Chick-fil-A faces rightwing backlash after cutting ties to Christian groups
Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee condemn restaurant chain that also donated to civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/30/chick-fil-a-conservative-ted-cruz-mike-huckabee

(snips)
and

When will retailers ever learn it's best to try very hard to stay neutral on sex, politics and religion (the gentleman's creed) and leave their sectarianism, hatred, biases and racism at the house?

Is this Chick-fil-A's come to the Flying Spaghetti Monster moment?......

You're being robbed of your moral right to be a part of your grandchildren's life and upbringing, as is traditional in most civilized cultures. Let's start with that as a foundation.

Further, you own a level of moral authority that is above your daughter because you gave birth to her and raised her.

My suggestion is thus: find out the organizational structure of the church they attend and request a meeting with one of the high-level officers of that organization, whom I assume would also be a minister. Lay out your dilemma to him or her from a humanist moral standpoint, and not from a doctrinal viewpoint of any church because you would just get in a pissing match over secular doctrine. You wouldn't even need to reveal you daughter and son-in-law's name, just say "one of your churches".

Just explain to him/her you feel you should not be rejected from participating in that family simply because you don't attend their church or share their politics. If they reject your argument and are willing to quote the basis for that, I would be tempted to let them know there's consideration of either taking it to a higher level of authority within that church OR exposing that practice to public media such as state-level newspapers.

Further, if they are making an official pronouncement that the church says they must reject you because of your political beliefs, I would be having a chat with the ACLU or SPLC.

However, should you get lucky and the higher-ups agree with you, get them to write a letter of proclamation you can present to your kids to consider, and hopefully you can reunite with your daughter.

Often, these local pastors execute doctrinal practices they have designed to satisfy their ego which are not in compliance with the official doctrine of that organization. You deserve to know if that's the case here. After they are ordained, many of these dime-store preachers seem to think they are saints and have the right to declare what (their) god wants and does not want as if they have a direct line to heaven. Such proclamations in my view are human creations and are 100% false.

Something to think about and best of luck........

Received an email from one of my favorite herb and essential oil companies this morning inviting me to participate in Buy Nothing Day.

To avoid any suggestion of my advertising for that company, I'll just post the body text of the email which I feel is appropriate for those of us that are anti-consumerism and pro-earth:

and..

We could say it's an effort to turn Black Friday into Green Friday for planet earth.

I'm totally into that game today........

For many of us, our Thanksgiving will be consumed by huge amounts of food and drink - much of which in this nation will be wasted, but still consumed to a point of misery and danger to our health. That along with sleepy-eyed consumption of gladiator-style entertainment afterwards. Thanksgiving for many in America entails a large dose of gluttony and consumerism, along with rage and fear should politics be mentioned at our table.

Either alone or with others, there certainly are other ways to spend this day. Today, let us think of those less fortunate and make our commitments to helping them and to show gratitude for the basics of life this earth provides to us. Unfortunately for millions of Americans, misery and suffering are on today's menu.

In our own way, I feel it's healthy to humble ourselves every so often and perform a gratitude list, either by writing it down or saying it in a meditation or prayer. For me, it is very refreshing and a stress-reliever to write down things most precious and sustaining in my life. I wonder how many of us truly do that on Thanksgiving rather than worry about the trials of Black Friday.

I lost both my wife of 54 years and my very best friend outside of family this year. Having depression, it's easiest to slip into self pity and isolation but I have a lot to reflect on with regard to the things they both brought into my life (including two great children and a beautiful granddaughter) and in some ways saved my life. Along with sanity and sobriety, basic food and shelter and not yet having extreme health problems, I have quite a list to compile.

A few I've known in this mid-size city do a ritual of helping to serve food in a homeless shelter or recovery center as a way of expressing humility. Any anonymous act of kindness is good for our soul, but that applies to any day. I enjoy carrying a needy friend to the grocery store and paying the bill. We can all find a means of charity and winter amplifies the need for food, shelter and clothing. Over the years, I've collected enough clothes for a small army and I've overdue for a trip with boxes full for one of our shelters.

Thanksgiving day should be a day of quiet reflection and humility, either visiting or calling and thanking those who have helped us throughout the year and committing to be a better, more humble and more sharing member of the human race. Big hugs are in order all day long!

Thanks go out from here to all DU members who have been here every day to help relieve the stress of modern life - with solid facts and thoughtful opinion along with large doses of humor and progressive brotherly love.

KY.............. ...........

Report: US lacked technology to track separated families
By ASTRID GALVAN, Associated Press Nov. 27, 2019

Link: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/texas/article/Report-US-lacked-technology-to-track-separated-14867320.php

(snips)

Every politician, agent and official that participated in this crime against humanity should have to spend the entire rest of their lives making direct amends for this horrible action. That includes Miller and tRump.

KY.........

Email text from Americans United (AU):


This is typical of the Trump administration's work behind the scenes to destroy all American social progress of the last 70 or so years by any means they can immorally capture, while distracting us with their criminal enterprises.

It is pure evil to adulterate and abuse the meaning of the term "religious freedom" for raw political purposes.

Please excuse the lengthy post, but this news gave me an emotional boost today.......

Doctors warn of danger of 'feather duvet lung'
Medical team say people’s unexplained breathlessness could be down to bedding dust
Nicola Davis
@NicolaKSDavis
Mon 18 Nov 2019 23.30 GMT

One of the report’s authors said many cases of feather duvet lung could go undiagnosed

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/nov/18/doctors-warn-of-danger-of-feather-duvet-lung

(snip)

Perhaps folks should think twice before ordering that comfy comforter as a gift for friends.

My big issue is more brain related, a clear case of contamination from tRump detritus every day.......

We’re Losing Trump’s Trade War
Despite Tariffs, the U.S. Trade Deficit Continues Rising

"Trump’s tariffs are a tax on Americans, paid by companies who import goods and then either passed on to consumers or absorbed as reduced profits."

By David Cay Johnston, DCReport Editor-in-Chief

Link: https://www.dcreport.org/2019/11/12/trade-deficit-up-were-losing-trumps-trade-war/

(snips)

Sooo much winning - how in hell do we stand it?........

KY..............

Guardian UK has frequently updated rolling coverage with report notes of significant happenings.

Go here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/nov/13/trump-news-today-live-impeachment-hearings-bill-taylor-george-kent-ukraine-democrats-latest-updates

Read only, so no audio to disturb those at work. Note that as the day goes on, it may go to more than one page (see page selection at bottom of rolling coverage).

KY........

Annual Bird of the Year election and award:


Link (with beautiful bird photos): https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

(sample)

Kororā - Little Penguin

(snip)

Great Guardian article on the subject of the contest:

New Zealand's bird of the year: the most important election – aside from the real one
What started as innocuous good fun has evolved into a national obsession, complete with voter fraud, skulduggery and high passions

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/05/new-zealands-bird-of-the-year-2019-the-most-important-election-aside-from-the-real-one

(snip)

Heartbreaking to see so many of their birds seriously endangered........