Poet, Artist and Philosopher: [NOT PUBLISHED]

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

[NOT PUBLISHED]

WARNING: THIS POST HAS CONTENT THAT MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

I Am No Longer Being An Activist
In The Same Way That I Was

Due to being stressed out—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in the same way that I was before, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes the same way that I was in the past. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS.) And so, I am consciously choosing to not engage in any 'activism,' however, I am still planning to exercise my 'civic duty' by voting in upcoming elections.

Below, please find relevant quotes from a series of 'updates' that highlight the most important changes to my current activism, which are titled as follows:

▪ [A Quote From My] March 7th, 2017 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] November 5th, 2018 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] September 16th, 2021 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] November 10th, 2021 Update, Written On November 11th, 2021

▪ [A Quote From My] March 13th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] March 16th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] March 17th, 2022 Update, Which Also Discusses March 16th, 2022

▪ [A Quote From My] April 3rd, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 12th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 17th, 2022

▪ [A Quote From My] June 17th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022

▪ [A Quote From My] July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2023 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2023 Update—Continued

▪ [A Quote From My] November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1

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[A Quote From My] March 7th, 2017 Update: "This update is a follow-up to my 'November 2nd, 2016 Update,' where I explained, in part, that I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in the same way that I was before, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes the same way that I was in the past. I wanted to clarify the fact that I do still donate to homeless folks where I live, as a way of giving 'alms to the poor.' And I also donate to charitable organizations that are fundraising through local stores at which I shop, as well as to charities that may be fundraising on the street. Besides that, I also sometimes donate to charities that send me 'free gifts enclosed' (such as calendars, greeting cards, key chains, etc.) when they are asking for a donation. Thus, I occasionally utilize one of those 'free gifts enclosed,' and so I send them a donation if I do!"

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[A Quote From My] November 5th, 2018 Update: "I wanted to explain to you the way that I have changed how I vote! And, in order to explain how I changed, please let me quote myself—specifically from my July 1st, 2012 post titled, 'For the Year 2012 — My Posting Sabbatical, Part 2,' which is published on my 'Small All White in the Forest' and 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher' blogs:

My Writing About How I Vote: When I vote, I typically consider the recommendations of various organizations, news publications, as well as election 'political mailers' and, then, I decide whose recommendations for, or against, each candidate or ballot measure make the most sense. Plus, I usually always vote for Democrats. And that's how democracy rolls in this house! –Paul Whiting (written October 28th, 2012 and revised November 8th, 2022)

Now, that quote still applies to how I vote; however, in 2018, I decided to not just read voter recommendations of 'various organizations, news publications, as well as election 'political mailers.'' Instead, I read news publications during the entire year. And, in that way, I can be a more informed voter, as well as a more informed citizen, throughout the year! And, thusly, when it comes to voting on Election Day, I have spent the entire year preparing to vote and have not been preparing only when it's time to vote. And, just to clarify, for some publications, I still only read their voter recommendation editions when I am preparing to vote."

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[A Quote From My] September 16th, 2021 Update: "I wanted to let you know that I have started subscribing to news organizations, which I can afford given my monthly spending budget (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive and that I have full-blown AIDS; plus, I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited), since I have a smart phone again, after years of only having a feature phone.

So, I subscribe to the news organizations whose news articles I read the most, based upon Google news searches that I do in order to keep up with the news! Thus, I scan the titles of the most popular articles and then I read the articles that I feel are the most relevant.

And I am reading news organizations' articles during the entire year, so that I can be a more informed voter, as well as a more informed citizen, which is how I am being an activist these days along with how I spend my money.

You see, I figured out that 'putting my money where my mouth is'—in terms of being a 'Conscious Consumer,' who is aware of how my spending habits affect the entire planet and all of its inhabitants—is the best way for me to be an activist, in addition to keeping up with the news and making sure that I vote!"

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[A Quote From My] November 10th, 2021 Update, Written On November 11th, 2021: "I signed up on Charity Navigator to make donations for holidays, special occasions, or current issues, to highly-rated charities..."

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[A Quote From My] March 13th, 2022 Update: "I have started donating to Democrats on a regular basis again, because I recently signed a petition regarding saving the United States Postal Service and then I made a political donation! And that's basically the first political petition that I have signed and/or political donation that I have made since around November of 2016.

You see, I am a 'Democratic Activist!' And I think that the Republicans know who I am—and they DO NOT like me—which is basically why I stopped signing political petitions and/or making political donations right before the November 2016 Election, when I created this 'I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was' post on my 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher' blog.

Thus, I was afraid that the Republicans might retaliate against me in some way, depending upon what type of activism I was engaged in, if they were in control of both Congress and the White House. And I also feared that once the Republicans won Congress and the White House that they would try to turn America into an oligarchy!

And, after the January 6th, 2021 Capitol Attack, my fears were confirmed. [Or, it was the January 6th, *1776* 'normal tourist group'; or, the insurrectionists that attacked the Capitol Complex—in order to stop the certification of Joe Biden's win—were really 'Antifa' protestors; or, they were Black Lives Matter protestors; or, they were paid actors and actresses; or, in all actuality, they were incited by ('Gasp!') the FBI. Regardless, however, it was clearly 'a false flag operation' designed to make President Donald J. Trump 'look bad'—like he needs any assistance doing that!]

Therefore, I am trying to stay informed about what is happening in politics again, especially due to the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections. So, I am trying to help Democrats win, because I am greatly concerned about the Republicans retaking both the House and Senate of Congress, and eventually retaking the White House, since Republicans are acting like Radical Christian Terrorists!"

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[A Quote From My] March 16th, 2022 Update: "I made charitable donations today, March 16th, 2022, to multiple charitable organizations via Charity Navigator for the 'Crisis in Ukraine' after I watched three videos on YouTube titled, 'Zelenskyy: Peace Talks Between Ukraine And Russia 'Sound More Realistic'' and 'Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers virtual address to the U.S. Congress — 3/16/22,' in addition to 'Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Calls For Assistance In Virtual Address to Congress.' For, I am greatly concerned about this act of war against Ukraine!"

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[A Quote From My] March 17th, 2022 Update, Which Also Discusses March 16th, 2022: "I made a donation today, March 17th, 2022, as well as yesterday, March 16th, 2022, to the USO (United Service Organizations). You see, I received a text message yesterday, March 16th, 2022, from the USO, which stated the following:

USO: Sorry to interrupt, but as war unfolds in Ukraine, thousands of U.S. troops are deployed in Eastern Europe to support NATO allies.

We still need 76?2+ more Americans to sign our card by midnight to thank them for their sacrifices -- and your name is missing. Will you sign now?***

And so, I filled out that survey yesterday, March 16th, 2022, and then I made a one-time donation to the USO via Charity Navigator as part of the charitable donations that I made yesterday for the 'Crisis in Ukraine,' which I explained in my 'March 16th, 2022 Update.'

And then today, March 17th, 2022, I received an email from the USO with the subject line, 'TAKE THE QUIZ: How many military terms do you know?', which stated the following:

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR MILITARY LINGO?
TAKE THE QUIZ »***

Paul: From the National Guard to the Marines, each branch of our military uses different phrases to quickly pass important information to their fellow service members.

We know you're a dedicated patriot, so this quiz is perfect for you. Have some fun testing yourself on how well you understand the jargon our troops are using every day!

Take our 60-second quiz to test your knowledge of all kinds of military words and phrases.

TAKE THE QUIZ »***

Good luck!

The USO

'...This update is a follow-up to my 'March 17th, 2022 Update, Which Also Discusses March 16th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, that I made a donation on March 17th, 2022, to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website. And with that one-time donation, I included a recurring monthly donation in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel. Thus, that recurring monthly donation started today, April 17th, 2022...'

Plus, this update is a follow-up to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, the following:

'...In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel:

01. USO: United Service Organizations recurring donation of $10.00 (which used to be $5.00 per month, but I increased it by an additional $5.00 per month; so starting on August 17th, 2022, the USO recurring donation is now $10.00 per month)...'

'I have started making recurring monthly donations today, April 17th, 2022, to Democratic political organizations...

...And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making these recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com** (although, I did not include a tip for ActBlue on these donations, which I usually do, due to the fact that the 'tip box' did not appear, because I made these donations through ActBlue Express):

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association

03. DNC: Democratic National Committee

04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors

06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association

08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State

09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials

10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials

11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee

12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon...'

Plus, this update is a follow-up to my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 17th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, the following:

'I explained on my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued' that I started making recurring monthly donations on April 17th, 2022, to Democratic political organizations via ActBlue.com**; however, I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022.

You see, I think that my ActBlue account was compromised because, on June 8th, 2022, I attempted to make a $1.15 donation to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), plus I included an $0.11 tip for ActBlue, but when the payment processed, it was for $1,000.11! And that is why I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' for a detailed explanation...'

Besides that, this update is a follow-up to my 'June 17th, 2022 Update,' where I explained, in part, the following:

'This update is a follow-up to my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 17th, 2022,' where I explained that I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022...

...So, I have restarted making recurring monthly donations today, June 17th, 2022, to Democratic political organizations...

...And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com** [although, because I no longer have an ActBlue account—since I deleted it, due to the fact that I think the account was compromised—I am still donating through the ActBlue website (they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations), but I am donating for some of these recurring donations through other payment processors, such as Google Pay]:

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association
03. DNC: Democratic National Committee
04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors
06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association
08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State
09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials
10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials
11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee
12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon...'

In addition to that, this update is a follow-up to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, the following:

'...I am also making recurring donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations of $3.00 on the 17th of each month: and my plan is to continue donating those recurring donations indefinitely, since that is all that I can really afford to donate given my monthly spending budget. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com**...:

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association recurring donation of $3.00
03. DNC: Democratic National Committee recurring donation of $3.00
04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors recurring donation of $3.00
06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association recurring donation of $3.00
08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State recurring donation of $3.00
09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials recurring donation of $3.00
10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials recurring donation of $3.00
11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee recurring donation of $3.00
12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon recurring donation of $3.00

Total Democratic Organizations Monthly Recurring Donations: $36.00...'

**[I deleted my ActBlue account! Although, I am still processing payments through the ActBlue website, since they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' on my blog post "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, for a detailed explanation.]

Thus, April 17th, 2023 is the anniversary of the first year that I have made recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations! Plus, this past year is the first time that I have donated to Democratic political organizations when it isn't an election year; however, I decided to change the way that I am donating to Democrats, so that I am helping their fundraising and coordinating operations throughout the year and not just during election years.

And I have just gotta say how incredibly nice it is to be able to make recurring monthly donations to Democratic political organizations—because the payments process automatically each month—and I don't have to do one extra thing in order to help fund the operations of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations throughout the year!"

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[A Quote From My] November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1 making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes. Full stop! I am also unsubscribing from any of the emails that I used to receive from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations. In fact, I am even cancelling all of my monthly political donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations, as well as to the USO (United Service Organizations), in addition to cancelling all of my monthly news organization subscriptions, or news organization donations, because I am absolutely terrified of this second Trump administration. And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know it will be over! So, I am choosing to not engage in any 'activism' whatsoever—plus, I am not even sure that I will be exercising my 'civic duty' by voting in any upcoming elections because, as a (formerly) donating and a (potentially former) voting Democrat, I totally fear the retribution of President Donald J. Trump. Full stop!"

P.S.: It's July 31st, 2025, and I feel like I need to provide an addendum (that is, "an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something") to this November 6th, 2024 'update!'

You see, a couple of days ago, on July 29th, 2025, I copied the text of this update to use as my reason for unsubscribing from a particular political email that I received that same day!

And so, I actually bothered to read this update—in order to verify that it made sense for me to use as a response to the request on this political email's unsubscribe page which stated, "Please tell us why you are leaving"—during which I realized there was a typo (that is, 'a typographical error') in the text of the update, as I have highlighted below, with the correction in brackets:

"And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know [it] will be over!"

Thus, I accidentally left out the word "it" in the sentence above. Hence, I corrected said typo on July 29th, the verification of which can be seen reflected in the addition of the date "revised July 29th, 2025" after my name.

However, as I got to thinking about the fact that I had originally said I may not be voting in any upcoming elections, I realized that, in fact, I did vote in Portland Oregon's Multnomah County Special District Election on May 20th, 2025, just like I usually do! [I always vote in every election (even 'special elections') and I always vote Democrat, which is why I was worried about voting in any upcoming elections given President Trump's clear disdain for Democrats.]

Therefore, I decided to write this "P.S." today, July 31st, as a way to clarify that I am still voting in elections (even 'special elections'), it's just that I am no longer engaging in any 'Online Activism,' during Trump's Presidency, as I explained in great detail above. (I hope that makes sense!)

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Above, please find relevant quotes from a series of 'updates' that highlight the most important changes to my current activism, which are titled as follows:

▪ [A Quote From My] March 7th, 2017 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] November 5th, 2018 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] September 16th, 2021 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] November 10th, 2021 Update, Written On November 11th, 2021

▪ [A Quote From My] March 13th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] March 16th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] March 17th, 2022 Update, Which Also Discusses March 16th, 2022

▪ [A Quote From My] April 3rd, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 12th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 17th, 2022

▪ [A Quote From My] June 17th, 2022 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022

▪ [A Quote From My] July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2023 Update

▪ [A Quote From My] April 17th, 2023 Update—Continued

▪ [A Quote From My] November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1

This prose (with some poetry) was only published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Poet, Artist and Philosopher)
"I am the poet who thinks that he knows it!"

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My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In The Same Way That I Was Before: Due to being stressed out—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in the same way that I was before, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes the same way that I was in the past. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS.) And so, I am consciously choosing to not engage in any 'activism,' however, I am still planning to exercise my 'civic duty' by voting in upcoming elections. –Paul Whiting (written November 2nd, 2016, revised March 7th, 2017, revised September 28th, 2021, revised January 11th, 2022, revised January 17th, 2022, revised June 16th, 2022, revised November 15th, 2022 and revised April 17th, 2023)

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My Philosophical Notes:

The reason that I wrote this prose can be summed up with the following statement: "Due to being stressed out—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in the same way that I was before, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes the same way that I was in the past. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS.) And so, I am consciously choosing to not engage in any 'activism,' however, I am still planning to exercise my 'civic duty' by voting in upcoming elections."

This prose was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

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YEAR 2015 UPDATE:

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May 11th, 2015 Update [My Writing About Taking Care Of My Own Needs First And Then Donating To Charity]: I spend what I can afford to spend on charitable donations while still being able to afford to take care of my day-to-day needs. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.) Thus, I would not make charitable donations if I was not able to take care of my day-to-day needs, since I believe in taking care of your own needs first and helping others second—that is, if it is possible and desirable for you to help others. Plus, I personally believe in wisely accepting charity, or assistance, if it is really needed; but, I also personally believe in not accepting charity, or assistance, if it is not really needed. For example, I qualify for assistance to help pay my monthly electric bills, but I don't apply for that assistance, since I don't feel like I really need it. However, if I felt like I really needed that assistance in order to help pay my electric bills, I would definitely apply for it! Therefore, I feel that you should give charity if possible, and accept charity if needed, if that feels right to you. –Paul Whiting (written approximately on May 11th, 2015, then turned into 'my writing' from my notes on July 20th, 2022, then turned into an update from the aforementioned writing on July 25th, 2022, revised April 17th, 2023 and revised August 9th, 2024)

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October 10th, 2015 Update [My Writing About Getting Ready To Die]: I am only planning on doing a limited amount of new writing, since I think that I am getting ready to die, because I am tired most of the time! Thus, I think that after being HIV-positive for so long that I am not going to be here much longer... (I was diagnosed in November of 2000.) So, I am planning to only work on my personal care (that is, my day-to-day living) and my civic duty (that is, participating in upcoming elections by voting, including 'special elections'). Plus, I am taking the time to reread, edit and revise my blogs ('writing is revising'), so that I can correct all the mistakes that I have made in my existing writing!

–Paul Whiting (written October 10th, 2015, revised November 3rd, 2015, revised November 5th, 2015, revised November 10th, 2015, revised November 21st, 2015, revised November 24th, 2015, revised December 10th, 2015, revised December 29th, 2015, revised August 3rd, 2021, revised August 27th, 2022, revised February 15th, 2023 and revised April 1st, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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YEAR 2016 UPDATES:

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November 2nd, 2016 Update [My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In The Same Way That I Was Before]: Due to being stressed out—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in the same way that I was before, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes the same way that I was in the past. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS.) And so, I am consciously choosing to not engage in any 'activism,' however, I am still planning to exercise my 'civic duty' by voting in upcoming elections. –Paul Whiting (written November 2nd, 2016, revised March 7th, 2017, revised September 28th, 2021, revised January 11th, 2022, revised January 17th, 2022, revised June 16th, 2022, revised November 15th, 2022 and revised April 17th, 2023)

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November 4th, 2016 Update (November 2nd, 2016 Update Follow-Up No. 1): This update is a follow-up to my 'November 2nd, 2016 Update,' where I explained, in part, that I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in the same way that I was before, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes the same way that I was in the past. I wanted to update you on the fact that I did sign one petition on November 4th, 2016, and I made a corresponding donation, because I came across a canvasser for Greenpeace—named Dave—when I was doing some shopping on November 3rd, 2016, and he had a really good presentation for supporting Greenpeace with regard to ethical tuna fishing! Now, although I was not able to sign up to receive emails, and to make a monthly donation, as he requested, I did make a one-time donation of $15.00 to cover the cost of Dave's salary because Greenpeace was paying him a living wage of $15.00 per hour—and we spoke for about twenty minutes—so I wanted to show my support for Greenpeace's campaign and to support their efforts to provide their employees with a living wage. –Paul Whiting (written November 4th, 2016, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised August 9th, 2024)

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November 7th, 2016 Update: Due to being stressed out—and until further notice—I am no longer posting on my blogs. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS.) Therefore, my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Posting On My Blogs," which can be found on my "Small All White in the Forest," "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" blogs, may be the last post for an indefinite period of time. (By the way, I may no longer be posting on my blogs, but I am still editing my blog posts.) And although I may no longer be posting on my blogs, I am writing 'updates' about my current "Online Activism" on my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog. Plus, my above-mentioned blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" is where I do most of my 'new' writing, because this blog post is where I document all of my current "Online Activism" in the 'updates' that I write, which are listed in date (chronological) order by year, month and day. –Paul Whiting (written November 7th, 2016, revised August 27th, 2022, revised February 15th, 2023, revised March 17th, 2023, revised March 18th, 2023, revised March 26th, 2023, revised April 17th, 2023, revised June 11th, 2023 and revised June 12th, 2023)

P.S.: As I mentioned above, my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Posting On My Blogs" can be found on my "Small All White in the Forest," "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the post):

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-posting-on-my-blogs.html

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-posting-on-my-blogs.html

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-oneness-of-god-i-am-no-longer.html

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2016/11/my-point-of-view-on-no-longer-posting.html

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YEAR 2017 UPDATE:

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March 7th, 2017 Update (November 2nd, 2016 Update Follow-Up No. 2): This update is a follow-up to my 'November 2nd, 2016 Update,' where I explained, in part, that I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in the same way that I was before, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes the same way that I was in the past. I wanted to clarify the fact that I do still donate to homeless folks where I live, as a way of giving "alms to the poor." And I also donate to charitable organizations that are fundraising through local stores at which I shop, as well as to charities that may be fundraising on the street. Besides that, I also sometimes donate to charities that send me "free gifts enclosed" (such as calendars, greeting cards, key chains, etc.) when they are asking for a donation. Thus, I occasionally utilize one of those "free gifts enclosed," and so I send them a donation if I do! –Paul Whiting (written March 7th, 2017, revised September 29th, 2018, revised January 11th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised July 20th, 2022 and revised August 9th, 2024)

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YEAR 2018 UPDATE:

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November 5th, 2018 Update: I wanted to explain to you the way that I have changed how I vote! And, in order to explain how I changed, please let me quote myself—specifically from my July 1st, 2012 post titled, "For the Year 2012 — My Posting Sabbatical, Part 2," which is published on my "Small All White in the Forest" and "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blogs:

My Writing About How I Vote: When I vote, I typically consider the recommendations of various organizations, news publications, as well as election 'political mailers' and, then, I decide whose recommendations for, or against, each candidate or ballot measure make the most sense. Plus, I usually always vote for Democrats. And that's how democracy rolls in this house! –Paul Whiting (written October 28th, 2012 and revised November 8th, 2022)

Now, that quote still applies to how I vote; however, in 2018, I decided to not just read voter recommendations of "various organizations, news publications, as well as election 'political mailers.'" Instead, I read news publications during the entire year. And, in that way, I can be a more informed voter, as well as a more informed citizen, throughout the year! And, thusly, when it comes to voting on Election Day, I have spent the entire year preparing to vote and have not been preparing only when it's time to vote. And, just to clarify, for some publications, I still only read their voter recommendation editions when I am preparing to vote. –Paul Whiting (written November 5th, 2018, revised June 15th, 2022, revised November 8th, 2022, revised April 19th, 2023 and revised June 12th, 2023)

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YEAR 2021 UPDATES FOR AUGUST:

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August 3rd, 2021 Update [My Writing About Still Being Alive]: I am still alive! And I am feeling a lot better than I was feeling—a couple of months short of exactly six years ago—when I wrote my 'October 10th, 2015 Update' (that also appears as 'My Writing About Getting Ready To Die' on some of my blogs), which can be found above. Plus, I have a smartphone again, after years of only having a basic phone. So, I am editing all of my blogs, but I am still preparing for death—especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I received my very first COVID-19 vaccine on June 25th, 2021, and I am now fully vaccinated for COVID-19, so there is still hope.

–Paul Whiting (written August 3rd, 2021, revised September 28th, 2021, revised June 15th, 2022, revised August 27th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised February 15th, 2023, revised June 8th, 2023 and revised April 1st, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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YEAR 2021 UPDATES FOR SEPTEMBER:

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September 16th, 2021 Update: I wanted to let you know that I have started subscribing to news organizations, which I can afford given my monthly spending budget (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive and that I have full-blown AIDS; plus, I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited), since I have a smart phone again, after years of only having a feature phone.

So, I subscribe to the news organizations whose news articles I read the most, based upon Google news searches that I do in order to keep up with the news! Thus, I scan the titles of the most popular articles and then I read the articles that I feel are the most relevant.

And I am reading news organizations' articles during the entire year, so that I can be a more informed voter, as well as a more informed citizen, which is how I am being an activist these days along with how I spend my money.

You see, I figured out that 'putting my money where my mouth is'—in terms of being a "Conscious Consumer," who is aware of how my spending habits affect the entire planet and all of its inhabitants—is the best way for me to be an activist, in addition to keeping up with the news and making sure that I vote! –Paul Whiting (written September 16th, 2021, revised September 28th 2021 revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 19th, 2023 and revised June 12th, 2023)

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YEAR 2021 UPDATES FOR NOVEMBER:

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November 10th, 2021 Update, Written On November 11th, 2021: I signed up on Charity Navigator to make donations for holidays, special occasions, or current issues, to highly-rated charities! Plus, I plan to include a donation to Charity Navigator, whenever I donate, because they are a charity too. And I really appreciate being able to utilize Charity Navigator's charity rating system in order to assess which charities receive their 'give with confidence' rating. I also appreciate being able to donate to multiple charities at the same time—all in one convenient transaction, rather than having to process individual donations on each charity's website—which makes supporting charitable organizations via Charity Navigator that much more worthwhile! –Paul Whiting (written November 11th, 2021, revised June 16th, 2022, revised June 18th, 2022, revised March 21st, 2023 and revised January 9th, 2024)

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November 11th, 2021 Update, Written Sometime After Midnight: I signed up on Charity Navigator yesterday, November 10th, 2021, to make donations for holidays, special occasions, or current issues, to highly-rated charities—including with the intention of making donations for Veterans Day to several highly-rated veterans' charities. However, I started having problems with being able to process the donations! Although, I used a smartphone, so that could be the issue. Anyway, I did attempt to donate to veterans' organizations for Veterans Day, but it's not going to work right now. So, I am going to hold off on donating until I can donate through a personal computer, since I may be having issues donating through my smartphone, if that is what was causing me to not be able to donate... –Paul Whiting (written November 11th, 2021, revised June 15th, 2022, revised November 11th, 2022, revised March 21st, 2023 and revised January 9th, 2024)
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November 11th, 2021 Update, Written Just After 9:00 AM: Success! I tried again later on in the day to donate to veterans' charities for Veterans Day on Charity Navigator and it worked! Plus, I also included a donation to Charity Navigator, because they are a charity too. And I really appreciate being able to utilize Charity Navigator's charity rating system in order to assess which charities receive their 'give with confidence' rating. I also appreciate being able to donate to multiple charities at the same time—all in one convenient transaction, rather than having to process individual donations on each charity's website—which makes supporting veterans' organizations via Charity Navigator that much more worthwhile! –Paul Whiting (written November 11th, 2021, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 18th, 2022, revised November 11th, 2022, revised March 21st, 2023 and revised January 9th, 2024)
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November 11th, 2021 Update—Summary: I signed up on Charity Navigator yesterday, November 10th, 2021, to make donations for holidays, special occasions, or current issues, to highly-rated charities—including with the intention of making donations for Veterans Day to several highly-rated veterans' charities. However, I started having problems with being able to process the donations! ... But, I tried again later on in the day to donate to veterans' charities for Veterans Day on Charity Navigator and it worked! Plus, I also included a donation to Charity Navigator, because they are a charity too. –Paul Whiting (written November 11th, 2021, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 18th, 2022, revised November 11th, 2022 and revised March 21st, 2023)

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR JANUARY:

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January 11th, 2022 Update: For National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, which is yearly (annually) on January 11th, I made donations via Charity Navigator today, January 11th, 2022, to organizations that are working toward ending modern slavery, or human trafficking as it is formally called. Plus, I also included a donation to Charity Navigator, because they are a charity too. And I really appreciate being able to utilize Charity Navigator's charity rating system in order to assess which charities receive their 'give with confidence' rating. I also appreciate being able to donate to multiple charities at the same time—all in one convenient transaction, rather than having to process individual donations on each charity's website—which makes supporting anti-human trafficking organizations via Charity Navigator that much more worthwhile. –Paul Whiting (written January 11th, 2022, revised January 17th, 2022, revised July 18th, 2022, revised January 11th, 2023, revised January 16th, 2023, revised March 7th, 2023 and revised March 21st, 2023)

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January 17th, 2022 Update: I decided right before midnight on January 17th, 2022 to donate via Charity Navigator for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service to organizations that "defend civil rights, protect legal rights, and promote tolerance and understanding." You see, I was on Charity Navigator's website deleting the charities that I had previously selected for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service—as a way to 'volunteer financially' in order honor Dr. King's legacy of civic engagement—but I decided to not donate to those charities out of fear that my blogs would somehow be sabotaged! And the reason that I decided to not donate is due to that fact that I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, including yesterday, January 16th, 2022, when I was planning to edit a blog post and the images on the Blogger Dashboard were loading in an odd kind of way, like I couldn't see the images at first. And so, I was extremely afraid that I was not going to be able to "see" my blogs anymore—if I donated to these charities that I had already selected for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service—because I was being "warned" to not donate! Therefore, out of a sense of fearful caution, I decided yesterday that I was not going to donate just in case I was being threatened in some way... Then, after I deleted the charities that I had previously selected, I noticed that the main webpage of Charity Navigator highlighted HOT TOPICS that "support nonprofits responding to current events and crises," including "Racial Justice & Civil Rights," so I decided to donate for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service from that list! Plus, I also included a donation to Charity Navigator, because they are a charity too. And I really appreciate being able to utilize Charity Navigator's charity rating system in order to assess which charities receive their 'give with confidence' rating. I also appreciate being able to donate to multiple charities at the same time—all in one convenient transaction, rather than having to process individual donations on each charity's website—which makes supporting civil rights organizations via Charity Navigator that much more worthwhile! –Paul Whiting (written January 17th, 2022 revised January 18th, 2022, revised March 25th, 2022, revised June 18th, 2022, revised July 18th, 2022, revised January 16th, 2023, revised March 21st, 2023 and revised January 15th, 2024)

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR FEBRUARY:

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February 7th, 2022 Update: In order to show my support for "National Gun Violence Survivors Week," which is yearly (annually) from February 1st through 7th, I made donations today, February 7th, 2022, to organizations that are working to end gun violence in America, including Ban Assault Weapons NOW (which is also known as 'BAWN'), Everytown for Gun Safety (which was formerly known as 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns') and Giffords PAC (which was formerly known as 'Americans for Responsible Solutions'). –Paul Whiting (written February 7th, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised July 18th, 2022, revised August 17th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised February 7th, 2023, revised March 7th, 2023 and revised March 21st, 2023)

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR MARCH:

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March 3rd, 2022 Update: I signed a petition from Senator Chuck Schumer about saving the United States Postal Service, which I received via text message yesterday, March 2nd, 2022:

Paul, it's Chuck Schumer. After years of attacks from Postmaster General DeJoy, the Senate is close to passing a $50 BILLION package to save the USPS. Republicans are trying to block our progress. Add your name here if you agree we need to SAVE the USPS:***

SAVE the U.S. Postal Service NOW

Senate Democrats are ready to deliver $50 billion for the USPS, but Republicans just obstructed this urgent bill. With your support, we’re still going to get it done.

Grassroots support for the USPS got us this far – now, sign on to demand the Senate finally SAVE the USPS!***

Please let us know why you are unsubscribing (optional):

To Whom It May Concern,

I donated to "Schumer for U.S. Senate" recently because I signed a petition regarding saving the United States Postal Service! And that's basically the only political petition [that I have signed] and/or political donation that I have made since around November of 2016.

You see, I am a "Democratic Activist!"

And I think that the Republicans know who I am -- and they DO NOT like me -- which is basically why I stopped signing political petitions and/or making political donations right before the November 2016 Election! By the way, here is a hyperlink to a blog post where I have explained this issue in vivid detail from my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog:

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html

Therefore, I am still trying to stay informed about what is happening in politics, I am just not necessarily doing anything in response to what is happening in politics, because I am afraid that the Republicans might retaliate against me depending upon what I do!

Yours very truly,

-Paul Whiting
Poet, Artist and Philosopher
Portland, Oregon

And, therefore, that is the reason why I stopped being an activist before the November 2016 Election, which I have not actually written about until now! And that issue—of me no longer being an activist—is what this blog post titled, 'I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was' is all about. –Paul Whiting (written March 3rd, 2022, revised March 13th, 2022, revised March 28th, 2022, revised June 16th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022 and revised December 30th, 2022)

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March 9th, 2022 Update: A funny thing happened on the way to the 2022 Midterm Elections! I was thinking about donating monthly to the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS), the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in order to support Democrats in the 2022 Midterm Elections.

And I was checking to see what the minimum amount is that I could donate via ActBlue.com** for each organization, which is all that I can afford given my monthly spending budget. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

**[I deleted my ActBlue account! Although, I am still processing payments through the ActBlue website, since they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' on my blog post "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, for a detailed explanation.]

Thus, I started out by checking with the DGA in order to see what the minimum amount is that I could donate. And, when I checked on ActBlue, I unintentionally made a one-time donation to the DGA! So, I decided to run with it and I donated that same one-time amount to the DASS, the DNC, the DCCC and the DSCC, since I was thinking about donating anyway.

However, I am still thinking about donating to all of the above Democratic political organizations on a monthly basis for the 2022 Midterm Elections, but I am not going to look into that until after this month, due to constraints in my monthly spending budget.

And I will provide an update when I start donating on a monthly basis, because I am greatly concerned about the Republicans retaking both the House and Senate of Congress, since Republicans are acting like they are Radical Christian Terrorists!

–Paul Whiting (written March 9th, 2022, revised March 10th, 2022, revised March 31st, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised June 20th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised December 28th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 17th, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised June 8th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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March 9th, 2022 Update, Clarification: I wanted to clarify to that I may, or may not, be able to afford to donate to Democratic political organizations on a monthly basis, given my monthly spending budget!

You see, I was thinking about how much I can spend on donations per month—both charitable and political—and I am realizing that donating monthly to political organizations may not be feasible for me, since there are months where I also donate to charitable organizations. And for some of those charitable organizations, their minimum donation amount is $10.00, which can add up fast, especially if I am donating to more than one organization per cause, or per issue, or per event, which I often do.

Therefore, I am going to donate to Democratic organizations as often as I can afford to donate to them, depending upon what other donations that I may be making and/or what other additional expenses that I may have to pay for during any particular month. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

Thus, I was able to donate today, March 9th, 2022, to five Democratic organizations (the Democratic Governors Association, the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee), but I have not donated to any charitable organizations this month, nor have I had any other additional expenses this month. And so, that is why I could afford to make those donations! –Paul Whiting (written March 9th, 2022, revised March 10th, 2022, revised March 31st, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022 and revised April 17th, 2023)

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March 10th, 2022 Update: Yesterday, March 9th, 2022, after I made a donation—unintentionally—to the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) via ActBlue.com** while I was checking to see what the minimum donation is I could make on a monthly basis to various Democratic political organizations, I decided to do some research to see what organizations Democrats have for "fundraising and coordination." (Although, I eventually concluded that I may, or may not, be able to afford to donate to Democratic organizations on a monthly basis, given my monthly spending budget!) And, via a Google search, I found on Wikipedia a list of Democratic organizations that I have supported in the past, plus some Democratic organizations I have heard of only for the first time:

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ("the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives");

Democratic Governors Association ("a Washington, D.C.-based 527 organization founded in 1983, consisting of U.S. state and territorial governors affiliated with the Democratic Party");

Democratic National Committee ("the governing body of the United States Democratic Party");

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ("the Democratic Hill committee for the United States Senate");

Democrats Abroad ("the official organization of the Democratic Party for United States citizens living temporarily or permanently abroad");

National Conference of Democratic Mayors ("is the representative body of city mayors in the United States affiliated to the Democratic Party");

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee ("the U.S. Democratic Party organization that works to elect Democrats to state legislatures");

Democratic Attorneys General Association ("the Democratic Attorneys General Association provides political and policy support to Democratic State Attorneys General in their mission to protect citizens, promote progress and support civil rights");

Democratic Association of Secretaries of State ("the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State is a 527 political action committee and the only organization dedicated to electing and protecting Democratic Secretaries of States");

National Democratic County Officials ("the National Democratic County Officials ... is the official campaign arm of the Democratic Party dedicated to electing Democrats at the county level");

Democratic Municipal Officials ("the largest network of elected officials within the Democratic Party. We represent America’s 40,000 Mayors, city council members, and other elected leaders serving our cities, and we are driven to ensure that city leaders, who are familiar and trusted by voters, are at the core of the restructuring of our Party").

**[I deleted my ActBlue account! Although, I am still processing payments through the ActBlue website, since they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' on my blog post "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, for a detailed explanation.]

And I made a donation to each one of the above-mentioned Democratic organizations on either March 9th, 2022, or March 10th, 2022, along with making a donation to my local Democratic Party of Oregon. And I did all of this in preparation for the 2022 Midterm Elections, since I fear that the Republican Party of the United States of America has radicalized itself and become the political party of Radical Christian Terrorists!

–Paul Whiting (written March 10th, 2022, revised March 11th, 2022 revised March 25th, 2022, revised April 3rd, 2022, revised April 17th, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised June 20th, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised December 28th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023 and revised June 8th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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March 13th, 2022 Update: I have started donating to Democrats on a regular basis again, because I recently signed a petition regarding saving the United States Postal Service and then I made a political donation! And that's basically the first political petition that I have signed and/or political donation that I have made since around November of 2016.

You see, I am a "Democratic Activist!" And I think that the Republicans know who I am—and they DO NOT like me—which is basically why I stopped signing political petitions and/or making political donations right before the November 2016 Election, when I created this "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog.

Thus, I was afraid that the Republicans might retaliate against me in some way, depending upon what type of activism I was engaged in, if they were in control of both Congress and the White House. And I also feared that once the Republicans won Congress and the White House that they would try to turn America into an oligarchy!

And, after the January 6th, 2021 Capitol Attack, my fears were confirmed. [Or, it was the January 6th, *1776* "normal tourist group"; or, the insurrectionists that attacked the Capitol Complex—in order to stop the certification of Joe Biden's win—were really 'Antifa' protestors; or, they were Black Lives Matter protestors; or, they were paid actors and actresses; or, in all actuality, they were incited by ("Gasp!") the FBI. Regardless, however, it was clearly 'a false flag operation' designed to make President Donald J. Trump "look bad"—like he needs any assistance doing that!]

Therefore, I am trying to stay informed about what is happening in politics again, especially due to the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections. So, I am trying to help Democrats win, because I am greatly concerned about the Republicans retaking both the House and Senate of Congress, and eventually retaking the White House, since Republicans are acting like Radical Christian Terrorists! –Paul Whiting (written March 13th, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 16th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022 and revised June 12th, 2023)

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March 16th, 2022 Update: I made charitable donations today, March 16th, 2022, to multiple charitable organizations via Charity Navigator for the "Crisis in Ukraine" after I watched three videos on YouTube titled, "Zelenskyy: Peace Talks Between Ukraine And Russia 'Sound More Realistic'" and "Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers virtual address to the U.S. Congress — 3/16/22," in addition to "Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Calls For Assistance In Virtual Address to Congress." For, I am greatly concerned about this act of war against Ukraine! –Paul Whiting (written March 16th, 2022, revised March 25th, 2022, revised October 23rd, 2022, revised December 29th, 2022 and revised May 31st, 2023)

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March 17th, 2022 Update, Which Also Discusses March 16th, 2022: I made a donation today, March 17th, 2022, as well as yesterday, March 16th, 2022, to the USO (United Service Organizations). You see, I received a text message yesterday, March 16th, 2022, from the USO, which stated the following:

USO: Sorry to interrupt, but as war unfolds in Ukraine, thousands of U.S. troops are deployed in Eastern Europe to support NATO allies.

We still need 76?2+ more Americans to sign our card by midnight to thank them for their sacrifices -- and your name is missing. Will you sign now?***

And so, I filled out that survey yesterday, March 16th, 2022, and then I made a one-time donation to the USO via Charity Navigator as part of the charitable donations that I made yesterday for the "Crisis in Ukraine," which I explained in my 'March 16th, 2022 Update.'

And then today, March 17th, 2022, I received an email from the USO with the subject line, "TAKE THE QUIZ: How many military terms do you know?", which stated the following:

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR MILITARY LINGO?
TAKE THE QUIZ »***

Paul: From the National Guard to the Marines, each branch of our military uses different phrases to quickly pass important information to their fellow service members.

We know you're a dedicated patriot, so this quiz is perfect for you. Have some fun testing yourself on how well you understand the jargon our troops are using every day!

Take our 60-second quiz to test your knowledge of all kinds of military words and phrases.

TAKE THE QUIZ »***

Good luck!

The USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And so, after I took the quiz, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website. Plus, I also included a monthly donation in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel!

–Paul Whiting (written March 17th, 2022, revised March 25th, 2022, revised May 21st, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised September 4th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised December 29th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised June 14th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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March 23rd, 2022 Update: The fourth Wednesday in March every year is American Red Cross Giving Day, which is today March 23rd, 2022:

"The 8th annual American Red Cross Giving Day is on March 23, 2022. It takes place during Red Cross Month, a time to recognize heroes who help those in need..."

And so, I donated to the American Red Cross on their website and I selected that the donation go to "Disaster Relief" and then I dedicated the donation to the "People of Ukraine."

Also, I donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross on their website for the "Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine."

Plus, I donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society on their website for the "Ukraine Emergency Appeal."

Thus, these donations are how I supported the American Red Cross Giving Day—which I observed in a decisively international way—and also how I helped the People of Ukraine! –Paul Whiting (written March 23rd, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised December 29th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022 and revised March 22nd, 2023)

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March 31st, 2022 Update: Beginning in March of 2022, I started donating on a regular basis to Democratic political organizations. However, I am not (necessarily) going document every time that I make donations to the Democrats because it would create way too many 'updates' such as this one.

So, suffice it to say that I am donating to the Democratic Party in order to help them win in future elections!

Thus, I am donating to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations, so that I am helping to elect Democrats through their national organizations—as well as through a local Democratic organization here in Oregon—which includes the following:

The National Democratic Organizations:

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)

Democratic Governors Association (DGA)

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)

National Conference of Democratic Mayors (NCDM)

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC)

Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA)

Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS)

National Democratic County Officials (NDCO)

Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO)

National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC)

My Local Democratic Organization:

Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO)

And so, that is how I make political donations to the Democratic Party of the United States of America, because I am grateful to be a part of the Democratic Party in a country that is democratic!

–Paul Whiting (written March 31st, 2022, revised April 17th, 2022, revised May 13th, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised July 27th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022 and revised April 30th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
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March 31st, 2022 Update—Continued: I started donating in March of 2022 to Democratic political organizations on a regular basis. And I am donating to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations, so that I am helping to elect Democrats through their national organizations—as well as through a local Democratic organization here in Oregon.

And I try to donate to similar Democratic political organizations, when I donate to one, or more, of them. So for example, I consider the following Democratic political organizations to be similar: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which works to elect members of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which works to elect members of the U.S. Senate; and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which works to elect the U.S. President. Thus, when I donate to one of the above-mentioned organizations, I typically donate to all of them!

In addition to that, I consider the following Democratic political organizations to be similar: the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), which works to elect governors; the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS), which works to elect secretaries of state; the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA), which works to elect attorneys general; the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), which works to elect members of state legislatures; and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), which works to create fair voting districts. Thus, when I donate to one of the above-mentioned organizations, I typically donate to all of them!

However, when it comes to the Democrats' End of the Quarter Fundraising Goals, I donate to any of the Democratic political organizations that are asking for donations in order to meet their quarterly fundraising goals!

You see, political organizations report how much they raise and spend to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The FEC website states: "All registered candidate committees must disclose the money they raise and spend. These 'receipts' and 'disbursements' are reported quarterly."

