I find myself thinking, well that grandchild is safer because she has blue eyes. I can't believe it has come to this so quickly. God help us all.
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I find myself thinking, well that grandchild is safer because she has blue eyes. I can't believe it has come to this so quickly. God help us all.
Is she white or brown?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tybee
The scum in charge of DHS had said they’re going to start making people prove their citizenship. I have a passport and Apple recently allowed you to add passport to Apple Wallet to use at TSA checkpoints in case you don’t have a RealID passport. I don’t fly much, but I added passport just in case of the ICE crap even though I’m lily white. ICE is still all over the Chicago area.
The local one is white. I have another in another state who is brown.
I don't know how to do the apple wallet passport thing.
Here you go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tybee
https://support.apple.com/en-us/123719
Obstructive can be a good thing. There are very good models for peaceful protest, and I think they are necessary, because people in power do not willingly give up that power.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
Examples of exemplary peaceful protesting:
The 500 disabled people who crawled backwards up the steps of the Capitol to demand passage of the ADA.
Gandhi's salt march
The grape boycott
And of course, MLK wrote the book on how to protest peacefully and effectively. Unfortunately his peaceful protesters often encountered not-so-peaceful counterresistance.
I am all for obstruction in the right way in the right circumstances. I support all the peaceful protesters in Minnesota and elsewhere. We cannot tolerate the violent and indiscriminate capture of innocent civilians.
Tybee, maybe for the brown grandkid, the parents can take a photo of kid’s birth certificate and keep it on their phone.
Thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradd
Thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradd
Obviously!Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
It still is traumatic because children are observant and see what is happening to others! It may not be directly happening to them but those around them! It truly is sickening!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tybee
Did you see the MAGA hats the protesters in Greenland are touting? MAGA …. Make America Go Away!
Because of trump we truly are becoming the “ugly Americans”. It is going to be hard to travel internationally because of this dictator wannabe!
News I saw in a couple of places today said Trump's push for Greenland is some twisted version of his revenge tour for being snubbed by the Nobel prize committee. I didn't delve into the details. And Miller's comment about a nation that can't defend it's border doesn't deserve to be a sovereign nation???? That has some global implications, although he was probably just saying things.
I don't think that was actual 'News', but rather a celebration of bluster.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogar
I first became aware of Greenland's importance to the US back in the early 70's when people in my military career field were routinely being sent to Thule Greenland on 89 day temporary duty assignments (TDY). Luckily we've had agreements with Greenland in place for quite some time to act as host to a US military presence to act as early warning and first line of defense against bad actors in greater Europe and Asia. Other 'News' sources might tell you that some of those bad actors have designs on Greenland as well in order to neutralize the US advantage which has caused every administration in recent history to consider ways to strengthen the US presence there. I guess which version of 'News' you prefer is up to you.
I'd like to back it up a little and ask, "Why are immigration officials masked and armed, and running around like SWAT teams in a particularly exciting adventure movie in the first place."
IMO, the long running narrative that if someone is "illegal" they are also an armed and dangerous desperado intent on murder and mayhem is media fueled absurdity, supported by a history of media Entertainment framing violence and espionage as environmental norms. Do those people exist? I suppose. Are they actually A Big Problem, in an ordinary sense, for ordinary people? My eyes tell me no. My experience tells me no. My relationships with real people tell me no. Most of this Threat has been manufactured and framed as a Big Problem to foment exactly the sort of division and rage and justification for "retaliatory" violence we're now seeing.
Kib, I think this has been coming for a long time. Project 2025, Heritage Foundation, KuKluxKlan...all part of it and now we have the AI and tech groups along with other big business. Scary as if The Deranged One goes away the problem will not.
This is really confusing. So - Trump saying he's peeved about Greenland in part because of not winning the Nobel Peace Prize isn't news, but "bluster"? So now his insane ravings are no longer "news"? Even when they directly relate to national security and potential military action? (They should be called out constantly! Words have meaning, and bluster has/SHOULD have social and political consequences. We should not become so used to this idiocy that we just normalize it.)I've not seen any "news" that says Greenland isn't important to Western defense. Is that really an argument somewhere? Of COURSE it's critical. I've not read anything that says Greenland was pushing to end any agreements we had with them - I'm sure they understand that WE are also critical to THEIR survival. That's why Denmark, and thus Greenland, joined NATO, isn't it? So we'd agree to back off the island after WWII, while still using it for our defense? We obviously don't want Russia or China to take it over. But, how does that justify US taking over? Sure, we can get more people/materials at Thule - and we've been doing that already, from what I'm reading. And maybe we want a larger base, or better weapons - that's a cause for a new treaty, not a bloody takeover! And surely, both the reports on the bluster, and reports on the actual concerns re: Greenland and defense, are news in the sense that people need to know, and understand, them.Quote:
I don't think that was actual 'News', but rather a celebration of bluster.
