the insurrection on Capital Hill on Jan. 6^th is torpedoed by a Republican House leader and a Republican Senate minority leader. Why?

Maybe there is an explanation.

Bird Watching