Thus, every three months of any year, beginning in January of that year, is a quarter of the year, since it is twenty five percent of the year (just like twenty five cents is one quarter of a dollar). Thus, the end of March is the first quarter; the end of June is the second quarter; the end of September is the third quarter; and the end of December is the fourth quarter.

And so, donating to Democratic political organizations during the End of a Quarter Fundraising Goal, whenever they are asking for donations, is how I make sure that these Democratic organizations that I am donating to are meeting their quarterly fundraising goals! –Paul Whiting (written March 31st, 2022, revised April 15th, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised July 27th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022 and revised April 30th, 2024)

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR APRIL:

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April 3rd, 2022 Update: I keep changing the way that I donate to Democratic political organizations based upon three basic factors: Factor Number One, I am trying to stay within some kind of 'monthly donating budget' of how much I can give within each month (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive and that I have full-blown AIDS; plus, I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited); Factor Number Two, I am trying to donate as often as I can manage for each Democratic organization from which I am receiving emails and/or text messages (since I decided to start getting emails and/or text messages from the Democrats in order to keep up with all of the updates for the 2022 Midterm Elections); and Factor Number Three, I am donating on a monthly basis to the USO (United Service Organizations), which starts this month, April 2022, and so I am also including those donations in my 'monthly donating budget.' Therefore, I am hopefully helping the Democrats to win this November in order to prevent Republicans from controlling both Congress and the White House, because I fear that the Republicans will try to turn America into an oligarchy! –Paul Whiting (written April 3rd, 2022, revised May 21st, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022 and revised November 5th, 2022)

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April 8th, 2022 Update: I donated today, April 8th, 2022, to "Stand Up for Ukraine" on YouTube. Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Social Media Rally to Raise Funds for Refugee Relief

Join artists, activists, and global citizens as we come together on April 8 to rally around world leaders making funding commitments for world leaders. Learn more at ForUkraine.com.

Global Citizen is a social action platform for a global generation that aims to solve the world’s biggest challenges. On our platform, you can learn about issues, take action on what matters most, and join a community committed to social change. We believe we can end extreme poverty because of the collective actions of Global Citizens across the world.

About this fundraiser: Global Citizen, organizer

At least 10 million people have been pushed into poverty since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Four million people have fled Ukraine. A Ukrainian child has become a refugee nearly every second since the war began. Your donation will provide shelter, food, clean water, healthcare, education, and more to people displaced by the crisis in Ukraine. Together, we can Stand Up for Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/mrHv_Sy_nfU

Thus, this donation is a way for me to I show my support for the people of Ukraine. –Paul Whiting (written April 8th, 2022, revised May 13th, 2022, revised October 23rd, 2022, revised December 28th, 2022, revised April 19th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

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April 11th, 2022 Update: [CONTENT WARNING: THIS UPDATE CONTAINS THEMES WHICH MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!]

In honor of April 11th, 2022, here is the '411,' or 'the information,' or my philosophy about the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections in America, which I think relates to the way that politics, elections and laws are occurring with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also in the rest of the Christian world:

As a 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I truly believe that all of the things that are occurring in America as far as Christian politics, elections and laws go—and in the rest of the Christian world, as well—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible: therefore, our politics, elections and laws are direct reflections of our Christian religious beliefs, such as with regard to 'The War In Heaven!'

Please let me explain this concept further by taking you on a journey back in time to the days before I started walking wherever I go—here in Portland, Oregon—in order to transport myself, and to exercise at the same time, now that I am getting older. You see, when I was still taking public transportation in order to get around, I would often look at the various types of architecture and landscaping, including business properties and buildings, as well as single family homes, as I was riding on public transportation. And I did this because I am fascinated by the artistry and aesthetics of architecture and landscaping, since I studied architecture in college (at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City) through the various art history classes that I attended.

Thus, as I was riding past various properties with buildings and landscaping, I would often notice how many areas often look trashy, or dishevelled, as if they were some kind of conflict zone! (I mean no disrespect to what is happening with regard to war in certain parts of the world.) And I thought how odd it was that there would be so many places in America that looked to be in such bad condition! (I also mean no disrespect to what is happening with regard to homelessness in certain parts of America.) And I remembered wondering why there were so many areas that looked like some kind of trash heap, or some kind of war zone—as mentioned above—in the richest country in the world! (And, again, I mean no disrespect to those in the world who are being subjugated to the beliefs of 'war mongers,' or those who are being subjugated to the beliefs of 'poor mongers,' or those who are being subjugated to the beliefs of 'homelessness mongers,' or those who are being subjugated to the beliefs of 'unaffordable housing mongers,' or those who are being subjugated to the beliefs of 'displacement mongers' wherever they live—or, at least, wherever they used to live...)

In addition to that, as I was taking public transportation and riding past single family homes in the suburbs, I noticed that all of these individual houses had their own front and backyard, as well as side yards. And each home was a kind of 'castle' situated right next to another home—all with their respective front, back and side yards looking just like a moat around a castle. It's as if the suburbs are all made of castles with yards as moats. (As the saying goes, 'A man's home is his castle!')

Thus, as a philosopher, I contemplated the meaning of the dishevelled look of some properties, and the castle-like look of the suburbs, and I came to the conclusion that all of the architectural and landscaping design in the United States of America, and all of these areas of 'dysfunctionality,' so to speak, in America are direct manifestations of our religious beliefs about 'The War In Heaven' from the New Testament of the Holy Bible!

Now, at this point in the discussion, let me also explain that I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ('The Mormon Church'). And so, my upbringing in The Mormon Church is what I know about Jesus The Christ, and Christianity, as well as the Old Testament and the New Testament. And let me also explain that I am gay (although, I am technically bisexual, because I almost married my high school sweetheart), so that basically means that I am officially 'A Recovering Mormon.' That being said, my basic understanding of 'The War In Heaven' from New Testament is as follows (and I am paraphrasing a lot):

There was a 'War In Heaven' because Satan, as The Devil, was going to force all of the souls to return to The Presence Of God, after God had cast out Adam and Eve—as the first humans—from the Garden Of Eden! For, Eve had fallen for the temptations of The Devil and she ate The Fruit Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil from The Tree Of Knowledge. And God had forbade Adam and Eve from eating 'The Fruit Of Knowledge,' but Satan appeared as a Snake, or a Serpent, in The Tree Of Knowledge in order to tempt Eve into eating 'The Fruit Of Knowledge,' which God had forbade. Then, Eve coyly invited Adam to also eat the fruit after she did—which Adam did—thereby making Adam subjugated to being cast out too, which is what lead to 'The Fall Of Man!' And, therefore, Adam and Eve realized that they were naked and they were ashamed.

You see, Eve couldn't resist the temptations of The Devil, so she lured Adam into joining her by coyly inviting Adam to eat The Fruit Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil! And Eve deceived Adam in the same way that Satan deceived her. Thus, Eve tricked Adam into being cast out from Paradise just like she was! Therefore, Eve's Egregious Deception adversely affected all of Eve's direct descendants—who are literally all of the human females—and also adversely affected all of Adam's direct descendants—who are literally all of the human males—since Eve could not resist the temptations of The Devil and she dragged poor Adam down with her!

[By the way, on my 'Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer' blog in a blog post titled, 'For Mother's Day, Part 4 — A Day Of Reflection,' which is also titled, 'My Commentary On The Right To Choose,' I explain more about this situation regarding Adam and Eve and 'The Fall Of Man,' as it relates to females not being considered to be trustworthy of being allowed to decide if they wish to become a mother—as if females cannot be trusted to make that decision with their doctor—and, most disturbingly, sometimes females are not even allowed to decide to have a safe and legal abortion even in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking! (Please see the hyperlink below for the post.)]

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/05/for-mothers-day-part-4-day-of-reflection.html

After that, there was some kind of argument in Heaven about how to return to The Presence Of God now that Adam and Eve had been cast out, since Eve had fallen for the temptations of The Devil. And Satan said, 'I will make them obey You, Oh Lord! And they will be forced to return to Your Presence, because I will require it of them.' However, Jesus said, 'I will give them free will to obey You, Oh Lord! And they will choose to return to Your Presence, because I will allow them to decide to return.' And God preferred Jesus's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, rather than Satan's Forced Plan Of Salvation, for all of the souls who were going to be born on Earth.

Then, The Devil kept arguing with God to attempt to convince Him to choose Satan's Forced Plan Of Salvation, rather than Jesus's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, because Satan couldn't take 'No' for an answer! For, God would not accept souls returning to The Presence Of God without having the choice of free will. And Satan along with all of the 'Fallen Angels Of Heaven'—who agreed with The Devil and who became Satan's Legions Of Doom—were cast out from The Presence Of God and they were sent to Hell forever.

So, if you wish to return to The Presence Of God, you need to accept Jesus The Christ and His Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, and you need to reject Satan The Devil and His Forced Plan Of Salvation. Not only that, you need to prove your loyalty to God and you need to kill Satan, and/or His Legions Of Doom, whenever—and wherever—they appear, if Satan, and/or His Legions, have appeared in order to tempt you into not accepting Jesus's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation—just like The Devil appeared in order to tempt Eve into disobeying God. Thus, you need to kill Satan, and/or His Legions, and send them back to Hell, because they are tempting you into disobeying God!

However, here is where it gets really quite complicated: even though you are told by God to kill Satan, and/or His Legions, as often as is necessary—whenever, and wherever, The Devil and/or His Legions may appear—in order to prove your loyalty to God, you are also told by God 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' in the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament! Therefore, even though you are not supposed to be killing—or you will be disobeying one of God's Ten Holy Commandments—you are supposed to kill Satan and/or The Devil's Legions if you are being tempted away from Christ's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation by Satan and/or His Legions Of Doom, who are like An Evil Military Leader and His Evil Soldiers.

Finally, here comes Your Eternal Reward for having obeyed God correctly, of your own free will, and you have returned to The Presence Of God: but, instead of returning to the Paradise from whence Adam and Eve were cast out, when you return to The Presence of God, The Lord provides you with 'A Mansion In The Sky,' or 'A Palace In Heaven,' or 'A Castle In The Air'—that is complete with servants to do everything for you—since God loves you for having obeyed Him the right way!

Thus, if you are a 'True Believer' in the New Testament, and you have correctly accepted Christ's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, and you have rejected Satan's Forced Plan Of Salvation, that means you are owed the finest housing in the afterlife, due to Your True Faith. And because you are owed the finest housing in the afterlife, that also means that you are owed the finest housing in this life. Therefore, you are owed the nicest house, with the most expensive, and exclusive, worldly possessions that are available to you—because of Your True Faith—including servants to do everything for you!

Plus, anyone whom you see as being Satan and/or His Legions Of Doom (all of whom are constantly tempting you away from Jesus The Christ) totally deserve to be killed and sent back to Hell! Therefore, assuming that you deserve to have the finest housing in all of the land (which includes the ability for you to be able to vote in America, since you have a residential address) that housing is providing you with 'a license to kill' in order make sure that everyone else only deserves to be made homeless, so that they can't vote, but also so that they can die from lack of housing. Therefore, they can go back to Hell where they belong—since they must be The Devil and/or His Legions—because you don't like them! And you can also make sure that they can't vote through suppressing their vote by utilizing any number of available techniques.

The other option is that you can simply kill outright any of those who are unworthy—because they are obviously Satan, and/or His Legions, since you don't like them—by utilizing any number of available weapons. And all of this outright killing, and/or this passive-aggressive displacing, and/or this intentional creation of homelessness in order to produce passive-aggressive displacing and/or killing, is not only totally 'okay' with God, He wants you to kill every instance of The Devil and/or His Legions whenever, and wherever, they may appear, since you are proving your loyalty to God, so that you may return to The Presence Of God!

Therefore, I think the reason that politics, elections and laws are occurring the way that they are with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also worldwide—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible and, specifically, our beliefs about 'The War In Heaven.' Thus we, as Christians, are supposed to be fighting against—and killing—Satan and/or His Legions whenever, and wherever, they may appear, and in whatever form they may appear.

And so, based upon Our True Faith, we are also supposed to determine who The Devil and/or His Legions Of Doom are by assuming that anyone we don't like—which reads like a list of our worst enemies—must be The Devil and/or His Legions. Thus, we should make sure Satan and/or His Legions cannot vote, and we should make sure that they cannot live, so that we can return to The Presence Of God, because 'We Have Won The War In Heaven!'

–Paul Whiting (written April 11th, 2022, revised April 12th, 2022, revised April 13th, 2022, revised May 7th, 2022, revised May 8th, 2022, revised May 9th, 2022, revised May 10th, 2022, revised May 11th, 2022, revised May 12th, 2022, revised May 13th, 2022, revised May 14th, 2022, revised May 21st, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised October 7th, 2022, revised March 18th, 2023, revised March 22nd, 2023, revised September 19th, 2023, revised September 21st, 2023 and revised October 13th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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April 12th, 2022 Update: I am donating to Democratic political organizations—while still trying to stay within a 'monthly donating budget'—so I am basically making one donation per organization per day from which I am receiving emails and/or text messages each day. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

However, I originally wrote this update to say the following: "I am now donating to the Democrats every time that they ask for a donation via email/text message, because I am doing everything in my power to help Democrats win in the 2022 Midterm Elections!"

And I actually attempted to do that very thing today, April 12th, 2022, by donating every time I received an email, or a text message! But, I ran the calculations and if I donated that much each day, I would end up donating more than my entire food budget for the month. And so, I am reverting to my donation budget of one donation per Democratic political organization per day from which I am receiving emails and/or text massages. –Paul Whiting (written April 12th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised November 26th, 2022 and revised April 17th, 2023)

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April 13th, 2022 Update: I made a donation today, April 13th, 2022, to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) via PayPal.com after I received the email below:

Subject: If you’re feeling helpless, watch how you have helped in Ukraine

Dear Paul,

Many find it hard to see the shocking images of suffering from Ukraine. But you took action and we wanted to say thank you. Your donation has already helped. In the last month the generosity of our donors like you has allowed us to scale up our ongoing operations and deliver 700 tons of emergency aid to those who have needed it the most. Watch your donation in action here:

https://vimeo.com/698619102?ref=em-share

We have also sent some 140 additional staff to the region - surgeons, psychologist, weapon contamination specialists, engineers, logisticians, and others who can make an immediate difference to people in need.

But the humanitarian situation and needs are vast and complex. We must continue our work with neutrality and impartiality. These are two of our Fundamental Principles. Remaining neutral can enable us to deliver relief across frontlines, visit detainees and be a trusted intermediary – essentially, it’s our key to reaching the people who need our help.

Our sole objective is to alleviate the suffering of the people affected by the armed conflict.

Thank you for making this possible.

Lauren Ellis
Head of Private Sector Engagement
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

P.S. Words don’t fully capture our gratitude for your help to people whose lives are threatened by conflict. Thank you!

SUPPORT US AGAIN:***

I received an email from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) on June 10th, 2022, with regard to a donation that I made to the DLCC on June 8th, 2022 (but not for the amount that I intended), which stated the following [with redactions for certain information utilized throughout this update]:

Paul,

I’m [redacted], here at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). I wanted to reach out and introduce myself and thank you for your generous contribution to the DLCC.

As you know, the DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee for state legislative work. The DLCC is dedicated to electing Democratic state legislators, winning the Democratic majorities needed to champion progressive values in states, and building a Democratic bench of future leaders. The work at the state legislative level is incredibly important, and we are so grateful for your support.

I've attached a document with a bit of additional information about the DLCC and our plans for the election cycle. Please feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions. You can reach me on my cell – [redacted], or via email at [redacted].

Thank you again for your support, I look forward to working with you!

All my best,

[redacted]

And I responded to this email on June 11th, 2022, as follows:

Dear [redacted],

Thank you for your 'Thank you,' but my "generous contribution to the DLCC" wasn't intentional...

...You see, I was making a donation to the DLCC based on a June 8th, 2022, email that I received from the DLCC, at 6:30 PM, which was titled, "Can you pledge to vote on November 8th, 2022?"

So, I completed the pledge on June 8th, 2022, and made a donation. And I entered the amount $1.15 for the donation (which is the same amount that I currently donate to the various Democratic organizations that I support) and I added an $0.11 tip for ActBlue. Then, I pressed the donate button and—when I received a text message from my bank indicating that a transaction had been processed where my card wasn't present—the total donation was $1,000.11!

Now, I DID NOT type in $1,000.00 as a donation amount—nor did I press one of those 'preselected amount' buttons for $1,000.00—I think that my donation amount was altered!

Thus, I wrote to ActBlue requesting a refund...

And, I did request a refund from ActBlue on June 8th, 2022, and they processed that refund immediately; however, I also explained the other issues that I was having with my ActBlue account, which is why I think that it was compromised, as follows:

...As of today, June 11th, 2022, the total donation is refunded to my card. (Thank God!) However, I am still greatly concerned about how my $1.15 donation (with an $0.11 tip) miraculously became a $1,000.11 donation.

And this is not the first time I have had issues with donation amounts being altered (from what I entered) when I donated on ActBlue: On some occasions I have donated to Democratic organizations on the ActBlue website—and the amount of the donation was less than what I entered by one penny!

So, for example, on more than one occasion, I donated $1.14 to a Democratic organization but, when the payment processed, the donation was actually $1.13. Then, another time, I donated $1.15 and the donation payment processed as $1.14.

And when I got to thinking about this 'donation alteration,' so to speak, I realized that this may have been some kind of put down (because these donations weren't very much, but they were all that I could afford given how much money I have, because I am disabled due to HIV and I am receiving SSDI), since they were always a penny less than the amount I entered: as if I was being told that I am "penny less!"

Besides that, I also noticed that in "My Recent Activity" on ActBlue, which includes the locations where I have logged in, I was shown having been logged into various cities where I don't live...

And, after I received a refund from ActBlue on June 11th, 2022, which they did process immediately after I requested it, I also discussed how I was planning to continue donating to Democrats, now that I had deleted my ActBlue account, due to it being compromised, as follows:

...I received another reply from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) on June 14th, 2022, which stated the following [with redactions for certain information utilized throughout this update]:

I completely understand your concerns with ActBlue! We do have a direct donation link if that is easier for you to use. You can access that at this link - [redacted].

I appreciate all that you do.

All the best,

[redacted]

And I responded to this email on June 15th, 2022, as follows:

Dear [redacted],

Thank you so very much for that link to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee FastAction contribution page, because I have an account with them!

So, I am now in the process of figuring out how to donate to Democrats on a regular basis without having to use ActBlue—necessarily—and, thus, FastAction is definitely an option.

Although, I may still have to process payments through ActBlue (they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations); however, since I deleted my ActBlue account I have noticed that there are more options for making contributions via ActBlue, but through utilizing different payment processors, such as Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo.

Thus, that may solve the problem of my contributions being tampered with, because I think that my ActBlue account was compromised, since my "Recent activity" showed that I had logged into my ActBlue account from many different cities—besides the city of Portland, Oregon where I actually live—such as: Klamath Falls, Oregon; Richland, Washington; Gaston, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; Newberg, Oregon; Springfield, Oregon; and Lake Oswego, Oregon, just to name a few!

Anyway, that is why I contacted ActBlue to see if I needed to delete my account, "as I [was] worried about who is 'watching' my account, since it could be the Republicans, because I think they know who I am due to the fact that I am a blogger and an activist." And that is why I was concerned that "although [the] representative's explanation that 'IP addresses are assigned to your device by the network that you are connecting to' [made] sense, it [did] not account for the different cities that I was supposedly located within when I logged in."

Anyway, I am going to explore more options for donating to Democrats, including through FastAction, and/or still donating via ActBlue (but through a different payment processor), and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support, such as the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and contributing to them through phone donations.

Thank you again for your help with my DLCC donations...

Thus, I am now working on still being able to donate to Democrats by using more options, including still donating via ActBlue, but through a different payment processor, and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support and contributing to them through phone donations.

–Paul Whiting (written June 17th, 2022, revised June 20th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised August 18th, 2022, revised November 5th, 2022, revised November 15th, 2022, revised December 28th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023, revised May 31st, 2023 and revised April 30th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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April 18th, 2022 Update: I donated to Ban Assault Weapons NOW (also known as 'BAWN'), because I received a text message today, April 18th, 2022, from BAWN, which stated the following:

News just broke that Republicans are now pushing for PERMITLESS Open Carry gun laws.

It has NEVER been more critical to close our budget gap and replace every -- and we mean EVERY -- single NRA-funded politician with a Democrat DEDICATED to ending gun violence once and for all.

We need 700 gifts in the next 10 hours to OUTRAISE the NRA, DEFEAT their life-threatening permitless carry bills, and hand them a HUMILIATING defeat.

Will you chip in $15? >>***

Ohio passed a permitless open carry bill.

Georgia introduced a permitless open carry bill.

Alabama introduced a permitless open carry bill.

Now, Florida Governor Desantis vowed to sign a permitless open carry bill.

Let us be clear:

These bills would allow anyone to OPENLY carry LOADED guns in public.

With NO safety training.

NO background checks.

And NO permit.

We KNOW these schemes will cause more bloodshed and heartache in our communities. Not under our watch.

We REFUSE to stand by while the NRA sends fat campaign checks to reward Republican politicians who do their bidding and put innocent lives in danger from gun violence.

Will you chip in $15 to OUTRAISE Republicans and show the NRA that their days in power are NUMBERED?

We need 700 gifts before our critical Midnight Deadline in 10 hours.

Nothing helps more than a small contribution on your part. >>***

Thank you,

Team Ban Assault Weapons NOW!

"The View" Spotlights Organizations for Holocaust Remembrance Day | The View

On YomHaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, we're spotlighting organizations doing important work to support Holocaust survivors and preserve their stories, so they will never be forgotten.

https://youtu.be/oUInFVpwz6Q

Therefore, I made these donations to the organizations mentioned in the video, including 'Survivor Mitzvah Project,' 'The Blue Card' and 'USC Shoah Foundation,' in order to show my support for Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) 2022 in Israel, which began in the evening of Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 and ended in the evening of Thursday, April 28th, 2022.

"Remembrance Day Calendar" from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:

"The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah. When the actual date of Yom Hashoah falls on a Friday, the state of Israel observes Yom Hashoah on the preceding Thursday. When it falls on a Sunday, Yom Hashoah is observed on the following Monday. In the United States, Days of Remembrance runs from the Sunday before Yom Hashoah through the following Sunday."

https://www.ushmm.org/remember/days-of-remembrance/resources/calendar

By the way, the "Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)" is not to be confused with "International Holocaust Remembrance Day," which is observed yearly (annually) on January 27th.

"International Holocaust Remembrance Day" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

"International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities between 1933 and 1945 by Nazi Germany, an attempt to implement their 'final solution' to the Jewish question."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Holocaust_Remembrance_Day

"Yom HaShoah" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

"Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah (Hebrew: יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה, lit. 'Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day'), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah (יום השואה) and in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and for the Jewish resistance in that period. In Israel, it is a national memorial day. The first official commemorations took place in 1951, and the observance of the day was anchored in a law passed by the Knesset in 1959. It is held on the 27th of Nisan (which falls in April or May), unless the 27th would be adjacent to the Jewish Sabbath, in which case the date is shifted by a day."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_HaShoah

Thus, these donations are a way for me to show my support for the survivors of the Holocaust, including through humanitarian aid, as well as through preserving their stories.

–Paul Whiting (written April 28th, 2022, revised May 13th, 2022, revised October 23rd, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised January 27th, 2023, revised January 28th, 2023, revised April 2nd, 2023, revised April 18th, 2023, revised April 19th, 2023, revised April 20th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised October 21st, 2023, revised December 6th, 2023 and revised August 31st, 2025)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR MAY:

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For my "May 4th, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 4th, 2022 Update: May is Military Appreciation Month! So, I signed a Military Appreciation Month card "thanking our service members for everything they do to protect our country" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 4th, 2022, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "[SIGN THE CARD] Military Appreciation Month", which stated the following:

Happy Military Appreciation Month, Paul!

At moments like this, it’s more important than ever to take that extra step to make sure members of our Armed Forces know how grateful we are for their incredible courage and sacrifice — especially as thousands remain in Eastern Europe, ready to do whatever it takes to support our NATO allies.

That’s why we need at least 50,000 proud military supporters — including you, Paul — to sign the card thanking our heroes by midnight tonight: Will you add your name now to make sure our service members know you appreciate their service and sacrifice?***

America’s service members make immense sacrifices every day, from the safety and security of home to special moments with their loved ones, like birthdays, first steps and holidays. It’s challenging, but they do it because they believe freedom and democracy are worth defending.

I was honored to serve our country as a member of the Air Force, and now I’m honored to work with the USO to support today’s service members and their families. You are a crucial part of this mission too, Paul.

It means so much to a service member far from home to know that patriotic Americans like you understand the sacrifices they make. So please, take a moment and sign the Military Appreciation Month card for our service members before midnight tonight.***

Thank you so much for standing with our heroes in uniform!

[Name redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to America's service members, "Thank you for fighting to keep us safe and free. We are so grateful for your service, and we’ll always have your back." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 4th, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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For my "May 8th, 2022 Update, Written On May 7th, 2022"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 8th, 2022 Update, Written On May 7th, 2022: Happy Mother's Day, everyone! I signed a Mother’s Day card to military moms around the world from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 7th, 2022, that I received today via an email with the subject line "Quick favor before Mother's Day", which stated the following:

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, Paul, and I need your help to make it special for military moms around the world.

When I say “military mom,” I’m talking about mothers serving in our Armed Forces right now, many of whom will spend the day far away from their kids as they work to defend our freedom. But I am also talking about all the moms back home whose kids are service members. Holidays like tomorrow are tough on every member of a military family.

That’s why it is so important to show our support for troops and their families when we can. As an officer in the U.S. Army who has spent countless holidays overseas, I will tell you that it really does make a difference to know that folks back home are thinking of us as we risk our lives to keep them safe.

So please, before midnight tonight, will you be one of the 50,000 signatures we need to meet our goal to honor military moms?***

Thank you for helping make sure military moms know how much they are appreciated on their special day — and for everything you do to support service members around the world as they defend our country.

Col. Kelly Steele, U.S. Army

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to military moms, "We so appreciate the sacrifices you and your family make every day in service of our country and the freedoms we all cherish." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 8th, 2022 Update, Written On May 7th, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 11th, 2022 Update: I sent letters to my Senators in Congress and I signed several petitions—plus, I made several donations—in support of the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), which is designed to codify 'Roe vs. Wade' into law.

And I received emails and text messages yesterday, May 10th, 2022, and today May 11th, 2022, from several different organizations with regard to this incredibly important issue, including from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company), from Chuck Schumer for Senate and from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DSCC). Plus, I originally copied and pasted all of the emails and text messages from the aforementioned communications in the chronological order in which I received them, however, I decided to condense this 'update'—when I edited my "YEAR 2022 UPDATES MAY"—and to simply mention the names of the organizations...

...And, after I sent letters to my Senators, or signed petitions, I also made donations to the sponsoring organizations—where it was applicable to make donations—in order to show my support for the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) and in order to show my support for a woman's right to choose to control her own body, her own health care and her own reproductive decisions! –Paul Whiting (written May 11th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised July 19th, 2022, revised September 4th, 2022, revised September 13th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised November 22nd, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022 and revised January 1st, 2023)

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May 11th, 2022 Update—Continued: [CONTENT WARNING: THIS UPDATE CONTAINS THEMES WHICH MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!]

Out of respect for May 11th, 2022, which is the day that no Republicans in the United States Senate voted, on May 11th, 2022, to pass the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), here is the '511' (so to speak), or 'the explanation' (so to speak), or my philosophy about why the Republicans all voted against the WHPA here in America, which I think relates to the way that politics, elections and laws specifically relating to the control of women are occurring with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also in the rest of the Christian world.

And this update is a continuation of my 'April 11th, 2022 Update' that I wrote on my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog. And that update stated, in part, the following:

"In honor of April 11th, 2022, here is the '411,' or 'the information,' or my philosophy about the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections in America, which I think relates to the way that politics, elections and laws are occurring with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also in the rest of the Christian world."

Here, then, is a brief summarization of the basic premises from the aforementioned 'April 11th, 2022 Update' in the most succinct summarization possible, as told through various quotes from that previous update, in the order in which I wrote the quotes:

---------------------------------------------

"As a 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I truly believe that all of the things that are occurring in America as far as Christian politics, elections and laws go—and in the rest of the Christian world, as well—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible: therefore, our politics, elections and laws are direct reflections of our Christian religious beliefs, such as with regard to 'The War In Heaven!'" ...

... "That being said, my basic understanding of 'The War In Heaven' from New Testament is as follows (and I am paraphrasing a lot): There was a 'War In Heaven' because Satan, as The Devil, was going to force all of the souls to return to The Presence Of God, after God had cast out Adam and Eve—as the first humans—from the Garden Of Eden! For, Eve had fallen for the temptations of The Devil and she ate The Fruit Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil from The Tree Of Knowledge. And God had forbade Adam and Eve from eating 'The Fruit Of Knowledge,' but Satan appeared as a Snake, or a Serpent, in The Tree Of Knowledge in order to tempt Eve into eating 'The Fruit Of Knowledge,' which God had forbade. Then, Eve coyly invited Adam to also eat the fruit after she did—which Adam did—thereby making Adam subjugated to being cast out too, which is what lead to 'The Fall Of Man!'" ...

... "After that, there was some kind of argument in Heaven about how to return to The Presence Of God now that Adam and Eve had been cast out, since Eve had fallen for the temptations of The Devil. And Satan said, 'I will make them obey You, Oh Lord! And they will be forced to return to Your Presence, because I will require it of them.' However, Jesus said, 'I will give them free will to obey You, Oh Lord! And they will choose to return to Your Presence, because I will allow them to decide to return.' And God preferred Jesus's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, rather than Satan's Forced Plan Of Salvation, for all of the souls who were going to be born on Earth." ...

... "So, if you wish to return to The Presence Of God, you need to accept Jesus The Christ and His Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, and you need to reject Satan The Devil and His Forced Plan Of Salvation. Not only that, you need to prove your loyalty to God and you need to kill Satan, and/or His Legions Of Doom, whenever—and wherever—they appear, if Satan, and/or His Legions, have appeared in order to tempt you into not accepting Jesus's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation—just like The Devil appeared in order to tempt Eve into disobeying God. Thus, you need to kill Satan, and/or His Legions, and send them back to Hell, because they are tempting you into disobeying God!" ...

... "However, here is where it gets really quite complicated: even though you are told by God to kill Satan, and/or His Legions, as often as is necessary—whenever, and wherever, The Devil and/or His Legions may appear—in order to prove your loyalty to God, you are also told by God 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' in the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament! Therefore, even though you are not supposed to be killing—or you will be disobeying one of God's Ten Holy Commandments—you are supposed to kill Satan and/or The Devil's Legions if you are being tempted away from Christ's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation by Satan and/or His Legions Of Doom, who are like An Evil Military Leader and His Evil Soldiers." ...

... "Therefore, I think the reason that politics, elections and laws are occurring the way that they are with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also worldwide—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible and, specifically, our beliefs about 'The War In Heaven.' Thus we, as Christians, are supposed to be fighting against—and killing—Satan and/or His Legions whenever, and wherever, they may appear, and in whatever form they may appear." ...

... "And so, based upon Our True Faith, we are also supposed to determine who The Devil and/or His Legions Of Doom are by assuming that anyone we don't like—which reads like a list of our worst enemies—must be The Devil and/or His Legions. Thus, we should make sure Satan and/or His Legions cannot vote, and we should make sure that they cannot live, so that we can return to The Presence Of God, because 'We Have Won The War In Heaven!'"

---------------------------------------------

And now that I have briefly summarized the basic premises from that previous 'April 11th, 2022 Update,' as I mentioned at the beginning of this update—which I have summarized through various quotes from that previous update—I can explain more about this situation regarding Adam and Eve and 'The Fall Of Man,' as it relates to females not being considered to be trustworthy of being allowed to decide if they wish to become a mother—as if females cannot be trusted to make that decision with their doctor—and, most disturbingly, sometimes females are not even allowed to decide to have a safe and legal abortion even in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking.

You see, as a 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I truly believe that all of the things that are occurring in America as far as Christian politics, elections and laws specifically relating to the control of women—and in the rest of the Christian world, as well—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible: therefore, our politics, elections and laws specifically relating to the control of women are direct reflections of our Christian religious beliefs with regard to 'The Fall Of Man!'

Therefore, because Eve fell for the temptations of Satan, The Devil, and she ate The Fruit Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil from The Tree Of Knowledge, Eve is the one who is totally at fault for us humans having been cast out from God's Presence in Paradise—which was the Garden Of Eden! And, now, because of that totally preventable, really evil act on the part of Eve, all of us have to fight in an Eternal War against The Devil in order to prove our loyalty to God by killing Satan, and/or His Legions Of Doom, whenever—and wherever—they appear, if Satan, and/or His Legions, have appeared in order to tempt us—just like The Devil appeared in order to tempt Eve into disobeying God.

And so, since Eve was not trustworthy of obeying as simple of a Holy Commandment from God as 'Do Not Eat The Fruit Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil,' that means that all of Eve's direct descendants—who are literally all of the human females—need to be controlled in the most micromanaging way possible, personally by Adam's direct descendants—who are literally all of the human males—so that women never, ever do anything that evil again! And that is why women cannot be trusted to do something so simple as to make decisions about their own bodies, or their own health care, or their own reproductive choices. And, thus, all women need to be totally controlled by the direct descendants of Adam forevermore!

And that is why our Christian religious beliefs with regard to 'The Fall Of Man' are leading to the extremely divisive issue for The American People as to exactly who gets to determine whether, or not, women who are pregnant are allowed to decide if they wish to become a mother—as if, somehow, women cannot be trusted to make that decision with their doctor. And I believe that is why no Republicans in the United States Senate voted, on May 11th, 2022, to pass the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), since women, or even girls, should not be allowed to decide whether, or not, they can have a safe and legal abortion—which is life-affirming for the pregnant female—even in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking...

–Paul Whiting (written May 11th, 2022, revised May 12th, 2022, revised May 13th, 2022, revised May 14th, 2022, revised May 21st, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised March 18th, 2023, revised March 28th, 2023 and revised October 13th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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May 12th, 2022 Update: I made several donations today, May 12th, 2022, to charitable organizations that are supporting women's right to control their own reproductive choices, including the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and my local chapter of Planned Parenthood (which is Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette), since I already donated to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund yesterday, May 11th, 2022; I also made the usual donations that I make every day to various Democratic political organizations (virtually every time that they ask via email or text message) for the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections; besides that, I made a donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) because they sent me a quiz titled, "Can you score 100% on our military history quiz?" as a part of Military Appreciation Month! Plus, I already make a recurring donation each month in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

–Paul Whiting (written May 12th, 2022, revised May 13th, 2022, revised May 14th, 2022, revised May 21st, 2022, revised May 26th, 2022, revised June 18th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023 and revised July 29th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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May 13th, 2022 Update: [CONTENT WARNING: THIS UPDATE CONTAINS THEMES WHICH MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!]

Today is Friday, May 13th, 2022! And I have a fear of "Friday the 13th," but mostly due to my fear of everyone else's superstitious beliefs about "Friday the 13th." You see, I think that our superstitious secular beliefs, such as "Friday the 13th," are being created by our Christian religious beliefs, which are producing a society in which all of the males (and the females too) are Religious True Believing, conspiracy theory promoting, Superstitious Conservative Micromanagers!

And this update is a continuation of my 'May 11th, 2022 Update—Continued' that I wrote on my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog. And that update stated, in part, the following:

"Out of respect for May 11th, 2022, which is the day that no Republicans in the United States Senate voted, on May 11th, 2022, to pass the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), here is the '511' (so to speak), or 'the explanation' (so to speak), or my philosophy about why the Republicans all voted against the WHPA here in America, which I think relates to the way that politics, elections and laws specifically relating to the control of women are occurring with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also in the rest of the Christian world."

Plus, the above-mentioned 'May 11th, 2022 Update—Continued' is also a continuation of my 'April 11th, 2022 Update' that I also wrote previously on my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog. And that update stated, in part, the following:

"In honor of April 11th, 2022, here is the '411,' or 'the information,' or my philosophy about the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections in America, which I think relates to the way that politics, elections and laws are occurring with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also in the rest of the Christian world."

Here, then, is a brief summarization of the basic premises from the aforementioned 'April 11th, 2022 Update' and 'May 11th, 2022 Update—Continued' in the most succinct summarization possible, as told through various quotes from those previous updates, in the order in which I wrote the quotes:

---------------------------------------------

"'As a 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I truly believe that all of the things that are occurring in America as far as Christian politics, elections and laws go—and in the rest of the Christian world, as well—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible: therefore, our politics, elections and laws are direct reflections of our Christian religious beliefs, such as with regard to 'The War In Heaven!'" ...

... "That being said, my basic understanding of 'The War In Heaven' from New Testament is as follows (and I am paraphrasing a lot): There was a 'War In Heaven' because Satan, as The Devil, was going to force all of the souls to return to The Presence Of God, after God had cast out Adam and Eve—as the first humans—from the Garden Of Eden! For, Eve had fallen for the temptations of The Devil and she ate The Fruit Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil from The Tree Of Knowledge. And God had forbade Adam and Eve from eating 'The Fruit Of Knowledge,' but Satan appeared as a Snake, or a Serpent, in The Tree Of Knowledge in order to tempt Eve into eating 'The Fruit Of Knowledge,' which God had forbade. Then, Eve coyly invited Adam to also eat the fruit after she did—which Adam did—thereby making Adam subjugated to being cast out too, which is what lead to 'The Fall Of Man!'" ...

... "After that, there was some kind of argument in Heaven about how to return to The Presence Of God now that Adam and Eve had been cast out, since Eve had fallen for the temptations of The Devil. And Satan said, 'I will make them obey You, Oh Lord! And they will be forced to return to Your Presence, because I will require it of them.' However, Jesus said, 'I will give them free will to obey You, Oh Lord! And they will choose to return to Your Presence, because I will allow them to decide to return.' And God preferred Jesus's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, rather than Satan's Forced Plan Of Salvation, for all of the souls who were going to be born on Earth." ...

... "So, if you wish to return to The Presence Of God, you need to accept Jesus The Christ and His Free-Will Plan Of Salvation, and you need to reject Satan The Devil and His Forced Plan Of Salvation. Not only that, you need to prove your loyalty to God and you need to kill Satan, and/or His Legions Of Doom, whenever—and wherever—they appear, if Satan, and/or His Legions, have appeared in order to tempt you into not accepting Jesus's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation—just like The Devil appeared in order to tempt Eve into disobeying God. Thus, you need to kill Satan, and/or His Legions, and send them back to Hell, because they are tempting you into disobeying God!" ...

... "However, here is where it gets really quite complicated: even though you are told by God to kill Satan, and/or His Legions, as often as is necessary—whenever, and wherever, The Devil and/or His Legions may appear—in order to prove your loyalty to God, you are also told by God 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' in the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament! Therefore, even though you are not supposed to be killing—or you will be disobeying one of God's Ten Holy Commandments—you are supposed to kill Satan and/or The Devil's Legions if you are being tempted away from Christ's Free-Will Plan Of Salvation by Satan and/or His Legions Of Doom, who are like An Evil Military Leader and His Evil Soldiers." ...

... "Therefore, I think the reason that politics, elections and laws are occurring the way that they are with regard to Christian governments—not only here in America, but also worldwide—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible and, specifically, our beliefs about 'The War In Heaven.' Thus we, as Christians, are supposed to be fighting against—and killing—Satan and/or His Legions whenever, and wherever, they may appear, and in whatever form they may appear." ...

... "And so, based upon Our True Faith, we are also supposed to determine who The Devil and/or His Legions Of Doom are by assuming that anyone we don't like—which reads like a list of our worst enemies—must be The Devil and/or His Legions. Thus, we should make sure Satan and/or His Legions cannot vote, and we should make sure that they cannot live, so that we can return to The Presence Of God, because 'We Have Won The War In Heaven!'" ...

... "And now that I have briefly summarized the basic premises from that previous 'April 11th, 2022 Update,' as I mentioned at the beginning of this update (which I have summarized through various quotes from that previous update), I can explain more about this situation regarding Adam and Eve and 'The Fall Of Man,' as it relates to females not being considered to be trustworthy of being allowed to decide if they wish to become a mother—as if females cannot be trusted to make that decision with their doctor—and, most disturbingly, sometimes females are not even allowed to decide to have a safe and legal abortion even in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking!" ...

... "You see, as a 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I truly believe that all of the things that are occurring in America as far as Christian politics, elections and laws specifically relating to the control of women—and in the rest of the Christian world, as well—are based upon our collective beliefs in the Old Testament and the New Testament from the Holy Bible: therefore, our politics, elections and laws specifically relating to the control of women are direct reflections of our Christian religious beliefs with regard to 'The Fall Of Man!'" ...

... "Therefore, because Eve fell for the temptations of Satan, The Devil, and she ate The Fruit Of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil from The Tree Of Knowledge, Eve is the one who is totally at fault for us humans having been cast out from God's Presence in Paradise—which was the Garden Of Eden! And, now, because of that totally preventable, really evil act on the part of Eve, all of us have to fight in an Eternal War against The Devil in order to prove our loyalty to God by killing Satan, and/or His Legions Of Doom, whenever—and wherever—they appear, if Satan, and/or His Legions, have appeared in order to tempt us—just like The Devil appeared in order to tempt Eve into disobeying God." ...

... "And so, since Eve was not trustworthy of obeying as simple of a Holy Commandment from God as 'Do Not Eat The Fruit Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil,' that means that all of Eve's direct descendants—who are literally all of the human females—need to be controlled in the most micromanaging way possible, personally by Adam's direct descendants—who are literally all of the human males—so that women never, ever do anything that evil again! And that is why women cannot be trusted to do something so simple as to make decisions about their own bodies, or their own health care, or their own reproductive choices. And, thus, all women need to be totally controlled by the direct descendants of Adam forevermore!" ...