I first became aware of Greenland's importance to the US back in the early 70's when people in my military career field were routinely being sent to Thule Greenland on 89 day temporary duty assignments (TDY). Luckily we've had agreements with Greenland in place for quite some time to act as host to a US military presence to act as early warning and first line of defense against bad actors in greater Europe and Asia. Other 'News' sources might tell you that some of those bad actors have designs on Greenland as well in order to neutralize the US advantage which has caused every administration in recent history to consider ways to strengthen the US presence there. I guess which version of 'News' you prefer is up to you.
kib, nswef - +1 !!
Yes. The infiltration of divisive perspectives into more or less every aspect of digital interaction, making everyone a target for propaganda on one side or the other and seemingly a player in this nightmare, is particularly worrisome.Quote:
Originally Posted by nswef
yes the Russian and Chinese bots operating on our psyches are awful, and now add in our leaders who are falling into that same trap and egging their followers on.Quote:
Originally Posted by kib
And like all instigators, they are all old men at the top who will sit comfortably behind their desks while their minions are harmed by the chaos and possible violent mayhem.
Read this from EFF about the surveillance shopping spree ICE is going on.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/0...shopping-spree
Perhaps it was read out of context by the news or the exact quote was mis-interpreted. I suspect his motives are far deeper, anyway, and he was just whining. Since Greenland appears to have offered the U.S. every military intervention possible short of total ownership and control, I pretty much don't get it. However, I'd lean to the control of Greenlands minerals much like it is Venezuelan oil. Or delusions of global domination. I think one of Trumps cabinet said it was creating a crisis to prevent a crisis? I'm surprised he didn't go after Cuba net to reward Marco for being a good servant. But that may be next, although they lack natural resources to pillage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
In a text message to Norway’s leader on Sunday, President Trump said that one reason behind his push to acquire Greenland is that he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize. In his message, which was released by the Norwegian prime minister’s office, Mr. Trump also questioned Denmark’s centuries-old claim to the island and repeated his demand for “Complete and Total Control” of it.
Yup.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
At this point I'm not really sure who or what is driving and shaping these narratives. How much is a matter of a manipulated perspective on events that matter, how much of it is spun out of nowhere? Days when I think the world truly is falling apart, days when I think 95% of this is just spat out to intentionally upset and confuse and distract. How foolish would I be to believe it? On the other hand, how vulnerable would I make myself to disregard it? I feel like I'm living in The Matrix.
The problem is real things are happening to real people, right now. You see the evidence with your own eyes.
Not to be contentious, but that's the whole point. I CAN'T. I can see terrible media images that fill me with compassion, outrage, fear, disgust. I can go out my door and see people protesting or participate in that, and see a police presence that's disturbing, with my own eyes. But for nearly all of us, nearly all the time, what we're being fed is digital information, and in this brave new world, there's very little way to vet these reports and images. I'm not saying they're not happening. I'm not much for sticking my head in the sand. I'm saying AI is making it impossible to trust what I'm being fed. I look at the discussion of Renee Good *right here*, and see people arguing over what "their own eyes" are telling them. I've seen impressive protest photos that on very close inspection Are Not Real. While I'm not a denier, I also don't want to jump at dog whistles from my own side of the aisle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tybee
Beware lest your skepticism turn into solipsism.Quote:
Originally Posted by kib
I am very disheartened. Just came home after talking to Canadian friends who just put their place up for sale. I can’t say I blame them. trump talking about taking Greenland by force, disengaging with our allies, and whack job talk of making Canada a US state. Canada stating they will attack the US if force is used in Greenland is justifiable because they are defending their NATO ally. These people would be unable to sell their place later or may even be considered a political prisoner. How did we get to this place where our friends and neighbors are fearful of our government? Many are being rounded up by masked unidentifiable thugs like animals under the guise of being for the good of all…reminiscent of Hitler’s gestapo rounding up the jews. This country, under this “leadership” makes me ashamed to be an American. The sad thing is I don’t know what I can do about it except protest in the streets!
The school where my grandchildren go is going to talk to the children about ICE this week. They have been sending notifications to the parents. They said they will go to remote classes at home if things start to happen in the area. They have had that system in place because they had to use in during Covid.
So all the people on my local Chicago area and Illinois sub Reddits are making up the videos that they’re posting?Quote:
Originally Posted by kib
So, with my own lying eyes, I've seen the Íslendingabók, written by Ari Thorgilsson, in the early 12th Century. You can see it with your own lying eyes at the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies in Reykjavík if your are so motivated. I can recommend some good coffee places nearby if you wish.
