Not on the Christmas list
-
The high point of my day.
The bishop leading the inaugural prayer service on Tuesday urged President Donald Trump to "have mercy" on his constituents, specifically naming LGBTQ people and immigrants.
The sermon by the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, was part of a larger post-Inauguration Day interfaith ceremony at Washington National Cathedral. Trump was seated in the first row alongside first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance during the service, a tradition undertaken by presidents of both parties.
“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” said Budde, who was looking directly at the president. “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families. Some who fear for their lives.”
She added: "They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues."
When Budde finished her sermon, Trump leaned over to say something to Vance, who shook his head in response.
Later, as Trump was walking through the White House colonnade with his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, reporters asked him what he thought of the sermon. He asked the group, “Did you like it? Find it exciting?” He then added that he “didn’t think it was a good service, no” and said they “could do much better.””
-
They're scared for one of two reasons. First off, they are here illegally, which affords little in the way of protection. They knew they came in illegally. But there won't be the mass deportations that have been discussed. I do hope they get those identified as criminals out.
Second, people are scared because the media has tried their level best to scare them. There's no disagreement that people have the right to live and be what and who they wish. But people being threatened for their jobs if they don't bow to the woke idea that you must refer to me by the pronouns I have chosen or if you don't believe children should make decisions on major reassignment surgery or you don't believe biological males should compete in women's sports. It's gone too far.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer”
― Douglas Adams -
Trump claims that the prisons and mental institutions are releasing all the bad people into the US. His administration is taking all sorts of actions. And the media is to blame for scaring people? Not seeing how that argument holds water.
I'm not surprised people are scared.
The CBP app gets shut off so people can't make appointments for asylum hearings.
Also this:
“All previously scheduled travel of refugees to the United States is being cancelled, and no new travel bookings will be made. RSCs should not request travel for any additional refugee cases at this time,” the [State Department] memo states, citing the president’s executive order.
Approximately 10,000 refugees had travel booked, which is now canceled, according to a source familiar with the data. The cancellations could be particularly troubling for refugees whose medical exams or security checks, for example, are on the cusp of expiring.
The memo also states that case processing is suspended, effectively shuttering the program.
And this:
https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/01/kern-county-immigration-sweep/
And one more:
Officers enforcing immigration laws will now be able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches after the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where those arrests could happen as the new president seeks to make good on campaign promises to carry out mass deportations.
The move announced Tuesday reverses guidance that for over a decade has restricted two key federal immigration agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection — from carrying out immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.
“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murderers and rapists — who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Tuesday.
Because murderers and rapists are in schools and churches on a regular basis...
-
Mik, your hyperbole is showing. Children don't make decisions about major reassignment surgery, and you should know that. Even adults who consider reassignment surgery can't just show up and ask for it. It takes years, meetings with mental health professionals and doctors, maybe even spiritual advisors.
As for the childish tantrums some people put on when faced with having to address a transgendered person by their proper pronouns, it's just that: immature.
I'm not talking about addressing people one doesn't know. It's perfectly natural to be mistaken based on outward appearances only (maybe a good lesson for not judging a book by it's cover). But someone who has said they are transgender deserves all the respect for who they are as someone who is not. One doesn't walk up to a beautiful woman and say, "Hey young man, do you know where 5th Avenue is?"
And yes, if one can't abide by workplace rules they will probably be fired.
-
@Mik said in Not on the Christmas list:
But people being threatened for their jobs if they don't bow to the woke idea that you must refer to me by the pronouns I have chosen or if you don't believe children should make decisions on major reassignment surgery or you don't believe biological males should compete in women's sports. It's gone too far.
And Trump's solution is a theatrical show of force by threatening the jobs of people doing DEI work. Pot, meet kettle.
There has to be a less chaotic way for us to resolve our differences.
-
Speaking of gender-affirming surgery. Most such surgeries are performed on cisgender males. 97% of such surgeries among teens are for breast reduction (It's considered a gender affirming surgery.), 80% among male adults.
Of course, I have little doubt Fox entertainment reports on the staggering number of "gender affirming surgeries" and a lot of ignorant people believe masses of children are getting gender reassignment surgery.
Although this study from the Harvard School of Public Health isn't the end all, it's probably the best we have at the moment. And well worth a read:
Gender-affirming surgeries rarely performed on transgender youth
-
No regrets. And no apology.
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/22/nx-s1-5270918/bishop-mariann-edgar-budde-trump-interview
When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden - Minnie Aumônier
-
@Mik said in Not on the Christmas list:
But there won't be the mass deportations that have been discussed.
-
@Mik said in Not on the Christmas list:
But there won't be the mass deportations that have been discussed.
What makes you think that?
-
I think you may be underestimating their resolve. They're already trying their best.
Additionally, the memo shows the Trump administration is planning to dramatically expand detention capacity at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is expected to be at the center of Mr. Trump's promised mass deportations.
According to the document, ICE officials want 14 new detention facilities with the capacity to hold up to 1,000 migrants each and another four able to accommodate as many as 10,000 immigrant detainees each. Plus possibly using military bases as holding areas.
And they've already fired some of the head judges in immigration courts. My guess is loyalists that replace them will streamline the processing of asylum cases to push them through much more quickly, with probably next to no one qualifying for asylum.
-
And I think you are overestimating the capability to do so. The new capacity only allows for 54,000. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the number of those here illegally.
We badly need to streamline all facets of our immigration processes. It is punitive even for those here legally.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer”
― Douglas Adams -
@Mik said in Not on the Christmas list:
We badly need to streamline all facets of our immigration processes. It is punitive even for those here legally.
Absolutely. What did you think when Trump got the bipartisan deal from last year killed?
And I think you are overestimating the capability to do so. The new capacity only allows for 54,000. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the number of those here illegally.
Guess it just hinges on our respective definitions of mass deportation and also whether the end justifies the means. No, I'm not saying it will happen in a month.
He doesn't give a damn about immigration. If he did, he wouldn't have killed the bipartisan bill last year. He's all about the kudos for himself. I think he's going to take this to an extreme and ruin the lives of many defenseless people in a highly accelerated fashion. I'm not the camp that thinks the strategy should be putting them on military planes, teaching them to skydive, and out they go.
Trump is having a toddler tantrum and the country is at his mercy. I think he's on a mission of vengeance and his eternal quest for adoration from his MAGAites. It shows up in all those little things he's doing, like killing Bolton's Secret Service protection. Bolton said he talked to two different agencies in the Biden administration at the end of last week, and the threat from Iran persists. Maggie Haberman's reporting indicates Trump doesn't want Pompeo or anyone who worked for him in his administration. Guess what? Pompeo and his former aide Hook had their Secret Service protection yanked, too. Taking down Milley's portrait? Good grief.
I think where you and I differ is the motivation of the administration and the length to which it will go to accomplish its goals. If you thought the Democrats were merciless in their attempts to take down Trump, I think you will see all sorts of new maneuvers by Trump to rid the country of all of his perceived enemies, and in his mind, there are a lot of those. Add to that the ability to make a shit ton of money, and to bask in the praise of his adoring MAGA-ites.
Buckle up, buttercup. The Trumpmobile has Tesla acceleration and he's disconnected the brakes. It's gonna be a wild ride.