... "And that is why our Christian religious beliefs with regard to 'The Fall Of Man' are leading to the extremely divisive issue for The American People as to exactly who gets to determine whether, or not, women who are pregnant are allowed to decide if they wish to become a mother—as if, somehow, women cannot be trusted to make that decision with their doctor. And I believe that is why no Republicans in the United States Senate voted, on May 11th, 2022, to pass the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), since women, or even girls, should not be allowed to decide whether, or not, they can have a safe and legal abortion—which is life-affirming for the pregnant female—even in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking."

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And now that I have briefly summarized the basic premises from that previous 'May 11th, 2022 Update—Continued,' as I mentioned at the beginning of this update (which I have summarized through various quotes from that previous update), I can explain more about how I think that our Christian religious beliefs are creating superstitious secular beliefs, which are producing a society in which all of the males (and the females too) are Religious True Believing, conspiracy theory promoting, Superstitious Conservative Micromanagers!

You see, I think that our Christian religious beliefs are creating superstitious secular beliefs, because The Holy Bible is a collection of 'superstitions beliefs,' so to speak, regarding the way that Christian True Believers are constantly being wronged by various 'Evil-Doers!' And the most important 'Doing Of Evil' was by Satan—and His Legions Of Doom—disobeying God by demanding that they be able to force us to obey God in order for us to return to Paradise. And they were condemned to Hell forever because of that, which is why the rest of us have to pay for their 'Evil-Doing.'

Plus, Eve fell for the temptations of The Devil and—against the express directive of God—she ate The Fruit Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil! Then, Eve coyly invited Adam to join her, thereby making Adam subjugated to being cast out from The Presence Of God, as well. And that is why Adam had to be born on Earth—just like Eve did—and that is also why he is required to problem solve his way back to Paradise from whence Adam and Eve were both cast!

And all of this 'Start Of Creation Evil-Doing' is never Adam's fault: it is God who is at fault for having created Satan who, along with His Legions Of Doom, made it possible to go to Hell forever for having disobeyed God; then, it is also God who is at fault for having created Eve—albeit from Adam's rib—who, after having disobeyed God, coyly invited Adam to join her; plus, it is Eve who is at fault for having been evil enough to disobey God when she was tempted by The Devil. In conclusion then, it is Eve who is at fault for having fallen for the temptations of The Devil at the outset, and it is Satan who is at fault for having disobeyed God in the first place, and it is God who is at fault for having created The Devil to begin with!

Thus, all of this 'Evil-Doing' to which Adam has been begrudgingly subjugated is the fault of everyone else except for Adam. And all of this means that Adam is the biggest victim who has ever existed, along with all of Adam's direct descendants—who are literally all of the human males—and who, subsequently, have been forced to micromanage everyone else in order to prevent everyone else from victimizing Adam and his direct descendants some more. Thus, based upon our Christian religious beliefs, all of the males are the direct descendants of Adam who are Religious True Believing, conspiracy theory promoting, Superstitious Conservative Micromanagers!

–Paul Whiting (written May 13th, 2022, revised May 14th, 2022, revised May 21st, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised March 18th, 2023, revised October 13th, 2023 and revised September 14th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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May 14th, 2022 Update: In support of the "Bans Off Our Bodies Day of Action," I signed a petition from Planned Parenthood Federation of America!

And I also made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, since I already donated to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund on May 11th, 2022, and to my local chapter of Planned Parenthood (which is Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette) on May 12th, 2022.

Please see the text below from the Planned Parenthood "Bans Off Our Bodies" webpage:

Supreme Court Leak:

Our Worst Fears Confirmed

Abortion is still legal. It's still your right. But the Supreme Court is prepared to end your constitutional right to abortion. Our country is facing an abortion access crisis.

By this summer, 26 states could move to ban abortion — affecting 36 million women, plus more people who can become pregnant. This is personal.

Knowledge Is Power

Right now, as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could end federal protections for abortion, state politicians are seizing this moment to advance a decades-long, coordinated strategy to ban abortion across the country.

No abortion bans, PERIOD.

Our bodies are our own — if they are not, we cannot be truly free or equal. Across the country, some politicians are trying to make decisions about our bodies for us. We won't let the abortion bans sweeping the country put our lives and futures at risk, and we won't be silenced while our fundamental right to control our bodies is taken away.

Everyone deserves health care that's free of shame, stigma, or judgment. Together, we say: Get your bans off our bodies!

https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org

And, after I signed the petition above, I received a confirmation email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America with the subject line, "Thanks for saying 'Bans Off Our Bodies!' A few more ways you can help", which stated the following:

Paul,

Thank you for speaking out and joining our movement. Everyone deserves health care that's free of shame, stigma, or judgment.

Get all the information you need about what this nationwide attack on our abortion rights means for you by visiting BansOff.org to learn more.

You can help make an even bigger difference by showing your support for Planned Parenthood and asking your friends and family to join you.

You can also help out by making a tax-deductible gift to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Your support will help us stand strong in the face of continued attacks on reproductive health and rights, and support Planned Parenthood health centers in providing vital care like birth control, cancer screenings, abortion services and more.

Together we can make a difference in protecting reproductive health and rights — thanks for taking action and pitching in when it counts.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Thus, signing this petition and making a donation is how I showed my support for the "Bans Off Our Bodies Day of Action!" –Paul Whiting (written May 14th, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised October 23rd, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 9th, 2023 and revised May 18th, 2023)

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May 17th, 2022 Update: I voted today, May 17th, 2022, in Oregon's Primary Election! –Paul Whiting (written May 17th, 2022, revised May 18th, 2022 and revised November 8th, 2022)

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For my "May 21st, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 21st, 2022 Update: [My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2022)]: Armed Forces Day is today, May 21st, 2022—since Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May each year—and I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website in order to "salute" the service and sacrifices made by our Armed Forces!

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 21st, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 27th, 2022 Update: The following is an essay that I wrote today, May 27th, 2022, which I submitted for publication to CNBC (please see below, after the essay, about an additional submission that I made):

To "My Fellow Americans": Let Us Stop The "Just-Blame-The-Biden-Administration" Games (with regard to inflation and supply chain issues as they both relate to the COVID-19 pandemic and Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine)

To My Fellow Americans:

Please find below my answer to one of many survey questions from a "Priorities Survey" by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which I received via email on May 27th, 2022:

"What else would you like to see from the Biden-Harris administration in 2022?":

When I answered this same question prior to this (because I had already filled out this particular "May Priority Survey" from the DCCC before), I said something to the effect of the following:

"Please pass common sense gun laws that DON'T take guns away from law-abiding citizens (because Second Amendment rights truly are important for a large majority of America's population), but DO take guns away from law-breaking citizens, or prevent them from obtaining guns in the first place, in order to prevent future mass shootings."

However, later on, I realized that the Biden-Harris Administration cannot control what happens in Congress: only Congress can control what happens in Congress. And only Congress can pass gun control laws, that President Biden can then sign into law, in order to prevent future mass shootings—which America experiences all too frequently.

That being said, I think the Biden Administration needs to counter all of the prolific misinformation spreading around the country regarding the causes of supply chain issues (that are due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are exacerbated by Russia's war on Ukraine) which are directly leading to empty store shelves, according to my understanding of these supply chain issues (including the baby formula shortages, which were exacerbated by the temporary closure of an Abbott Nutrition plant in Michigan), as well as directly leading to the cause of record inflation—including record high gas prices.

By the way, here is an article from CNBC titled, "From soaring food prices to social unrest, the fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war could be immense," that was published April 21st, 2022, from which I have selected an excerpt that describes exactly what I am talking about:

"When Russia invaded Ukraine no one knew how long the ensuing conflict would last, or how deep the shockwaves sent through Europe or the rest of the world would be.

As the war approaches its third month, however, the economic fallout from the conflict is becoming clearer and the outlook does not look good.

Against an already turbulent backdrop of global inflationary pressures amid rising food and energy prices and disrupted supply chains following the coronavirus pandemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine is exacerbating supply and demand tensions, damaging consumer sentiment and is threatening global economic growth."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/04/21/from-food-to-inflation-the-russia-ukraine-war-has-a-global-impact.html

It is like President Joe Biden's policies are not just being blamed for things like the current global supply chain issues—which I understand are both directly related to COVID-19 and Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine—but President Biden's policies are also being blamed for the following: planet Earth being tilted on its axis and spinning really fast; Earth orbiting the sun during the year; the sun shining; the phases of the moon occurring; the rise and fall of the ocean tides; global warming; rainy days and Mondays getting us down; the flowers blooming in springtime; the hot days in the middle of summer; the leaves dropping off the trees in autumn; and the snowfall in winter!

But I think that the reason for all of these issues with the 'Let's-Just-Blame-The-Biden-Administration' games occurring right now in America is the propensity that Americans have for blaming *whomever* resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. (i.e., the White House) for all of the problems that are currently happening, within the United States, regardless of what the actual causes may be...

...Because I seriously doubt that President Biden's policies were the direct cause of the COVID-19 pandemic—or were the direct cause of Russia declaring war on Ukraine—any more so than President Biden's policies were the direct cause of the most recent total eclipse of the sun! Besides that, Russia's war on Ukraine clearly worsened the global supply chain issues that were already badly strained because of the COVID-19 pandemic...

...Although, you could consider that the reason Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine on February 24th, 2022 was to *punish* President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (and the Americans who voted for him) for President Donald J. Trump no longer being President of the United States of America. Thus, Russia's war on Ukraine has clearly caused major additional disruptions with the already strained global supply chain, which I understand also increased this year's record inflation—as well as this year's astronomical gas prices—so that Americans would *think* that President Biden's policies were to blame!

And, speaking of the 2020 United States election, I would like to point out to all of those who continue to believe, and to promote, that the presidency was somehow stolen from Donald J. Trump that we voted for the President of the United States on the same ballot that we voted for down-ballot races! And the Republicans (other than Donald Trump) did really well in comparison to Democrats in 2020. And the Republicans won a lot of races on the same ballot where, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. managed, somehow, to steal the presidential election from Donald Trump. Thus, one can only assume that those down-ballot Republicans surely must have figured out how to 'Stop the Steal' during the election and that is why they won in 2020—on the same ballot—that Donald J. Trump had his second term stolen from him!

And, besides all of the issues mentioned above, due to the skyrocketing inflation, there is now talk of an upcoming recession due to a reduction in consumer confidence. Thus, all of these supply chain issues, and subsequent financial crises, are not being blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic from which we have just emerged, or Russia's war on Ukraine, but on President Biden's policies!

Therefore, I am going to do my part in order to counteract this game of 'Who's-To-Blame?' for the supply chain issues, for the record inflation, for the empty stores shelves, and for the high gas prices, by submitting this essay as an opinion piece to CNBC—since I referenced their article in this essay and I watch their videos on YouTube sometimes—in the hopes that I can inspire 'My Fellow Americans,' so to speak, to stop blaming President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. for events that are beyond his control.

And, that way, we can stop blaming President Joe Biden's policies for events that are not directly being caused by the Biden-Harris Administration, including the COVID-19 global pandemic, the subsequent global supply chain issues, and the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation by Russia, along with the empty store shelves and record inflation, as well as the high gas prices, which are all being directly caused by recovering from the aforementioned global pandemic and worsened by Vladimir Putin's war on our fellow democracy of Ukraine!

-Paul Whiting
Poet, Artist and Philosopher
Portland, Oregon

I also submitted this essay to The New York Times (NYT) today, in addition to submitting it to CNBC. (By the way, I am a subscriber to The New York Times.)

In fact, I submitted it to NYT first (in a slightly different format), but then I realized that I had quoted CNBC in the essay, so I figured that NYT probably won't publish it; although, I also doubt that CNBC will publish it either, since I am "just some blogger," but it could happen! –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2022, revised May 29th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised July 17th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022 and revised April 19th, 2023)
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May 27th, 2022 Update (Follow-Up, Written On June 1st, 2022): I received a reply from The New York Times (NYT) via email today, June 1st, 2022, regarding my essay, which stated the following:

Thank you again for contacting the Opinion section at The New York Times. An editor has reviewed your submission and unfortunately we’ve determined that we will not be able to use your piece. Because of the large volume of submissions, we have to reject many excellent essays every day.

Please feel free to offer it to other publications. And please consider submitting again in the future.

And, as I mentioned above, the version of my essay that I submitted to NYT was in a slightly different format than the one above. (By the way, I am a subscriber to The New York Times.)

And I also submitted this essay to CNBC (whose article I quoted in the essay, which is why I assume NYT rejected it, but I don't actually know that), so I am waiting to hear back from CNBC! I did receive an automated reply on May 28th, 2022, after my submission, which was on May 27th, 2022. So, if I hear back from CNBC, I will provide another 'Update (Follow-Up)' like this one! –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised July 17th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised November 26th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised April 19th, 2023 and revised June 5th, 2023)

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For my "May 30th, 2022 Update, Written On May 26th, 2022"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 30th, 2022 Update, Written On May 26th, 2022: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I signed a Memorial Day card "for all the brave service members who put their lives on the line to defend our country" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 26th, 2022, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "Sign the card to honor our heroes this Memorial Day", which stated the following: ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 30th, 2022 Update, Written On May 26th, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 30th, 2022 Update—Continued [My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2022)]:

For Memorial Day 2022, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence for those "who made the ultimate sacrifice, including those we have lost due to their exposures to toxic chemicals while serving our great country" in order to remember and honor their lives, their legacies and their last full measure of devotion for our country.

And I also showed my support for the "Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act," or the PACT Act (H.R. 3967), which is "a culmination of years of work by national veterans groups, to finally establish that if a veteran has suffered an injury from toxic exposures like from burn pits during their deployments, they will be granted disability and healthcare benefits by the VA [Veterans Administration]."

And so, I sent letters to my Senators, via the IAVA website, urging them to support passing this critical legislation ASAP. And, after I sent those letters to my Senators, I also made a donation to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans!

–Paul Whiting (written May 30th, 2022, revised May 31st, 2022, revised July 19th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised January 31st, 2023, revised March 10th, 2023, revised May 26th, 2023, revised May 29th, 2023, revised September 10th, 2023 and revised May 27th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR JUNE:

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For my "June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, June 29th, 2022, with the subject line, "Military Supporter Update: June 2022" with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 103 / June 2022, which stated, in part, the following:

YOUR USO AT WORK
Issue 103 / June 2022

DONATE NOW »

https://secure.uso.org

June has been a busy month here at the USO — from assembling thousands of USO Care Packages for troops deployed to places like Eastern Europe, to running our 11th annual USO T-shirt campaign. (There are still a few days left to get your T-shirt!). We are more grateful than ever for military supporters like you who make everything we do possible.

https://secure.uso.org/2205_t-shirt-2/

We hope you enjoy reading these June highlights...

And the following highlights from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, are regarding PTSD Awareness Month, which is the month of June, and PTSD Awareness Day, which is yearly (annually) on June 27th:

USO recognizes PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD Awareness Month, but supporting our troops’ mental health is always a major USO priority. That’s why we focus so heavily on building connections between service members, helping them stay in touch with loved ones and creating spaces where they can feel safe.

Learn more about how the USO is helping troops impacted by PTSD and other mental health challenges. »

https://www.uso.org/stories/2664-military-suicide-rates-are-at-an-all-time-high-heres-how-were-trying-to-help

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BY THE NUMBERS

"27"

June 27 is #PTSDAwarenessDay, an opportunity to remind everyone that there are effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”), although many with PTSD do not get the help they need.

Help spread the word. »

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/index.asp

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...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And the following is the information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website highlighting that "JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH":

JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

Help Raise PTSD Awareness

There are currently about 8 million people in the United States with PTSD.

Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don't get the help they need. June is PTSD Awareness Month. Help us spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that treatments really do work and can lead to a better quality of life...

Make the Pledge

Start by making the pledge to Raise PTSD Awareness:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/awareness_pledge_form.asp

And so, I decided to "Make the Pledge" in order to help "Raise PTSD Awareness," which is why I wrote this blog post update! Plus, after I took the pledge, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

“I never wore the uniform myself. Working at DOD has made me feel that I have contributed to my country’s defense but contributing to the USO has multiplied that feeling. Our men and women in uniform deserve everything we can do for them.

“We choose to support the USO because of something I learned. When I worked at the Pentagon, I was asked to contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign, as is every other federal employee. I asked many of my colleagues in uniform where I should direct my donation. Absolutely everyone gave me the same answer: ‘USO!’”

– [Name redacted] and [Name redacted], USO supporters since 1995 (27 consecutive years)

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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June 3rd, 2022 Update: I received two communications today, June 3rd, 2022, regarding National Gun Violence Awareness Day—which is yearly (annually) on the first Friday in June—from organizations that are working to end gun violence, including a text message from Giffords PAC and an email from Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.

And so, I sent a letter to my Senators, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, asking them "to vote yes on strong gun safety legislation and to confirm Steve Dettelbach as Director of ATF."

I also sent letters to my Senators asking them for "a vote on background checks," as requested by Giffords PAC. And I wrote to my Senators on their websites (rather than calling them), since I usually communicate in writing to my Senators—that way, I have a written record of what I communicated. Plus, I also included a copy of my poem titled, "We Are The Hands Of Christ," as a way to emphasize my request for 'a vote on background checks.'

And, after I sent the above-mentioned letters to my Senators, I also made donations to both Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Giffords PAC, respectively. –Paul Whiting (written June 3rd, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised August 17th, 2022, revised December 26th, 2022, revised February 7th, 2023 and revised April 28th, 2023)

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June 10th, 2022 Update: I received an email from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) today, June 10th, 2022, with the subject line, "The Pact Act is Close to the Finish Line", which stated, in part, the following:

Paul,

We had a huge success with an 86-12 cloture vote in the Senate on The Honoring Our PACT Act on Tuesday, which allows the bill to move forward towards a final vote (likely next week). I had the honor of watching the vote from the Senate Gallery with surviving family members, including SFC Heath Robinson’s 9-year-old daughter, Jon Stewart, and other incredible supporters and veterans advocates. This vote was a significant step forward, but there is still work to do! We need your help to continue to tell Senators to pass this vital piece of legislation to ensure those suffering from military toxic exposures receive the VA healthcare and disability benefits they deserve.

We also want to share some good news regarding two bills President Biden signed into law this week. The MAMMO for Veterans Act to expand veterans' access to high-quality breast cancer screenings and lifesaving cancer care, and The Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act, which would require the VA to conduct mammograms for all women who served in areas associated with burn pits and other toxic exposures regardless of age, symptoms or family history...

...As we celebrate these steps forward, we still need your help. Let’s keep up the fight and continue to take action!

Onward!

[Name redacted], IAVA [Title redacted], Navy Veteran

Here is a link to the IAVA website, which explains, "The PACT Act is comprehensive legislation that not only provides for healthcare and benefits, but also creates a framework for how presumptive illnesses are handled" and includes a section titled, "Let them know you care! Contact your representatives in Washington to voice your support for the PACT Act."

ACT TODAY:***

Message Subject: Please support the PACT Act

Dear Senator [Name],

The Honoring Our PACT Act received a 86-12 cloture vote in the Senate on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022, which allows the bill to move forward towards a final vote. This vote was a huge success and a significant step forward!

Please vote to pass this vital piece of legislation, when it comes to the floor, to ensure those suffering from military toxic exposures receive the VA healthcare and disability benefits they deserve.

Also, please see the original message below that I sent to you—asking for your support in passing this critical legislation—which stated the following:

"Open-air burn pits were a common way to get rid of waste at military sites in Iraq and Afghanistan. Waste burned included human and medical waste, chemicals, fuel, paint, unexploded ordnance, petroleum and lubricants, plastics, etc.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the largest post-9/11 veterans organization and a huge 82% of their members report they were exposed during deployments and 9 in 10 report they may have associated health symptoms.

The House-passed Honoring Our PACT Act (H.R. 3967) is comprehensive legislation, a culmination of years of work by national veterans groups, to finally establish that if a veteran has suffered an injury from toxic exposures like from burn pits during their deployments, they will be granted disability and healthcare benefits by the VA.

The Senate Majority Leader has promised a floor vote on the House-passed PACT Act this year. I ask that you stand with IAVA and 60+ veterans organizations nationwide who have made this our #1 priority, to vote in support of the Honoring our PACT Act when it comes to the floor!"

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Paul,

I’m [redacted], here at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). I wanted to reach out and introduce myself and thank you for your generous contribution to the DLCC.

As you know, the DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee for state legislative work. The DLCC is dedicated to electing Democratic state legislators, winning the Democratic majorities needed to champion progressive values in states, and building a Democratic bench of future leaders. The work at the state legislative level is incredibly important, and we are so grateful for your support.

I've attached a document with a bit of additional information about the DLCC and our plans for the election cycle. Please feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions. You can reach me on my cell – [redacted], or via email at [redacted].

Thank you again for your support, I look forward to working with you!

All my best,

[redacted]

And I responded to this email today June 11th, 2022, as follows:

Dear [redacted],

Thank you for your 'Thank you,' but my "generous contribution to the DLCC" wasn't intentional...

...You see, I was making a donation to the DLCC based on a June 8th, 2022, email that I received from the DLCC, at 6:30 PM, which was titled, "Can you pledge to vote on November 8th, 2022?"

So, I completed the pledge on June 8th, 2022, and made a donation. And I entered the amount $1.15 for the donation (which is the same amount that I currently donate to the various Democratic organizations that I support) and I added an $0.11 tip for ActBlue. Then, I pressed the donate button and—when I received a text message from my bank indicating that a transaction had been processed where my card wasn't present—the total donation was $1,000.11!

Now, I DID NOT type in $1,000.00 as a donation amount—nor did I press one of those 'preselected amount' buttons for $1,000.00—I think that my donation amount was altered!

Thus, I wrote to ActBlue requesting a refund, as follows:
---------------------------------------------
From: Paul Whiting • [redacted]
To: [redacted]
Date: Jun 8, 2022, 7:29 PM

To Whom It May Concern,

I just accidentally made a $1,000.00 donation to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee! (Please see the receipt below.)

I was trying to make a $1.15 donation with a $.011 tip to ActBlue [the actual tip amount was $0.11, but I mistyped it when I wrote this email], which is the amount that I usually donate to Democratic political organizations.

So, can I get a refund for this? That is WAY MORE than I can afford to donate—although I am donating to Democrats as much as I can afford in this 2022 Election.

Thank you so much for your consideration in this matter.

Yours very truly,

Paul Whiting
[Street Address and Apt. No. redacted]
Portland, Oregon
[ZIP Code redacted]
---------------------------------------------
And ActBlue replied back to me, as follows:
---------------------------------------------
[redacted] (ActBlue)
Jun 10, 2022, 10:07 AM EDT

Hi Paul,

Thanks for reaching out and I'm sorry to hear about the unintended donation!

I can confirm that the $1000.11 has been refunded and should post back to your account automatically within about 1-2 business days.

If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know!

Best,
[redacted]
---------------------------------------------
As of today, June 11th, 2022, the total donation is refunded to my card. (Thank God!) However, I am still greatly concerned about how my $1.15 donation (with an $0.11 tip) miraculously became a $1,000.11 donation.

And this is not the first time I have had issues with donation amounts being altered (from what I entered) when I donated on ActBlue: On some occasions I have donated to Democratic organizations on the ActBlue website—and the amount of the donation was less than what I entered by one penny!

So, for example, on more than one occasion, I donated $1.14 to a Democratic organization but, when the payment processed, the donation was actually $1.13. Then, another time, I donated $1.15 and the donation payment processed as $1.14.

And when I got to thinking about this 'donation alteration,' so to speak, I realized that this may have been some kind of put down (because these donations weren't very much, but they were all that I could afford given how much money I have, because I am disabled due to HIV and I am receiving SSDI), since they were always a penny less than the amount I entered: as if I was being told that I am "penny less!"

Besides that, I also noticed that in "My Recent Activity" on ActBlue, which includes the locations where I have logged in, I was shown having been logged into various cities where I don't live!

Therefore, I wrote to ActBlue about this issue, as follows:
---------------------------------------------
Paul Whiting
Apr 15, 2022, 12:50 PM EDT

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Paul Whiting and I am seeing a lot of actions on my ActBlue account that I do not recognize! So, I changed my password and I also removed my stored credit card/debit card information.

By the way, here is my IP address from my smartphone, which is basically the only device that I use for ActBlue: [redacted]

Also, I took screenshots of all the activity in question and have attached them to this message as added files. Plus, after I took the screenshots, when I went to look at my recent activity, there was no longer any history showing...like it had been removed!

Therefore, I don't know if I need to delete my account, as I am worried about who is "watching" my account, since it could be the Republicans, because I think they know who I am due to the fact that I am a blogger and an activist...

Thank you for your time and for your response.

Yours very truly,

-Paul Whiting
[redacted]
Portland, Oregon
[redacted]
---------------------------------------------
And ActBlue replied back to me, as follows:
---------------------------------------------
[redacted] (ActBlue)
Apr 17, 2022, 10:43 AM EDT

Hi Paula,

Thanks for reaching out!

ActBlue Express Profile login records are based on the IP address being used at the time of log in. IP addresses are assigned to your device by the network that you are connecting to. So, for example, if access your account on your laptop at home your home's network will assign an IP address to you. If you sign in to your account at a cafe using their wifi network on the same laptop, your device will be given a different IP address from the cafe's network.

So you can see how this might work on your mobile device. Your device will connect to the nearest network and will vary based on your location.

I suspect that there is some glitch that caused your contribution history to disappear after you took those screenshots. Could you please sign in to your account and confirm? https://secure.actblue.com/signin

As long as everything in your account looks as expected, there isn’t anything you need to worry about. However, resetting your password as a precautionary measure is the best you can do to ensure the security of your account.

I’m sorry for any confusion or concern caused by this, and please let me know if I can assist you with anything else!

Best,
[redacted]
---------------------------------------------
First of all, my first name isn't "Paula," it's Paul!

And second, although this representative's explanation that "IP addresses are assigned to your device by the network that you are connecting to" makes sense, it does not account for the different cities that I was supposedly located within when I logged in.

Plus, as I mentioned in the aforementioned communication with regard to this 'log in location' issue, I was "worried about who is 'watching' my account, since it could be the Republicans, because I think they know who I am due to the fact that I am a blogger and an activist..."

You see, I am a "Democratic Activist," as well as a blogger! Plus, I always vote in every election (even 'special elections') and I always vote Democrat. And I have been an "Online Activist" with regard to progressive issues, for a number of years now, by signing petitions, making donations, and voting in every election.

And I think that the Republicans know who I am—and they DO NOT like me—and that is why I decided to stop signing political petitions and/or making political donations right before the November 2016 Election, because I was afraid that the Republicans might retaliate against me in some way, depending upon what type of activism I was engaged in, if they were in control of both Congress and the White House.

Then, on March 3rd, 2022, I signed a petition from Senator Chuck Schumer about saving the United States Postal Service, which I received via text message on, March 2nd, 2022. Plus, after I signed the petition, I made a donation via ActBlue to 'Chuck Schumer for U.S. Senate,' because I felt like this was an important enough of an issue that it warranted signing a political petition (which I basically have not done since November of 2016) and it also warranted making a political donation (which, again, I basically have not done since November of 2016).

Therefore, these issues that I have experienced with 'altered donation amounts,' and 'log in locations' where I am not located, could be the Republicans terrorizing me! And I have, in fact, written some snarky comments on my blogs about how the Republicans are at war against America—and they seem to have also declared 'War on Women'—along with the way that they seem to support both rape and incest!

For example:

"My main point on the Republican 'War on Women' is that if what the Republicans want all of these women to be required to go through was, instead, happening to their own penises, you can bet that God, Jesus The Christ—and even The Devil himself—would all be vehemently against it!" –Paul Whiting (written March 22nd, 2012 and revised September 7th, 2022)

"I seriously think that Republican Conservative Thinkers are all trying to—literally—pull us back in time to the Dark Ages where they seem to exist, so that they can finally get rid of all the Liberal Thinkers! It is almost like they are trying to 'marginalize everyone to death,' who isn't one of their own kind, in the hopes that Jesus The Christ will finally show up for 'The Rapture' and save all of them from all of the terrible people who are NOT Conservative Thinkers!" –Paul Whiting (written May 2nd, 2012, revised November 24th, 2015 and revised September 7th, 2022)

"Sometimes I truly think that the Republican Party is literally conducting a 'War On America!' All they seem to want to do is disenfranchise, marginalize, get rid of—and even kill outright—anyone who is NOT one of them!" –Paul Whiting (written July 23rd, 2012, revised November 21st, 2015 and revised September 7th, 2022)

"I truly think that it is blatantly clear that Republicans support both incest and rape by making abortions in those cases illegal." –Paul Whiting (written August 21st, 2012 and revised September 7th, 2022)

"I honestly believe that way too many Republicans are latent incestuous rapists due to the really obvious indicator that they wish to make abortions illegal in cases of both rape and incest." –Paul Whiting (written August 22nd, 2012 and revised September 7th, 2022)

"Way too often it seems like there are way too many Republicans who seem like they have never met a lie that they didn't like!" –Paul Whiting (written September 12th, 2012 and September 7th, 2022)

"It seems like the only criminals that we need to be concerned about committing voter fraud are the Republicans through their attempts in multiple states to enact voter suppression laws." –Paul Whiting (written September 14th, 2012 and revised September 7th, 2022)

"SARCASM WARNING: I am voting Republican because I am not going to let my life be dictated by fact checking, or arithmetic, or honesty, or common sense." –Paul Whiting (written September 30th, 2012, revised June 11th, 2022 and revised September 7th, 2022)

And, now, Republicans seem to be acting exactly like they are "Radical Christian Terrorists"...

...Hence, the January 6th, 2021 Capitol Attack.

(Or, it was the January 6th, *1776* "normal tourist group"; or, the insurrectionists that attacked the Capitol Complex—in order to stop the certification of Joe Biden's win—were really 'Antifa' protestors; or, they were Black Lives Matter protestors; or, they were paid actors and actresses; or, in all actuality, they were incited by "Gasp!" the FBI. Regardless, however, it was clearly 'a false flag operation' designed to make President Donald J. Trump "look bad"—like he needs any assistance doing that!)

And, speaking of the January 6th, 2021 Capitol Attack, here are some poems that I wrote regarding the 'True Patriot' event of 'legitimate political discourse,' as well as regarding the 'lack of integrity' in the 2020 Presidential Election:

"January 6th, 2021"
(A 'Not-So-Infamous' Poem)

January 6th, 2021:
A date which will
*never live in infamy.*

–Paul Whiting (written May 28th, 2021, revised June 11th, 2022 and revised June 12th, 2022)

---------------------------------------------

Republicans and 'Election Integrity'
(A Haiku Poem)

The Republican
Election Integrity:
"Them 'darkies' can't vote!"

–Paul Whiting (written June 2nd, 2021 and revised September 7th, 2022)

---------------------------------------------

January 6, 1776?
(A Questioning Poem)

Why, on January 6th, 2021,
were rioters, who attacked
the Capitol Complex, and who
threatened members of Congress
and Vice President Pence, told that...

..."Today is 1776"?

–Paul Whiting (written June 4th, 2021, revised June 11th, 2022, revised September 7th, 2022 and revised November 27th, 2022)

But I digress...

So, out of a sense of caution, I deleted my ActBlue account and I also stopped making donations to Democratic political organizations, just in case the Republicans are behind this greatly altered donation amount from my June 8th, 2022 donation to the DLCC.

Thus, that is why I have taken the time to explain all of this to you: so that you would know that my "generous contribution to the DLCC" wasn't intentional...even though I have supported the DLCC (up until the point of this 'altered donation amount') with donations as large as I can afford!

By the way, I am so sorry for the length of this email; however, I felt that it was important to clarify the reason that you received such a substantial donation from me.

Thank you for your time.

Yours very truly,

Paul Whiting
[redacted]
Portland, Oregon
[redacted]

P.S.: I am also planning to send a copy of this email to all of the Democratic organizations that I have donated to, prior to this, as a way to explain why I have stopped donating to them for the foreseeable future. In addition to that, I am planning to post this email on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog as an update to my activist post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," with redactions for certain information.

Please see the hyperlink below for the post:

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html

And, therefore, the tirade above was brought to you by "The Unintentional $1,000.00 Donation of 2022 via ActBlue!"

And that is why I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022.

Thus, I am exploring more options for donating to Democrats, including through FastAction, and/or still donating via ActBlue (but through a different payment processor), and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support and contributing to them through phone donations.

–Paul Whiting (written June 11th, 2022, revised June 12th, 2022, revised June 13th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised June 20th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised September 7th, 2022, revised November 27th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised September 19th, 2023 and revised October 23rd, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
June 11th, 2022 Update—Follow Up No. 1, Written On June 13th, 2022, Regarding A Reply That I Received From The DLCC On June 13th, 2022: I received a reply from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) today, June 13th, 2022, which stated the following [with redactions for certain information utilized throughout this update]:

Hello, Paul!

I hope you had a nice weekend. Thank you again for your support - I am so sorry to hear that you were charged the incorrect amount. It looks like ActBlue was able to issue a refund. Please know that we are greatly appreciative of your support at any level. I have shared this information with our team, and hope that it doesn't happen again. Please do feel free to reach out if you ever have any issues or questions.

Thanks again,

[redacted]

And I responded to this email today June 13th, 2022, as follows:

Dear [redacted],

Thank you for your reply!

I am changing how I donate so that this type of error does not happen again; so, I deleted my ActBlue account and I will be donating to the DLCC (and other Democratic political organizations) via another method in future.

Thank you for you time!

Yours very truly

Paul Whiting
[redacted]
Portland, Oregon
[redacted]

And, therefore, this "June 11th, 2022 Update—Follow Up No. 1, Written On June 13th, 2022, Regarding A Reply That I Received From The DLCC On June 13th, 2022" was brought to you by "The Unintentional $1,000.00 Donation of 2022 via ActBlue!"

And that is why I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022.

Thus, I am exploring more options for donating to Democrats, including through FastAction, and/or still donating via ActBlue (but through a different payment processor), and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support and contributing to them through phone donations.

–Paul Whiting (written June 13th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 20th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022 and revised December 27th, 2022)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
June 11th, 2022 Update—Follow Up No. 2, Written on June 15th, 2022, Regarding A Reply That I Received From The DLCC On June 14th, 2022: I received another reply from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) on June 14th, 2022, which stated the following [with redactions for certain information utilized throughout this update]:

I completely understand your concerns with ActBlue! We do have a direct donation link if that is easier for you to use. You can access that at this link - [redacted].

I appreciate all that you do.

All the best,

[redacted]

And I responded to this email today June 15th, 2022, as follows:

Dear [redacted],

Thank you so very much for that link to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee FastAction contribution page, because I have an account with them!

So, I am now in the process of figuring out how to donate to Democrats on a regular basis without having to use ActBlue—necessarily—and, thus, FastAction is definitely an option.

Although, I may still have to process payments through ActBlue (they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations); however, since I deleted my ActBlue account I have noticed that there are more options for making contributions via ActBlue, but through utilizing different payment processors, such as Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo.

Thus, that may solve the problem of my contributions being tampered with, because I think that my ActBlue account was compromised, since my "Recent activity" showed that I had logged into my ActBlue account from many different cities—besides the city of Portland, Oregon where I actually live—such as: Klamath Falls, Oregon; Richland, Washington; Gaston, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; Newberg, Oregon; Springfield, Oregon; and Lake Oswego, Oregon, just to name a few!

Anyway, that is why I contacted ActBlue to see if I needed to delete my account, "as I [was] worried about who is 'watching' my account, since it could be the Republicans, because I think they know who I am due to the fact that I am a blogger and an activist." And that is why I was concerned that "although [the] representative's explanation that 'IP addresses are assigned to your device by the network that you are connecting to' [made] sense, it [did] not account for the different cities that I was supposedly located within when I logged in."

Anyway, I am going to explore more options for donating to Democrats, including through FastAction, and/or still donating via ActBlue (but through a different payment processor), and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support, such as the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and contributing to them through phone donations.

Thank you again for your help with my DLCC donations!

Yours very truly,

Paul Whiting
[redacted]
Portland, Oregon
[redacted]

And, therefore, this "June 11th, 2022 Update—Follow Up No. 2, Written on June 15th, 2022, Regarding A Reply That I Received From The DLCC On June 14th, 2022" was brought to you by "The Unintentional $1,000.00 Donation of 2022 via ActBlue!"

And that is why I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022.

Thus, I am exploring more options for donating to Democrats, including through FastAction, and/or still donating via ActBlue (but through a different payment processor), and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support and contributing to them through phone donations.

–Paul Whiting (written June 15th, 2022, revised June 17th, 2022, revised June 20th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022 and revised April 22nd, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
June 11th, 2022 Update—Follow Up No. 3, Written on June 20th, 2022, Regarding A Letter I Sent To Democrats About Why I Suddenly Stopped Donating: I sent the following letter to the Democratic political organizations, to which I am donating for the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections, explaining to them why I suddenly stopped donating to them after June 8th, 2022!

Message Subject: My letter to the various Democratic political organizations, to which I have been donating for the 2022 Midterm Elections, explaining why I suddenly stopped donating after June 8th, 2022

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to you today in order to explain the reason that I suddenly stopped donating to your organization after June 8th, 2022. And I feel like I need to apologize to you—in advance—for the length of this communication, since the reason that I suddenly stopped donating to your organization is really quite complex.

You see, I am a "Democratic Activist," as well as a blogger! Plus, I always vote in every election (even 'special elections') and I always vote Democrat. And I have been an "Online Activist" with regard to progressive issues, for a number of years now, by signing petitions, making donations, and voting in every election.

Thus, because I am a "Democratic Activist," I think that the Republicans know who I am—and they DO NOT like me—which is basically why I stopped signing political petitions and/or making political donations right before the November 2016 Election. And I did this since I was afraid that the Republicans might retaliate against me in some way, depending upon what type of activism I was engaged in, if they were in control of both Congress and the White House. And I also feared that once the Republicans won Congress and the White House that they would try to turn America into an oligarchy!

And that is why I created a blog post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog that is titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," in order to explain all of this, which can be found here:

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html

Then, on March 3rd, 2022, I signed a petition from Senator Chuck Schumer about saving the United States Postal Service, which I received via text message on, March 2nd, 2022. Plus, after I signed the petition, I made a donation via ActBlue to 'Chuck Schumer for U.S. Senate,' because I felt like this was an important enough of an issue that it warranted signing a political petition (which I basically have not done since November of 2016) and it also warranted making a political donation (which, again, I basically have not done since November of 2016).

And that is why I tried to start staying informed, again, about what is happening in politics, especially due to the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections. So, that is also why I have been trying to help Democrats win—by donating to them on a regular basis—because I am greatly concerned about the Republicans retaking both the House and Senate of Congress, and eventually retaking the White House, since Republicans are acting like Radical Christian Terrorists!

And, after the January 6th, 2021 Capitol Attack, my fears were confirmed. [Or, it was the January 6th, *1776* "normal tourist group"; or, the insurrectionists that attacked the Capitol Complex—in order to stop the certification of Joe Biden's win—were really 'Antifa' protestors; or, they were Black Lives Matter protestors; or, they were paid actors and actresses; or, in all actuality, they were incited by ("Gasp!") the FBI. Regardless, however, it was clearly 'a false flag operation' designed to make President Donald J. Trump "look bad"—like he needs any assistance doing that!]

And, speaking of the January 6th, 2021 Capitol Attack, here are some poems that I wrote regarding the 'True Patriot' event of 'legitimate political discourse,' as well as regarding the 'lack of integrity' in the 2020 Presidential Election:

"January 6th, 2021"
(A 'Not-So-Infamous' Poem)

January 6th, 2021:
A date which will
*never live in infamy.*

–Paul Whiting (written May 28th, 2021, revised June 11th, 2022 and revised June 12th, 2022)

---------------------------------------------

Republicans and 'Election Integrity'
(A Haiku Poem)

The Republican
Election Integrity:
"Them 'darkies' can't vote!"

–Paul Whiting (written June 2nd, 2021 and revised September 7th, 2022)

---------------------------------------------

January 6, 1776?
(A Questioning Poem)

Why, on January 6th, 2021,
were rioters, who attacked
the Capitol Complex, and who
threatened members of Congress
and Vice President Pence, told that...

..."Today is 1776"?

–Paul Whiting (written June 4th, 2021, revised June 11th, 2022, revised September 7th, 2022 and revised November 27th, 2022)

But I digress...

Anyway, I have been donating to various Democratic political organizations, including to your organization, on a regular basis, since March 3rd, 2022. Then, I was making a donation to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) based on a June 8th, 2022, email that I received from the DLCC, at 6:30 PM, which was titled, "Can you pledge to vote on November 8th, 2022?"

So, I completed the pledge on June 8th, 2022, and made a donation. And I entered the amount $1.15 for the donation (which is the same amount that I was donating, at that time, to the various Democratic organizations that I support) and I added an $0.11 tip for ActBlue. Then, I pressed the donate button and—when I received a text message from my bank indicating that a transaction had been processed where my card wasn't present—the total donation was $1,000.11!

Now, I DID NOT type in $1,000.00 as a donation amount—nor did I press one of those 'preselected amount' buttons for $1,000.00—I think that my donation amount was altered!

So, I requested a refund from ActBlue on June 8th, 2022, and they processed that refund immediately! Therefore, as of June 11th, 2022, that total donation is refunded to my card. (Thank God!) Although, I was still greatly concerned about how my $1.15 donation (with an $0.11 tip) miraculously became a $1,000.11 donation.

In addition to that, there were also other issues that I was having with my ActBlue account, which is why I think that my account was compromised. Thus, this $1,000.00 donation is not the first time that I have had issues with donation amounts being altered (from what I entered) when I donated on ActBlue: On some occasions I have donated to Democratic organizations on the ActBlue website—and the amount of the donation was less than what I entered by one penny!

