politics – Page 3 – Irene North

This morning, I sent emails to Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and my state representative, Senator John Stinner. Last month, the legislature narrowly defeated a bill that would have banned abortion in the state. Since the SCOTUS draft leak, Gov. Ricketts has been making the rounds in the media indicating he may call an emergency session of the state legislature to try and pass the bill again. He would like to ban all abortions, without exceptions for rape and/or incest.

I can rage on the internet all I want, but these two men are my only hope for abortion to remain legal in the state. I don’t know if my letter, my words, or my story would sway them to reconsider, but I had to try.

A good day

By Irene

On April 6, 2022

In Ramblings

Tuesday morning was windy. It was so windy, I mentioned to Paul if I was still living in New York, I’d think a hurricane was coming, but this is western Nebraska, so it was just windier than usual. It would also turn out to be a good day.

A picture worth a thousand tears

By Irene

On March 3, 2022

In Ramblings

When I saw this picture this morning, it made me cry. British Neuroscientist Matthew Cobb, who occasionally blogs on Evolutionary Biologist Jerry Coyne’s “Why Evolution is True” blog, sent this picture to Jerry. It’s from a wall in Paris.

It’s time to stand against religion before it’s too late

By Irene

On February 23, 2022

In Ramblings

About three months ago, I had a conversation with someone about religion. I told this person about another conversation I had with a friend about the dark and dangerous turn America has taken. My friend remarked they were ready to leave the country permanently if the loud minority of conservative evangelical Christians get to have everything they want.

My friend worried these Christian Nationalists would come for people like me and him. I, too, have had these worries for quite some time. We’ve seen it time and again with authoritarian regimes. The intellectuals, the educated, the atheists, anyone who stands counter to what they demand are rounded up and executed.

I told the person I was having a conversation with there was still hope in the back of my mind that Americans would rise up against Christian Nationalism, but I’m not entirely sure this will happen. I also mentioned I do not like Christianity nor many of its adherents. It’s something I’ve struggled with for a long time. I wish I didn’t, but I do.

I choose to look at the good stuff

By Irene

On November 7, 2020

In News

We may be opponents — but we are not enemies.

We are Americans.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020

I’m not here to gloat or brag about the presidential election. I’m not here to be divisive. Everyone already knows who I voted for and what I think of the vexatious litigant holding the highest office in the land right now. I want to highlight all the cool things that happened this week.

I could be angry every day

By Irene

On August 28, 2020

In Ramblings

In my continuing quest to lead a more peaceful life, I have found I could be far more angry than I am today. I’ve cut back on the number of news sites I read each and as well as the time spent reading because it really does just make me angry.

A rant, in pictures

By Irene

On May 5, 2020

In Photos

There is so much to unpack every day in the news that it’s overwhelming to try to keep up. I’m sharing some political cartoons, memes, and photographs I have been collecting for a while. Just saving them and doing nothing with them helps. The following are pictures that made me laugh, think, and worry about where we are headed as a nation.

Countess Markievicz

By Irene

On March 15, 2020

In Women

From her earliest days, Countess Markievicz learned to help others. She took these lessons into later life, which eventually led to a sentence of death for her part in the 1916 Easter Uprising.

2018 Longform readings, Part 3

By Irene

On December 6, 2018

In Watching & Reading

This is the third set of longform readings I have come across in 2018. they cover a wide range of topics, yet all are interesting and well worth the time investment required to read them.

People are not illegal, so let them come and exercise their due process

By Irene

On November 4, 2018

In News

There has been a lot of fear mongering about the caravan of people headed toward the United States. President Donald Trump has whipped people into a frenzy about how dangerous this group is while providing little evidence.

Writings

Tag: politics Page 3 of 4

An open letter to Gov. Pete Ricketts and Sen. John Stinner

A good day

A picture worth a thousand tears

It’s time to stand against religion before it’s too late

I choose to look at the good stuff

I could be angry every day

A rant, in pictures

Countess Markievicz

2018 Longform readings, Part 3

People are not illegal, so let them come and exercise their due process