THINKING ABOUT:
The pain in my heart about everything that happened in MN the past few weeks. I don't like to get political here. I don't consider myself a political person as I find it hard to have faith in any of them in this day and age. In my opinion those offices are supposed to be public servants and it feels like it's all about their personal agendas or who has the most money. But that's not what I'm trying to share here.
I love my country. My Bro is a retired combat medic green beret shot in Afghanistan and has a purple heart for that. He's retired now and I have always been proud of him and all he gave for our country we both love.
Matt & I live in northern WI and spend about half of our time in MN. We go to the Twin Cities often (it's less than 3 hrs from us) and I have several relatives and a best friend that lives there. We live a bridge drive over the lake to a city in MN where we do a lot of shopping, dining etc. Our lake property is also in MN. I live a truly kind of bipartisan life. WI is known for being more conservative and MN liberal. I have people in my life I'm very close to and love very much who are pretty conservative and some who are very liberal. I don't judge any of them - I listen and love and respect them for their right to their opinions and beliefs. I live my life by Jesus above all and try to be as giving, kind, caring and moral as I can be.
And I have direct accounts from my family and friends there that have witnessed what has gone on MN these past weeks. My best friend has a masters in psychology and works in a school in the cities and the horrible things she witnessed from intimidation by ICE towards kids and staff sickened me. Annie has several friends going to the U of M and one of them lives in an apt building right where Alex Pretti was shot. She was so horrified she was texting Annie while we were sitting in a restaurant in FL in real time with what was going on. He was shielding a woman that was getting brutally treated and pushed around by ice. He was only holding his phone and his weapon (that was holstered and he had a permit to carry) was taken from his back holster by ICE, so he had no gun. They witnessed him hold up a phone and his other hand which was free of any weapon as they shot him in the head. He was an American citizen and an ICU nurse for veterans and I witnessed for myself how lies were spread and the administration spun about him, when people I know and believe 100% saw first hand what happened. He gave up his life to protect another from our own countrymen. How is this our country? And that is the 3rd death since ICE had been there. One person died while in custody (health things) and there was the death of Renee Good and then Alex. I know witnesses of Renee's shooting that also say that narrative was spun out of proportion and that ICE person was never in danger. This feels like terrorism by our own government. How does this happen here???
I know that over 15,000 people in MN protested peacefully against ICE in frigid below zero temps the day before Alex was shot - as that is the people I believe we are up here. Kind, caring, peaceful, nature loving folks. There is a common term called "MN nice" and that is the kind of people I have known of Minnesotans my whole life. No, I don't believe in illegal immigrants who are criminals, drug dealers being here. I can respect what is trying to be done - but this is not the way to protect people. Or to get real change in my opinion. The head of the police of Mnpls was interviewed on national news and said that his officers were spread so thin because of ICE. He shared that in all of last year 800 guns were taken off the street by the local authorities, tons of drug dealers dealt with etc and they didn't shoot one person. ICE came and 3 people dead in less than 3 weeks. He said it was unsustainable for them to keep things up and more innocent people would be killed.
What I want to know is how did we get here as a nation? I always thought of America in such a prideful way. The ways we were strong, caring, worked to help others in the world, UNITED. I have never felt more divided in this country than now. And the over generalizations I hear baffle me. Again, I have very conservative folks like my Mom in my life, and very liberal folks like my son in my life. We all love and listen to one another. And both of them believe, like I do, in Christ as our Lord and Savior. And yet, my Bro who is conservative and served in the military is agnostic and doesn't think there is a God and needs proof. So it's not about God like I hear some conservatives say. And it's now about how all liberals are trying to promote everyone be one sex and get sex changes. Because I am in both conservative and liberal worlds and neither is true. What I see is how we are alike in what we want. We want a safe country for our kids, with good schooling, affordable health care and our right to live our lives according to our own beliefs and be respected within it.
I'm not sure how we got here but I don't like how our Leader likes to call people names, blame Democrats constantly and "sleepy Joe" etc. He does so much name calling and finger pointing that just causes so much more division in my opinion - and gives the okay to be cruel. He makes me feel like his mentality is " you are either with me and if not than you are against me" . How will that get us anywhere if you won't accept that it's okay others may not think exactly as you do?? I personally feel this administration does a lot of fear mongering and intimidation to try to make others only see their way. It does help explain how we keep getting more divided. I don't think life is so easily black and white. It's gray area and compassion and discussion and trying to understand one another. That is the kind of leadership I would prefer. One of promoting us to talk to and understand one another and search for the common ground to bring everyone united together. We would be so much stronger and our country so much safer it were that way.
Thanks for letting me share. I prayed a lot before I did and it was put on my heart to do it. I don't plan to ever make this a political space. I am about faith, family, nature, recipes, crafts etc. But I felt like it would have hurt my heart today more if I didn't share what I knew because I'm so close to it currently. I treasure this beautiful space and my friendships here where I can share my heart and I always feel respect and understanding - even if we don't always agree. I hope you feel the same from me.
And I just remain fervent in prayer for safety and peace for our country always. 🙏🏻
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:
watching my children become amazingly smart, caring, kind young adults