So, for example, on more than one occasion, I donated $1.14 to a Democratic organization but, when the payment processed, the donation was actually $1.13. Then, another time, I donated $1.15 and the donation payment processed as $1.14...

...And when I got to thinking about this 'donation alteration,' so to speak, I realized that this may have been some kind of put down (because these donations weren't very much, but they were all that I could afford given how much money I have, because I am disabled due to HIV and I am receiving SSDI), since they were always a penny less than the amount I entered: as if I was being told that I am "penny less!"

Besides that, I also noticed that in 'My Recent Activity' on ActBlue, which includes the locations where I have logged in, I was shown having been logged into various cities where I don't live... Thus, I think the reason that my contributions were being tampered with is because my ActBlue account was compromised, since my 'Recent activity' showed that I had logged into my ActBlue account from many different cities—besides the city of Portland, Oregon where I actually live—such as: Klamath Falls, Oregon; Richland, Washington; Gaston, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; Newberg, Oregon; Springfield, Oregon; and Lake Oswego, Oregon, just to name a few!

Anyway, I was concerned that needed to delete my ActBlue account, because I was worried about who was 'watching' my account, since it could be the Republicans, because I think they know who I am due to the fact that I am a blogger and an activist. So, out of a sense of caution, I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022. And I also stopped making donations to Democratic political organizations, just in case the Republicans were behind this greatly altered donation amount from my June 8th, 2022 donation to the DLCC.

Since then, I have decided to explore more options for donating to Democrats, including through FastAction, and/or still donating via ActBlue (but through a different payment processor), and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support, including your organization, and contributing through phone donations.

And that is why I have taken the time to explain all of this to you: so that you would know why I just suddenly stopped making donations after June 8th, 2022, because of that $1,000.00 contribution to the DLCC, which wasn't intentional!

Also, to let you know, I have restarted making recurring monthly donations (as of June 17th, 2022) to the various Democratic political organizations, including to your organization, to which I have been donating for the upcoming 2022 Midterm Elections.

And thus, I am making these recurring monthly donations through ActBlue.com: although, because I no longer have an ActBlue account—since I deleted it, due to the fact that I think the account was compromised—I am still donating through the ActBlue website (they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations), but I am using a different payment processor.

Therefore, my plan is to make regular donations to the various Democratic political organizations from which I am receiving emails and/or text messages each day—while I am still trying to stay within a 'monthly donating budget'—which is all that I can afford given my monthly spending budget. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

Thus, I am planning to also make one-time donations in future to the aforementioned Democratic political organizations, including to your organization; although, I am still trying to figure out how to do so, while I am still trying to stay within a 'monthly donating budget.'

Plus, I feel like I need to clarify that the only exceptions to my 'monthly donating budget' (which is to make regular donations to the various Democratic political organizations to which I am donating, while I am still trying to stay within a 'monthly donating budget') happen during the End of the Month Fundraising Goals, and End of the Quarter Fundraising Goals, in which case I donate to each Democratic political organization virtually every time that they are asking for a donation, via emails and/or text messages, in order to help make sure that the Democratic organizations to which I am donating to are meeting their fundraising goals!

I hope that this (rather lengthy) explanation helps you to understand why I suddenly stopped donating to your organization after June 8th, 2022.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Yours very truly,

Paul Whiting
[redacted]
Portland, Oregon
[redacted]

P.S.: Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' with regard to 'The Unintentional $1,000.00 Donation of 2022 via ActBlue!' on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" (please see the hyperlink below for the post):

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html

And, therefore, this "June 11th, 2022 Update—Follow Up No. 3, Written on June 20th, 2022, Regarding A Letter I Sent To Democrats DLCC About Why I Suddenly Stopped Donating" was brought to you by "The Unintentional $1,000.00 Donation of 2022 via ActBlue!"

And that is why I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022.

Thus, I am exploring more options for donating to Democrats, including through FastAction, and/or still donating via ActBlue (but through a different payment processor), and/or calling the various Democratic political organizations that I support and contributing to them through phone donations.

–Paul Whiting (written June 20th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised June 26th, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised July 20th, 2022, revised September 7th, 2022 revised November 27th, 2022, revised December 27th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 17th, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised June 12th, 2023 and revised September 19th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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For my "June 14th, 2022 Update, Written On June 13th, 2022"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

June 14th, 2022 Update, Written On June 13th, 2022: I received two emails from the USO (United Service Organizations) with regard to the patriotic observances celebrated on June 14th, including both Flag Day and the U.S. Army's birthday!

And the first email I received from the USO was on June 10th, 2022, with the subject line, "How much do you know about the stars and stripes, Paul?" regarding the celebration of Flag Day, which stated the following:

Paul, Flag Day is right around the corner! We hope you'll celebrate with all of us here at the USO by learning more about the history of this holiday celebrating the American flag we all know and love.

In honor of Old Glory herself, check out the special Flag Day Timeline we put together for this incredible community of military supporters.

VIEW TIMELINE NOW:***

Whether you're planning to attend a parade, wear red, white & blue or enjoy a special Flag Day treat, we hope you enjoy this opportunity to celebrate this important symbol of our country.

The USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I viewed the timeline, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to respond to the request, "This Flag Day, will you make a donation to send a little bit of home to our service members and show them how much you appreciate their incredible service and sacrifice?"
---------------------------------------------
And speaking of the U.S. Army's birthday, as I mentioned above, the second email that I received from the USO, regarding June 14th, was on June 12th, 2022, with the subject line, "Help us celebrate the Army's 247th birthday!", which stated the following:

We've got an important occasion to celebrate on Tuesday, Paul: It's the U.S. Army's 247th birthday!

From the Revolutionary War until today, America's bravest have answered the call to protect our freedoms and keep us safe whenever they've been asked. Now it's time for us to show them how grateful we are for their service and sacrifice.

That's why we set a goal to get 24,700 signatures on our Army Birthday Card before midnight on Tuesday. Show how much you appreciate everything Army heroes do for us by signing our Army Birthday Card now!

SIGN THE CARD***

Those serving in the Army risk their lives every day to defend our nation. They carry on a proud tradition that began in the 1700s and continues through this day. The U.S. Army is one of the world's foremost guardians of peace and liberty — we are so lucky they've got our backs.

And it may not seem like much, but we often hear from active-duty service members that getting messages of support from military supporters like you makes such a big difference when they're serving in challenging, dangerous conditions.

We're counting on at least 24,700 military supporters like you to sign our Army Birthday Card by midnight Tuesday — so add your name now and show the Army's heroes how grateful you are for their service!

Thanks!

— The USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

So, I signed the card, since "the Army turns 247 on June 14, and our troops need to hear how grateful we are that they’re here for us!" Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our Army heroes, "We are beyond grateful for the sacrifices you make to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. In honor of the Army’s 247th birthday, thank you for your service!" ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "June 14th, 2022 Update, Written On June 13th, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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June 14th, 2022 Update—Continued: I think that my blogs are being sabotaged by someone who is very 'tech savvy,' and they may be someone that I know, because I have noticed strange things happening while I have been editing my writing, which includes the font size being way smaller on the blog post 'header' titled, "Post No. 254: For Flag Day — 'The Old Red, White and Blue!'" on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog.

Thus, the font size on this blog post header is smaller than the font sizes on the other blog posts' headers on the aforementioned blog. (Although, I have noticed that the header font size keeps changing back and forth, between the small size and the normal size, as I am editing the post.)

And I cannot figure out what is causing this 'smaller-blog-post-header-font' anomaly on this particular blog post, but it may be whomever is sabotaging my blogs—as I mentioned above—because they are 'bothered' by this "The Old Red, White and Blue!" poem that I wrote... (Please see the hyperlink below for the post.)

The aforementioned poem can be seen below:

"The Old Red, White and Blue!"

Look so high above us,
She waves to us so true!
There she flies to love us,
"The Old Red, White and Blue!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/06/for-flag-day-old-red-white-and-blue.html

Therefore, that is why I decided to provide you with this 'June 14th, 2022 Update—Continued' for the "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" post on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, with regard to the post titled, "For Flag Day — 'The Old Red, White and Blue!'" on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, because my poetry is an integral part of my "Online Activism!"

–Paul Whiting (written June 14th, 2022, revised June 15th, 2022, revised June 21st, 2022, revised June 22nd, 2022, revised June 25th, 2022, revised June 29th, 2022, revised July 29th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised May 30th, 2023, revised September 19th, 2023 and revised May 4th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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June 17th, 2022 Update: This update is a follow-up to my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 17th, 2022,' where I explained that I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022. You see, I think that my ActBlue account was compromised because, on June 8th, 2022, I attempted to make a $1.15 donation to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), plus I included an $0.11 tip for ActBlue, but when the payment processed, it was for $1,000.11! And that is why I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022.

So, I have restarted making recurring monthly donations today, June 17th, 2022, to Democratic political organizations. Therefore, my plan is to make regular donations to the various Democratic political organizations from which I am receiving emails and/or text messages each day—while I am still trying to stay within a 'monthly donating budget'—which is all that I can afford given my monthly spending budget. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com** [although, because I no longer have an ActBlue account—since I deleted it, due to the fact that I think the account was compromised—I am still donating through the ActBlue website (they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations), but I am donating for some of these recurring donations through other payment processors, such as Google Pay]:

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association
03. DNC: Democratic National Committee
04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors
06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association
08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State
09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials
10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials
11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee
12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon

**[I deleted my ActBlue account! Although, I am still processing payments through the ActBlue website, since they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' on my blog post "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, for a detailed explanation.]

Plus, I feel like I need to clarify that the only exceptions to my 'monthly donating budget' (which is to make regular donations to the various Democratic political organizations to which I am donating, while I am still trying to stay within a 'monthly donating budget') happen during the Democrats' End of the Month Fundraising Goals, and End of the Quarter Fundraising Goals, in which case I donate to each Democratic political organization virtually every time that they are asking for a donation, via emails and/or text messages, in order to help make sure that the Democratic organizations to which I am donating to are meeting their fundraising goals!

–Paul Whiting (written June 17th, 2022, revised June 18th, 2022, revised June 20th, 2022, revised July 11th, 2022, revised July 20th, 2022, revised December 28th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 17th, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023, revised May 31st, 2023 and revised April 30th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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For my "June 19th, 2022 Update, Written On June 18th, 2022"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

June 19th, 2022 Update, Written On June 18th, 2022: Happy Father's Day, everyone! I signed a Father’s Day card to military dads around the world from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, June 18th, 2022, that I received via an email yesterday, June 17th, 2022, which stated the following:

Paul,

As a veteran and a father, I know how challenging Father's Day can be for military dads. Many of them are stationed far away from their families, sometimes missing their kids' first words and steps. They can't be at precious events like summer baseball games, graduations and dance recitals. It's not easy.

Military dads sacrifice so much to serve their country and keep us safe at home. We need to make sure they feel appreciated on Father's Day, so we set a goal to get 25,000 signatures on our card honoring military dads. We can't fill up this card without your help, so please sign our Father's Day card honoring military dads now.

[Please see the hyperlink below for the card.]***

During my time in the U.S. Air Force, I spent many holidays away from home. Signing a card may not seem like a lot, but trust me, any time I got a reminder that folks back home were thinking about us, it meant so much. That's why I'm asking for your help today in giving our service members that same support and encouragement.

Please, we need to get 25,000 signatures before Father's Day — and it's only two days away. Will you add your name now to help fill up the card?

Thank you for helping make Father's Day special for American heroes!

[Name redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to military dads, "Happy Father’s Day. We so appreciate all the sacrifices you and your family make every day in service of our country and the freedoms we all enjoy. Thank you." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "June 19th, 2022 Update, Written On June 18th, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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June 19th, 2022 Update—Continued: In observance of Juneteenth, I sent letters to my U.S. House Representative and Senators in Congress urging them to pass the Abolition Amendment (S.J.Res.21/H.J.Res.53), after I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) on June 17th, 2022, with the subject line, "Forced labor persists. Here's what to know – and action to take.", which stated the following:

Paul –

Ahead of this Juneteenth weekend, there's a glaring reality that our country needs to face: Despite many of us being taught that the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude more than 150 years ago – forced labor still persists in our country.

What I'm talking about is the exploitative practice of forced prison labor – and it is largely a result of something called "the exception clause" in the 13th Amendment itself.

The ACLU released a shocking new report this week that shows exactly how this "exception" continues to fuel human rights abuses against incarcerated workers across the country. I'll break that down for you in one second, but first I want you to know that there's something you can do to help end the injustice:

A critical piece of legislation is in Congress right now – called the Abolition Amendment – which seeks to nullify this egregious loophole once and for all. We just need to push our lawmakers to take action.

So please, send a message with us to your members of Congress today and tell them to pass the Abolition Amendment immediately.

SEND YOUR MESSAGE:***

To be clear: The "exception clause" states that slavery is barred except for people who have been convicted of crimes. And our latest findings show that it has allowed for millions of workers in prisons over the years to be exploited, underpaid, and excluded from workplace safety protection laws.

In fact, more than 76% of incarcerated workers reported facing punishment – such as solitary confinement, denial of sentence reductions, or loss of family visitation – if they decline or were unable to work. And that doesn't begin to cover the inhumane conditions they're also made to work within.

It's no coincidence either that this loophole disproportionately encouraged the criminalization and re-enslavement of Black people during the Jim Crow era – and that we still feel the impacts of this systemic racism today in the disproportionate incarceration of Black and Brown people in our country's prisons.

Paul, for a nation that claims to be the "land of the free," forced labor of any kind is unacceptable, and it is unconscionable that we've kept this exception within the United States Constitution.

Let's bring it to an end: Send a message to Congress today and tell them to pass the Abolition Amendment immediately.

Thanks for taking action,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU Human Rights Program

July 4th, 2022 Update, Written On July 1st, 2022: Happy Independence Day, everyone!

In celebration of Independence Day (which is usually more informally referred to as the 'Fourth of July'—or sometimes the '4th of July'—in the United States of America), I signed a 'Fourth of July' card today, July 1st, 2022, from the USO (United Service Organizations) in order to include our brave men and women in uniform in my '4th of July' celebrations.

You see, while we are celebrating 246 years of the United States of America, "we cannot forget the service members who continue to sacrifice so much to defend the freedoms our forefathers fought for."

And I was notified about this Independence Day card yesterday, June 30th, 2022, via an email from the USO with the subject line, "Before July 4, will you join me in thanking our troops?" that was written by [name redacted], "who is the highest-grossing box office star of all time," which stated the following:

Paul,

I've had the honor of visiting with over 5,500 of our brave service members in Kuwait, Turkey, Qatar and Afghanistan alongside the USO, and this much is certain: No superhero on the big screen can stack up against these real-life heroes in uniform.

While it's not always possible for us to thank our troops in person, I know how much it means to this community of military supporters to send them love and gratitude from home — especially ahead of important moments like July 4. That's why I hope you'll join me in thanking our service members today:

I'm helping the USO collect at least 100,000 signatures in support of our military heroes before July 4, so please, will you add your name now to thank our service members who sacrifice so much for our freedom all year long?

SIGN THE CARD***

Many of us are looking forward to a weekend filled with fireworks and barbeques with our family and friends, but we can't forget about the service members who will be thousands of miles away from their loved ones — deployed in dangerous conditions to make sure we can celebrate holidays like July 4 back home.

I've seen firsthand how much messages of support and appreciation mean to our troops, and it only takes a moment to say thank you. Please, can I count on you to sign the thank-you card now for our service members in honor of their sacrifice? It's the least we can do for the heroes who selflessly do so much for us.

Thank you for all you do to support our service members — today and every day.

—[Name redacted]

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our service members, "Happy Fourth of July to all the brave troops serving at home and abroad! Today and every day, we truly appreciate everything you do to protect our country."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "July 4th, 2022 Update, Written On July 1st, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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July 4th, 2022 Update—Continued: Happy Independence Day, everyone! In celebration of Independence Day (which is usually referred to—more informally—as the 'Fourth of July' in the United States of America), I sent a poem that I published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog to Democratic political organizations that I support, as contained within an email message, which stated the following:

Message Subject: My Fourth Of July Message In Celebration Of Independence Day

To Whom It May Concern,

As we celebrate the birthday of our great nation, let us reflect upon all that we share as a people of different beliefs, different opinions, different perspectives and different political leanings.

And, at the same time, we still find common ground to achieve our shared goals of peace and prosperity, equal opportunity, and mutual respect.

And so, on this birthday of our wonderful nation, let us take the time to celebrate all of the qualities about America that we have in common, all of the symbols that we share, and all of the things that we love about the United States of America that exist between all of us:

Between All Of Us

All of God's creation is joyfully,
gloriously, and so abundantly,
standing Between All Of Us.

The love of God for this great
country of ours is proudly
blooming Between All Of Us.

America's amber waves of grain,
and her fruited plains, are forever
unfolding Between All Of Us.

The Constitution is a binding
testament to the liberty that
lives Between All Of Us.

Our Founding Fathers' balanced,
hard, and proud, accomplishments
breath freely Between All Of Us.

The Liberty Bell silently peels
truly, faithfully, and so very
deeply, Between All Of Us.

The Statue of Liberty keeps
her flame of freedom burning
brightly Between All Of Us.

The Washington Monument
rises above the fear of change for
some of those Between All Of Us.

The Lincoln Memorial speaks
quietly of the peaceful patriotism
that exists Between All Of Us.

Old Glory herself is waving loud
and proud for the love of America
that thrives Between All Of Us.

And only our great love for
this wonderful country could
ever come Between All Of Us.

So, let us all pledge our allegiance
to the one nation under God
that stands Between All Of Us.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/for-democracy-part-4-birthday-of-united.html

And, after I sent the above-mentioned message, I made donations to Democratic political organizations, as well as to Democratic political campaigns, in celebration of the Fourth of July, which truly is our Independence Day! –Paul Whiting (written July 4th, 2022, revised July 6th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023 and revised May 4th, 2024)

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July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022: I have made approximately $[redacted] in total donations to Democratic political organizations and to various Democratic political campaigns from about March 2nd, 2022 through about July 5th, 2022.

And, as of July 7th, 2022, the total amount that I owe on my credit card is $[redacted], which is going to take me at least one year and eight months to pay off!

Plus, I am also making recurring donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations of $3.00 on the 17th of each month: and my plan is to continue donating those recurring donations indefinitely, since that is all that I can really afford to donate given my monthly spending budget. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com** [although, because I no longer have an ActBlue account—since I deleted it, due to the fact that I think the account was compromised—I am still donating through the ActBlue website (they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations), but I am donating for some of these recurring donations through other payment processors, such as Google Pay]:

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association recurring donation of $3.00
03. DNC: Democratic National Committee recurring donation of $3.00
04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors recurring donation of $3.00
06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association recurring donation of $3.00
08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State recurring donation of $3.00
09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials recurring donation of $3.00
10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials recurring donation of $3.00
11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee recurring donation of $3.00
12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon recurring donation of $3.00

Total Democratic Organizations Monthly Recurring Donations: $36.00

**[I deleted my ActBlue account! Although, I am still processing payments through the ActBlue website, since they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' on my blog post "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, for a detailed explanation.]

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel:

01. USO: United Service Organizations recurring donation of $10.00 (which used to be $5.00 per month, but I increased it by an additional $5.00 per month; so starting on August 17th, 2022, the USO recurring donation is now $10.00 per month)

Thus, the total for the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations recurring donations, and for the USO recurring donation, is $46.00 per month (which used to be $41.00 per month, but I increased my monthly USO donation from $5.00 to $10.00 per month, so starting on August 17th, 2022 the total monthly donations are now $46.00 per month).

Therefore, I am continuing to make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations, as listed above, and to the USO; however, that is all I can afford to donate for the foreseeable future (with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations), given how much I went over my spending budget on political donations!

The following is the way that I calculated how much I donated to Democratic political organizations, and to Democratic political campaigns, as well as how much that I donated to organizations other than political organizations, from approximately March 2nd, 2022 through July 5th, 2022: And I did this by taking the total amount that I owe as of July 7th, 2022 ($[redacted]) and I subtracted the regular purchases that I made during that same approximate time period (-$[redacted]); then, I subtracted the donations to organizations other than political organizations during that same approximate time period (-$[redacted]); and then I added the total payments that I have made through July 7th, 2022 (+$[redacted]); finally, I added the political donations that I made on my debit card during that same approximate time period (+$[redacted]); and that comes to the total political donations that I have made through July 7th, 2022 (=$[redacted]), as outlined below:

$[redacted] (total credit card balance thru 07/07/2022)

-$[redacted] (I subtracted the regular purchases)

$[redacted] (balance remaining)

-$[redacted] (I subtracted the donations to organizations other than political organizations)

$[redacted] (balance remaining)

+$[redacted] (I added the total payments made thru 07/07/2022)

$[redacted] (balance of total political donations on my credit card)

+$[redacted] (I added the balance of total political donations on my debit card)

=$[redacted] (balance of total political donations thru 07/07/2022)

And, as I mentioned above, the total amount that I owe on my credit card, as of July 7th, 2022, is $[redacted], which is going to take me at least one year and eight months to pay off as I have calculated, which I have estimated without any interest being calculated, and without any additional future charges, besides the above-mentioned monthly recurring donations.

So, this political donation information is why I wanted to update you with regard to my most recent donations to Democratic political organizations—as well as to Democratic political campaigns—and my planned recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations recurring donations, as well as to the USO.

And I am still making one-time donations to the USO—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. Plus, I am also still making one-time donations to various progressive organizations.

–Paul Whiting (written July 11th, 2022, revised July 12th, 2022, revised July 20th, 2022, revised July 27th, 2022, revised July 27th, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised November 28th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised December 28th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 17th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised August 16th, 2023 and revised April 30th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022): This update is a follow-up to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022' and it is kind of complicated!

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on July 17th, 2022. (The only exception to that was my donation to the Democratic Party of Oregon which, for some reason, processed on July 15th, 2022—rather than July 17th, 2022. So, I contacted them on July 15th, 2022, and requested that they change my future recurring monthly donations of $3.00 to the 17th of each month and they replied to me that same day with the following statement: "There shouldn't be an issue with having the payment on the 17th, I will get that switched over for you right now!")

And then, today July 27th, 2022, I also made one-time donations to Democratic political campaigns of $3.00 each for the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic House of Representatives and Senate seats. In addition to that, I made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic gubernatorial—or governor's—seats. Plus, I made an additional one-time donation to my local Democratic Party of Oregon.

Now, here is where my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated: Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

–Paul Whiting (written July 27th, 2022, revised August 27th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised August 30th, 2022, revised September 27th, 2022, revised September 28th, 2022, revised September 30th, 2022, revised November 28th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023 and revised May 2nd, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022): This update is a follow-up to the following:

▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)

Although, this update is similar to that 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' with some exceptions.

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on August 17th, 2022, including my donation to the Democratic Party of Oregon, which processed the previous month on July 15th, 2022, rather than on July 17th, 2022; however, I contacted them last month, on July 15th, 2022, and requested that their monthly recurring donation of $3.00 be processed on the 17th of each month, going forward, which started this month, on August 17th, 2022.

And then, on August 27th, 2022, I also made one-time donations to Democratic political campaigns of $3.00 each for the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic House of Representatives and Senate seats. In addition to that, I made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic gubernatorial—or governor's—seats.

Now, here is where I explained that my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated:

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

So, what differentiates this update from my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' is the fact that I am providing you with the total amount that donated for August 2022:

I donated a total of $[redacted] on August 27th, 2022 to Democratic political campaigns, as described above, within which I also included additional one-time donations to the DLCC (Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee) and to the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee), as well as one-time donations to EMILYs List PAC "to put women into office who can make significant contributions to education, health care, voting rights, and economic equality," and to Planned Parenthood Federal PAC "to support candidates who will advocate for our reproductive health and rights."

In addition to that, I also made a donation of $[redacted] to Wikipedia, since I went onto their website on August 17th, 2022, and they were requesting donations. You see, as a blogger and frequent reader of Wikipedia, I try donate to them whenever they request a donation!

Besides the donations mentioned above, I also made $[redacted] in donations during the month of August 2022, which included several donations to the USO (United Service Organizations), several donations to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), plus, an individual one-time donation to a local news publication the Willamette Week, as well as an individual one-time donation to the news publication The Guardian, in addition to an individual one-time donation to Liz Cheney's leadership PAC "The Great Task." (By the way, I explained my donation to "The Great Task" in my 'August 17th, 2022 Update.')

Plus, I figured out how to track the amounts that I am donating during the month in order to help me budget how much I am spending each month, so that—eventually—I will be paying more each month than I am charging each month on my credit card (hopefully, at least!); but, that is probably not going to happen until after the 2022 Midterm Elections.

Thus, my total donations for the month of August 2022 are $[redacted], which brings my credit card to a grand total of $[redacted]! However, I am donating as much as I can afford to donate in order to help progressive causes that I care about, in addition to supporting the USO as often as I manage, as well as to help Democrats win in the 2022 Midterm Elections!

–Paul Whiting (written August 30th, 2022, revised September 27th, 2022, revised September 28th, 2022, revised September 30th, 2022, revised November 1st, 2022, revised November 28th, 2022, revised December 7th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised June 24th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised August 19th, 2023 and revised May 2nd, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022): This update is a follow-up to the following:

▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)

Although, this update is similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022),' with some exceptions.

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on September 17th, 2022.

And then, on September 27th, 2022 as well as on September 28th, 2022, I also made one-time donations to Democratic political campaigns of $3.00 each for the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic House of Representatives and Senate seats. In addition to that, I made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic gubernatorial—or governor's—seats.

Now, here is where I explained that my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated:

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

So, what differentiates this update from my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as being the same thing that differentiates both my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)' and my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022)' from the aforementioned 'Follow-Up No. 1,' is the fact that I am providing you with the total amount that donated for October 2022:

I donated $[redacted] on October 27th, 2022, to Democratic political campaigns, as described above, within which I also included additional one-time donations to the DNC (Democratic National Committee), to the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee), and to the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee).

Also, in the above-mentioned total of $[redacted], I included one-time donations to EMILYs List PAC "to put women into office who can make significant contributions to education, health care, voting rights, and economic equality," and to Planned Parenthood Federal PAC "to support candidates who will advocate for our reproductive health and rights," plus to VoteVets which "elevates the voices of Veterans and military families through progressive legislative policies and electoral endorsements that impact the lives of active service members, Veterans, and the country" in addition to MeidasTouch that has been "producing the most hard-hitting, impactful and most watched political videos."

In addition to that, in the above-mentioned total of $[redacted], I included one-time donations to elect Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, to elect Tina Kotek as Oregon's next Governor, to elect Oregon's great Democratic Congressional team of Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas and Joe Yetter, to elect Christina Stephenson as Oregon's next Labor Commissioner, as well as to elect Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty.

Besides the donations mentioned above, I also made $[redacted] in donations during the month of October 2022, which included several donations to the USO (United Service Organizations), one-time donations to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army, plus, an individual one-time donation to TruthOut, two one-time donations to The Guardian News, an individual one-time donation to Friends of Willamette Week, an individual one-time donation to UNFPA (formerly known as the 'United Nations Fund for Population Activities' that is now called the 'United Nations Population Fund'), an individual one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and an individual one-time donation to Bolts Magazine. (Whew!)

Plus, I continued to track the amounts that I am donating during the month in order to help me budget how much I am spending each month, so that—eventually—I will be paying more each month than I am charging each month on my credit card (hopefully, at least!); but, that is probably not going to happen until after the 2022 Midterm Elections.

Thus, my total donations for the month of October 2022 are $[redacted], which brings my credit card to a grand total of $[redacted]! (Although, for the sake of clarity, out of that grand total, $[redacted] was for store purchases that I decided to charge to my credit card and pay off later on; thus, my adjusted grand total for political and charitable donations only is "[redacted].") However, I am donating as much as I can afford to donate in order to help progressive causes that I care about, in addition to supporting the USO as often as I manage, as well as to help Democrats win in the 2022 Midterm Elections!

–Paul Whiting (written November 1st, 2022, revised November 28th, 2022, revised December 7th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised June 24th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised August 19th, 2023 and revised May 2nd, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 5, Written On December 7th, 2022): This update is a follow-up to the following:

▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 4, Written On November 1st, 2022)

Although, this update is similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022),' in addition to being similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022),' besides also being similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 4,' Written On November 1st, 2022), Written On November 1st, 2022, with some exceptions. Also, this is the last update that I am providing for this 2022 Midterm Election cycle, since the final race for this midterm election year was held yesterday, December 6th, 2022.

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on November 17th, 2022.

And also, on November 10th, November 12th, November 13th, November 29th, November 30th, December 1st, December 3rd and December 5th, 2022, I made additional one-time donations to the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) and to Democratic political campaigns for particularly close Senate races.

Now, here is where I explained that my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated:

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.

Talk To Someone Now

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

What Happens When I Call The Lifeline?

First, you’ll hear a message telling you that you’ve reached the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

We’ll play you a little hold music while we connect you.

A skilled, trained crisis worker who works at the Lifeline network crisis center closest to you will answer the phone.

This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.

Remember, your call is confidential and free.

Should I Call The Lifeline?

No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline.

People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness, to name a few.

https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now

And below, please find the prose that I wrote from a blog post that I originally published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, and which I am planning to republish for a blog post on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, with regard to World Suicide Prevention Day, which is September 10th each year:

...In the past, I struggled with suicidal thoughts. So, you are not alone.

Therefore, if you feel like you are suicidal, please get help, so that—someday—you too can tell someone who might be suicidal:

"In the past, I struggled with suicidal thoughts..."

Thus, I decided to write this update about the new "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" name and phone number. So, if you feel like you are in crisis—or if you feel like you are suicidal—please dial "988" to get help!

–Paul Whiting (written July 17th, 2022, revised July 21st, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised March 27th, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023 and revised September 10th, 2024)

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988

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July 19th, 2022 Update: I received an email from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) today, July 19th, 2022, with the subject line, "We Need Your Help to Pass the Pact Act", which stated, in part, the following:

Paul,

Last week the Honoring Our PACT Act passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote of 342-88. Now the PACT Act will be voted on by the Senate soon! We need your help more now than ever in getting this vital legislation passed so those suffering from military toxic exposures receive the VA healthcare and disability benefits they deserve.

You can help by asking your US Senators to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act. Use this link to call your US Senator today.

Call Your US Senator:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm?utm_source=EML_CUL_071922PACTAct_Email-Header_camp-TakeAction&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=TakeAction

Onward!

[Name redacted], [Title redacted], Government Affairs for IAVA

However, rather than calling my Senators, I wrote to them instead, since I usually communicate in writing to my Senators—that way, I have a written record of what I communicated. So, I sent email letters to my Senators, on their websites, urging them to support passing this critical legislation, which can be found below:

Message Subject: Please vote to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act

Dear Senator [Name],

Last week the Honoring Our PACT Act passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote of 342-88. Now the PACT Act will be voted on by the Senate soon!

Veterans need your help more now than ever in getting this vital legislation passed so that those suffering from military toxic exposures receive the VA healthcare and disability benefits they deserve.

So, I am writing to you today to ask that you please vote to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act!

Thank you for your time and for your consideration in this matter.

Yours very truly,

-Paul Whiting
[Street Address and Apt. No. redacted]
Portland, Oregon
[ZIP Code redacted]

And, after I sent those letters to my Senators, I made a one-time donation to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) in order to show my support for our U.S. Veterans!

–Paul Whiting (written July 19th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised March 10th, 2023, revised October 23rd, 2023 and revised November 30th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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"July 27th, 2022 Update" [Written Originally As A 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)']: This update is a follow-up to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022' and it is kind of complicated!

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on July 17th, 2022. (The only exception to that was my donation to the Democratic Party of Oregon which, for some reason, processed on July 15th, 2022—rather than July 17th, 2022. So, I contacted them on July 15th, 2022, and requested that they change my future recurring monthly donations of $3.00 to the 17th of each month and they replied to me that same day with the following statement: "There shouldn't be an issue with having the payment on the 17th, I will get that switched over for you right now!")

And then, today July 27th, 2022, I also made one-time donations to Democratic political campaigns of $3.00 each for the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic House of Representatives and Senate seats. In addition to that, I made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic gubernatorial—or governor's—seats. Plus, I made an additional one-time donation to my local Democratic Party of Oregon.

Now, here is where my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated: Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

–Paul Whiting (written July 27th, 2022, revised August 27th, 2022, revised August 28th, 2022, revised August 30th, 2022, revised September 27th, 2022, revised September 28th, 2022, revised September 30th, 2022, revised November 28th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023 and revised May 2nd, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR AUGUST:

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August 5th, 2022 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, August 5th, 2022, with the subject line, "Kansas showed the power of our vote. We're here to protect it.", which stated the following:

Paul –

In a monumental election this Tuesday, voters in Kansas defeated a ballot measure that would've given politicians unlimited authority to restrict access to abortion care in the state.

People came to the polls and made it clear that abortion is a right we will fight for – a right that now continues to be protected by the Kansas Constitution. That is decidedly the power of voters.

Coincidentally, tomorrow also happens to mark the 57th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) – a landmark legislation that was signed into law at the height of the civil rights movement, which you can and should dig deeper on by reading our latest piece posted up about it today.

https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/fifty-seven-years-after-its-enactment-the-voting-rights-act-is-in-peril

But why bring these two matters up together today? Let us explain.

The VRA was designed to protect voting rights for all Americans – especially Black voters, who have continuously been disenfranchised throughout our history. For decades since its signing, the VRA stood as a bulwark against racially discriminatory voting practices. But in recent years, Supreme Court decisions – including 2013's Shelby County v. Holder and 2021's Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee – have gutted the heart of the VRA.

This opened the floodgates to wave after wave of anti-voting legislation and, in no small way, helped establish state legislatures across the country that do not accurately represent the will of the people.

Many of those legislatures in turn have passed increasingly unpopular and hostile restrictions against people's rights throughout the years – including a surge of abortion bans that have been unfolding long before the recent fall of Roe.

So especially as elections like Kansas' continue to take place across the states from now until November, the ACLU knows more than ever that attacks on our civil liberties are not isolated – and the fight to defend them cannot be won that way either. We must be present and relentless on every level and at every front. At the ACLU, that's exactly what we're doing.

That's also why we're writing to you about this today – to remind you that while so much is at stake, we're not giving up. On the ballot, in the courts, and in state legislatures, we won't stop fighting for your safe and equal right to vote, nor will we stop defending every other right currently under threat.

And victories like in Kansas – hard-won by the collective efforts of dedicated organizers, volunteers, and activists like you – show us that together we can and will win.

So please stay tuned for more on how you can take part in our work for the midterms and beyond – and in the meantime, take a second to reflect on the VRA and the crucial fight that's before us.

https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/fifty-seven-years-after-its-enactment-the-voting-rights-act-is-in-peril

Thank you for being with us,

The ACLU Team

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced article, which can be found below (although, I did not include any of the hyperlinks contained in the article):

"Fifty-Seven Years After its Enactment, the Voting Rights Act is in Peril" from the ACLU:

This week marks 57 years since the signing of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), landmark legislation that ensured the right to vote was protected for all Americans.

In the decades following the Civil War, states in the South enacted discriminatory measures, such as poll taxes and literary tests, in order to stop Black Americans from voting. Not to be deterred, voting rights activists protested and mobilized, but were met with brutal violence and intimidation. These efforts culminated in 1965, as voting rights activists seeking to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama were severely beaten and bloodied. The nation watched, shocked and outraged, which pushed President Lyndon B. Johnson to call on Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to protect the right to vote. The result was the crown jewel of the civil rights movement: the VRA.

The VRA was designed to enforce voting rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution, and to secure the right to vote for racial minorities throughout the country, especially for Black voters in the South. For decades since its signing, the VRA has stood as a bulwark against racially discriminatory voting practices and paved the way for 45 years of progress on voting rights. But over the last decade, instead of protecting the VRA and expanding access to the ballot box, the Supreme Court and courts across the country have dismantled and gutted crucial parts of the VRA.

For decades, the VRA stood against racially discriminatory voting. Still, the Supreme Court and courts across the U.S. have crippled crucial parts of the VRA.

First, in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder case, the Supreme Court eviscerated Section 5, one of the VRA’s most effective guardrails. Prior to this decision, states and counties with the worst histories and recent records of racial discrimination in voting had to obtain federal “preclearance” — that is, approval from the Department of Justice or a federal court — before implementing any changes to voting laws and practices, to ensure they did not curtail the right to vote for minority voters. Shelby County struck down the formula used to identify which states and localities were required to do so, gutting the heart of the VRA and opening the floodgates to wave after wave of anti-voting legislation.

Then last year, the Supreme Court dealt another blow to the critical protections provided in the VRA. In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, the court erected significant new barriers to lawsuits brought under Section 2 of the act, the nationwide prohibition on racially discriminatory voting laws. The new standard is completely at odds with the VRA’s purpose — to eradicate racial discrimination in voting, no matter how blunt or subtle.

In 2021 alone, more than 400 anti-voter measures were introduced by states across the country, many of which will disproportionately burden voters of color.

The attacks on the VRA have not abated. Just last month, the Supreme Court reinstated Louisiana’s congressional map, despite a federal court ruling that the map was racially discriminatory and likely violated the VRA. This is a repeat of what occurred earlier this year in Alabama. There, the Supreme Court allowed yet another...racially discriminatory congressional map to stand in the face of a federal court ruling that it likely violated the VRA. It’s clear the robust federal safeguards instated by the VRA to protect the right to vote are quickly being rolled back.

At the same time, politicians across the country continue to push the big lie that the 2020 election was stolen. This lie not only led to the attack we saw on the Capitol on January 6, but is fueling even more voter suppression legislation across the country.

In 2021 alone, more than 400 anti-voter measures were introduced by states across the country, many of which will disproportionately burden voters of color. This relentless assault on voting rights shows no signs of receding. These measures run the gamut from restricting access to vote by mail, eliminating Election Day registration, and making it more difficult to vote early in person to criminalizing efforts by local election administrators to assist voters. Additionally, like in Louisiana, several states have enacted new electoral maps that systemically minimize the voting strength of Black voters.

As we reflect on the 57th anniversary of VRA, there should be no question that the right to vote is under siege and that these efforts to interfere with and minimize our right to vote fall heaviest on already marginalized people, especially Black communities. We still have so much work ahead of us to ensure every eligible American has the right to vote. Here at the ACLU we’ve redoubled our efforts to fight for voting rights in courts, in state legislatures, and on the streets. For over 100 years we’ve protected the civil liberties of all Americans, and we’ll continue to be on the frontlines of this fight to protect our rights.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/congress-protect-our-voting-rights

And, after I read the email's referenced article above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

CONGRESS: PROTECT OUR VOTING RIGHTS

Voters of color continue to be impacted by discriminatory election practices intended to diminish their voting power. In 2021 alone, in the wake of record levels of turnout for the presidential election, a wave of anti-voter measures were introduced across the states – many of which will disproportionately disenfranchise Black and Brown voters. These measures include making it a crime to provide food or water to voters waiting in line, strict limits on drop boxes for absentee ballots, racially gerrymandered district maps, and more. As midterm elections approach this year, we expect these blatant suppression tactics to continue.

The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act includes crucial provisions to restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act that will begin to root out voting barriers that discriminate against voters of color. There's no time to wait: We must urge the Senate to pass this crucial law now.

So, I sent letters to my U.S. House Representative and Senators in Congress, which can be seen below:

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject

Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act

As your constituent, I urge you to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Passing this bill will protect our fundamental right to vote and defend us against discrimination.

The removal of critical protections from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 catalyzed a race to stop people of color from voting. Since then, states have been able to engage in voter suppression with impunity. In 2021 alone, 34 anti-voter laws passed in 19 states, often purposefully targeting people of color through tactics including restraints on voter registration and absentee voting, racially gerrymandered district maps, and more. And given the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, which unduly narrows the Voting Rights Act – it is clearly up to Congress to do what is necessary to protect the rights of all voters in this country.

The price of inaction is high, and history shows it. With midterm elections fast approaching, I’m asking you to act now to cement the legacy of the Voting Rights Act and guard the rights of all Americans.

It's long past due for Congress to renew vital voting protections. Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act now.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/congress-protect-our-voting-rights

Thus, I sent letters to my U.S. House Representative and Senators in Congress urging them to pass the "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act." And after I sent letters to my U.S. House Representative and Senators in Congress, I also made a donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for passing the "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" in celebration of the "Voting Rights Act," because the right to vote is fundamental to our Democracy. –Paul Whiting (written August 5th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023 and revised June 5th, 2023)

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August 16th, 2022 Update: The following is a comment that I wrote upon making a one-time donation to a local news publication, the Willamette Week (WW) [Willamette Week is a local news publication here in Portland, Oregon—and I am a monthly contributor to the Willamette Week], regarding an article that I read on their website titled, "This Is the Story of the Rise and Fall of the Ferrymen of the Willamette." And this article is about the local history here in Portland, Oregon of the attempt by Willamette River ferrymen in August of 1887 to pull down the newly-constructed Morrison Bridge:

I donated today, August 16th, 2022, to Willamette Week for the really excellent article titled, "This Is the Story of the Rise and Fall of the Ferrymen of the Willamette" by Dr. Mitchell Millar, which was published on August 29, 2016.

Thus, I was truly moved by the poignancy of Dr. Millar's article, which regaled the reader with tales of his "great-great-grandfather Rudyard Millar, who worked for many years as a ferryman of the Willamette River."

You see, I had heard tell of the attempt by the ferrymen in 1887 to pull down the newly-constructed Morrison Bridge—so I decided to search online to find more information about this history-making event—and to hear of it directly through the perception of an actual ferryman, during that time period, made understanding the intensity of the situation that much more meaningful.