6. Frá Grænlands byggð.
Land þat, er kallat er Grænland, fannst ok byggðist af Íslandi.
Eiríkr inn rauði hét maðr breiðfirzkr, er fór út heðan þangat ok nam þar land, er síðan er kallaðr Eiríksfjörðr. Hann gaf nafn landinu ok kallaði Grænland ok kvað menn þat mundu fýsa þangat farar, at landit ætti nafn gott. Þeir fundu þar manna vistir bæði austr ok vestr á landi ok keiplabrot ok steinsmíði þat, er af því má skilja, at þar hafði þess konar þjóð farit, er Vínland hefir byggt ok Grænlendingar kalla Skrælingja. En þat var, er hann tók byggva landit, fjórtán vetrum eða fimmtán fyrr en kristni kæmi hér á Ísland, at því er sá talði fyr Þorkeli Gellissyni á Grænlandi, er sjálfr fylgði Eiríki inum rauða út.
-----
Chapter 6 — On the Settlement of Greenland
The land which is called Greenland was discovered and settled from Iceland.
There was a man named Erik the Red, from Breiðafjörður, who travelled from here to that land and claimed territory there which was later called Erik’s Fjord. He gave the land a name and called it Greenland, saying that people would be more eager to travel there if the land had a good name.
They found there traces of human habitation both to the east and to the west of the land, as well as fragments of skin boats and worked stone, from which one could tell that people of that kind had travelled there—the same people who settled Vinland and whom the Greenlanders call Skrælings.
And when he began to settle the land, it was fourteen or fifteen winters before Christianity came to Iceland, according to what he himself told Þorkell Gellisson, who followed Erik the Red out to Greenland.
DJT's version:
Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.
Peace, peace. I'm not saying any of this isn't happening. I spend as much time spun up and in panic and outrage as anyone else. I just finished writing a parody of Alice's restaurant, called You can kill anyone you want in Donald T's restaurant. All I'm saying is it AI is making it very difficult to sort the passion from the propaganda, and that applies to the left as well as the right.
For those of us living in the Chicago area (me) and Minneapolis, our LOCAL news is full of this. I have no reason to believe that WGN tv/radio Chicago is making stuff up. Not everyone stays glued to social mediaQuote:
Originally Posted by kib
What videos are being posted?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradd
One of the “ Disrupt ICE” strategies I saw mentioned as strategy was protesters who play copyrighted music during their protest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
That way any counter protesters who want to post THEIR Side of the protest will have their video swiftly taken down from the social media sites due to copyright.
I have to say, it’s clever. But that strategy can be easily copied by the other side.
Extreme cold present at my kids' grocery store now; they just took a child's parent away as parent was dropping child off at school.
If you are interested, look them up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Videos from observers of ICE activity. I see the same type of stuff filmed by local TV stations. So it’s not like someone is making this shit up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
LOL, we could spend the rest of our lives implying un-named things we saw in videos we don't share and never get any closer to understanding what's real and what's not.Quote:
Originally Posted by frugal-one
What interests me in cases like this is what is actually happening, who is participating and in what manner. Are confrontations happening only in sanctuary cities/states or across the board? Are protestors being peaceful or are they trying to prevent officers from doing their duty? Are random citizens being shoved into vans and "disappeared" or are people violating federal law being arrested? Are they targeting everyone of a certain perceived race or nationality or are they simply targeting those known to have removal orders wherever they can be found.
I'm having a difficult time finding context in anything found online or in discussions regarding what others have seen, plus I've discovered that trying to inject context just seems to piss people off so I'd love to see someone brave enough to voluntarily supply it outside of an agenda or preferred narrative.
congregating at convenience store next to my mom's old nursing home, 1 block from Catholic high school
Not me buddy! I aint stickin’ my neck out for that!Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Megan McArdle’s article in the Wash Post from Jan. 10, 2026 is one of several article articles I’ve been reading about Both Sides-ism. I like it, but it’s too much trouble to figure out how to link it. No one will read it anyway.
There are some good, nuanced discussions on my new, secret, probably-not-long-for-this-world Reddit sub About the various ways to look at Minneapolis strife. It’s a discussion format, not a format such as Substack which is someone’s opinion article and then comments following after that. With a forum you can have back-and-forth dialogue where each poster is equal.
Reddit is relentlessly lefty and don’t you forget it! They won’t let you! I got a chiding message from the Reddit overlords on another sub the other day for something I wrote that they considered hate speech. sigh.
if we can find social media discussion sites that support good faith, nuanced discussion, that’s the real deal.