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Election Connection – 20 Weeks – Media Sources

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As I did my morning news rituals – listening to What a Day and checking Twitter for headlines – I couldn’t help but see that the Vice President is lying about Oklahoma’s COVID-19 increases and downplaying the risks as the President plans on having his first rally since the pandemic in Tulsa.

Please pay attention to sources and double check things that sound incorrect, especially when coming from this Administration. Even when they’re not intentionally lying, they often get their facts wrong and need to walk back and correct their statements nearly on a daily basis and this inludes their surrogates.

Two excellent sources on Twitter are journalists, Soledad O’Brien, who calls out the media when they both sides and/or stammer their way through a headline and Yamiche Alcindor, who will add truthful context to anything she is quoting from her sources.

Use this helpful graphic to know which sources are reliable when researching or sharing information.

Media Bias Chart (c)2018

How Can We Win – Kimberly Jones

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The following video is an emotional and profound witnessing in the day or so after rioting in Minneapolis. Watch it. Listen to it. Take it to heart.
Below the video are additional Twitter follows that I’ve added to Wednesday’s posts as well as three Wikipedia links to three abhorrent acts of racist terrorism, two of which Ms. Jones mentions in her video. I would remind readers that Wikipedia is a first step in learning and understanding about anything. It gives the gist and then more reading can follow. When people ask what’s the big deal about President Trump’s rallies and convention speech in the places and dates chosen, this is your opportunity to know the racist history. Kimberly Jones Matthew Cherry Ava DuVernay Nikole Hannah Jones (Ida Bae Wells) Michele Norris   Rosewood Massacre (FL) Tulsa Race Massacre (OK) Ax Handle Saturday (FL)

Amplifying Black Voices Through Twitter

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Some of these accounts I have been following for years, and some I just discovered. Some are better than others. I don’t agree 100% with all their tweets/posts. This is just my list of follows to get you started. It should be noted that there are many allies that I have not included in this first list. I wanted this to be strictly black voices. Any that you would like to add, please put in comments and I can include them in the future. Continue reading

Laudato Si’ Week (May 16 – May 24)

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Pope Francis invites us to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si’, his encyclical on our common home:

Catholic News reported in March about this week long celebration, and the week, beginning today and ending on the 24th with prayer has many activities to do at home and with other groups virtually relating to our home, the planet Earth and some of the ways we can enjoy, respect, and take care of her.

Laudato Si’ Week Activities can be found here. This site has many other resources for you to use. The prayer card for the final day (May 24) can be downloaded and/or printed from here. The prayer is to be said at noon in your local time.

The following graphic is provided by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. I will be posting reminders of their activities on the mornings of each one. I hope you can find the time to attend at least one. If you can’t, try to get out in nature and see the earth with new eyes.

Activities for Laudato Si’ Week from RCDONY. (c)2020

The Black Madonna

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As part of Mary’s month, I’d like to something written by my friend, Brother Mickey McGrath, artist and author. This article, titled We Need Images of the Black Madonna Now More Than Ever appeared in the March 5, 2018 issue of America Magazine. Below is one of the pictures that appeared with the article.

Our Lady of Montserrat. (c) Brother Mickey McGrath 2020

Mental Health Monday – Mental Health Awareness Month

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Each Monday from now until the second week in June will be the Mental Health Monday series with suggestions, resources, and coping tools. I would love for you to share what works for you in the comments, and I can gather them together for a future post for others.
It is more important than ever to be aware of our mental health, what triggers we face, and how to cope and overcome some of the difficulties.

Awareness is especially relevant in today’s world while we struggle through this unprecedented global pandemic with new surprises popping up every day in all aspects of our lives.

Today, instead of working on a more detailed first post, I was taking care of my own mental health, enjoying Star Wars with my family, eating comfort food (Kraft Macaroni & Cheese), praying the rosary, seeing my son for the first time in a long time, and most importantly, ignoring Twitter. Sometimes you just need to know when to stop and step away, and for me, that was today.

I have three resources to offer you today:

NAMI – National Association of Mental Illness

My own COVID-19 Mental Health and Crisis Information During the Pandemic Post
Wil Wheaton – he is very open about his depression and anxiety and many of his personal essays are helpful, even if only for knowing that you are not alone.