Thank you again for this wonderful article!

Yours very truly,

Paul Whiting
Poet, Artist and Philosopher
Portland, Oregon

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.wweek.com/culture/2016/08/29/this-is-the-story-of-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-ferrymen-of-the-willamette

And the reason that I wrote this update—regarding making a donation to a local news publication for enjoying the above-mentioned article—is because I consider supporting independent journalism as an integral part of my "Online Activism!" –Paul Whiting (written August 16th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)
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August 16th, 2022 Update (Follow-Up, Written On September 30th, 2022): I received and email today, September 30th, 2022, from Friends of Willamette Week (FOWW) [Willamette Week is a local news publication here in Portland, Oregon—and I am a monthly contributor to the Willamette Week] with the subject line, "👀 Paul, who are you?", which stated the following:

Paul,

Now that you know more about us, we’d like to know more about you. We feel like we barely know you and we’d like to change that! We are curious about who you are and why you decided to become a Friend of Willamette Week. Would you mind telling us a bit about yourself by answering a few questions?

Thanks for sharing with us and have a wonderful weekend!

With gratitude,

[Names redacted]
Your Friends at Willamette Week

So, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage and responded to the following questions:

We want to get to know you!

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Email: [redacted]

What's your history with WW?

I am originally from Utah (pronounced "you-taw") in the Salt Lake City area, but specifically I "hell" from Cottonwood Heights, which is located on the eastern benches of the Salt Lake Valley at the end of the majestic Wasatch Mountains. And I moved from (read: fled) Utah in 1999 and I came to Portland, Oregon, because I "herd" from a friend, who was also from Salt Lake City, that Portland felt a lot like the good parts of Salt Lake. And she was right! Thus, Portland is where I first read Willamette Week after probably seeing it used as a rain-soaked bench drying pad!

What is your favorite part of the paper?

My favorite part of the paper is the part where I can write haiku poems on it...

...But seriously, folks, I used to read Willamette Week (WW) on public transportation (before I started walking everywhere I go), or I would occasionally snag a copy and share it with roommates, or even hoard it all to myself, in whatever place I happened to park my butt at the time. Nowadays, I mostly read WW—and I also try to make a donation to support WW—when it comes time to read WW voter endorsements and vote!

Why did you become a supporting reader through Friends of Willamette Week?

I read a Willamette Week article titled, "This Is the Story of the Rise and Fall of the Ferrymen of the Willamette" by Dr. Mitchell Millar, which was published on August 29, 2016. And, to clarify, I usually only read Willamette Week these days (since I stopped taking public transportation) when it comes time to vote! However, on August 16th, 2022, I was thinking about the history of the ferryman here in Portland, when the Morrison Bridge was first built, and how the ferrymen tried to pull the bridge down, so I searched online for some telling history of those incredible events and I found the aforementioned article.

Do you have a favorite WW story or moment?

Please see my answer to the question above.

What's your favorite thing about living here?

Well, I really don't have only one favorite thing about Portland, Oregon. You see, I like raindrops on International Rose Test Garden roses, and whiskers on kittens, bright IKEA® kettles, and cruelty-free mittens, brown papered Higher Taste® Burritos with vegan cheese that strings...these are just a few of my favorite things!

Why does local independent journalism matter to you?

Independent journalism matters to me because, without independent journalism, I fear that we are all going to be annexed by Russia!

Anything else you want to share with us?

Yes! Here is a link to my blog post update titled, 'August 16th, 2022 Update' from my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog with regard to that 'Ferrymen of the Willamette' article that I read on Willamette Week, which is why I recently donated to Friends of Willamette Week:

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html

Thus, I decided to post what I wrote to Willamette Week in their questionnaire on this 'update,' since I felt that these answers were relevant to my 'August 16th, 2022 Update.' –Paul Whiting (written September 30th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised June 5th, 2023)

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August 17th, 2022 Update: I donated to a Republican today, August 17th, 2022, for the very first time in my life! And that Republican is Liz Cheney.

You see, after I read about Liz Cheney's defeat of her seat in the House of Representatives for Wyoming, I decided to show my support for Ms. Cheney by making a donation to her campaign, even though I knew that I would be donating to her campaign after the fact. And when I went to her website, I found that her campaign committee had been transformed into a new leadership political action committee (PAC) called "The Great Task," which is named after her final ad of the campaign. (Please see the hyperlink below for the video.)

Watch "The Great Task" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/FiHEi0SsqNQ

Thus, I decided to say "Thank you" to Liz Cheney for standing up to the "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was stolen by making as generous of a one-time donation for me as possible—which was the minimum amount in 'three figures' that I could afford donate—to her leadership PAC "The Great Task."

https://greattask.com

Therefore, I wanted to let you know of my decision to support Liz Cheney's leadership PAC "The Great Task" as a way to honor the work that Ms. Cheney as done in doing what was "right" by holding those accountable who would try to subvert free and fair elections in the United States of America in the name of one personality.

https://greattask.com

So, I am also writing this update to ask you, the reader, to please consider joining me in supporting "The Great Task" in standing up to the "Big Lie," since voting should be freely exercised by the "Red" (Republicans), "White" (Independents) and "Blue" (Democrats), because it is a fundamental right. –Paul Whiting (written August 17th, 2022, revised August 18th, 2022, revised November 11th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022 and revised April 28th, 2023)
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August 17th, 2022 Update—Clarification, Written On August 18th, 2022: This is a clarification to my 'August 17th, 2022 Update,' which was—apparently—read by at least one Opinion Columnist at The New York Times, as evidenced by a quote from an August 17th, 2022 article titled, "Republicans Are America’s Problem." The relevant quote from the article can be found below:

"First, let me say, I have no intention of contributing to the hagiography of Liz Cheney. She is a rock-ribbed Republican who supported Trump’s legislative positions 93 percent of the time. It is on the insurrection and election lies where she diverged."

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/17/opinion/republicans-cheney-trump-democracy.html

And I totally see the point by this Times Opinion Columnist, but the reason that I was advocating for supporting Liz Cheney's new leadership PAC "The Great Task" is for the very reason that she diverged from the "Big Lie" of the "Big Liar."

Although, I may be naive! Because I could be an unwitting pawn in a larger, diabolically evil plot by Republicans to get me, "A Dark Blue Democrat," to donate to a Republican!

And Democrats in Montana who switched their party to Republican—as requested by Liz Cheney, so that they could vote for Ms. Cheney in the Montana 2022 Primary Election—could also have been unwitting pawns in a larger, diabolically evil plot by Republicans to get them, as Democrats, to switch their party to Republican!

However, we need way more Liz Cheneys in the Republican Party—not way less. Because it's the 'Liz Cheney Republicans' who are standing up to the "Big Lie" of the "Big Liar."

And the 'Cheneyian Republicans' are the only ones really in a position to stop the "Big Liar," since they are, in fact, Republican. Thus, the 'Cheneyions' (read: Liz Cheney-Like Champions) are the only ones capable of influencing other Republicans, as evidenced by another quote from the above-mentioned Times opinion article:

"In a way, she is the Elvis of politics: She took something — in this case a position — that others had held all along and made it cross over. She mainstreamed a political principle that many liberals had held all along."

And that is what's important about the heroic work of 'The Cheneyion' (read: Liz Cheney, The Champion): "She mainstreamed a political principle that many liberals had held all along."

But that's just my opinion.

–Paul Whiting (written August 18th, 2022, revised August 19th, 2022, revised November 11th, 2022, revised December 19th, 2022 and revised April 21st, 2023)

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"August 30th, 2022 Update" [Written Originally As A 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)'] This update is a follow-up to the following:

▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)

Although, this update is similar to that 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' with some exceptions.

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on August 17th, 2022, including my donation to the Democratic Party of Oregon, which processed the previous month on July 15th, 2022, rather than on July 17th, 2022; however, I contacted them last month, on July 15th, 2022, and requested that their monthly recurring donation of $3.00 be processed on the 17th of each month, going forward, which started this month, on August 17th, 2022.

And then, on August 27th, 2022, I also made one-time donations to Democratic political campaigns of $3.00 each for the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic House of Representatives and Senate seats. In addition to that, I made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic gubernatorial—or governor's—seats.

Now, here is where I explained that my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated:

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

So, what differentiates this update from my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' is the fact that I am providing you with the total amount that donated for August 2022:

I donated a total of $[redacted] on August 27th, 2022 to Democratic political campaigns, as described above, within which I also included additional one-time donations to the DLCC (Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee) and to the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee), as well as one-time donations to EMILYs List PAC "to put women into office who can make significant contributions to education, health care, voting rights, and economic equality," and to Planned Parenthood Federal PAC "to support candidates who will advocate for our reproductive health and rights."

In addition to that, I also made a donation of $[redacted] to Wikipedia, since I went onto their website on August 17th, 2022, and they were requesting donations. You see, as a blogger and frequent reader of Wikipedia, I try donate to them whenever they request a donation!

Besides the donations mentioned above, I also made $[redacted] in donations during the month of August 2022, which included several donations to the USO (United Service Organizations), several donations to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), plus, an individual one-time donation to a local news publication the Willamette Week, as well as an individual one-time donation to the news publication The Guardian, in addition to an individual one-time donation to Liz Cheney's leadership PAC "The Great Task." (By the way, I explained my donation to "The Great Task" in my 'August 17th, 2022 Update.')

Plus, I figured out how to track the amounts that I am donating during the month in order to help me budget how much I am spending each month, so that—eventually—I will be paying more each month than I am charging each month on my credit card (hopefully, at least!); but, that is probably not going to happen until after the 2022 Midterm Elections.

Thus, my total donations for the month of August 2022 are $[redacted], which brings my credit card to a grand total of $[redacted]! However, I am donating as much as I can afford to donate in order to help progressive causes that I care about, in addition to supporting the USO as often as I manage, as well as to help Democrats win in the 2022 Midterm Elections!

–Paul Whiting (written August 30th, 2022, revised September 27th, 2022, revised September 28th, 2022, revised September 30th, 2022, revised November 1st, 2022, revised November 28th, 2022, revised December 7th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised June 24th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised August 19th, 2023 and revised May 2nd, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR SEPTEMBER:

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For my "September 5th, 2022 Update, Written On September 4th, 2022"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

September 5th, 2022 Update, Written On September 4th, 2022: Happy Labor Day, everyone!

In celebration of Labor Day, and out of respect for the work that is done each and every day by our U.S. Military Personnel, I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations), because "the USO works to keep America’s military heroes connected to family, home and country as they make immense sacrifices to protect our nation."

And I made this donation for Labor Day in response to an email that I received from the USO today, September 4th, 2022, with the subject line, "If it wasn’t for the USO, I wouldn’t be here," which stated the following:

Paul, according to USO volunteer Gene Maynard, he might not be here if it weren’t for the USO. "My parents never would've met," he said. "That's really the full circle."

It was at a USO dance in Chicago nearly 80 years ago that Maxine, a shy girl visiting from Iowa, met Norm, a dashing combat engineer who had just enlisted in the U.S. Army. What followed was a whirlwind romance cut short by the difficult reality of World War II.

Two months after that dance, Norm arrived on Omaha Beach just six days after D-Day. Over the next year, Norm and his unit made their way through the country, attacking German-occupied strongholds and coming under frequent fire themselves. They faced several close calls, including one where Norm was shot in the head — but miraculously, he survived.

When the war in Europe ended in May 1945, Norm continued to serve in Paris. Then, his unit was notified that they were about to be deployed to Japan, where the war in the Pacific theater raged on. Norm worried that he'd never see Maxine again, but just before his unit was set to depart, Japan surrendered, and the war was over. The moment he arrived back home, Norm asked Maxine to marry him.

Today, their son Gene chooses to volunteer with the USO because he knows firsthand how much our support means to service members like his father and to loved ones back home like his mother.

Norm and Maxine wrote to each other almost every day during his deployment, leaving behind hundreds of love letters and several photos from their time apart. Gene knows how meaningful those moments of connection were for his parents, and he's proud to be a part of the USO's mission to keep today's service members connected to family, home and country through every step of their military journey.

You are an important part of this mission too, Paul. We'll be sharing inspiring stories like this one all month long to give military supporters a chance to deepen their connection with service members and military families — so stay tuned!

Thank you for being a part of this patriotic community,

The USO

The USO works to keep America’s military heroes connected to family, home and country as they make immense sacrifices to protect our nation. But our work is only possible because of the generous support of patriotic Americans like you. Will you make a gift today so the USO can continue supporting troops around the world as they risk their lives to keep us safe?

DONATE NOW***

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And I made this one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can’t do that without support from military supporters like you. Our troops are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "September 5th, 2022 Update, Written On September 4th, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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September 6th, 2022 Update, Written On September 7th, 2022: I usually check on what is happening in the news via various Google searches that I do on a fairly frequent basis under the following topics:

▪ American News
▪ United States News
▪ USA News
▪ President Biden News
▪ Joe Biden News
▪ Democrats News
▪ Republicans News
▪ Political News
▪ World News
▪ Global Warming News
▪ Workers On Strike News
▪ Portland Oregon News

Then, from those searches, I read the news articles that I feel are the most important for me to read!

And today, September 7th, 2022, under the Google search "Political News," I noticed a September 6th, 2022 article on The New York Times with the headline, "Former Pentagon Leaders Warn of a Dangerous Era," which also has a subheading that states, "The challenge to the 2020 election result has helped create 'an extremely adverse environment,' former defense secretaries and generals said in an open letter."

And this Times article references an article published on the website "War on the Rocks," which contains the aforementioned open letter.

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/us/politics/trump-military-letter.html

And I decided to highlight this article from The New York Times for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written September 7th, 2022, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 31st, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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The Passing Of Queen Elizabeth II

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September 8th, 2022 Update, The Passing Of Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born April 21st, 1926; died September 8th, 2022): In order to honor the past reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away today, September 8th, 2022, at the age of 96, after reigning for over 70 years in the United Kingdom (UK) and fourteen other Commonwealth realms, I listened to "Mozart's Requiem Mass in D minor" in order to express my utmost respect for Great Britain's longest reigning monarch. –Paul Whiting (written September 8th, 2022 and revised September 9th, 2022)

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The Ascension Of King Charles III

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September 8th, 2022 Update—Continued, The Ascension Of King Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948): In order to honor the future reign of King Charles III, who ascended to the throne of the United Kingdom (UK) and fourteen other Commonwealth realms today, September 8th, 2022, I listened to "British Classical Music Masterpieces" in order to express my utmost respect for Great Britain's future reigning monarch. –Paul Whiting (written September 8th, 2022 and revised September 9th, 2022)

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For my "September 11th, 2022 Update, Written On September 9th, 2022"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

September 11th, 2022 Update, Written On September 9th, 2022: In remembrance of September 11th, 2001, I signed a card from the USO (United Service Organizations) in order to "make sure our troops know how much we appreciate them," because "the USO set a goal to fill this thank-you card with 181,510 signatures -- one for each service member who enlisted in the year following the September 1‌1 attacks." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "September 11th, 2022 Update, Written On September 9th, 2022":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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September 12th, 2022 Update: I received an email from ACLU People Power today, September 12th, 2022, with the subject line, "Action Alert: Pass the Respect for Marriage Act!", which stated the following:

Paul,

Any day now, the Senate could vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would safeguard protections that marriage equality has brought to hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples and their families across the country from an increasingly radical Supreme Court.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, it is more important than ever that we enshrine our court-protected civil liberties into law.

The Respect for Marriage Act passed the House in July with a large, bipartisan vote of 267-157, making it the most pro-LGBTQ vote in Congressional history. Now, the Respect for Marriage Act is in the hands of our senators — and they need to hear from us, Paul.

It’s time for the Senate to get the job done and pass this bill to safeguard the protections of marriage equality, ensuring that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under federal law. Will you send a message to your senators now and urge them to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act?

Send a message »***

The Respect for Marriage Act would safeguard some of the protections of marriage equality even if the Supreme Court overturns crucial cases like Obergefell v. Hodges. Specifically, this critical bill would:

[✓] Guarantee federal recognition of the lawful marriages of same-sex couples
[✓] Completely repeal the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act,” which banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage
[✓] Ensure that lawful out-of-state marriages are respected even as couples cross state lines

This bill has strong bipartisan support and undeniable momentum — but we need your help to get it across the finish line.

Send a message to your senators today urging them to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to safeguard the protections of marriage equality.

Thanks for using your voice!

— ACLU People Power

Any day now, the Senate could vote on the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would safeguard protections that marriage equality has brought to hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples and their families across the country from an increasingly radical Supreme Court.

It’s time for the Senate to get the job done and pass this bill to safeguard the protections of marriage equality, ensuring that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under federal law.

Send a message to your senators now and urge them to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act.

The Respect for Marriage Act would safeguard some of the protections of marriage equality even if the Supreme Court overturns crucial cases like Obergefell v. Hodges. Specifically, the Respect for Marriage Act would:

[✓] Guarantee federal recognition of the lawful marriages of same-sex couples
[✓] Completely repeal the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act,” which banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage
[✓] Ensure that lawful out-of-state marriages are respected even as couples cross state lines

This bill passed the House in July with a large, bipartisan vote of 267-157, making it the most pro-LGBTQ vote in Congressional history. Now, the Respect for Marriage Act is in the hands of our senators — and they need to hear from us.

Send a message to your senators today urging them to pass the Respect for Marriage Act to safeguard the protections of marriage equality.

So, I sent letters to my Senators, which can be seen below:

Dear Senator [Name],

As your constituent, I’m urging you to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act to safeguard the protections that marriage has brought to hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples and their families across the country.

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, I became alarmed by the likelihood that other rights could soon come under attack— like marriage equality.

In July, your colleagues in the House of Representatives passed this crucial bill with a bipartisan vote of 267-157, making it the most pro-LGBTQ vote in Congressional history. Now, the Senate must do the same.

The Respect for Marriage Act would guarantee federal recognition of the lawful marriages of same-sex couples, fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and protect a couple’s lawful marriage regardless of state lines. This bill is critical to ensuring that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under the law.

I urge you to vote YES on the Respect for Marriage Act without delay.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Paul Whiting

And, after I sent letters to my Senators in Congress, as mentioned above, I also made a donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for passing the Respect for Marriage Act and to do my part to help "protect and respect" same-sex marriages in the United States of America.

–Paul Whiting (written September 12th, 2022, revised September 13th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised June 5th, 2023)

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September 14th, 2022 Update: I received an email from ACLU People Power today, September 14th, 2022, with the subject line, "Paul, will you ask your senator to protect pregnant workers?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

[Name redacted] here, following up on an email I sent you last week about the urgent and overdue Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

I wanted to make sure you had a chance to check out this article in The Nation about our fight to pass PWFA. Long story short, we need senators to fight harder to pass crucial protections for pregnant workers.

I have to be honest with you — I’m disappointed and I’m frustrated. You’ve been fighting with us to advance reproductive justice at every level, and senators on both sides of the aisle haven’t even done this basic thing – protecting pregnant workers.

Email your Senator today to ask them to make sure PWFA passes now.

Send your message »***

Now, I’m frustrated, but I’m hopeful too. Because of conversations with staffers working on Capitol Hill, I know that PWFA is a priority for many senators and they’re fighting with us to make sure it passes. I’m also hopeful because in the last few weeks we’ve seen an outpouring of support from advocates like you. And that's what we need in order to get across the finish line.

Here’s the scoop: the Senate needs to pass PWFA before senators head out the door later this month or early October. We know we have the votes to pass PWFA now. If the Senate delays a vote on PWFA until November or December, we’re still going to keep fighting for passage but it definitely gets riskier. Nobody knows what could happen at the end of the year. So now is the time!

It’s been a tough year for families and workers. And now, more than ever, pregnant workers need protection and shouldn’t be so easily dismissed by our senators.

Email your Senator today to ask them to pass PWFA now.

Thank you for standing with us and with pregnant workers and their families!

Onward,
[Name redacted]

Tell Your Senators: It’s Time to Vote on PWFA Now

For years, ACLU activists have been advocating for lawmakers to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), an overdue bill that would combat pregnancy discrimination and protect the health and safety of pregnant workers. Thanks to the hard work of activists like you, PWFA has made great progress, and finally has the bipartisan votes to pass in the Senate!

Yet, the Senate has continually delayed a vote on PWFA. This isn’t right! Time is running out and we need a vote on PWFA in September.

Send an email to your senators and tell them they must push for a vote on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act now.

So, I sent letters to my Senators, which can be seen below:

Dear Senator [Name],

I’m writing today because it is disappointing and unacceptable that Senate leaders have not scheduled a vote for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (S. 1486). This critical bill would safeguard the health and economic security of pregnant workers and it has the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate. There is no good reason for this delay.

As your constituent, I’m asking that you speak up about the urgent need to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and that you speak to Senate leadership about scheduling a vote right away.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Paul Whiting

And, after I sent letters to my Senators in Congress, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and to do my part to help protect pregnant workers in the United States of America.

–Paul Whiting (written September 14th, 2022, revised September 15th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised June 5th, 2023 and revised August 9th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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September 14th, 2022 Update—Continued: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Votes today, September 14th, 2022, today, September 14th, 2022,

Paul —

Yesterday, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Chris Smith got in front of news cameras to confirm their ultimate goal: Put them in the Senate majority, and they will immediately move to ban abortion nationwide.

We can't let that happen. Make your emergency donation to Planned Parenthood Votes now to help elect leaders who will restore and protect the right to abortion.

In case you had any doubt, it's crystal clear now. There is a legion of lawmakers hellbent on banning abortion nationwide. They don't care that the majority of Americans reject attacks on abortion. They don't care how many states try to protect abortion rights within their borders. They don't care how much suffering and injustice abortion bans have caused, are causing, or will cause.

Every election they win brings them one step closer to banning abortion in every single state. And without the protections of Roe v. Wade to stop them, there is only one thing standing in the way: Us.

You and me and millions of people who believe that people have the right to control their own bodies — we are the last line of defense. It's time to take control of this election — make your gift now to help educate, organize, and mobilize voters.

We already know how dangerous abortion bans are. Right now, 16 states have abortion bans in effect, and every single day brings more stories of patients denied care and people forced to flee their home states. One in three American women now lives in a state where they no longer have control over their bodies.

If Republicans win the majority in Congress this November, their first order of business will be to try to enact a nationwide abortion ban. Senate candidates like Blake Masters in Arizona and Herschel Walker in Georgia are eager to help make that nightmare a reality.

Between now and November 8, our focus needs to be razor sharp: Make sure they never get that chance. Planned Parenthood Votes is putting every resource we have into registering voters and raising awareness about what's at stake. Will you help by making an emergency gift right now?

We've got a lot of work ahead of us, Paul, but we know what we are fighting for, and we know how much it matters. It's good to have you with us.

In solidarity,
[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Votes

DONATE NOW »***

Why Climate Resilience Is Like a Tiger Chase

Imagine the climate crisis is a tiger. And this tiger… it’s chasing us. We need to slow it down, but we HAVE to move faster too. By doing both, and centering justice, we create climate resilience. That’s a world worth building—and you can help: https://act.ucsusa.org/tiger

~~https://youtu.be/bztG1vzM9x4~~

By the way, when I was editing this 'update' on April 27th, 2023, I noticed that the original hyperlink above does not work anymore, so I did a search on YouTube for the video and found it had been reuploaded, as can be seen below:

https://youtu.be/GUl_k2yaXZw*

*This video is a reupload.

And, after I watched the video above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced website, which can be found below:

Tell Congress: We Need to Invest in a Climate Resilient Future

It is clear that climate change is happening now, and even if we reduce emissions today, communities will still be feeling the impacts for some time to come. That's why it's crucial for Congress to pass the National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act to establish and invest in a national strategy to better prepare and safeguard frontline communities and infrastructure now and into the future.

Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor and continue to this crritical climate resilience legislation today.

So, I sent letters to my Members of Congress, which can be seen below:

Subject: Support the NCARS Act for a more resilient future

To: Members of Congress

With increasingly frequent extreme weather and climate change-related impacts such as rapidly intensifying hurricanes, worsening drought and wildfires, and deadly heatwaves, I am concerned for the safety of my community and country.

In 2021 alone, there were 20 separate extreme weather disasters exceeding one-billion dollars each costing the nation $148 billion, and hundreds of lives. That’s why I am asking you to support bipartisan climate resilience legislation by cosponsoring the National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy (NCARS) Act, which will invest in adapting our communities to ongoing and future climate impacts and streamline the federal response to climate hazards to better protect our communities and economy from climate threats.

Please cosponsor and continue to support NCARS to invest in making our communities and nation more prepared and resilient to existing and future climate impacts—our safety is at stake.

Sincerely,

Paul Whiting

And, after I sent letters to my Members of Congress, as mentioned above, I also made a donation to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in order to show my support for passing the National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy (NCARS) Act, because climate resilience is up to us! –Paul Whiting (written September 24th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

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"September 30th, 2022 Update" [Written Originally As A 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022)']: This update is a follow-up to the following:

▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)

Although, this update is similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022),' with some exceptions.

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on September 17th, 2022.

And then, on September 27th, 2022 as well as on September 28th, 2022, I also made one-time donations to Democratic political campaigns of $3.00 each for the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic House of Representatives and Senate seats. In addition to that, I made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic gubernatorial—or governor's—seats.

Now, here is where I explained that my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated:

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

USO: National Guard is aiding civilians affected by Hurricane Ian. Support our troops in Florida and around the world***

Then, I made two more donations based upon a Time Magazine article that I read titled, "How to Help Victims of Hurricane Ian," which I heard about today, October 1st, 2022, from one of the daily emails that I receive from Time since I am a subscriber:

https://time.com/6218933/how-to-help-hurricane-ian-victims

And, out of the many organizations mentioned in the Time article, one of the organizations to which I chose to donate was the American Red Cross.

https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-ian-donations.html

Plus, another one of the organizations mentioned in the Time article to which I chose to donate was The Salvation Army:

https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Thus, I made these one-time donations in order to help those affected by Hurricane Ian which, when it first made landfall, was a Category 4 hurricane!

–Paul Whiting (written October 1st, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised February 7th, 2023, revised February 8th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised August 14th, 2023 and revised June 5th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
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October 1st, 2022 Update (Follow-Up, Written On October 3rd, 2022): I made an additional donation today, October 3rd, 2022, in order to help the victims of Hurricane Ian!

And I made this donation based upon a text message that I received today from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following:

USO: 6k troops helping after Hurricane Ian. Give now to support search and rescue teams & troops around the world***

Did you know that "Farmers Day" is on October 12th each year? Well, I didn't know that either until the year 2022! So, I decided to tell everyone in the United States of America that Farmers Day (which is also known as "National Farmers Day", or "National Farmer's Day", or "National Farmers' Day") is yearly (annually) on October 12th. Thus, in celebration of all that farmers do for us, I created this playlist in order to say "THANK YOU" to all of the farmers!

–Paul Whiting (written October 12th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised October 12th, 2023, revised October 12th, 2024 and revised October 13th, 2024)

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October 15th, 2022 Update: I read an excellent Time Magazine article dated October 12th, 2022, that is titled, "Lincoln Saved American Democracy. We Can Too."

And I heard about this article from one of the daily emails that I received today, October 15th, 2022, from Time since I am a subscriber (please see the hyperlink below for the article):

https://time.com/6221209/lincoln-saved-american-democracy-we-can-too

In the article is a quote by President Abraham Lincoln—who is known as a great thinker of his time—which I think sums up the obvious reason that slavery is just plain wrong:

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master."

So, I decided to look up the full quote and found the following quote on the National Park Service website (please see the hyperlink below for the website):

Lincoln Quote on Slavery

August 1, 1858: On Slavery

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is not democracy.

https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/onslavery.htm

Then, I continued to search for that quote in order to find the context in which it was written. And on the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum website I found an article titled, "LINCOLN DRAWS THE LINE ON SLAVERY," which explains that the quote was from Lincoln's notes that he wrote to himself (please see the hyperlink below for the website):

"Among the most fascinating of Abraham Lincoln's writings are the notes he wrote to himself. Mostly discovered after his death, they offer few clues as to their origin and intent, but they give us glimpses into his thought process."

The article explains a lot more about the quote; however, this article does not credit the quote with any kind of date for when it was written:

"Among the items in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum’s collection is another note that will be on display in our Treasures Gallery for the upcoming year. Commonly referred to as the 'Definition of Democracy,' it is much shorter ... and a bit more of a mystery. None of Lincoln’s contemporaries tell us anything about this note or when he wrote it. However, its text is bold and intriguing:

'As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.'"

https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/Blog/Posts/108/Abraham-Lincoln/2021/2/Lincoln-Draws-the-Line-on-Slavery/blog-post

By the way, in Lincoln's quote from the Presidential Library website, they depict his "bolding" of the words 'slave' and 'master' as italicized, however I underscored those words, because Lincoln himself underscored those words in order to emphasize them, which you can see from an image of his quote from the above-mentioned article.

Anyway, I was really impressed by Lincoln's words because I think that they are a true representation of a quote by Jesus The Christ—who is known as the greatest thinker of all time—with the words of His quote also being known as the Golden Rule, which are as follows:

"Do unto others as you would have done unto you."

–Paul Whiting (written October 15th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised February 7th, 2023 and revised April 11th, 2023)

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October 16th, 2022 Update: I read a wonderful article today, October 16th, 2022, on The Guardian that is titled, "Republicans are trying to win by spreading three false talking points. Here’s the truth," written by Robert Reich and published today, which I found on one of my usual Google searches for current news:

https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2022/oct/16/republican-talking-points-midterms-robert-reich

In fact, it was so informative that I made a one-time donation to The Guardian in order to show my appreciation for this truly outstanding article!

Thus, I would strongly encourage my readers to read Mr. Reich's compelling arguments against the Republican Party's attempt to 'wokewash' the 2022 Midterm Elections with their cries of Democrats being "soft-on-crime," Democrats being enthusiastic champions of inflation and, of course, Democrats being directly responsible for the 87,000 reasons that you should fear the IRS harassing middle-class taxpayers!

–Paul Whiting (written October 16th, 2022 and revised April 28th, 2023)

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October 19th, 2022 Update: I watched a YouTube video today, October 19th, 2022, titled, "Katie Porter delivers MASTERCLASS on Inflation and utterly DEBUNKS Republican lies" by MeidasTouch, which explains how "Democratic Representative Katie Porter broke out her charts to explain how bigger corporate profits account for over half of the higher prices people are paying," which can be seen below:

https://youtu.be/0ixmqzjvb7k

And after I watched that video, I did additional searches for the original video by Congresswoman Katie Porter on YouTube and watched another video titled, "Rep Katie Porter destroys inflation myth. Watch her prove that corporate greed's driving inflation" by Egberto Willies, which explains how the "Congresswoman does not mess around. She gets to the point quickly and effectively. She came with her charts pointing out that corporate profits/greed is responsible for more than half our inflation rate," which can be seen below:

https://youtu.be/Zvi7xz8QWro

Then I did a Google search and found an article titled, "Katie Porter pulls out chart at hearing to show corporate greed is the 'biggest driver of inflation'" on Salon.com, which explains that "During a House of Representatives hearing on Wednesday, United States Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-California) grilled Mike Konczal, the director of Macroeconomic Analysis at the Roosevelt Institute, over the primary cause of inflation in the post-COVID-19 economy," which can be seen below:

https://www.salon.com/2022/10/19/katie-porter-pulls-out-chart-at-hearing-to-show-corporate-greed-is-the-biggest-driver-of-inflation_partner

Finally, I found Congresswoman Porter's original post on Twitter, where she states "Bigger corporate profits account for *over half* of the higher prices people are paying," which can be seen below:

https://twitter.com/RepKatiePorter/status/1394724627566391297?s=20&t=dtowA-rTmarzV5xKlXBGNw

Anyway, I wanted to share this truly informative video by Congressional Representative Katie Porter (whose campaign for reelection I have donated to multiple times to during the 2022 Midterm Election cycle, along with many other trustworthy Democrats) so that you, my readers, could see the poignant simplicity with which Representative Porter outlines how much the year 2022's alleged "Bidenflation"—as it is often times derogatorily, and very inaccurately, called—in all actuality is "Record Corporate Profits Inflation."

Thus, I would strongly encourage my readers to watch Ms. Porter's compelling video arguing against the Republican Party's attempt to 'wokewash' the 2022 Midterm Elections with their cries of Democrats being enthusiastic champions of inflation!

–Paul Whiting (October 19th, 2022 and revised December 18th, 2022)

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October 20th, 2022 Update, Written On October 22nd, 2022: I received an email two days ago on October 20th, 2022, with the subject line, "DOUBLE your impact for women and girls" from USA for UNFPA (formerly known as the 'United Nations Fund for Population Activities' that is now called the 'United Nations Population Fund'), which stated the following:

USA for UNFPA: FOR EVERY WOMAN AND GIRL

Friend, access to reproductive health services and education saves lives.

For the past five decades, we have been the lead United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health and rights. We work around the world to end the unmet need for family planning, end preventable maternal death, and end violence against women and girls, including harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation.

But we can only continue our work to promote the health, dignity, and rights of women and girls with the help of supporters like you.

Right now, we’re MATCHING every donation we receive from new supporters up to $10,000 – we hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to double your impact.

Will you take the crucial next step in the fight to protect every woman and girl and make a donation before our match expires?

Double my impact!***

Over the last few years, UNFPA has made significant improvements for women’s health in the 155 countries we operate in. We’ve protected 1,840,000 girls from child marriage, prevented 30 million unintended pregnancies, distributed 1.1 billion condoms – and yet our work is nowhere near complete.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for our work. In a single day, nearly 800 women will die from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications, 20,000 adolescent girls will give birth, another 20,000 will become child brides, and 137 women will die at the hands of family members or intimate partners.

Right now, we’re MATCHING every donation from new supporters up to $10,000. Friend, will you make a donation now to take advantage of this opportunity before the match expires.

$15 → $30
$30 → $60
$50 → $100
Other***

Thank you for your help, and welcome to this team. Together, we can reach our goal to protect the health and dignity of every woman and girl everywhere.

- The Team at USA for UNFPA

Dear Mr. Whiting

Jews trying to escape Nazi persecution during the Holocaust had very few options. If they could find a country willing to accept them, this refuge often came at great personal cost.

Within the pages of the enclosed 2023 Calendar, Safe Havens, you'll find photographs that illustrate diverse stories of individuals and families who found safety by leaving their native country during the Holocaust. You'll learn how desperate families sometimes went from country to country finally being accepted in a new land.

Their stories of resilience feel especially relevant now that war in Europe has spurred a new wave of people seeking safety in places where the Holocaust occurred. The legacy of the Holocaust survivors in our calendar can serve as inspiration for those rebuilding their lives today, and for those in a position to help them.

Mr. Whiting, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is committed to recording, safeguarding, and sharing stories of the Holocaust and teaching their timeless lessons. As you view the pages of your 2023 calendar, I'll know you'll be moved by the unbreakable spirit of these individuals, and I hope you will help people continue to learn from this history.

By joining the Museum with a gift of $25, $36, $50, or more today, you'll help the Museum honor the memory of survivors and victims and educate to inspire action against hatred and antisemitism.

In your 2023 calendar, you'll go to places across the globe that became safe havens for Jews during the Holocaust. One refuge was outside Tehran, Iran. You'll learn how hundreds of Polish Jewish children found safety there in former military barracks set up as an emergency camp. Many of the children were ill and had lost their parents, but they received kindness and care from Zionist youth leaders from Palestine.

In February of your calendar, you'll learn how Jews fleeing Nazi persecution and murder has a difficult time coming to the United States because of strict quotas. You'll learn about the emergency shelter at Fort Ontario in New York that President Franklin D. Roosevelt set up to skirt these rules for a tiny fraction of those who sought refuge in America. You'll also gain a better understanding of the challenges that Jews faced after arriving there.

July features the story of a group of Jewish refugees who became shipwrecked while crossing the Black Sea. They survived by making their way to a deserted island, where they were eventually rescued and transferred to safety in southern Italy.

The very next month, you'll meet the Muller family. Nandor Muller was a successful businessman. Desperate to protect his family, he didn't hesitate to seize an opportunity to leave their life behind and go to rural Canada to work as a farmer.

Your gift to the Museum will help tell the world the personal stories about families like the Muller's as well as other families and individuals pictured in your calendar.

These people were living their everyday lives when they were forced to make decisions that no one should have to make. Sadly, they were the "lucky" ones. Many, many other victims of the Holocaust tried and failed to leave, or lacked the resources, or didn't fully comprehend that their lives depended upon leaving their home country behind. For them, there would be no safe haven.

These stories must be told, particularly now. Please help the Museum share Holocaust history and the essential lessons it teaches, so that we may shape a better future.

I'll hope you'll support the Museum in this vital mission by making a generous contribution today.

With thanks,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

P.S. As you explore the personal stories of those featured in the enclosed calendar, I hope you'll consider the power you have to keep Holocaust memory alive and take action against antisemitism and hatred. Thank you in advance for your gift to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

And so, because I am planning to utilize this calendar for the year 2023, I made a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a way to help "keep Holocaust memory alive and take action against antisemitism and hatred." –Paul Whiting (written October 22nd, 2022, revised October 23rd, 2022, revised December 10th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised May 17th, 2023)

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October 29th, 2022 Update: I saved a video titled, "NEW MAGA Republican Law DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES Revealed in POWERFUL Stories" on my YouTube 'Watch Later' Playlist that I watched today, October 29th, 2022, which is a testament to the perils that America faces from extremist MAGA (or, "Make America Great Again") Republicans! Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

NEW MAGA Republican Law DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES Revealed in POWERFUL Stories

"These are the true stories of the devastating consequences of MAGA abortion bans from women and doctors across the country. Made in partnership with the Center for American Progress."

Donate to MeidasTouch PAC:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mt-2022?refcode=youtube&amount=20.22

[By the way, there were a lot more hyperlinks in the description to various MeidasTouch websites, but I only included the first one to ActBlue.]

https://youtu.be/6bNscNHsSMA

Plus, I donated to MeidasTouch—which is a political action committee (PAC)—on October 27th, 2022, when I made my usual one-time monthly donations to political organizations and political campaigns, since I am doing everything in my power to help Democrats win in the 2022 Midterm Elections, because I truly feel that Republicans have turned themselves into Radical Christian Terrorists! –Paul Whiting (October 29th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR NOVEMBER:

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"November 1st, 2022 Update" [Written Originally As A 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 4, Written On November 1st, 2022)']: This update is a follow-up to the following:

▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022)

Although, this update is similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022),' in addition to being similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022),' with some exceptions.

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on October 17th, 2022.

And then, on October 27th, I also made one-time donations to Democratic political campaigns of $3.00 each for the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic House of Representatives and Senate seats. In addition to that, I made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Democratic gubernatorial—or governor's—seats. Plus, I also made one-time donations of $3.00 each to the most competitive races (of which I am aware) regarding Secretary of State and Attorney General seats. (Whew!)

Now, here is where I explained that my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated:

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

So, what differentiates this update from my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as being the same thing that differentiates both my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)' and my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022)' from the aforementioned 'Follow-Up No. 1,' is the fact that I am providing you with the total amount that donated for October 2022:

I donated $[redacted] on October 27th, 2022, to Democratic political campaigns, as described above, within which I also included additional one-time donations to the DNC (Democratic National Committee), to the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee), and to the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee).

Also, in the above-mentioned total of $[redacted], I included one-time donations to EMILYs List PAC "to put women into office who can make significant contributions to education, health care, voting rights, and economic equality," and to Planned Parenthood Federal PAC "to support candidates who will advocate for our reproductive health and rights," plus to VoteVets which "elevates the voices of Veterans and military families through progressive legislative policies and electoral endorsements that impact the lives of active service members, Veterans, and the country" in addition to MeidasTouch that has been "producing the most hard-hitting, impactful and most watched political videos."

In addition to that, in the above-mentioned total of $[redacted], I included one-time donations to elect Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, to elect Tina Kotek as Oregon's next Governor, to elect Oregon's great Democratic Congressional team of Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas and Joe Yetter, to elect Christina Stephenson as Oregon's next Labor Commissioner, as well as to elect Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty.

Besides the donations mentioned above, I also made $[redacted] in donations during the month of October 2022, which included several donations to the USO (United Service Organizations), one-time donations to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army, plus, an individual one-time donation to TruthOut, two one-time donations to The Guardian News, an individual one-time donation to Friends of Willamette Week, an individual one-time donation to UNFPA (formerly known as the 'United Nations Fund for Population Activities' that is now called the 'United Nations Population Fund'), an individual one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and an individual one-time donation to Bolts Magazine. (Whew!)

Plus, I continued to track the amounts that I am donating during the month in order to help me budget how much I am spending each month, so that—eventually—I will be paying more each month than I am charging each month on my credit card (hopefully, at least!); but, that is probably not going to happen until after the 2022 Midterm Elections.

Thus, my total donations for the month of October 2022 are $[redacted], which brings my credit card to a grand total of $[redacted]! (Although, for the sake of clarity, out of that grand total, $[redacted] was for store purchases that I decided to charge to my credit card and pay off later on; thus, my adjusted grand total for political and charitable donations only is "[redacted].") However, I am donating as much as I can afford to donate in order to help progressive causes that I care about, in addition to supporting the USO as often as I manage, as well as to help Democrats win in the 2022 Midterm Elections!

–Paul Whiting (written November 1st, 2022, revised November 28th, 2022, revised December 7th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised June 24th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised August 19th, 2023 and revised May 2nd, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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November 8th, 2022 Update: I voted today, November 8th, 2022, in Oregon's General Election! –Paul Whiting (November 8th, 2022)

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November 11th, 2022 Update, Written On November 11th, 2023: I made one-time donations for Veterans Day to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). –Paul Whiting [written December 7th, 2022 and turned into an 'update' based upon my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 5, Written On December 7th, 2022)' from my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog on November 11th, 2023]

P.S.: I feel like I need to clarify why I didn't write an 'update' for Veterans Day 2022! You see, creative writing takes a lot of time and energy—and I was really busy with blogging toward the end of 2022, because of the Midterm Elections. Now, I did manage to create a "My Writing About Donating To Veterans' Charities On Veterans Day (for 2022)" for my "Thank You For Your Service!" post on both of my "Small All White in the Forest" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. However, I didn't manage to write an 'update' about my Veterans Day donations for 2022! And I did not notice this error until I was searching for a "November 11th, 2022 Update," which I assumed would be available for me to utilize as a basis for my "November 11th, 2023 Update." Thus, I did find a reference to the donations that I made for Veterans Day 2022 on my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 5, Written On December 7th, 2022)' from my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, so that is why I turned that reference into my 'update' for Veterans Day 2022. (I hope that makes sense!)

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November 14th, 2022 Update: Thanksgiving Day is ten days away from today, November 14th, 2022! And so, I decided to make one-time donations to charities who are helping those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday, which includes local nonprofits who are helping homeless folks (Portland Rescue Mission and Union Gospel Mission), as well as nonprofits who are helping hungry folks, including a local food bank (Oregon Food Bank) and a national hunger-relief organization (Feeding America).

And I was inspired to make these donations by "Thanksgiving Donation" mailers that I recently received, including one from a local nonprofit helping homeless folks and one from the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States helping hungry folks, as I mentioned above.

In addition to that, I was also reminded to donate to these types of nonprofit organizations by the name of a video I saw on YouTube recently, which mentioned the decline in donations to a West Coast food bank due to inflation that is titled, "Demand for Those in Need and Inflation: Bay Area Food Bank Struggling to Keep Up With Demand as Donations Decline."

–Paul Whiting (written November 14th, 2022, revised November 17th, 2022, revised November 18th, 2022, revised December 10th, 2022, revised December 11th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised April 9th, 2023, revised April 12th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023 and revised November 13th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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For my "November 17th, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

November 17th, 2022 Update: Thanksgiving Day is seven days away from today, November 17th, 2022, and I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website, because I received a text message today from the USO, which stated the following:

USO: Help us send Thanksgiving meals to troops deployed far from home. Rush a MATCHED donation before tomorrow's deadline:***

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "November 17th, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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November 18th, 2022 Update: I received a mailer from the United Nations World Food Program USA (WFPUSA) on November 18th, 2022, which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's main letter):

Dear Friend,

This year we have already witnessed a dramatic rise in hunger and hardships on families around the world. As conflicts increase and intensify, we stand today on the precipice of a historic decision on how we choose to address these global challenges.

Far too many people around the world don't have enough food for their next meal. Many families will be forced to go to sleep tonight on an empty stomach. Today, you have the chance to change that. A chance to fight the global hunger crisis and ensure that one less family has to worry about how to feed their hungry children.

Today, up to 828 million people don't have enough to eat, including 345 million people living in hunger crisis — the equivalent of the entire U.S. population. For millions of these people, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is their only source of food. Without our food deliveries, they will starve.

As in any emergency, children are in the most danger. In fact, 57% of all the people the U.N. World Food Programme serves are children.

If we don't act soon, an unprecedented number of lives will be lost.

Your emergency contribution of $15, $25, $35 or more at this critical time will make a lifesaving difference on the front lines of this hunger crisis. There has never been a time when we have needed you more.

That's because we are undertaking our largest scale-up ever to provide lifesaving meals to 152 million of the world's hungriest people. We are supplying emergency food assistance and essential nutrition support to people in more than 120 countries and territories around the world.

Join us today and help feed millions of hungry people throughout Africa, Asia, Latin American, the Middle East and wherever children and families go hungry. I assure you, any amount you give at this critical time will make a positive impact.

Ending hunger is the greatest challenge of our time, but together it is possible.

We have been on the front lines of the world's worst humanitarian crises, fighting hunger and famine since 1961. Every year, we serve 15 billion meals to more than 100 million people.

From emergency relief and immediate food assistance to long-term agriculture training and school meals programs, we help people build resilience to and overcome the ravages of hunger.

The U.N. World Food Programme has the knowledge, experience and supply network to deliver lifesaving food and support when and where the need is greatest. With you at our side, we can fight hunger. Your partnership will enable us to make a difference. However, we can only reach the world's most vulnerable people if everyone who is able does their part.

Join us today and help fight global hunger by taking the following steps:

1. Sign and return the enclosed Zero Hunger Pledge. Your pledge is a symbol of hope to those who need it most, who fight every day for a better life;

2. Include your generous gift of $15, $25, $35 or more with your signed pledge;

3. Spread the word about our lifesaving work.

Every year, 45 million children suffer from severe malnutrition. As a result, the lives of 3 million children are tragically lost.

That means, a child dies approximately every 10 seconds from hunger-related causes. So, in the time it took you to read this letter, 24 children died because they didn't have enough to eat.

Your actions today will help provide healthy meals and lifesaving nutrition treatments to children and families who may not survive without them.

The food you help provide today will determine whether it takes months, years or decades to overcome this hunger crisis. Please join today in the fight against global hunger.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

P.S. Please join us today in the fight to end hunger by returning your signed Zero Hunger Pledge and your most generous gift in the envelope provided. You can donate online at wfpusa.org/givetoday. Lives hang in the balance. Now is the time to give.

And so, I made a one-time donation to the United Nations World Food Program USA online and I also signed their "Zero Hunger Pledge" to return in the mail, which I did today, November 18th, 2022.

You see, I recently donated to two local charitable organizations who are helping homeless folks, as well as to one local and one national charitable organization who are both helping hungry folks here in the United States of America, which I explained in my 'November 14th, 2022 Update,' which can be found above.

Therefore, I decided to include the world community in my donations this month for helping folks who are facing food insecurities—since I believe that the whole wide world deserves healthy and nutritious food—and I am so very thankful to be able to help those in need, because I'm an American!

–Paul Whiting (written November 18th, 2022, revised November 25th, 2022, revised December 10th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised November 13th, 2023 and revised December 18th, 2023)

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For my "November 24th, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

November 24th, 2022 Update: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I signed a Thanksgiving card "to let our troops know how much [I] appreciate their service and sacrifice this Thanksgiving," from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, November 24th, 2022, that I received via an email with the subject line, "We’re immensely grateful for you, Paul", which stated the following:

This Thanksgiving comes at the end of a particularly challenging year for our service members. They’ve deployed around the world, often at a moment's notice, to protect and serve our country — from supporting NATO allies in Eastern Europe to conducting civilian rescue operations in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

But through it all, you’ve been there for our heroes and their families at every turn. And on behalf of everyone here at the USO, I want to say thank you. We are so grateful for the support of this community.

Today is Thanksgiving, but around the world, thousands of service members are spending the holiday far away from their homes and loved ones in the face of the ongoing war in Ukraine. They are facing isolation, uncertainty and harsh weather conditions — all while leaning on the USO for support in the absence of their loved ones.

That’s why your dedicated support is especially meaningful right now. It’s what helps ensure that we can keep service members equipped with the essential resources and connections to home that they deserve, especially on days like today...

...Supporters like you are truly the force behind our Armed Forces, and we could never thank you enough. From me and our entire USO family, we send the warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this Thanksgiving.

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted], USO

P.S. If you haven’t had the chance yet to let our troops know how much you appreciate their service and sacrifice this Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll take a moment now to sign the USO’s card. It is a small act that means so much.***

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our troops, "We are so grateful for you — especially today! Thank you for everything you do to defend our country. We hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "November 24th, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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November 25th, 2022 Update: Native American Heritage Day is today, November 25th, 2022, because it is observed yearly (annually) on the day after Thanksgiving! And I recently received a mailer from American Indian College Fund, which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter):

Dear Mr. Whiting,

For many of us a college education is something we pursue so we can be more successful, make more money, or even just learn about something that's interesting to us.

For Native scholars, education means so much more. It means solving difficult challenges affecting their communities such as food shortages, insufficient healthcare, housing insecurity, and unemployment – all exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.

American Indian College Fund scholars understand the responsibility and power that comes with an education, but they are embracing it gratefully and enthusiastically so they can build stronger, healthier communities. There is just one thing standing in their way—financial need.

This year more than 3,200 students received scholarship support from the American Indian College Fund, but 6,135 did not.

That means fewer Native American graduates working to solve the persistent challenges Native communities face. But you can help change that, Mr. Whiting, with a generous gift of $50, $75, $100, or more today.

With your help, every new degree obtained means one more Native college graduate who is prepared and motivated to use their knowledge, power, and confidence to not only change, but save, lives.

Please make a difference for a student who is committed to addressing urgent needs, solving community-wide problems, and preserving the languages, traditions, and lands that will ensure a safe and healthy future for all Native people.

I hope to hear from you soon!

Wounspe gluha blihihunkic'iyapi [We strengthen ourselves with knowledge.]

Best regards,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

P.S. Since 1989, we have supported the educational needs of American Indian scholars, providing nearly 147,000 scholarships and $259.7 million to support American Indian communities. But the need is still great. Please make a generous gift today and provide the hope that only education can bring. Thank you!

And so, I made a one-time donation to the American Indian College Fund in order to show my support for Native American graduates who are striving to educate themselves so that they can contribute to their entire community—and so that they can contribute the entire country. –Paul Whiting (written November 25th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023 and revised November 24th, 2023)

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November 29th, 2022 Update: Please join me in celebrating Giving Tuesday today, November 29th, 2022—which is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving Day—by donating to the charities of your choice in order to help those wonderful charities out there that are helping others out during this Holiday Season and throughout the year. –Paul Whiting (November 29th, 2022)

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YEAR 2022 UPDATES FOR DECEMBER:

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"December 7th, 2022 Update" [Written Originally As A 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 5, Written On December 7th, 2022)']: This update is a follow-up to the following:

▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022)
▪ July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 4, Written On November 1st, 2022)

Although, this update is similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022),' in addition to being similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022),' besides also being similar to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 4, Written On November 1st, 2022),' with some exceptions. Also, this is the last update that I am providing for this 2022 Midterm Election cycle, since the final race for this midterm election year was held yesterday, December 6th, 2022.

You see, my monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations processed on November 17th, 2022.

And also, on November 10th, November 12th, November 13th, November 29th, November 30th, December 1st, December 3rd and December 5th, 2022, I made additional one-time donations to the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) and to Democratic political campaigns for particularly close Senate races.

Now, here is where I explained that my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' gets complicated:

Earlier, I said that I was going to only "make recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations...and to the USO...with the exception of occasional one-time donations to the USO, plus various progressive organizations," which is what I have done, so far!

And here is where I said in my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022)' that I also needed to "up my game":

However, I decided that I needed to "up my game" and to continue making donations to individual Democratic political campaigns, but I am planning to only donate to them once per month, on the 27th of each month, until election day. Thus, I am donating each month—and I am donating $3.00 per campaign, just like I am donating to each of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations—and that way I am donating to help Democrats win in November, in a way that is affordable to me, for the 2022 Midterm Elections.

So, what differentiates this update from my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 1, Written On July 27th, 2022),' as well as being the same thing that differentiates my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 2, Written On August 30th, 2022),' and my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 3, Written On September 30th, 2022),' in addition to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022 (Follow-Up No. 4, Written On November 1st, 2022),' from the aforementioned 'Follow-Up No. 1,' is the fact that I am providing you with the total amount that donated for November 2022 and December 2022:

I donated a total of $[redacted] on the days of November 10th, November 12th, November 13th, November 17th (which is the monthly donation date, as I mentioned above), November 29th and November 30th, 2022, as well as a total of $[redacted] on the days of December 1st, December 3rd and December 5th, 2022, which includes the above-mentioned additional one-time donations to the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) and to the above-mentioned Democratic political campaigns for particularly close Senate races.

By the way, as of the date of this particular update, my usual monthly donations of $3.00 each to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations are scheduled to be processed on December 17th, 2022, but this is the last update that I am providing for this 2022 Midterm Election cycle.

Besides the donations mentioned above, I also made $[redacted] in donations during the month of November 2022, which included several donations to the USO (United Service Organizations); one-time donations to the Willamette Week and the Portland Mercury (both of which are local news publications in Portland, Oregon, whose election endorsements I read); one-time donations for Veterans Day to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP); one-time donations for Thanksgiving Day to Portland Rescue Mission, Union Gospel Mission, Oregon Food Bank and Feeding America; a one-time donation to The Real News Network, which is a "non-profit, viewer supported news" organization (and I consider this donation to be similar to the cost of an annual news subscription); and, finally, multiple individual one-time donations for "Giving Tuesday" to the following organizations: Doctors Without Borders, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (USA for UNHCR), United Nations World Food Program USA (WFPUSA), Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Charity Navigator, the Willamette Week's "Give!Guide" (I donated to 15 separate local charities as well as to Friends of Willamette Week), additional donations to both Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and No Kid Hungry.

Plus, I continued to track the amounts that I am donating during the month in order to help me budget how much I am spending each month, so that—eventually—I will be paying more each month than I am charging each month on my credit card (hopefully, at least!); but, that is probably only going to happen now that it's after the 2022 Midterm Elections.

Thus, my total donations for the month of November 2022 are $[redacted], which brings my credit card to a grand total of $[redacted]! However, I donated as much as I could afford to donate in order to help progressive causes that I care about, in addition to supporting the USO as often as I manage, as well as to help Democrats win in the 2022 Midterm Elections!

–Paul Whiting (December 7th, 2022, revised December 8th, 2022, revised December 10th, 2022, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 16th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised November 11th, 2023, revised November 25th, 2023, revised December 18th, 2023 and revised May 2nd, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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December 11th, 2022 Update: Christmas Day is fourteen days away from today, December 11th, 2022! And so, I decided to make one-time donations to charities who are helping the less fortunate, including a local nonprofit helping homeless folks [1] and a national hunger-relief organization helping hungry folks [2], as well as charities who are helping children in need [3][4][5][6] and—of course—that charity with the "bell ringers," who are well-known for collecting donations during the holiday season [7].

And I was inspired to make these donations by the following sources:

1. A "Christmas Donation" mailer that I recently received from Portland Rescue Mission, which is a local nonprofit here in Portland, Oregon that cares for "the people in greatest need in our community, providing nourishing food, shelter and warm clothing";

2. A "Christmas Donation" mailer that I recently received from Feeding America, which is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States who partners "with food banks, food pantries, and local food programs to bring food to people facing hunger";

3. A "Christmas Donation" mailer that I recently received from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is a charitable hospital that treats children with life-threatening diseases—and the families of the children "never receive a bill...for treatment, travel, housing or food";

4. An advertisement that I saw on YouTube recently for Operation Smile, which is a charity that provides surgery for children with cleft conditions and also provides the children with "cleft care needs throughout their childhood and adolescence so that they can realize happier and healthier futures";

5. An email that I received yesterday, December 10th, 2022, from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & SW Washington, which is "a nonprofit family & children's charity dedicated to supporting families with sick children in their time of need" that is holding its annual holiday toy drive;

6. A well-known holiday toy drive organization, Marine Toys for Tots, which I was reminded of by the above-mentioned holiday toy drive email! And this particular charity began "as the brain child of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks [and] his wife, Diane, who was the real inspiration. She had a few handcrafted dolls and asked Bill to deliver them to an agency that supports children in need. When Bill reported back to his wife that he could not find such an organization, she instructed him to 'start one!'" And the rest, as they say, is (holiday toy drive) history;

7. And, finally, a charity that I have known about since my childhood in Salt Lake City, Utah, The Salvation Army, which is well-known for their annual holiday "bell ringing" (or, red kettle) campaign that truly symbolizes this charitable organization's mission of True Christian Salvation during the holiday season—and all year long!

–Paul Whiting (written December 11th, 2022, revised December 21st, 2022, revised April 12th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised August 14th, 2023 and revised December 10th, 2023)

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For my "December 12th, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

December 12th, 2022 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, December 12th, 2022, with the subject line, "Support our troops this holiday season", which stated the following:

Throughout the year, our troops sacrifice so much for us, Paul. And when the holiday season comes around, it's so important that they can experience the simple joys — like a phone call with a loved one — that many of us at home take for granted.

It's our duty to make sure brave service members know how much their service and sacrifices are appreciated — especially during the holiday season. But the USO relies on your support to provide essential care like comfort packages and phone calls home.

So as you're making your way down your family's own holiday wish list, Paul, will you also take a minute to send a gift to the USO to support our military heroes?

Our Troops'
Holiday Wish List:

$119 to help fund
a holiday
care package*

$225 to help fund
holiday meals
for 3 troops*

$450 to help fund video
and phone calls
home for 6 troops*

MAKE A HOLIDAY DONATION NOW***

Thank you so much for supporting our troops!

Team USO

*Your contribution will be joined with the contributions of others and used where it is needed most to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country.

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "The USO provides kits filled with critical supplies and connections to home for our service members as they spend the holiday season far from loved ones. And right now, supply-chain issues are impacting shipping and deliveries all over the world, which is why we need your support today. Donate before midnight to help the USO reach our $100,000 Holiday Giving Season Goal to make sure our troops get the support they need and deserve all year long."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "December 12th, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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For my "December 14th, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

December 14th, 2022 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, December 14th, 2022, with the subject line, "Happy Holidays! We’re so excited to share our latest newsletter with you", with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 109 for December 2022, which stated, in part, the following:

With the holiday season upon us, it's more important than ever to remember and honor our troops who may not be able to spend the holidays with their families.

If you're able, please consider sending support for our service members deployed far from home this holiday season. Your donation will help us deliver care packages, fund phone calls home, serve holiday meals and so much more.

We can't thank you enough for helping our service members stay comfortable and connected to home during this time. Check out the updates below to learn a little more about the work you've helped make possible in recent weeks...

And the following highlight from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, is regarding "5 Ways Americans Can Deliver a Piece of Home to Troops During the Holidays":

BY THE NUMBERS

"5"

This holiday season, check out 5 ways you can deliver a piece of home to troops. »

https://www.uso.org/stories/3459-5-ways-americans-can-deliver-a-piece-of-home-to-troops-during-the-holidays

...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to show my support "for our service members deployed far from home this holiday season" and to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

“The staff at USO Powidz was amazing. During an uncomfortable situation, they tried to make it as comfortable as possible. They supported us to no end.”

—A U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. after sudden deployment to Poland amidst the war in Ukraine.

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "December 14th, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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December 15th, 2022 Update, Written On December 16th, 2022: I made donations yesterday, December 15th, 2022, to three organizations, as I have explained below:

First, I watched a video on YouTube titled, "Tech industry hit with massive layoffs as other employers add jobs," on December 15th, 2022, which included a fundraiser for PBS NewsHour. So, I made a one-time donation to PBS NewsHour, which was collected by WETA, TV 26 & Classical 90.9 FM via YouTube.

Second, I made a one-time donation to Wikipedia, since I went onto their website on December 15th, 2022, and they were requesting donations. You see, as a blogger and frequent reader of Wikipedia, I try donate to them whenever they request a donation!

Third, I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) on December 15th, 2022, with the subject line, "🐾 🇺🇲 thank military dogs and their handlers", which stated the following:

Paul, from using their incredible noses to sniff out explosives to conducting search and rescue, 1,600 military dogs serve alongside troops in dangerous conditions every day — all to keep us and our service members safe.

These trained canines are courageous and loyal, just like their handlers, and we must show our appreciation for K-9 teams this holiday season. That’s why we need to fill this K-9 thank-you card with at least 150,000 signatures to show support for our military working dog teams — and we’re counting on dedicated military supporters like you to help us reach this goal by midnight Saturday.

Please, will you sign the card now to thank our courageous K-9 teams this holiday season?***

Since World War II, military dogs have been serving on land, sea and air alongside our brave troops. These military working dog teams deserve all the support and appreciation we can give them as they risk their lives to keep us safe and free, every day of every year.

So please, before the deadline, add your name right now to thank our brave military dog teams — and all our heroic troops — for everything they do to protect our country.***

Thank you so much for being a dedicated military supporter our K-9 teams can always count on.

[Name redacted]
The USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

So, I signed the card for "heroic military working dogs and their handlers [who] are putting their lives on the line alongside our troops in some of the world's harshest and most dangerous places." Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our K-9 teams and all service members, "As you make unimaginable sacrifices for our country, we will always have your backs. Thank you for all you do to keep us safe."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written December 16th, 2022, revised December 17th, 2022, revised December 26th, 2022, revised December 29th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised June 12th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised July 31st, 2023, revised August 1st, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023, revised October 22nd, 2023 and revised November 18th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

P.S.: For my complete charitable donation updates—that include some of my current "Online Activism," as well as most all of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs.

Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts:

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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December 20th, 2022 Update: Christmas Day is five days away from today, December 20th, 2022! So, I decided to make one-time donations to various organizations for their holiday, or year-end, or annual, or matching-funds, or other types of fundraising campaigns.

And those various organizations included the following:

▪ A Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organization [1];
▪ A nonpartisan law and policy institute [2];
▪ A Holocaust memorial museum [3];
▪ Some nonprofit organizations addressing issues with regard to the environment, including global warming, issues with regard to society, as well as issues with regard to wildlife [4][5][6];
▪ An organization combating the abuses of factory farming and encouraging a new awareness and understanding of farm animals and the benefits of cruelty-free, plant-based living [7];
▪ A U.S. Veterans support and advocacy organization dedicated to connecting, uniting, and empowering post-9/11 veterans [8];
▪ A United Nations (UN) organization that helps to save, protect and rebuild the lives of millions of refugees [9];
▪ A United Nations (UN) organization that has been on the frontlines of the world's worst hunger crises [10];
▪ A nonprofit organization that provides sexual health care in the United States and globally [11];
▪ A leading advocate in the movement for sexual and reproductive freedom for all Oregonians [12];
▪ Some nonprofits who are helping hungry folks, including a national hunger-relief organization and a local food bank [13][14]; and
▪ A nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties of every person in the United States of America [15].

And I was inspired to make these donations by the following sources:

1. A "Happy Holiday Season" mailer that I recently received from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) that is advocating for "the ongoing support from [my] monthly gift in 2023 to continue to organize, strengthen our Party, recruit and train the strongest candidates to run for office, and maintain our data and technology structure for 2023 and 2024."

2. A "Fight To Protect Our Democracy" mailer that I recently received from the Brennan Center for Justice, which is a nonpartisan law and policy institute, that is asking for my support because: "The values we hold dear as Americans are under escalating assault. Our democracy is under siege. We must make sure it lives up to it's promise for every American."

3. A "2023 Annual Fund" mailer that I recently received from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which is asking for my support so that they "can expand [their] work to remember Holocaust victims and survivors, rescue the evidence, and share the stories that inspire people to confront hatred and promote human dignity."

4. A "2022 Year-End Giving Campaign" mailer that I recently received from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which is a nonprofit organization addressing issues with regard to the environment and society, that is asking for my support so that "as [they] look to [their] work in 2023, [my] support will continue to be vital for driving science-based solutions to some of our planets most pressing problems."

5. A "Membership Renewal Reminder with a Free Calendar Enclosed" mailer that I recently received from Sierra Club, which is a nonprofit organization addressing issues with regard to the environment and wildlife, that is asking for my renewed support as my "commitment to the environment [that] helps protect our public land, our water our air — and our health — from threats to our planet." Plus, they also enclosed their Wildlife & Wildlands Calendar as a free gift with its beautiful photographs to "serve as a daily reminder of the critical importance of [my] continued membership." And thus, I am planning to utilize this calendar for the year 2023.

6. A "Time-Sensitive Matching Gift" mailer that I recently received from Greenpeace, which is a nonprofit organization addressing issues with regard to the environment and wildlife, that is asking for my support for a special Matching Gift offer that will "help fund all of [their] actions and advocacy in [their] campaigns for Earth's climate, oceans, forests, and all of nature."

7. A "Sign Our Petition" mailer that I recently received from Farmsanctuary, which is an organization combating the abuses of factory farming and encouraging a new awareness and understanding of farm animals and the benefits of cruelty-free, plant-based living. And they requested that I sign a "petition to [the] U.S. Secretary of Agriculture...demanding that the agency use it's authority to stop the hideous abuses in poultry slaughterhouses—starting by extending critical protections to chickens, turkeys, and other birds under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and Poultry Productions Act." And they also asked for my support for "all of [their] lifesaving rescue, shelter, education, and advocacy work on behalf of farm animals." And so, I made an online donation yesterday (December 20th) and then I signed the aforementioned petition, which I mailed today (December 21st).

8. An email that I received from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) on December 15th, 2022, with the subject line, "Help Save Our Afghan Allies," which stated, in part, the following: "With your support, we can continue advocating for the Afghan Adjustment Act, a vital piece of legislation that will provide a pathway to secure residency for those Afghans needing protection. By helping us reach our end-of-year goal of $200,000, you will help us to continue advocating for reasonable solutions that will help keep our promise to our Afghan allies."

9. An email that I received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (USA for UNHCR) on December 15th, 2022, with the subject line, "Do you want to build a snowman?", which stated, in part, the following: "Children are the same everywhere, no matter what they've been through. They want to build a snowman when it snows and will find any reason to laugh. ... Paul, you can do something amazing — something real and concrete — to protect refugee and displaced families and give children a safe, warm place to rest with a full belly. Your generous gift will be matched when you give today. Your gift will provide DOUBLE the lifesaving aid, including warm shelter, cash assistance, blankets and clothing."

10. An email that I received from the United Nations World Food Program USA (WFPUSA) on December 20th, 2022, with the subject line, "MATCH ALERT: Provide 2x the food to families," which stated, in part, the following: "When conflict erupts or extreme weather events strike, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is there to provide food for people in emergencies. Until December 31, a group of generous donors will MATCH donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $582,500."

11. An email that I received from Planned Parenthood Federation of America on December 18th, 2022, with the subject line, "The most meaningful gift for your loved ones," which stated, in part, the following: "With the holidays just around the corner, there's no better time to make a gift to Planned Parenthood on behalf of someone you love. And when you do, you have the option of letting them know you're thinking of them by sending an e‑card acknowledgment!"

12. An email that I received from Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon on December 19th, 2022, with the subject line, "It’s no coincidence that Oregon is the most protective state for abortion access," which stated, in part, the following: "It’s no coincidence that Oregon is the most protective state for abortion access in the country; it’s because we fight to keep it that way. ... Our strong but mighty team can’t be everywhere at once, but when you put your money where their values are and support us by donating to our PAC, we can achieve basically the impossible."

13. An email that I received from Feeding America on December 19th, 2022, with the subject line, "We have the power [MATCH]," which stated, in part, the following: "Your $10.00 donation to the Feeding America Holiday Drive today can help food banks across the country serve families during the holiday season and beyond—and right now you can make double the impact, up to $334,000 thanks to a challenge match from Marson Foods."

14. And because I donated to Feeding America, which is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, I also donated locally to the Oregon Food Bank, whose mission includes the following statement: "...We distribute food equitably across the region and work on policies and programs to address the root causes of hunger."

15. An email that I received from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) on December 20th, 2022, with the subject line, "We have a plan for 2023, Paul," which stated, in part, the following: "...2022 saw our civil rights challenged in unprecedented ways – from the overturn of Roe to mounting efforts to suppress the vote to scores of hateful attacks on trans youth, and more. But ACLU is no stranger to the fight for our rights. With your support this year, we showed up to protect civil liberties at every level. We have the receipts to prove it. But with the New Year fast approaching, we know this collective power is going to be even more critical in the fight ahead. And make no mistake, we have long game plans to ensure that meaningful change is made – we'll just need you with us."

–Paul Whiting (written from December 20th, 2022 to December 21st, 2022, revised December 22nd, 2022, revised December 26th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised January 2nd, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised May 9th, 2023, revised July 29th, 2023, revised November 30th, 2023, revised December 13th, 2023 and revised December 18th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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For my "December 22nd, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

December 22nd, 2022 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, December 22nd, 2022, with the subject line, "Sign the card for troops like my dad."

And this USO email is from "Kate + Vincent," who are a military mom and son. And it includes an image of a handwritten letter by Vincent to his dad, who is a Captain in the Army, which states the following:

Merry Christmas, Daddy!

i hope you come home soon.

Love,

Me + Mommy

And the rest of this USO email continues as follows:

As troops spend the holiday season stationed far away from their loved ones, we are asking patriotic Americans like you to let them know their sacrifices haven’t been forgotten.

SIGN THE HOLIDAY CARD NOW***

Paul,

Our family is just one of hundreds of thousands who have spent holidays apart. My husband (Vincent’s father) is a Captain in the Army, and unfortunately, this is the reality for military families like ours.

We’re incredibly proud of our solider, but we still miss him so much when he leaves. And we can tell you from our family’s experience — this is the toughest time of year for service members around the world.***

That’s why we are asking you to help fill the USO’s holiday card for our troops with at least 100,000 signatures to make sure our heroes don’t feel forgotten: Please, will you take just a few seconds out of your day to make sure our troops feel appreciated this holiday season?

ADD MY NAME***

Trimming the tree, baking cookies, opening presents on Christmas morning … all these moments won’t feel the same this year for many military families. That’s why it is so important to make sure service members have access to calls home, holiday meals and care packages that makes them feel special. We would really appreciate it if you could also send your best holiday wishes to service members like Vincent’s dad who are spending the holidays deployed far from home.

Signing a card may not seem like much but knowing Americans across the country are thinking of him during this special time of year means the world. With just a moment of your time, you have a chance to deliver holiday joy to so many heroes — but we don’t have much time left before Christmas:

So please, it only takes a moment and will be so meaningful to our heroes in uniform: Add your name now to spread holiday warmth and cheer to troops around the world!***

Thank you for standing with military families like ours — and happy holidays!

Kate and Vincent

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

So, I signed the card, because "during the holiday season, it's more important than ever to show our troops how much their service means to us." Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our troops, "Happy holidays to all our heroic troops! We are so grateful for everything you do to protect our country. We know it's not easy, and we truly appreciate the sacrifices you make each and every day to keep us safe and free." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "December 22nd, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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For my "December 25th, 2022 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

December 25th, 2022 Update: Merry Christmas, everyone! I signed a Christmas Day card "for our brave service members" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, December 25th, 2022, that I received via email today with the subject line, "Warmest wishes this holiday season", which stated the following:

Paul,

On behalf of our entire team here at the USO, I wanted to share our warmest holiday wishes to you and your loved ones.

This holiday season comes on the heels of another incredibly challenging year for our brave service members. They’ve courageously and selflessly faced no-notice deployments to defend our allies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They’ve responded to countless natural disasters — risking their own safety to protect others. Now many of them are spending the holidays away from their families, sacrificing precious time with loved ones so that we can spend time with ours.

But no matter what they’re facing, they can always count on the USO to support them through it all — and that’s because of this dedicated community, made up of military supporters like you.

The USO is working around the clock to deliver essential supplies, care packages filled with comforting reminders of home and phone calls to loved ones. And Paul, none of that would be possible without you.

It’s hard to find the proper words to express the extent of my gratitude for all you do. Thank you for your generosity during the holidays and all year long. I know it means the world to our troops and their families.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays,

[Name redacted] [Title redacted], USO

If you haven’t had the chance to sign our holiday card for our troops yet, I hope you’ll take a moment now to add your name and thank our heroes:

SIGN THE CARD***

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Just to let you know, this is actually the second time I have signed this card, with the first time being on December 22nd, 2022; however, I decided to sign it twice, because it's Christmas! Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our troops, "Happy holidays to all our heroic troops! We are so grateful for everything you do to protect our country. We know it's not easy, and we truly appreciate the sacrifices you make each and every day to keep us safe and free."

...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "December 25th, 2022 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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For my "December 30th, 2022 Update, Written On January 10th, 2023"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

December 30th, 2022 Update, Written On January 10th, 2023: Happy New Year, everyone! I made a donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) for New Year's Eve, on December 30th, 2022. And I made this donation to the USO for their 2022 end-of-year deadline based upon a text message that I received on December 30th, 2022, which stated the following:

MATCH ALERT: Today only, DOUBLE your gift for troops up to our $35k goal. Rush a tax-deductible gift:***

-USO

Thus, this donation is to help Our U.S. Troops celebrate the new year 2023! And I made this one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "As our service members put their lives on the line in some of the world’s most dangerous places this holiday season, it could not be more important to show our gratitude. Rush a gift now to have it MATCHED by a member of the USO’s Board of Governors and provide critical support to the brave troops sacrificing so much for our country."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "December 30th, 2022 Update, Written On January 10th, 2023":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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YEAR 2023 UPDATES FOR JANUARY:

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January 1st, 2023 Update: Happy New Year, everyone!

I made my first donation of 2023 today, January 1st, 2023, to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). And this donation was inspired by an email that I received today from the ACLU with the subject line, "Thank you, Paul", which stated the following:

Paul –

I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for your generous support to the ACLU during our Year-End Match Challenge to start us off as strong as possible in 2023.

Thanks to you, we're ready to act quickly, and decisively all throughout the year ahead to protect people's fundamental freedoms and defend our democracy – no matter what.

Our teams are hard at work already in the fight to defend access to abortion, challenge racially motivated voter suppression, demand action on trans rights, and answer every attack on our fundamental freedoms with the principled determination and relentlessness that is the hallmark of the ACLU.

Thanks to generous supporters like you, Paul, I feel hopeful about the impact we can make in the year ahead. We will be keeping you updated on our progress and how you can take action in the weeks and months to come.

Happy New Year,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: He, him, his
[Title redacted]

P.S. If you didn't have the chance to make your year-end gift and have it matched dollar-for-dollar, it isn't too late. Donate by the end of the day today and your gift can still be be matched for twice the impact.

DONATE NOW***

Happy New Year, Paul!

As we start another year, I want to begin by saying thank you.

We set an ambitious December fundraising goal to meet the need for sexual and reproductive health care during this abortion access crisis, and you and other Planned Parenthood supporters stepped up with truly inspiring generosity.

That extraordinary response is a powerful statement of support for sexual and reproductive health care and rights and will fuel our critical work into 2023 and beyond. I am so grateful that we can count on you during this especially challenging time, Paul — thank you so much for making your year-end gift...

...While attacks on abortion access continue, patients still need care. People of all ages need honest, trustworthy sex education. People need birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing, and treatment. They need a community they can count on to work with them to protect their fundamental rights.

We are proud to be a part of this movement, and so grateful to have you with us. I know we can count on you to get involved and stay involved in the months ahead. Thank you again so much for making your year-end gift — not a moment goes by that I'm not appreciative of your generosity.

The Planned Parenthood community has shown up, time and again, with deep compassion and extraordinary conviction.

We have what we have always had: a movement. Thank you, again, for being a part of it.

Warmly,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

DONATE NOW***

January 9th, 2023 Update, Written On January 10th, 2023: I made my third donation of 2023 yesterday, January 9th, 2023, to the USO (United Service Organizations). And this donation was inspired by an email that I received yesterday from the USO with the subject line, "Thank you, Paul", which stated, in part, the following:

Paul, from the very bottom of my heart, thank you.

Everyone at the USO is incredibly grateful for all the patriotic military supporters who donated to help us provide critical support for our troops during a particularly challenging year.

Thanks to your generosity, we’re able to continue providing essential resources to our military heroes as they serve our country and protect our allies around the world. Your support provides vital assistance like care packages, meals and calls home for service members serving in dangerous and isolated conditions. Because of the support of this community, our heroes will have comfort and connection no matter where they are in the world. ...

... After a year with several crises, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to natural disasters here at home, there are so many unknowns for our heroes in uniform and their families in 2023. But thanks to your support, they can always count on the USO to have their backs, no matter what.

Thank you,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted], USO

P.S. If you didn’t get a chance to donate before the 2022 end-of-year deadline, it’s not too late to show your support for our troops. Make a donation now to help provide resources and connections to home for our troops as they make unimaginable sacrifices for our freedoms.***

Just to let you know, I already did make a donation to the USO for their 2022 end-of-year deadline on December 30th, 2022, based upon a text message that I received on that day from the USO, which stated the following:

MATCH ALERT: Today only, DOUBLE your gift for troops up to our $35k goal. Rush a tax-deductible gift:***

-USO

However, I decided to donate again because it's a new year! And I made this one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can’t do that without support from military supporters like you. Our troops are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "January 9th, 2023 Update, Written On January 10th, 2023":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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January 11th, 2023 Update: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is yearly (annually) on January 11th in America. So, I donated today, January 11th, 2023, to organizations that are working toward ending modern slavery, or human trafficking as it is formally called. And I donated to both national and international anti-human trafficking organizations to symbolically recognize modern slavery, or human trafficking, as being an extremely serious issue in America, as well as worldwide. –Paul Whiting (written January 11th, 2023, revised March 7th, 2023 and revised July 30th, 2023)

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January 16th, 2023 Update: For the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, which is yearly (annually) on the third Monday in January, I donated to organizations that "defend civil rights, protect legal rights, and promote tolerance and understanding" today, January 16th, 2023, via Charity Navigator. You see, I prefer to 'volunteer financially' for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in order honor Dr. King's legacy of civic engagement. Plus, I also included a donation to Charity Navigator, because they are a charity too. And I really appreciate being able to utilize Charity Navigator's charity rating system in order to assess which charities receive their 'give with confidence' rating. I also appreciate being able to donate to multiple charities at the same time—all in one convenient transaction, rather than having to process individual donations on each charity's website—which makes supporting civil rights organizations via Charity Navigator that much more worthwhile! –Paul Whiting (written January 16th, 2023, revised March 21st, 2023 and revised January 15th, 2024)

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January 26th, 2023 Update: In order to make the end of sentences much more clear (and much more obvious) I think that the end of every sentence in all writing should really be two colons right next to each other, as illustrated at the end of this sentence::

Thus, the end of any writing sentence would actually be two colons, in sequence, one right after the other:: And, therefore, abbreviations within any sentence, utilizing periods to denote said abbreviations, would never be confused with the end of a sentence!

However, this change in the rules of punctuation within English grammar is simply my own idea as a "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," so to speak:: You see, I do a lot of reading about current events in order to stay a more informed voter, as well as a more informed citizen, while reading news articles where a particular sentence ends, and another sentence begins, if there are any periods within a sentence — or even at the end of a sentence — which are being utilized for abbreviations::

Now, I realize that I am probably not going to change the rules of English grammar with this idea of mine, but it could happen:: And this change in punctuation, at the end of all written sentences, would be the only change necessary to the punctuation of all sentences; because, as far as I can tell, there would be no other adjustments needed in the writing of any sentences, since all of the other punctuation would stay exactly the same!

Hence, if a sentence had any kind of abbreviation, such as a city and state — like Portland, Oregon — it would simply be written within a sentence as Port., Or. in this example; and that also means the abbreviation for Portland, Oregon would be written at the end of a sentence as Port., Or.::

So, as illustrated in the sentence above, an abbreviation within a sentence could never be mistaken for the end of a sentence, since the end of every sentence would always be two colons side-by-side, instead of one period:: Also, as illustrated above, an abbreviation at the end of a sentence would be really quite clear, because there are two colons at the end of each sentence, which really stands out visually as the obvious end of a sentence:: (At least, I think that it really stands out visually::)

And that is why I thought to write this idea down and publish it on my blogs in order to start a new writing trend, which could possibly make reading English a lot less strenuous under certain situations where there are abbreviations within sentences, or at the end of sentences, as I have described above::

Anyway, that's all I have to say about this new punctuation idea that I had:: Period!

–Paul Whiting (written January 26th, 2023, revised February 17th, 2023 and revised April 19th, 2023)

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January 27th, 2023 Update: International Holocaust Remembrance Day is yearly (annually) on January 27th. Therefore, I donated today, January 27th, 2023, to organizations that are remembering the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, helping Holocaust descendents piece together their family history, and teaching future generations about the Holocaust.

And I was inspired to make these donations by the following sources:

Source No. 1: I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, January 27th, 2023, with the subject line, "Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day", which stated the following:

Paul,

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is especially important to observe as Holocaust history is being increasingly distorted, misused, as well as even denied—and antisemitic conspiracy theories are spreading quickly. We need the power of firsthand testimony such as [name redacted]’s. Nothing can compare to learning the truth of this history directly from those who experienced it.

Will you help us continue to amplify survivors’ voices and honor the victims of the Holocaust by making a donation on International Holocaust Remembrance Day?***

We can’t let this history—and the individuals it impacted—ever be forgotten.

Thank you for your support,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

---------- Original message ----------
From: [Name redacted], Holocaust survivor and Museum volunteer
Date: Fri, Jan 20th, 2023
Subject: Together, we remember

Paul,

Many people took great personal risks to help my family, and I would not be alive if it weren’t for their sacrifices. Today, when people misuse or distort the facts of the Holocaust, I want to speak out. Everyone must know the truth of what survivors like me endured and also recognize the innocent lives that were lost and those who risked their lives to save others.

This International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I will honor my family, my neighbors, my rescuers, and the community I lost. Please join me in remembering the victims and survivors of the Holocaust by making a donation to the Museum today.***

When I was a young boy, German forces occupied my hometown of Drohobycz, Poland, now part of Ukraine. My parents, sister, and I had to be continually on the move to avoid being discovered by the Nazis. We hid in many places, including a field, an attic, and a hole in the ground. But by the war’s end, most of my family had been deported and killed.

I am grateful to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for helping me honor their legacy. The Museum helps preserve our experiences to ensure they will be told of for all time.

Paul, will you make a gift today in honor of Holocaust victims and survivors like me? Showing your support on International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a simple action with a resounding impact. Your gift will play a role in helping people learn the consequences of antisemitism and hate, amplifying survivors’ voices, and preserving the artifacts that are evidence of the innocent lives lost.

Thank you for remembering with me.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
Holocaust survivor and Museum volunteer

Holocaust Descendants Piece Together Their Family History Through AI Technology | The View

Software engineer and From Numbers to Names founder Daniel Patt makes an incredible discovery for a family on a decades-long search for information on their grandparents who survived the Holocaust.

https://youtu.be/KbohRf67aHg

Then, after I watched "Holocaust Descendants Piece Together Their Family History Through AI Technology," I tried to donate to 'From Numbers to Names,' as it was mentioned in the video; however, they did not have a way to donate to them, as far as I could tell.

So, I decided to do a search on Google and found 'Names, Not Numbers' that is an "oral history film project and curriculum that was created by award-winning educator Tova Fish-Rosenberg."

Here is the YouTube video titled, "Names, Not Numbers Trailer":

https://youtu.be/tryf7nzt6wY

And that is why I decided to make a one-time donation to 'Names, Not Numbers' because they are teaching about Holocaust history, which is what I am trying to do with these blog post 'updates' that I am writing regarding Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Source No. 3: I watched another video on YouTube titled, "Why so many Americans know little about the history of the Holocaust." Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Why so many Americans know little about the history of the Holocaust

International Holocaust Remembrance Day comes at a moment when there is growing worry about antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world. There's also been concern that too many people don't know enough about what happened during the Holocaust. John Yang reports.

https://youtu.be/2cx42tDvwzc

Then, after I watched "Why so many Americans know little about the history of the Holocaust," I made a one-time donation to the 'American Jewish Committee,' as it was mentioned in the video.

Therefore, I made these donations to the 'United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,' 'Names, Not Numbers' and 'American Jewish Committee' in order to show my support for International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023.

By the way, the "International Holocaust Remembrance Day" is not to be confused with "Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)," which corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar.

"Yom HaShoah" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

"Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah (Hebrew: יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה, lit. 'Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day'), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah (יום השואה) and in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and for the Jewish resistance in that period. In Israel, it is a national memorial day. The first official commemorations took place in 1951, and the observance of the day was anchored in a law passed by the Knesset in 1959. It is held on the 27th of Nisan (which falls in April or May), unless the 27th would be adjacent to the Jewish Sabbath, in which case the date is shifted by a day."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_HaShoah

"International Holocaust Remembrance Day" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

"International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities between 1933 and 1945 by Nazi Germany, an attempt to implement their 'final solution' to the Jewish question."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Holocaust_Remembrance_Day

Thus, these donations are how I show my support for honoring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, for helping Holocaust descendents piece together their family history, and for educating future generations about Holocaust history.

–Paul Whiting (written January 27th, 2023, revised January 28th, 2023, revised April 2nd, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 18th, 2023, revised April 19th, 2023, revised April 20th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised October 21st, 2023, revised December 6th, 2023, revised January 27th, 2024 and revised August 31st, 2025)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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For my "January 30th, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

January 30th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, January 30th, 2023, with the subject line, "Paul’s January updates from the USO" with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 110 / January 2023, which stated, in part, the following:

Happy New Year, Paul! We hope your 2023 is off to a great start. After closing out 2022 by bringing care packages, holiday celebrations and entertainment to troops around the world, we’re busy preparing for 2023 and making plans to reach more service members than ever this year. Keep reading to see what we’ve been up to in the last month — and as always, thank you for making all our troop support efforts possible...

And the following highlight from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, is regarding "5 New Year’s Resolutions for Military Supporters in 2023":

BY THE NUMBERS

"5"

In honor of the New Year and the season of resolutions, here are 5 New Year’s resolutions for military supporters in 2023 »

https://www.uso.org/stories/3477-5-new-year-s-resolutions-for-military-supporters-in-2023

...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, the USO has stood by America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members." And I also donated to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

“Being able to call home, being able to sit and have fun with your friends and your teammates and an opportunity to just relax in an environment where you just don’t know what tomorrow will look like … [the USO] was just a remarkable thing to have on the ground.”

—U.S. Army lieutenant colonel deployed in Eastern Europe over the holidays

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "January 30th, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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YEAR 2023 UPDATES FOR FEBRUARY:

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February 7th, 2023 Update: In order to show my support for "National Gun Violence Survivors Week," which is yearly (annually) from February 1st through 7th, I made donations today, February 7th, 2023, to organizations that are working to end gun violence in America, including Ban Assault Weapons NOW (which is also known as 'BAWN'), Everytown for Gun Safety (which was formerly known as 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns'), Giffords PAC (which was formerly known as 'Americans for Responsible Solutions') and Brady Campaign (which is also known as 'Brady: United Against Gun Violence' and which was formerly known as the 'National Council to Control Handguns,' 'Handgun Control, Inc.' and the 'Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence,' respectively). –Paul Whiting (written February 7th, 2023, revised March 7th, 2023, revised March 21st, 2023 and revised February 7th, 2024)

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February 7th, 2023 Update—Continued: I made donations today, February 7th, 2023, in order to help the victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria!

And I made these one-time donations based upon a Time Magazine article that I read titled, "Earthquakes Struck the Heart of the World’s Largest Refugee Population. Here’s How to Help," which I heard about today, February 7th, 2023, from one of the daily emails that I receive from Time since I am a subscriber:

https://time.com/6253346/turkey-earthquake-syria-how-to-help

Plus, I also did a "donate for earthquakes in Turkey and Syria" Google search for additional news articles, like the one mentioned above, that recommend charities which are providing assistance in the aftermath of these devastating earthquakes, and I chose most of the organizations to whom I donated from said articles.

Thus, I made these donations in order to help those affected by the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, which were 7.5 (or greater) magnitude earthquakes! –Paul Whiting (written February 7th, 2023, revised February 8th, 2023 and revised April 28th, 2023)
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February 7th, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On February 8th, 2022: I made more donations today, February 8th, 2023, in order to help the victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria!

And I made these additional one-time donations based upon a text message that I received from three out of the three United Nations organizations that I normally support.

Plus, this particular United Nations (UN) organization reminded me to also donate to two out of the three UN organizations that I normally support, which I was thinking about donating to yesterday, February 7th, 2023.

However, I decided yesterday to donate to one out of the three UN organizations that I normally support, which is an organization that was also mentioned in the Time Magazine article titled, "Earthquakes Struck the Heart of the World’s Largest Refugee Population. Here’s How to Help," that I referenced in my 'February 7th, 2023 Update—Continued,' which can be seen above.

Thus, I made these additional donations to the second and third of the three UN organizations that I normally support (since I had already donated yesterday to the first of the three UN organizations that I normally support) in order to help those affected by the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey! –Paul Whiting (written February 8th, 2023, revised March 22nd, 2023 and revised April 28th, 2023)

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February 14th, 2023 Update: Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! And Happy Galentine's Day, which is celebrated on February 13th! Plus, Happy Singles Awareness Day, which is celebrated on February 15th!

Today, February 14th, 2022, I received emails from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and from Planned Parenthood Federation of America, as I have outlined below.

First, the email that I received today from the ACLU had the subject line, "✖️ No to book bans and censorship. ✔️ Yes to librarians fighting for our rights", which stated the following:

Paul, what are a few things you'd expect a librarian to do in a workday?

✓ Help patrons find a good book to read?
✓ Maintain a strong relationship with the Dewy Decimal system?
✓ Fight for everyone's First Amendment rights against a surge of book bans and censorship efforts being led by misguided public officials and politicians?

If that last one doesn't add up to you – or if you were wondering exactly why the ACLU would be in your inbox today asking you to show your librarians and library workers some support – let's recap:

Since 2021, accounts of book bans – largely content by and about people of color, the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized groups – and threats against librarians have soared. As dozens of states advance classroom censorship bills nationwide, libraries and library workers have increasingly become targets of harassment and have even been fired for refusing to take books off of their shelves.

But if you believe in an educated citizenry – and a society where ideas are openly disseminated, discussed, and debated without fear of government reprisal – then there's a simple thing you can do today to show library workers you're with them, Paul:

Support a librarian in the fight against book bans and censorship by sending a message to them for Valentine's Day.***

It's a small, but powerful act for librarians who are on the frontlines of this fight right now. Thanks for your time today – and we'll be back with more updates on our ongoing work for civil liberties soon.

Read up and read freely,

The ACLU Team

WHAT YOU CAN DO
SHOUTOUT YOUR LIBRARIAN

Librarians and local libraries are hard at work safeguarding access to diverse stories and protecting our right to read free from censorship.

Share a message of gratitude for librarians to support their fight against book bans and censorship.

Since 2021, accounts of book bannings and threats against librarians have soared. As dozens of states advance classroom censorship bills, libraries and library workers have increasingly become targets of harassment. In the last year, threats directed to libraries and library workers have escalated, including the forced temporary closure of five public library systems due to bomb and shooting threats. Some librarians have been fired for refusing to remove books from circulation.

Library workers are on the frontlines of this fight – and they need to hear from us! Here are a few prompts to help you share a note of appreciation for their work:

In honor of Black History Month, share a note of gratitude for how librarians are defending the voices and stories of Black authors. What authors or books about the Black experience have influenced you most?

Tell the impact of your public or school librarian/library on your own education – what books might you never have read? How has access to diverse authors and narratives affected you?

Reflect on what you appreciate most about your local librarian/library, either now or as a young reader! Why do you stand up for librarians fighting against book bans and censorship?

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Email Address: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone Number: [redacted]

Write Your Message Here:

Dearest Librarians,

My name is Paul Whiting and I am a self-designated 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher.'

And I believe that the censorship of published reading materials — including the banning of books — is based upon the following concepts:

1. The banning of books is really the banning of contradiction; it is the banning of contrast; and it is the banning of opposing points of view.

2. Thus, those who ban books are actually trying to ban all contradiction, all contrast, and all opposition to their own points of view.

3. That is why book banners insist upon the removal from libraries of any published reading materials which tells them that they could be wrong.

4. Therefore, book banning — and the censorship of other published reading materials — is really a form a fascism, pure and simple.

So, THANK YOU, to all librarians for all that you are doing to stand up for the right to read, free from book banning, in order to uphold the democratic principles of freedom to learn without fear of fascist censorship.

Yours very truly,

Paul Whiting
Poet, Artist and Philosopher
Portland, Oregon

Then, after I sent my Valentine's Day message to all librarians via ACLU People Power, I also made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to show librarians and library workers support, because the banning of books and other forms of censorship — including states advancing classroom censorship bills nationwide — as well as the harassment of librarians, threats against librarians, and the firing of librarians for refusing to take books off of library shelves, are just plain wrong.
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Second, the email that I received today from Planned Parenthood Federation of America had the subject line, "💖 share the love 💖", which stated the following:

Happy Valentine's Day, Paul!

This Valentine's Day — and throughout Black History Month — we want to share the love with Black-led organizations who are doing the work to build a more just and equitable world.

Donate now and your gift will be split between these necessary and transformational organizations:

[✓] New Voices for Reproductive Justice
[✓] Black Feminist Future
[✓] SisterReach
[✓] Women with a Vision
[✓] Black Women for Wellness
[✓] SPARK Reproductive Justice Now!
[✓] Access Reproductive Care-Southeast

Working in partnership with community-based social justice organizations is part of how Planned Parenthood serves patients. Help support the work and advance justice by making a gift to support these Black-led organizations today.***

Thank you for your ongoing support for Planned Parenthood and our partners in this movement.

—Planned Parenthood

February 23rd, 2023 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, February 23rd, 2023, with the subject line, "The USO’s birthday, the Super Bowl, visits from WWE superstars and more!", with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 111 / February 2023, which stated, in part, the following:

YOUR USO AT WORK
Issue 111 / February 2023

DONATE NOW »

https://secure.uso.org

The year is now in full swing, Paul, and so is our work to support our service members and their families in the months ahead.

We have lots of news, stories and events to share with you, so we hope you'll keep reading for the latest updates. As always, thank you for all you do to be a force behind our forces....

And the following highlights from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, are regarding "The USO celebrates its 82nd birthday" in addition to "In honor of Black History Month, here are seven moments of bravery in African American military history":

The USO celebrates its 82nd birthday

Since February 4, 1941, the USO has proudly been our country's leading nonprofit in supporting active-duty, Reserve and National Guard members and their families. As we celebrate our 82nd birthday, we're honoring our military heroes and their families — and extending our deepest gratitude to all of our volunteers and supporters who make our mission possible.

Learn more about how we provide connections to family, home and country to our troops wherever their service to our country takes them. »

https://veteran.com/uso-birthday

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BY THE NUMBERS

"7"

In honor of Black History Month, here are seven moments of bravery in African American military history. »

https://www.uso.org/stories/2308-bravery-in-african-american-military-history

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...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, the USO has stood by America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members." And I also donated to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

"Of course, I elected to give to the USO. Military service has a special place in my heart, and the USO provides so much support and resources to service members. Whether they are providing an area they can visit while on orders to relax, providing entertainment, or providing resources to reach loved ones while deployed, the USO is an amazing organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of service members."

— An Army veteran on why she chooses USO for her employer's nonprofit support paycheck deduction program.

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

And speaking of my recurring monthly donation to the USO — as well as the USO's 82nd birthday — I received two emails from the USO with regard to the "Home Team" that is comprised of the USO supporters who are the "most dedicated military supporters made up of monthly donors..."

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "February 23rd, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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February 24th, 2023 Update: I received an email from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company) today, February 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "Sign the petition: Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act", which stated the following:

Dear Fellow Progressive,

Voting rights are a cornerstone of CREDO's mission. Since 1985, members like you have helped us donate over $10 million to groups working to protect and expand our fundamental right to vote.

After the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act — and states across the country passed more restrictive and discriminatory voter suppression laws — it's more important now than ever to defend our rights from these attacks.

That's why Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore VRA protections, making it easier for all Americans to vote and reversing efforts by states to limit ballot access.

We cannot let Congress forget about this crucial legislation and sweep voting rights under the rug.

Tell Congress: Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act now. Click here to sign the petition.

Sign the Petition:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-pass-the-john-lewis-voting-rights-advancement-act

Last Senate, Republicans abused the filibuster to block sweeping voting rights legislation that was aimed at fighting back against state laws that limited access to the ballot box. Many states have enacted strict voting laws since the 2020 election attempting to strip away access to the ballot box and make it more difficult for voters to cast a ballot in a way that works for them.

Now, with Republicans in control of the House and Democrats in control of the Senate, we need to make sure they feel the pressure to pass pro-voting legislation.

John Lewis called the right to vote “the most powerful non-violent tool we have in our democratic society.” It's time to honor his legacy and pass this namesake legislation to ensure all people — especially voters of color — are afforded the same rights to have their voices heard at the ballot box.

We hope you’ll join us in fighting back and urging Congress to pass this critical legislation.

Tell Congress: Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act now. Click here to sign the petition.

Thank you for speaking out.

-The team at CREDO Mobile

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Tell Congress: Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

[Addressed To]: Congress

Last Senate[,] Republicans abused the filibuster to block sweeping voting rights legislation that was aimed at fighting back against state laws that limited access to the ballot box.

We cannot let Congress forget about this crucial legislation and sweep voting rights under the rug. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would make it easier for all Americans to vote and reverse efforts by states to limit ballot access.

Many states have enacted strict voting laws since the 2020 election attempting to strip away access to the ballot box and make it more difficult for voters to cast a ballot in a way that works for them.

Now with Republicans in control of the House and Democrats in control of the Senate, we need to make sure they feel the pressure to pass pro-voting legislation.

Sign the petition to tell Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

SPONSORED BY:

✓ Civic Shout

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS:

✓ 198 methods
✓ Voters First Victory Fund
✓ Free Speech For People
✓ Blue Amp Action
✓ act.tv
✓ Endangered Species Coalition
✓ Daily Kos Liberation League
✓ Coalition On Human Needs (Washington, DC)
✓ Patriotic Millionaires
✓ Climate Hawks Vote
✓ Common Cause (Washington, DC)
✓ UltraViolet
✓ Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund
✓ VoteAmerica
✓ Every. Single. Vote.
✓ The Juggernaut Project
✓ CREDO Mobile
✓ DemCastUSA

---------------------------------------------

To: Congress
From: [Your Name]

We cannot continue to sweep voting rights under the rug. I urge you to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Additional Comments:

I am hoping that by signing this petition that Congress really will consider passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

However, with MAGA Republicans in control of the House of Representatives, I seriously doubt that Kevin McCarthy would let it be voted on. In fact, it probably wouldn't even crawl it's way out of the Committee on House Administration.

But — maybe — Speaker of the House McCarthy would consider sending the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to Tucker Carlson on Fox News the same way that Speaker McCarthy sent all of the January 6th, 2021 security video to Tucker!

That way, Mr. Carlson can explain to his Fox News audience why voting rights are really necessary in a "democracy." (At least, a Democrat can dream, can't he?)

Anyway, scathing sarcasm aside, I hope that Congress will seriously consider passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, so that our country won't eventually be run by Tucker Carlson, as directed by Kevin McCarthy.

By the way, I am posting this petition on my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" that is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog — which I am sure that everyone in Congress reads as often as they can — in order to encourage my readers to consider signing this petition also!

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Email: [redacted]
Zip/Postal Code: [redacted]

Then, after I signed the petition, an Action Network "Thanks for your support" page appeared, which stated the following:

Thanks for your support.

Help us meet our goal by spreading the word about this action using the tools on this page.

Share This Petition

Direct Link:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-pass-the-john-lewis-voting-rights-advancement-act?source=direct_link&

Email A Friend:

Subject: Sign the petition! Congress: Tell Congress: Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Friend,

Last year Senate Republicans abused the filibuster to block sweeping voting rights legislation that was aimed at fighting back against state laws that limited access to the ballot box.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would make it easier for all Americans to vote and reverse efforts by states to limit ballot access.

Many states have enacted strict voting laws since the 2020 election attempting to strip away access to the ballot box and make it more difficult for voters to cast a ballot in a way that works for them.

Now with Republicans in control of the House and Democrats in control of the Senate, we need to make sure they feel the pressure to pass pro-voting legislation.

I just signed a petition urging Congress to pass this crucial piece of legislation.

Can you join me and take action? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-pass-the-john-lewis-voting-rights-advancement-act?source=email&

Thanks!

Anyway, as I stated in the "Additional Comments," to my Members of Congress, I seriously doubt that MAGA (Make America Gentrified Again) Republicans in the House of Representatives would even consider looking at the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, let alone passing it, because that would just be way too "Woke, Socialist" for that crowd.

(But a Democrat can dream, can't he?)

And speaking of how wrong it is to be a "Woke Socialist," what are we all supposed be according to the Make America Gentrified Again (MAGA) Republicans, anyway? Are we all supposed to be "Asleep Fascists"?

(But I digress.)

Thank you for taking the time to read this 'update' and thank you for considering signing the above-mentioned petition regarding the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

–Paul Whiting (written February 24th, 2023, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised March 4th, 2023 and revised April 11th, 2023)

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February 24th, 2023 Update—Continued: [My Commentary About Vladimir Putin's "Special Military Operation" In Ukraine, Version No. 1:]

It has been one year since February 24th, 2022—the first day of Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine—and that day is yet another "date which will live in infamy." –Paul Whiting (written February 24th, 2023 and revised February 24th, 2024)

[My Commentary About Vladimir Putin's "Special Military Operation" In Ukraine, Version No. 2:]

It has been one year since the start of Russia's war on Ukraine and like December 7th, 1941—the day Pearl Harbor was attacked—that first day of Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine, February 24th, 2022, is "a date which will live in infamy." –Paul Whiting (written February 24th, 2023 and revised February 24th, 2024)

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For my "February 24th, 2023 Update—Continued Further"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

February 24th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, February 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "One year since the war in Ukraine began …", which stated the following:

Paul,

It has been one year since the conflict in Ukraine escalated with Russia’s invasion. Many have lost their lives and been displaced from their homes as the war continues with no end in sight.

This past year has been extraordinarily difficult for our service members, too — from immediate deployments to Eastern Europe to aid NATO allies to facing freezing temperatures and missing holidays with loved ones while deployed. Our troops have shown nothing but selflessness and courage in the face of this uncertainty and isolation. In the midst of this crisis, American troops continue to support our allies and answer the call to serve.

And the USO is proud to support American service members in Eastern Europe every step of the way. There has been an extraordinary effort from this community — and it’s all meant that we’ve been able to deliver:

[✓] 366 books read between service members and their families via the USO Reading Program
[✓] 800 Programs In A Box
[✓] 33,000 Care Packages
[✓] 962 Field Programs
[✓] Support to over 240,000 service members

As the future of our troops stationed in the region remains unpredictable, we’re committed to supporting them as long as they need.

And our commitment is only possible because of support from patriots like you. That’s why I want to thank you for being there for our service members through this past year, before that, and beyond. In addition to providing resources they urgently need, your support helps show them that the American people value and appreciate their immense sacrifices.

Thanks for being there for our troops — especially during times of crisis.

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted], USO

Due to the nature of the war, many of our troops have had to leave their phones — their only connection to loved ones — at home. The USO is one of the only ways they can remain in touch with those that they love the most, and that’s why it’s critical we continue our support. Please, consider making a donation today so that we can continue to provide our military members and their families around the world with critical support.***

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can’t do that without support from military supporters like you. Our troops are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "February 24th, 2023 Update—Continued Further":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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February 25th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Action Fund today, February 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "INSIDE: The attack on the 'abortion pill'", which stated the following:

Planned Parenthood Action Fund Update

Action Fund Update is the monthly newsletter for members of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. As an associate member of the Action Fund, you'll receive timely, insider information on our legislative, advocacy, and electoral work.

Member News

Hey Paul – You might be wondering why you’ve seen “mifepristone” mentioned in the news lately.

That’s because anti-abortion organizations are suing the FDA to take mifepristone — one of the two medicines commonly used to end an early pregnancy — off the market.

Here’s what you need to know:

This is not about safety. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago. It’s used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S. It also has a safety record of more than 99% — making it safer than commonplace procedures like removing a person’s tonsils or wisdom teeth, and safer than common medications like Viagra.

There are potentially far-reaching consequences. This suit shows how anti-abortion activists will use the federal courts — which politicians have reshaped by appointing judges with records hostile to reproductive rights — to restrict abortion access nationwide.

Everyone should be able to make decisions about their own bodies, lives, and futures. That includes the decision to have an abortion – using the method that best suits them.

No matter the outcome of this case, we’ll be here fighting for your right to control your body, every step of the way.

Let’s get to work,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Take Action

The global gag rule is devastating for people around the world who already face barriers to care. When in effect, the global gag rule prevents foreign organizations that receive U.S. global health assistance from providing information, referrals, or services for legal abortion or advocating for access to abortion in their country — even with their own money. It cuts off access to many of the best health care providers, and denies women and girls lifesaving health care services.

The global gag rule is a vile attack on access to health care internationally, and while it’s not in place right now, it could be reinstated by a new presidential administration.

Tell Congress: Cosponsor the Global HER Act to permanently end the global gag rule.***

Around the Web

Bloomberg Law: Abortion Bans Spur Biden Push to Bolster Patient Privacy Rights

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/biden-team-mulls-using-privacy-rule-amid-state-abortion-bans

[New York Magazine's] The Cut: The Future of Abortion Pills Is on the Line

https://www.thecut.com/2023/04/whats-happening-with-abortion-pills-in-the-courts.html

Teen Vogue: Over 300 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills Have Already Been Filed in 2023

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/anti-lgbtq-bills-filed-2023

Visit plannedparenthoodaction.org

Dear Paul,

Thanks for speaking out to support permanent repeal of the global gag rule and advancing the health and rights of communities across the world.

You can help make an even bigger difference by showing your support for Planned Parenthood Action Fund and asking your friends and family to join you.

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

You can also help defend access to health care and protect our reproductive rights by making a gift to Planned Parenthood Action Fund. We'll put your gift to work immediately mobilizing grassroots activists in key states, pressuring lawmakers, magnifying the voices of those most affected by attacks on our health and rights, and more.

I'm so glad to know that we can count on you to raise your voice when it counts — thanks again for speaking out.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund

So, I selected the "Share on Twitter" option (by the way, I only have a Twitter account so I can read tweets which are included in some online articles that I read) in order for me to provide you, my readers, with the text and hyperlink below:

Tell your member of Congress to cosponsor the Global HER Act and end this harmful policy [that is, "the global gag rule"] once and for all!

https://weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/Ob2wCjEzPECs6yHbgdDCnQ2?snw=2&ref=0205851d-3bc8-41d5-b151-d3b52589f5a3

Plus, I made a one-time donation to show my support for Planned Parenthood Action Fund in "mobilizing grassroots activists in key states, pressuring lawmakers, magnifying the voices of those most affected by attacks on our health and rights," because the attacks on reproductive health care, including abortion care, by extremist conservatives shallowly professing to extol "family values" are just plain wrong.

And, speaking of "family values," is the denial of abortion care for those who are force impregnated through rape, or incest, considered "family values" by these extremist conservatives?

It makes you wonder if the real reason that extremist conservatives are beating the proverbial "abortion is murder" drum so loudly is because they support forced impregnation as the only way that is feasible for them to procreate, since they are too dysfunctional to have consensual adult relationships—and that is why they are enthusiastic proponents of forced impregnation through rape and/or incest!

It's no wonder these extremist conservatives are in the Republican Party of "legitimate rape."

–Paul Whiting (written February 25th, 2023, revised February 26th, 2023, revised March 3rd, 2023, revised March 10th, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 13th, 2023, revised April 14th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised May 23rd, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023, revised September 15th, 2023 and revised September 30th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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YEAR 2023 UPDATES FOR MARCH:

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March 3rd, 2023 Update: I received a text message today, March 3rd, 2023, from Everytown for Gun Safety, which stated the following:

Oregon lawmakers are about to vote to stop ghost guns and raise the age to purchase guns! Tell them to vote YES***

-Everytown

Tell Oregon Lawmakers: Stop Ghost Guns And Raise The Age To Purchase Guns!

Oregon lawmakers vote soon on a bill that would stop ghost guns—untraceable, do-it-yourself firearms made from easy-to-get building blocks that can be purchased with no background check and no questions asked.

They're also voting on whether to raise the age for purchase and possession of semiautomatic assault rifles, from 18 to 21. It's critical that we prevent teenagers from buying and owning exceptionally dangerous guns.

Send a message telling the Oregon House Judiciary Committee to vote YES on these and other key gun safety bills >>

Complete the form to send your message now:

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Street address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

Dear Lawmaker,

I'm urging you to support critical gun safety bills coming through your committee.

HB 2006 would raise the age for purchase and possession of semiautomatic assault rifles, from 18 to 21. Research shows that individuals 18 to 20 years old commit homicides at a rate nearly three times greater than adults 21 and over. Raising the age will help prevent firearm deaths.

HB 2005 would prohibit ghost guns and other untraceable firearms. These guns are increasingly a weapon of choice for gun traffickers and people prohibited from possessing firearms.

Additionally, I urge you to support HB 2007 to allow local governments to regulate firearms on their property, and HB 3060 to reduce the purchase cost of safe storage devices with tax credits.

Please vote YES for these four gun safety bills. Thank you.

And after I sent the letter above to my representatives in the Oregon State Legislature, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, I made a one-time donation to Everytown to say "Thank you!" for letting me know about these critical gun safety bills being voted on in the State of Oregon, because it's a really good idea to do each of the following:

✓ Raise "the age ... for purchase and possession of semiautomatic assault rifles, from 18 to 21," which "will help prevent firearm deaths," since "research shows that individuals 18 to 20 years old commit homicides at a rate nearly three times greater than adults 21 and over"; and

✓ "Prohibit ghost guns and other untraceable firearms," because "these guns are increasingly a weapon of choice for gun traffickers and people prohibited from possessing firearms"; and

✓ "Allow local [Oregon] governments to regulate firearms on their property"; plus

✓ "Reduce the purchase cost of safe storage devices with tax credits."

–Paul Whiting (written March 3rd, 2023, revised March 4th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 12th, 2023 and revised June 2nd, 2023)

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For my "March 3rd, 2023 Update—Continued"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

March 3rd, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, March 3rd, 2023, with the subject line, "Learn more about how your support is helping service members in Eastern Europe", which stated the following:

Paul,

Just over a year ago, the violent conflict in Ukraine escalated with Russia's full-scale invasion. In the days that followed, thousands of American troops deployed to Eastern Europe to support our NATO allies and the people of Ukraine. With little notice, time to pack or say goodbye, service members courageously left when duty called.

Today, thousands remain in Eastern Europe as this war continues — with no end in sight.

And thanks to military supporters like you, Paul, the USO has stood alongside our service members every step of the way. Together, we delivered over 33,000 care packages to troops in Eastern Europe last year. We opened a brand-new USO Center in 48 hours. We provided cell phones and other ways for troops to connect with their loved ones.

Today, we wanted to give you the opportunity to learn more about what our service members have experienced in Eastern Europe over the last year and how we've worked around the clock to support them.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE USO'S UKRAINE RESPONSE EFFORTS***

Thank you for supporting the brave heroes who selflessly serve our country.

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement which is titled, "An uncertain future":

"The generosity of military supporters like you has allowed the USO to provide this critical support to over 200,000 service members in Eastern Europe over the last year. Unfortunately, this war is still raging with no end in sight. More than 100,000 U.S. troops are now deployed or permanently stationed in Europe, and the number of military families in need of support has increased dramatically. We are determined to go wherever our military goes and do everything we can to keep troops connected to family, home and country throughout their service. But as a nonprofit organization, the USO relies on the generosity of patriotic Americans like you to keep this important work going. Please, as we mark the first anniversary of this devastating conflict, will you rush a gift to support our troops around the world?" ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "March 3rd, 2023 Update—Continued":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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March 10th, 2023 Update: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, March 10th, 2023, when I noticed an article on CNN.com titled, "Opinion: #StopWillow has become too big to ignore – are you listening, President Biden?"

This CNN opinion article is by Quannah Chasinghorse, who "is a Han Gwich’in and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota land protector, climate justice activist, and fashion model from Eagle Village, Alaska and the tribes of South Dakota. She’s on Teen Vogue’s magazine Top 21 models under 21 list and the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 list."

And the subject of the article is the following:

"The proposed Willow Project is the largest oil project proposed on public lands in the country. Located in a remote region of the Western Arctic that has been experiencing dramatic climate change impacts, this project would pave the way for ConocoPhillips to develop a drilling operation aiming to get the around 600 million barrels of oil in the area for decades into the future." (Please see the hyperlink to the article below.)

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/10/opinions/willow-project-alaska-climate-change-chasinghorse/index.html

So, after I read the CNN article, I did a search on YouTube for 'Stop the Willow Project.' And out of the many available videos to watch, I selected a video by Earthjustice Action titled, "The Willow Project Must Be Stopped."

By the way, the reason that I chose to watch this video is because, as an 'Online Activist,' I am familiar with Earthjustice, since they are similar to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) in that they are lawyers, who go to court in order to get laws changed!

So, here is a hyperlink to the video:

https://youtu.be/6rPY5vT5hF0

Then, after I watched the Earthjustice video, I did a search for 'Stop the Willow Project by Earthjustice,' where I found an Earthjustice article titled, "Arctic Oil Project Advances as Biden Administration Says Yes to Carbon Bomb." (Please see the hyperlink to the article below, which includes a petition letter to President Biden.)

https://earthjustice.org/brief/2023/willow-arctic-oil-project-just-say-no-biden

Here is the text of the above-mentioned article, that also includes a petition letter to President Biden, which states the following:

Arctic Oil Project Advances as Biden Administration Says Yes to Carbon Bomb

February 1, 2023

The Biden administration is one step closer to approving a gargantuan Alaskan oil project that would unleash a global carbon bomb.

The administration has released a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the Willow Project, a proposal by ConocoPhillips to drill for oil and gas across a vast expanse of Arctic tundra. Now, the administration could approve the project as soon as 30 days.

Just two years ago, a federal court rejected the project’s permits on the grounds that the government had not considered Willow’s threats to the climate and polar bears. Earthjustice urges the Biden administration to fully consider these grave threats and to deny this unacceptable project.

The Willow Project poses threats to the Western Arctic — and far beyond.

▪ This is the largest proposed oil and gas undertaking on U.S. public lands. Over its lifetime, Willow will accelerate the climate crisis by emitting more than 280 million metric tons of greenhouse gases over the next 30 years.

▪ ConocoPhillips would build 267 miles of pipelines, 30 miles of roads, an airstrip, and a gravel mine on public lands.

▪ If approved, the project’s construction and daily operation would devastate local, imperiled wildlife like polar bears, migratory birds, and caribou. It also would jeopardize the health and traditional practices of nearby Alaska Native communities.

The Biden administration has full legal authority to reject it.

▪ In 2021, we represented environmental groups who sued the Biden administration to halt the project, which originated during the Trump administration.

▪ A federal court sided with us, finding that the permits glossed over Willow’s global climate impact and threatened imperiled polar bears. The court kicked the project back to Biden to review.

▪ The Biden administration has the authority to deny or substantially reduce the footprint of the project.

▪ The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has so far refused to consider any alternatives that would meaningfully reduce downstream emissions or eliminate infrastructure in the most sensitive areas.

We’re watching the administration closely. Here’s what happens next.

▪ We’re calling on the administration to follow the science and reject the Willow Project.

▪ By continuing to advance the Willow Project, the administration would severely undercut its own stated climate goals.

▪ Now that the SEIS has been released, the Biden administration will have to wait at least 30 days before issuing a final decision.

▪ Earthjustice is dedicated to using the power of the law to stop the extraction and burning of harmful fossil fuels. We must keep all Arctic oil and gas in the ground if we want to avert a climate catastrophe.

Tell the Biden administration to put the project on ice!

Contact Information:

Prefix (Optional): Mr.
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Postal Code: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Subject: The Western Arctic deserves better than the Willow Project

Dear President Biden and Secretary Haaland,

I urge you to deny the permits for the Willow Project.

Willow would generate an estimated 280 million metric tons of climate pollution, jeopardize the health of people living in nearby communities, and devastate local wildlife like polar bears, migratory birds, and caribou. This project is massive on its own, but ConocoPhillips admitted to investors that Willow is just the first step in its master plan to turn the pristine Western Arctic into an industrial oil production zone.

It’s unconscionable to add fuel to the fire as the planet burns, and yet that’s exactly what this administration would be doing if it allows Willow to proceed. Please listen to the 200,000 people who spoke out against the project during the recent comment period and do right by all who wish to maintain a livable climate.

The climate crisis is here, and we cannot afford to pull any more fossil fuels out of the ground. Please use your authority as Secretary of the Interior to reject the Willow Project.

Sincerely,
[Your information here]

Thus, after I read the article, I sent the petition letter and I also made a one-time donation to Earthjustice in order to show my support for the #StopWillow campaign! –Paul Whiting (written March 10th, 2023, revised March 11th, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised May 7th, 2023)

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March 10th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, March 10th, 2023, with the subject line, "If Biden moves forward with this, he'll be putting children at risk", which stated the following:

Paul –

Reports this week revealed that the White House is considering re-opening family immigration detention sites – putting kids and their parents behind barbed wire simply for seeking protection here. It's unacceptable.

How we choose to respond to the children and families fleeing violence and persecution who come to the United States says a lot about who we are as a nation. That's why the Biden administration abandoned family detention early on – a vital step towards shutting down the immigration detention machine – which is fundamentally cruel, unnecessary, and abusive.

So make no mistake: If President Biden moves forward with these plans, we at the ACLU will fight him at every turn. Most immediately, we need our entire ACLU community speaking out loud and resolutely with us: Please send a message to the Biden administration and tell them to shut down the ICE detention machine now.

SEND YOUR MESSAGE***

President Biden knew just how harmful family detention was when he condemned it on the campaign trail and when he ended the practice upon taking office. To reinstate the policy would contradict his promises and alienate the millions of Americans who trusted him with their votes.

These policies aren't just wrong, they don't help manage the border. People will continue making the journey to the U.S. – because, for people facing death threats and violence at home, nothing is scarier than staying put.

ACLU attorneys, researchers, and medical professionals, including subject matter experts for the DHS civil rights office, have documented the harm family detention causes to children and their parents. We've successfully fought previous administrations' detention of families – and we will continue fighting back no matter who is in the White House.

But, Paul, we need your voice now. Rather than locking up and re-traumatizing families fleeing violence, Biden should focus on community-based alternatives that have been shown to be effective, safe, and humane.

So please, send your message with us today and urge the Biden administration to shut down ICE detention now.

For the rights and humanity of us all,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU

P.S. It is unacceptable, and a moral failure, for our government to put children behind barbed wire to send a message to people in need of safety. Let's instead send a message to President Biden and his administration – and let them know that we, the people, say no to the ICE detention machine.

SHUT DOWN THE ICE DETENTION MACHINE

Message Recipients: The Biden Administration

Subject: Stop New ICE Detention Contracts. Close Existing Facilities.

As your constituent, I'm calling on you to stop all new contracts for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities, including those with for-profit prison companies – and close existing detention facilities, especially those with documented patterns of inhumane treatment, in remote locations with compromised access to counsel and medical care, and opened by the prior administration without adequate justification.

ICE detention has long been known for its abuse. In the pandemic, increased use of force, solitary confinement, patterns of sexual abuse, nonconsensual gynecological procedures, and a failure to protect people from COVID-19 have all been reported from inside its facilities.

On top of this, reports that your administration is considering bringing back family detention are extremely alarming. ACLU attorneys, researchers, and medical professionals, including subject matter experts for the DHS civil rights office, have documented the harm family detention causes to children and their parents. Numerous medical associations have warned these conditions may even cause lifelong neurological damage to children.

Please, I’m asking you to end this pursuit of new detention contracts and shut down inhumane ICE facilities. Your action will help shrink an abusive system and end our nation's newest system of mass incarceration of Black and Brown people.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

Your Information

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, March 10th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action for immigrants' rights as we push to shut down the ICE detention machine.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/shutdownICE

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

ICE detention has long been known for its abuse and inefficiency. The atrocities exposed during Trump's administration were only the most recent manifestations of a fundamentally cruel, inhumane, and clearly unnecessary system.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Biden administration has not put an end to this harm – but instead has started awarding new contracts to private prison companies who are turning for-profit prisons into immigrant detention facilities.

I just joined the ACLU in sending a message to the Biden administration, urging them to end the misguided pursuit of new detention contracts and shut down ICE’s system of mass detention now.

Will you join me? aclu.org/shutdownICE

Thanks.

Plus, after I sent the letter above to the Biden Administration, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU to show my support for stopping new ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention contracts and closing existing facilities.

–Paul Whiting (written March 10th, 2023, revised March 11th, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 19th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised September 15th, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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March 11th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Earthjustice Alerts today, March 11th, 2023, with the subject line, "TAKE ACTION: We haven't stopped Willow yet", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

The Biden administration was expected to release its decision the Willow Project this past week — that is, until the movement to stop Willow gained traction. In the span of a couple weeks, over 85,000 letters from Earthjustice supporters and a growing six million others were sent to the administration to stop the Willow Project.

Amidst the delay, sources inside the administration told the press that it intends to permit the project next week.

The news story is not a final decision — we still have a chance to organize a strong enough response and stop Willow. Send a letter to President Biden and Secretary Haaland to urge them to stop the Willow Project.

We are out of time for massive fossil development. Now is the moment to harness unprecedented federal funding to transition the Alaska economy rather than doubling down on oil. If the Biden administration makes the wrong call on Willow, it will matter globally both for emissions and leadership credibility.

This fight is not over, not by a long shot. Momentum is on our side, the fossil fuel industry is playing defense, and the administration’s confidence is wavering. Now is our time to make one last push, even if you’ve already sent a letter, to stop the Willow Project. We know they are listening.

Tell President Biden and Secretary Haaland to stop the Willow Project.

TAKE ACTION***

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
Alaska Office

Stop the Willow Project

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Biden administration was expected to release its decision the Willow Project this past week — that is, until the movement to stop Willow gained traction. In the span of a couple weeks, over 85,000 letters from Earthjustice supporters and a growing six million others were sent to the administration to stop the Willow Project.

Amidst the delay, sources inside the administration told the press that it intends to permit the project next week.

The news story is not a final decision — we still have a chance to organize a strong enough response and stop Willow. Send a letter to President Biden and Secretary Haaland to urge them to stop the Willow Project.

Willow would lock us into decades of oil and gas production and long-term destruction to the Western Arctic. This fragile area of Alaska is already warming three times faster than the rest of the world. To add insult to injury, ConocoPhillips plans to install artificial “chillers” to refreeze the Arctic’s melting permafrost in order to build the industrial oil extraction infrastructure necessary for Willow. This melting permafrost played a role in a recent gas leak at a nearby oil field, which ConocoPhillips kept the public in the dark about for more than a month.

The stakes are too high to let our guard down. ConocoPhillips admitted to investors that Willow is just the first step in its master plan to turn the pristine Western Arctic into an industrial oil production zone. That means that if President Biden allows the project to move forward, he will actually be laying the groundwork for something much larger than even President Trump allowed.

This might be the public’s last shot to influence the Biden administration before the BLM grants final approval for this project, with its potential to cause untold damage to the Western Arctic. The Biden administration gets to choose: preserve oil industry profits or preserve communities, ecosystems, and the climate. The answer is clear to us, but we need make it clear to the Biden administration. Join us in urging President Biden and the BLM to deny the permits for the Willow Project.

DELIVERY TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR HAALAND

Tell the Biden administration to put the project on ice!

Contact Information

Prefix (Optional): Mr.
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Postal Code: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Subject: [Follow-Up Letter] The Western Arctic deserves better than the Willow Project

Dear President Biden and Secretary Haaland,

I hope the story published on Friday [March 10th, 2023] is wrong and that you will still deny the permits for the Willow Project.

As a follow-up to my letter sent Friday, March 10th, 2023, I urge you to deny the permits for the Willow Project.

Willow would generate an estimated 280 million metric tons of climate pollution, jeopardize the health of people living in nearby communities, and devastate local wildlife like polar bears, migratory birds, and caribou. This project is massive on its own, but ConocoPhillips admitted to investors that Willow is just the first step in its master plan to turn the pristine Western Arctic into an industrial oil production zone.

It’s unconscionable to add fuel to the fire as the planet burns, and yet that’s exactly what this administration would be doing if it allows Willow to proceed. Please listen to the 200,000 people who spoke out against the project during the recent comment period and do right by all who wish to maintain a livable climate.

The climate crisis is here, and we cannot afford to pull any more fossil fuels out of the ground. Please use your authority as Secretary of the Interior to reject the Willow Project.

Sincerely,
[Your information here]

Thus, after I sent the petition letter and I also made another one-time donation to Earthjustice (with the previous donation being made yesterday, March 10th, 2023) in order to show my additional support for the #StopWillow campaign!

Then, after I sent the Earthjustice petition letter, I did a Google search for 'Conocophillips Willow Project News,' where I found a USA Today article titled, "Alaska oil drilling: Willow project critics go viral with petition pressuring Biden," which stated, in part, the following:

The Biden administration is preparing to decide whether to allow the Willow oil drilling project in Alaska to begin, and a social media fueled opposition campaign has gathered widespread attention in recent days.

Environmental groups are urging Biden to stick to his campaign promise to ban new drilling on federal lands, and promising to sue if he doesn't. They say the project will contribute to climate change and alter wildlife migration and habitat for polar bears, caribou and other species.

In February, federal officials gave near-final approval to the project, which Biden could still halt.

Meanwhile, opposition has been growing. A petition on change.org has millions of signatures, becoming one of the most popular in the company's history. ...

... In a statement, Earthjustice attorney Jeremy Lieb said approving Willow would be "out of step" for Biden's efforts to fight climate change. Earthjustice has previously sued to block the project, and plans to continue opposing it if Biden goes ahead. ...

(Please see the hyperlink to the article below.)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/08/what-willow-project-alaska-oil-drilling-faces-viral-petition/11429500002/

And after I read the USA Today article, I was trying to find that really popular petition which was mentioned in the USA Today article, so I went onto the Change.org website to see if I could see that particular petition trending on their main page.

By the way, I also did a Google search for 'Willow Project Petition on Change.org,' however there were about 25 separate petitions regarding the Willow Project which came up in that search!

Thus, out of the many Willow Project petitions available on Change.org, I selected the one that appeared on their main page, which is titled, "Biden Administration and ConocoPhillips: SAY NO TO THE WILLOW PROJECT!" (Please see the hyperlink to the petition below.)

https://www.change.org/p/joseph-r-biden-biden-administration-and-conocophillips-say-no-to-the-willow-project

And so, after I signed the petition, I also made a one-time donation to Change.org in order to help promote the "Biden Administration and ConocoPhillips: SAY NO TO THE WILLOW PROJECT!" petition, in addition to showing my continued support for the #StopWillow campaign! –Paul Whiting (written March 11th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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For my "March 13th, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

March 13th, 2023 Update: Did you know that "K-9 Veterans Day" is yearly (annually) on March 13th?

Neither did I! That is, until I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, March 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "Journey of a K-9 dog (photos inside!)", which stated the following:

Paul, our military dogs are courageous and loyal, serving alongside their handlers and other service members in some of the most dangerous places in the world. Our troops consider their K-9 counterparts to be fellow service members, who go through rigorous training in order to be ready to serve and protect — just like our brave heroes.

Military working dogs perform rescue missions, sniff out explosives and risk their lives to keep us safe. And if you’ve ever wondered just how a young puppy grows into a strong K-9 service member, we invite you to join us on a journey through their life and service.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR K-9 SERVICE MEMBERS!***

Thanks for standing with America’s military heroes, even our four-legged ones!

The USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to respectfully honor "K-9 Veterans Day" and in order to support the USO's following statement: "Day in and day out, military working dogs brave tough terrains and deadly dangers to defend our freedoms alongside our troops. Now that you know just how much goes into training and caring for these four-legged fighters, you know it’s no easy task. These heroic K-9 teams deserve our support as they make immense sacrifices for our country — especially this month, as we celebrate K-9 Veterans Day! Please, rush a donation right now to support the courageous military working dog teams and our troops around the world who put their lives on the line for our country."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "March 13th, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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March 16th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today, March 16th, 2023, with the subject line, "Speak out for justice. Join ADL today.", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

The support from the ADL community drives our efforts to fight antisemitism, extremism and hate. And with incidents soaring in our communities nationwide, your first gift is more important than ever.

Through your first gift today, you’ll help to identify and eradicate the terrible antisemitism and hate we see throughout the year. Your gift will help expose extremism, champion critical legislation and provide anti-bias education to schools and communities across the country.

Activate your 2023 supporter status by giving now. Your support will provide invaluable resources for ADL’s efforts to:

[✓] Continue monitoring, exposing and disrupting extremist activity that promotes antisemitism, racism, bias or any form of hate.

[✓] Break the cycle of online hate and harassment by fiercely advocating to make digital spaces safe and equitable for everyone.

[✓] Call on elected officials to help combat the growing threats to our democracy and these acts of domestic terrorism, stopping the spread of hate online and in our communities.

Together, we can strive to create a world in which no group or person suffers from bias or discrimination. None of us are safe until all of us are safe.

Join ADL Today***

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
ADL

Paul –

We are reaching out to you to activate you to support reproductive access to health care.

Reproductive health care is under attack. As states across the nation ramp up assaults on our lives and our freedoms, we know that Oregon is not immune to these attacks either. We have to keep showing up and organizing to ensure we protect our rights. Right now, Oregon has the opportunity to protect and expand access to reproductive and transgender health care by passing HB 2002: Reproductive Health & Access to Care.

Join us and partners including Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, and the Fair Shot for All coalition in Salem on Monday for a rally and bill hearing. This is the first opportunity that our communities have to give lawmakers our input on HB 2002. Together, we must send a strong message: Oregon must continue to protect reproductive rights and must lead in trans rights and access to care. ...

... Can't make it to Salem? Help us flood lawmakers' inboxes to double down on our message: we need equitable access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care. Take one minute to contact your lawmaker today.***

More about Reproductive Health & Access to Care (HB 2002): This bill would remove barriers that keep people from getting the essential health care they need. And with the Dobbs decision in effect and states criminalizing care across the country, HB 2002 protects providers and people seeking gender-affirming care and reproductive health care in Oregon.

[✓] Protecting providers and health centers' ability to deliver care to all patients who seek gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon.

[✓] Expanding access to gender-affirming, reproductive, and sexual health care for rural Oregonians, low-income folks, students, and all those in our community who experience barriers to care.

[✓] Ensuring fundamental rights to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, so that no one can ever be criminalized for their reproductive health decisions or pregnancy outcomes.

Together, we can make sure that Oregon leads the way for reproductive and gender justice, dismantles barriers to care, and enshrines our rights to body autonomy into law.

We hope to see you at the capitol on Monday for any and all parts of the day that you can participate in!

In solidarity,

ACLU of Oregon Team

"2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HUB" from the ACLU of Oregon:

Our state's path towards racial justice, civil rights and civil liberties will be shaped in Oregon's 2023 legislative session — from January 17 to June 25, 2023. ...

... HB 2002 — Reproductive Health and Access to Care

No one should be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will and face the life-altering consequences of being denied essential health care.

While Oregon has broad legal protections of abortion and gender-affirming care, we have more work to do to ensure safe, equitable, and continuing protections and access across our state. Our rights are under attack and we must fight back — together. ...

... TAKE ACTION - ASK YOUR LAWMAKERS TO PLEDGE TO ACT ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & ACCESS TO CARE

Then, after I read the ACLU of Oregon webpage above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

"REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & ACCESS TO CARE (HB 2002)" from Fair Shot for All:

In Oregon, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own health care decisions and access the care they need to survive and thrive. For years, our state has led the nation in protecting and expanding access to the full spectrum of sexual, reproductive, and gender affirming care. Despite our progress, significant barriers to the full spectrum of care still exist in our state for many communities including: low-income Oregonians, those living outside of the I-5 corridor, women, LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

With the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, we lost legal protections for abortion. Since then, states are moving aggressively to ban abortion and criminalize providers. And the same extremists who want to ban abortion and criminalize care are also waging attacks on LGBTQ2SIA+ people. More than 300 bills attacking trans and queer rights have been introduced, and already several bills banning and restricting transgender health care have passed this year alone.

As states across the nation ramp up assaults on our lives and freedom, we know we must keep showing up and organizing to protect our rights.

With HB 2002, Oregon can be a leader — by protecting and expanding access to reproductive and transgender health care we can…

[✓] Protect providers and health centers' ability to deliver care to all patients who seek gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon.

[✓] Expand access to gender-affirming, reproductive, and sexual health care for rural Oregonians, low-income folks, students, and all those in our community who experience barriers to care.

[✓] Ensure fundamental rights to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, so that no one can ever be criminalized for their reproductive health decisions or pregnancy outcomes.

Together, we’re creating a future where every person belongs, has the power to determine their own future, and has access to the care they need.

HB 2002, the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill, will move Oregon forward by working to protect, strengthen, and expand equitable access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care. Send a letter to your lawmakers and urge them to support HB 2002!

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Preferred Language (Optional): English
Street Address: [redacted]
Postal Code: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Send the following message:

Please support HB 2002: The Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill

Dear [elected official],

I’m writing as your constituent to urge your support for HB 2002, the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill.

In Oregon, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own health care decisions and access the care they need with dignity and respect.

As states across the nation continue to place bans on abortion and gender-affirming care and criminalize providers, the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill will move Oregon forward in creating a future where every person belongs, has the power to determine their own future, and has access to the care they need by:

1) Protecting providers and health centers' ability to deliver care to all patients who seek gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon.
2) Expanding access to gender-affirming, reproductive, and sexual health care for rural Oregonians, low-income folks, students, and all those in our community who experience barriers to care.
3) Ensuring fundamental rights to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, so that no one can ever be criminalized for their reproductive health decisions or pregnancy outcomes.

I hope you join community and advocacy organizations, providers, clinic administrators, and issue experts in supporting HB 2002: the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill.

I would appreciate your reply and assurance of your commitment. Thank you for serving our community!

Sincerely,
Paul Whiting
[redacted]
Portland, OR [redacted]
[redacted]

Then, after I sent the letter above to my State Senator and State Representative, via the Fair Shot for All website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU Foundation of Oregon in order to show my support for HB 2002: the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill, because "together, we’re creating a future where every person belongs, has the power to determine their own future, and has access to the care they need." –Paul Whiting (written March 16th, 2023 revised March 20th, 2023, revised April 10th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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March 20th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon today, March 20th, 2023, with the subject line, "See you in Salem!", which stated the following:

Hi Paul --

Today’s the day! Join us in Salem for our Reproductive Health & Access to Care hearing & rally.

To address growing disparities and increased threats to our health care, rights and dignity, more than 80 local community organizations, providers, national legal experts, patients, clinics, and advocates came together with lawmakers in 2022.

Through extensive research and discussion over 6 weeks, this group identified barriers for patients seeking care, the challenges health care providers and facilities face in delivering care, and the potential legal issues patients and providers may face.

HB 2002, the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill directly responds to what we learned and it shows Oregon: we’re listening.

This critical legislation moves Oregon forward by working to protect, strengthen, and expand equitable access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care. Here are some ways you can support the bill:

[✓] Come to our hearing and rally today!
[✓] Tune in to the hearing at 3 pm and submit testimony in support of HB 2002*
[✓] Contact your lawmakers in support of HB 2002

Paul, advocates like you drive this movement. No matter how long you've been in this fight, we need your courage, commitment, strength, and voice. Thanks for being with us.

See you soon,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

*And so, I chose to participate in the rally and hearing by submitting "testimony in support of HB 2002" through a submission form on the Oregon State Legislature's Oregon Legislative Information website, which can be found below:

Oregon Legislative Information

Testimony Submitted Successfully!

Name: Paul Whiting

Email: [redacted]
Organization or City or Residence: Portland

Testimony is on behalf of: [N/A]

Measure: HB 2002

Committee: House Committee On Behavioral Health and Health Care

Position on this Bill: support

Testimony:

In Support of Reproductive Health & Access to Care (HB 2002)

In Oregon, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own health care decisions and access the care they need to survive and thrive. For years, our state has led the nation in protecting and expanding access to the full spectrum of sexual, reproductive, and gender affirming care. Despite our progress, significant barriers to the full spectrum of care still exist in our state for many communities including: low-income Oregonians, those living outside of the I-5 corridor, women, LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

With the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, we lost legal protections for abortion. Since then, states are moving aggressively to ban abortion and criminalize providers. And the same extremists who want to ban abortion and criminalize care are also waging attacks on LGBTQ2SIA+ people. More than 300 bills attacking trans and queer rights have been introduced, and already several bills banning and restricting transgender health care have passed this year alone.

As states across the nation ramp up assaults on our lives and freedom, we know we must keep showing up and organizing to protect our rights.

With HB 2002, Oregon can be a leader — by protecting and expanding access to reproductive and transgender health care we can…

1. Protect providers and health centers' ability to deliver care to all patients who seek gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon.

2. Expand access to gender-affirming, reproductive, and sexual health care for rural Oregonians, low-income folks, students, and all those in our community who experience barriers to care.

3. Ensure fundamental rights to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, so that no one can ever be criminalized for their reproductive health decisions or pregnancy outcomes.

Together, we’re creating a future where every person belongs, has the power to determine their own future, and has access to the care they need.

Then, after I submitted the testimony above to the House Committee On Behavioral Health and Health Care, via the Oregon State Legislature website, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon in order to show my support for the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill (HB 2002), because "together, we’re creating a future where every person belongs, has the power to determine their own future, and has access to the care they need." –Paul Whiting (written March 20th, 2023, revised March 23rd, 2023, revised April 24th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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March 20th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, March 20th, 2023, with the subject line, "The first bill attacking trans kids is in Congress.", which stated the following:

Paul –

A bill that would ban trans girls from school sports nationwide could get a vote in the House very soon. It is the very first bill out of Congress attacking transgender youth at the federal level, and we must take action.

To be clear, this bill would make it illegal for any school that receives federal funding to allow trans girls to play on girls' teams. It's discriminatory, it's unconstitutional, and it does nothing to address actual barriers in women's sports, like lack of funding, unequal pay, or harassment and abuse.

And while some representatives are trying to push this harmful bill through – there are many other Members of Congress who are fighting back. They need to hear from you in this crucial window of time: Tell your Representative to vote "NO" on all bills that attack transgender people.

SEND YOUR MESSAGE***

Paul, when kids have the freedom to play, they build stronger bonds with their friends, schools, and communities. And we also know too well this attack is not just about sports – this is one of many attacks on the freedom of transgender people right now.

Some in Congress also want to take away the right of young people and their families to get the healthcare they need and to force schools to out LGBTQ students. Meanwhile, in the state legislatures across the country, public officials are targeting our trans communities through a sweeping number of harmful and unconstitutional bills.

The civil liberties these politicians are coming after are in no small way lifesaving for so many trans young people. And we at the ACLU will not allow peoples' rights and safety to be put at risk for anyone's political agenda like this – especially when it comes to the rights and safety of kids.

That's why every action in this fight – every moment we speak out and let our leaders know we, the people, will not accept attempts to erase trans people from public life – makes a difference. So please, contact your member of Congress now, Paul – and know the ACLU will continue to fight back at every level.

Thank you for being with us at this critical moment.

For the freedom to be ourselves,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: He, him, his
[Title redacted], ACLU

Tell Congress: Protect Our Kids’ Freedom

The fight for trans rights is now federal. Congress has introduced the very first bill attacking transgender youth. Some Representatives are trying to ban trans kids from sports – and more bills pushing trans people out of public life are on the way.

Members of Congress are fighting back – and they need to hear from you. Tell your Representative to vote “NO” on all bills that attack transgender Americans.

Some members of Congress are trying to ban youth from school sports just because they’re transgender. But it’s not just about sports - this is the first of many attacks on the freedom of transgender people to be who they are. Politicians are pushing another bill taking away the right of young people and their families to get the healthcare they need. We must tell Congress that our government should not interfere with the care we receive, the curriculum our schools teach, or the freedom to be ourselves.

When kids have the freedom to play, they build stronger bonds with their friends, their schools, and their communities. Title IX requires schools to adopt inclusive policies to provide these opportunities for all students regardless of gender – including transgender students.

Send a message to your member of Congress now and call on them to protect trans rights by opposing H.R. 734.

SEND A LETTER

Dear Representative,

I’m writing today to strongly urge you to protect our children’s freedom to play by voting against H.R. 734, the so-called “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.”

This legislation would make it illegal for schools receiving federal funding to allow transgender girls and women to play on sports teams for girls and women. This is both discriminatory and unconstitutional, and I urge you to oppose it and all bills that attack transgender people.

Transgender girls and women participate in sports for the same reasons as their peers who are not transgender: to be part of a team, learn sportsmanship, and challenge themselves. It is because of this that leading advocates for women’s sports, including Megan Rapinoe, Billie Jean King, and the Women’s Sports Foundation strongly support including transgender girls and women in women’s sports.

If Congress was serious about addressing actual barriers facing female student athletes, it would be working to eliminate continued funding inequities, address pay disparities among coaches and staff, and ending harassment and abuse.

H.R. 734 does nothing to address these barriers. Instead, it targets a small, already vulnerable group of people for further discrimination. This legislation is both mean-spirited and cruel. I urge you to protect our childrens’ freedom to play by voting against H.R. 734 and all bills that target and discriminate against transgender people.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Prefix: Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Street address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

Then, after I sent the letter above to my U.S. House Representative in Congress, via the ACLU People Power website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to do my part to say 'NO' "on all bills that attack transgender Americans," to say 'NO' on the "many attacks on the freedom of transgender people to be who they are," and to say 'NO' to "H.R. 734 and all bills that target and discriminate against transgender people." –Paul Whiting (written March 20th, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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March 20th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, March 20th, 2023, when I noticed an accompanying video from a Time.com article titled, "The New U.N. Climate Report Has Arrived. Resist the Urge to Despair." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

So, I watched said video which is a speech by Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres discussing the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

Then, I searched on Time.com and found the above-mentioned article, which was written by Bronson Griscom, PhD, who "is the vice president of Natural Climate Solutions at Conservation International." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The New U.N. Climate Report Has Arrived. Resist the Urge to Despair" from Time Magazine

By Bronson Griscom | March 20, 2023

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a behemoth report on our warming world—something it has done routinely for three decades. Though the findings have evolved considerably over the years, the news cycle is always strikingly similar: World leaders offer bombastic soundbites, and headlines warn of impending doom. In turn, many people will interpret this report as a stark warning that humans are joy-riding down the highway to hell.

As a climate scientist of two decades, I do not share this view. Certainly, there is cause for deep concern. Today’s report confirms that humanity is on track to blow past 1.5°C (2.7°F) of planetary warming by the early 2030s. With each additional half-degree, the risk of deadly heat waves and flooding will increase substantially—and the effects are already manifesting on every continent. This is an existential crisis, and our actions today will dictate what happens tomorrow.

Even so, the latest assessment—as well as those released last year—did not fill me with dread. Like many scientists, I was disheartened for decades, but today’s report makes me feel more inspired than ever. Here are three reasons why: ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6264465/un-climate-report-ipcc-panic

By the way, I am thinking about mentioning this article in an 'update' that I have planned for Earth Day, on April 22nd, 2023, in which I will be describing the donations that I make for Earth Day 2023, but I decided to also say something about the article today, March 20th, 2023, since this is the day that it was published.

You see, I usually make donations to various environmental organizations on April 22nd of each year—as a way to celebrate Earth Day—and as a way to support the environmental organizations to which I choose to donate on Earth Day, which is the day that I feel thematically corresponds directly to the causes that those particular organizations represent.

And it's not just on Earth Day that I do this!

Thus, I donate to various charitable organizations during the year on a particular 'theme day,' so to speak, which I feel corresponds directly to those particular charitable causes, because it helps me to remember to donate to those particular charitable causes during the year that I feel have a corresponding 'theme day.'

Plus, I am spreading the charitable love throughout the entire year—and not simply having a year's worth of charitable giving 'bunch up,' so to speak, on Giving Tuesday. So then, whichever charitable organizations don't have an obvious corresponding 'theme day,' I can donate to those charitable organizations during Giving Tuesday, since I haven't already given to those particular organizations sometime during the year!

That is why I coordinate some of my charitable giving during the year with a particular 'theme day' that some charitable causes correspond to—such as the above-mentioned environmental organizations whose causes I feel directly correspond to the 'theme day' of Earth Day!

–Paul Whiting (written March 20th, 2023, revised March 21st, 2023, revised March 22nd, 2023, revised March 29th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised April 23rd, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised November 21st, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]
---------------------------------------------
March 20th, 2023 Update—Continued Further (Follow-Up, Written On March 22nd, 2023): I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, March 22nd, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Lessons From the New U.N. Climate Report on How to Course Correct." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The above-mentioned Time.com article was written by Simon Stiell, who "is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He previously served as Minister for Climate Resilience and the Environment in the Government of Grenada." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Lessons From the New U.N. Climate Report on How to Course Correct" from Time Magazine

By Simon Stiell | March 20, 2023

Seven months ago, when I took up my role at the helm of United Nations Climate Change, I said that we would need to do things differently if we are to meet the challenge of the climate emergency.

The report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) today underscores that need in dramatic terms. This synthesis of the most up-to-date science we have from a global community of experts adds yet more certainty, more data, and more detail to a simple truth: Unless we reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 43% this decade, we are locking ourselves into a future of escalating climate extremes, food crises, and nature loss.

While there has been significant progress on the climate agenda over the past years, today’s IPCC report is clear: It’s the pace at which we decarbonize our societies that will determine our success. Unless we supercharge climate action this decade, the Paris Agreement goals will be lost.

As the head of the U.N. organization tasked with addressing the climate emergency, I see three priorities for this year to get us on course: ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6264659/lessons-from-the-new-u-n-climate-report-on-how-to-course-correct

By the way, I am thinking about mentioning this article in an 'update' that I have planned for Earth Day, on April 22nd, 2023, in which I will be describing the donations that I make for Earth Day 2023, but I decided to also say something about it today, March 22nd, 2023, because this article was originally published on March 20th, 2023.

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too!

–Paul Whiting (written March 22nd, 2023, revised March 29th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised June 5th, 2023 revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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March 22nd, 2023 Update: The fourth Wednesday in March every year is American Red Cross Giving Day, which is today March 22nd, 2023:

"The 9th annual American Red Cross Giving Day is on March 22, 2023. It takes place during Red Cross Month, a time to recognize heroes who help those in need..."

And so, I donated to the American Red Cross on their website and I selected the "Double Your Impact Today" match offer where "Merck is matching all gifts, dollar for dollar, up to $150,000!"

Also, I donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross on their website via PayPal:

"The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of war and other situations of violence."

Plus, I donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society on their website via Google Pay:

"Your donation helps to sustain life in the affected Ukrainian cities. Today, your donation is very important..."

Thus, these donations are how I supported the American Red Cross Giving Day—which I observed in a decisively international way—and also how I helped the People of Ukraine! –Paul Whiting (March 22nd, 2023)

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March 23rd, 2023 Update, Written On March 24th, 2023: It is with a somber tone and utmost humility that I wish to commemorate the passing of Darcelle XV (a.k.a. Walter W. Cole, Sr.) of Portland, Oregon, who was named the "World's Oldest Drag Queen" on August 15th, 2016, by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Darcelle was so well known, in fact, that her passing commanded an article in the Associated Press (AP) News. An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Darcelle, world’s oldest working drag queen, dies at 92" from the AP News

By CLAIRE RUSH | March 24, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Walter Cole, better known as the iconic drag queen who performed for decades as Darcelle XV and a fearless advocate for Portland’s LGBTQ+ community, has died of natural causes in Portland, Oregon. He was 92.

Darcelle, who died Thursday, was crowned the world’s oldest working drag performer in 2016 by the Guinness Book of World Records and was regaling audiences until the very end. As a performer, Darcelle was known for hosting the longest-running drag show on the U.S. West Coast. Off stage, Cole, an Army veteran, championed LGBTQ+ rights and charitable work in Portland. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://apnews.com/article/darcelle-drag-queen-death-portland-walter-cole-e187006c33c51d69e42e491024806964

Quite a few years ago (which was in the early 2000s, to the best of my recollection), I went with friends to see the drag show at "Darcelle XV Showplace" in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. And it was a delightful performance! In fact, later on we went to enjoy Darcelle's extravagant, funny and entertaining drag show—yet again!

Now, although I haven't been back to see the drag show at Darcelle XV Showplace since that time, just this month I walked close to Darcelle's (I am pretty sure that it was on March 12th, 2023, but it was definitely sometime during the month of March 2023), because I was traveling through the Old Town neighborhood.

Then, I happened to notice three homeless folks sitting right out in front of Darcelle's, so I made sure to walk past them in order to give them "help out money," which is a one dollar bill that I usually offer to homeless folks, if I go by them, as I am traveling around by walking to various destinations...

...And the poignant thing is that one of the homeless folks was wearing a Carnival of Venice-style mask—which was a simple design in a dark color with rhinestones accentuating the perimeter—so I wondered to myself (at that time) if that was, in fact, Darcelle helping out homeless folks, who are asking for "spare change" (or 'spanging,' as it is informally called) in front of her nightclub!

Anyway, I thought that I should say a little something about Darcelle (a.k.a. Walter Cole), who left this earth on Thursday, March 23rd, 2023, and undoubtedly went to that great big wonderful drag show in the sky:

"Oh man, what a woman!"

By the way, while I was doing some online searches regarding writing this 'update,' I noticed that the above-mentioned AP News article was even carried by Time Magazine: what a legendary drag queen. We are all going to miss you, Darcelle! –Paul Whiting (written March 24th, 2023, revised March 25th, 2023, revised March 29th, 2023, revised April 2nd, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 24th, 2023 and revised April 25th, 2023)

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March 24th, 2023 Update: I received an email from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company) today, March 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "Sign the petition: Demand corporations stop donating to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress", which stated the following:

Dear Fellow Progressive,

More than two years ago, a violent mob descended on the U.S. Capitol to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Hundreds were injured. At least seven died. Democracy was shaken to its core.

On the heels of the Jan. 6 insurrection, corporations like AT&T, Home Depot, and Walgreens pledged to suspend donations to the Sedition Caucus – the 147 GOP members of Congress who objected to the certification of the election and supported Trump’s Big Lie.

However, many of those same corporations have now abandoned those pledges and resumed their financial support to these members of Congress. We need your help today to hold these corporations accountable and demand they end these donations immediately.

Sign and send the petition to corporations: Keep your pledge. Stop donations to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress.

Sign the Petition***

Over the last two years, this group of politicians received over $40 million from corporate donors, some of whom previously pledged to suspend donations.

And it's not surprising at all that AT&T wasted no time in abandoning its pledge. According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "AT&T donated to election objector Jim Banks’ leadership PAC just a month after pledging to cut off donations to seditionists." CREW reports that AT&T has donated at least $338,000 to 70 members of the Sedition Caucus since January 2022.[1]

It's unacceptable that corporations who claim to support democracy are privately supporting pro-insurrectionists who want it destroyed. They continue to pander to consumers while donating to anti-democracy campaigns in the shadows. We see them, and we demand these corporations stop funding insurrectionists immediately.

Click here to sign and send the petition to corporations: Keep your pledge. Stop donations to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress.

Thank you for speaking out. Please share with like-minded friends.

-The team at CREDO Mobile

Footnotes:

1. Rebecca Jacobs and Angela Li, "Corporations have given $40 million to the Sedition Caucus," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, September 29, 2022.

TAKE ACTION: Sign and send the petition: Demand corporations stop donating to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress!

On the heels of the January 6 insurrection, corporations like AT&T, Home Depot, Valero Energy Corp, and Walgreens pledged to suspend donations to the Sedition Caucus – the 147 GOP members of Congress who objected to the certification of the 2020 presidential election and supported Trump’s Big Lie.

However, many of those same corporations have now abandoned those pledges and resumed their financial support of the Sedition Caucus.

Over the last two years, the Sedition Caucus received over $40 million from corporate donors, some of whom previously pledged to suspend donations.

Corporations are claiming to support democracy while privately supporting pro-insurrectionists who want it destroyed. They continue to pander to consumers while donating to anti-democracy campaigns in the shadows. We see them, and we demand these corporations stop funding insurrectionists immediately.

Participating Organizations:

✓ Crazy Eight PAC
✓ CREDO Mobile
✓ Daily Kos
✓ Democracy for America Advocacy Fund
✓ Democratic Values
✓ Forward Blue
✓ Future Coalition
✓ Inequality Media Civic Action
✓ Greenpeace
✓ March On
✓ OD Action
✓ Patriotic Millionaires
✓ People Power United
✓ Progressive Reform Network
✓ Real Populists
✓ TakeItBack.Org
✓ Voters First Victory Fund

TAKE ACTION: WRITE TO:

PRESIDENT OF WALGREENS RETAIL AND CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER [NAME REDACTED]

HOME DEPOT PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER [NAME REDACTED]

VALERO CEO [NAME REDACTED]

AT&T CEO [NAME REDACTED]

YOUR LETTER:

Subject: Corporate America must stand against Republican right-wing extremism

It's disgraceful that your company has reneged on your pledge to stop donations to the insurrectionist members of Congress who peddled the Big Lie. Insurrectionist members of Congress continue to push right-wing extremist policies against voting rights, abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and more, leading to more bigotry and political turbulence. Donating to these members contributes to their extremist positions. Corporate America must stand against antidemocratic policies and support our civil rights. Support democracy and stop your donations to insurrectionist members of Congress.

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Email: [redacted]
Zip/Postal Code: [redacted]

Then, after I signed the petition letter, an ActionNetwork.org webpage appeared titled, "Help us meet our goal by spreading the word about this action using the tools on this page.", which stated the following:

Help us meet our goal by spreading the word about this action using the tools on this page.

Share This Letter

Subject: Send a letter: Sign the petition: Demand corporations stop donating to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress!

Friend,

I wrote a letter for the Action Network letter campaign: Sign the petition: Demand corporations stop donating to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress!

On the heels of the January 6 insurrection, corporations like AT&T, Home Depot, and Walgreens pledged to suspend donations to the Sedition Caucus – the 147 GOP members of Congress who objected to the certification of the 2020 presidential election and supported Trump’s Big Lie.

However, many of those same corporations have now abandoned those pledges and resumed their financial support of the Sedition Caucus.

Over the last two years, the Sedition Caucus received over $40 million from corporate donors, some of whom previously pledged to suspend donations.

Corporations are lying to us – claiming to support democracy while privately supporting pro-insurrectionists who want it destroyed. They continue to pander to consumers while donating to anti-democracy campaigns in the shadows. We see them, and we demand these corporations stop funding insurrectionists immediately.

Sign the petition to corporations: Keep your pledge. Stop donations to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress.

Participating Organizations
Daily Kos

Can you join me and write a letter? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sign-the-petition-demand-corporations-stop-donating-to-pro-insurrectionist-members-of-congress?source=email&

Thanks!

Thus, I sent the letter above to the President and Chief Customer Officer of WALGREENS, to the President and Chief Executive Officer of HOME DEPOT, as well as to the Chief Executive Officers of both VALERO ENERGY CORP and AT&T in order to show my support to "demand corporations stop donating to pro-insurrectionist members of Congress," because "it's unacceptable that corporations who claim to support democracy are privately supporting pro-insurrectionists who want it destroyed," since "Corporate America must stand against antidemocratic policies and support our civil rights." –Paul Whiting (written March 24th, 2023, revised April 12th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised May 12th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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March 24th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On April 21st, 2023 [April 21st, 2023 Update, Written About March 24th, 2023]: I am writing this update later than I originally found out about the news that it is regarding—which is specifically Jimmy Carter's presidency and the Iran hostage crisis—since I heard this news approximately one month ago, on March 24th, 2023, via a video on YouTube titled, "New claim about Iran hostage crisis sabotage may change narrative of Carter presidency." Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

New claim about Iran hostage crisis sabotage may change narrative of Carter presidency

In 1980, a prominent Republican sought to sabotage then-President Jimmy Carter's re-election by asking Middle Eastern leaders to get a message to the Iranians; keep the American hostages until after the election and Reagan will give you a better deal. That's according to a New York Times report. Jonathan Alter, author of "His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life," joined Geoff Bennett to discuss.

https://youtu.be/f12IQiV2oxU

Thus, I watched the video above about one month ago...and I was just recently thinking about that particular news regarding the Carter presidency, and the Iran hostage crisis, as it relates to the unscrupulous techniques that the Republicans seem to be entirely willing to utilize in order to win political office! And, apparently, that style of "the October surprise" election manipulation started way back during the election between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

And so, I was thinking about that news recently, when I decided to do a Google search for "Carter vs Reagan Election" and I found an article on The New York Times titled, "A Four-Decade Secret: One Man’s Story of Sabotaging Carter’s Re-election." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"A Four-Decade Secret: One Man’s Story of Sabotaging Carter’s Re-election" from The New York Times

A prominent Texas politician said he unwittingly took part in a 1980 tour of the Middle East with a clandestine agenda.

By Peter Baker | March 18, 2023

WASHINGTON — It has been more than four decades, but Ben Barnes said he remembers it vividly. His longtime political mentor invited him on a mission to the Middle East. What Mr. Barnes said he did not realize until later was the real purpose of the mission: to sabotage the re-election campaign of the president of the United States.

It was 1980 and Jimmy Carter was in the White House, bedeviled by a hostage crisis in Iran that had paralyzed his presidency and hampered his effort to win a second term. Mr. Carter’s best chance for victory was to free the 52 Americans held captive before Election Day. That was something that Mr. Barnes said his mentor was determined to prevent.

His mentor was John B. Connally Jr., a titan of American politics and former Texas governor who had served three presidents and just lost his own bid for the White House. A former Democrat, Mr. Connally had sought the Republican nomination in 1980 only to be swamped by former Gov. Ronald Reagan of California. Now Mr. Connally resolved to help Mr. Reagan beat Mr. Carter and in the process, Mr. Barnes said, make his own case for becoming secretary of state or defense in a new administration.

What happened next Mr. Barnes has largely kept secret for nearly 43 years. Mr. Connally, he said, took him to one Middle Eastern capital after another that summer, meeting with a host of regional leaders to deliver a blunt message to be passed to Iran: Don’t release the hostages before the election. Mr. Reagan will win and give you a better deal. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/politics/jimmy-carter-october-surprise-iran-hostages.html

Then, I recently noticed a YouTube video titled, "Expert analyzes new account of GOP deal that used Iran hostage crisis for gain." And this video, which is from a month ago, references The New York Times article above. Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Expert analyzes new account of GOP deal that used Iran hostage crisis for gain

The Iran hostage crisis consumed the last year of the Carter presidency, contributing to a perception of weakness. Saturday, a new allegation has surfaced that Ronald Reagan's campaign worked to prevent the U.S. hostages from being freed before Election Day. Gary Sick, who was the Iran expert on President Carter’s National Security Council, joins John Yang to discuss.

https://youtu.be/sb3iqtfXsmI

Anyway, I usually try to write these kind of 'updates' in a much more timely manner; but, at the time that I originally heard this news, I kind of thought that writing about it would be sort of pointless, since it ain't gonna make Jimmy Carter retroactively win his 1980 presidential election!

Then, I got to thinking a couple of days ago that this alleged manipulation of the 1980 presidential election by the Ronald Reagan campaign is just the kind of thing that Republicans seem to do all of the frickin' time with regard to elections. So, that is why I decided it was, in fact, relevant to write about this recent news with regard to the 1980 presidential campaign between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, because history seems to keep repeating itself... –Paul Whiting (written April 21st, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

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For my "March 27th, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

March 27th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, March 27th, 2023, with the subject line, "Check out our March USO Newsletter: All the most important USO news for dedicated supporters like you", with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 112 / March 2023, which stated, in part, the following:

Paul, day in and day out, we're working to support our service members and their families all around the world. That means we have no shortage of news, inspiring stories and ways to step up for our troops to share with you this month. Thank you for all you do to make this crucial work for our heroes possible. ...

And the following highlights from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, are regarding "U.S. Service Members Assisting in Turkey Earthquake Relief Efforts Receive Support from the USO," and "Meet the 2022 USO Service Members of the Year," plus "Over 200 Years of Service: The History of Women in the U.S. Military," in addition to "Take a look at 12 moments you supported U.S. troops deployed to Eastern Europe in the year since Russia invaded Ukraine":

U.S. Service Members Assisting in Turkey Earthquake Relief Efforts Receive Support from the USO

Last month, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria — becoming the deadliest earthquake on the entire globe since the 2010 earthquakes in Haiti. As our nation's service members support those impacted by this disaster, the USO is right there beside them — ensuring that American troops know we have their backs, no matter the mission or crisis.

https://www.uso.org/stories/3515-u-s-service-members-assisting-in-turkey-earthquake-relief-efforts-receive-support-from-the-uso

---------------------------------------------

Meet the 2022 USO Service Members of the Year

Each year, honorees from different military branches are nominated by their command leadership for performing extraordinary acts of bravery that exemplify the values of the Armed Forces and the USO.

https://www.uso.org/stories/3513-meet-the-2022-uso-service-members-of-the-year

---------------------------------------------

Over 200 Years of Service: The History of Women in the U.S. Military

From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the deserts of Kuwait, women have been serving in the military in one form or another for more than 200 years. They have had to overcome decades of obstacles to get to where they are today: serving in greater numbers, in combat roles and in leadership positions all around the world.

https://www.uso.org/stories/3005-over-200-years-of-service-the-history-of-women-in-the-us-military

---------------------------------------------

BY THE NUMBERS

"12"

Take a look at 12 moments you supported U.S. troops deployed to Eastern Europe in the year since Russia invaded Ukraine. »

https://www.uso.org/stories/3520-12-moments-you-supported-u-s-troops-deployed-to-eastern-europe-in-the-year-since-russia-invaded-ukraine

---------------------------------------------

...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And so, I made four one-time donations on the USO.org website (one for each of the above-mentioned highlights, because I felt that each of one of these highlights deserved its own donation) in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, the USO has stood by America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members." And I also donated to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

"Thank you so much for having this event today. I look forward to it every week. I really enjoy the activities, but most importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to get out of the house, meet others, and build a community here."

— A military spouse describes her experience at a USO Coffee Connections event at USO Naples

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "March 27th, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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March 27th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, March 27th, 2023, with the subject line, "Working around the clock to protect abortion", which stated the following:

Paul, as you read this, our reproductive freedom is under attack.

From Texas to Ohio, extremists are pushing forward their plans to strip us of our fundamental right to bodily autonomy. And, as is usually the case with the criminal legal system, when abortion is criminalized, the people who are most likely to be investigated and prosecuted are Black, Latinx, and those with less financial means.

We deserve a world where health care providers can put a patient's health first by providing abortion care.

We deserve a world where a pregnant person has the power to control their future and their body by making their own deeply personal medical decisions.

No one should face criminal charges for reproductive health care. That's why I joined the ACLU to launch the Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative (ACDI) – which is mobilizing a network of criminal defense attorneys to defend providers, supporters, and those who access abortion care, should they face criminal investigation or prosecution.

But I'll be honest with you, Paul: Running vital programs like this takes a lot of resources – and as a nonprofit organization, the ACLU relies on supporters like you to give what they can to fund our work.

That's why we set a goal to raise $100,000 before our fiscal year ends on March 31, and I'm counting on your support to help us reach it. So please, Paul, I'm personally asking: Will you give $35 or more right now before our fiscal year deadline – to help us reach our goal and power the fight for our civil liberties in the months ahead?

DONATE NOW***

We deserve a world where our right to abortion is not criminalized. Thank you for believing in reproductive freedom. Together, I know we can win this fight.

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU

"The House GOP’s investigations are flopping" from Vox Media:

House Republicans are still looking for their next Benghazi. But their investigations are unpopular.

By Christian Paz on March 28, 2023 6:00 am

Even before they had taken control of the House, House Republicans were promising payback.

Using the powers of the various congressional committees that they would soon take over, ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus members, led by Reps. James Comer of Kentucky and Jim Jordan of Ohio, were pledging investigations of everything: the Biden family’s business practices, Hunter Biden’s laptop, the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, alleged government bias against conservatives, and the Biden administration’s border policies.

But so far, these investigations seem to be flopping. They don’t seem to be sticking in the public consciousness. They haven’t uncovered page one news about Hunter Biden’s laptop, or about the origins of Covid-19, or about a supposed government conspiracy to silence conservatives on Twitter. A bit more than two months into Republican control of the House, plenty of these investigations are well underway. Hearings have been held, letters sent, witnesses summoned, and hours spent appearing on Fox News.

The House GOP investigations also aren’t making the president’s reelection campaign untenable — many Democratic operatives suspected that was their goal — and they don’t seem to be damaging the president as many Republicans had hoped. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/politics/23659090/house-republicans-hunter-biden-oversight-china-comer-jordan

And after I read the article, I made a one-time donation to Vox Media in order to show my support for Vox's Journalism, as described in the following statement, which appeared at the end of the above-mentioned article:

Vox's journalism is free because we believe that everyone deserves to understand the world that they live in. That kind of knowledge helps create better citizens, neighbors, friends, parents, consumers and stewards of this planet. In short, understanding benefits everyone. You can join in on this mission by making a financial gift to Vox today. Reader support helps keep our work free, for everyone. Will you join us?!

So, I joined them! And I decided to highlight this article from Vox for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written March 29th, 2023, revised April 2nd, 2023, revised April 3rd, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 7th, 2023, revised May 31st, 2023 revised June 15th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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March 30th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, March 30th, 2023, with the subject line, "Program Starting Soon | When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered 'Extreme'", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

Join us on March 30 for When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered “Extreme.” Here are the event details:

Date:
Thursday, March 30, 2023

Time:
7 p.m. MST (Arizona time)

Event will be streamed at:
4 p.m. in Hawaii
6 p.m. in Alaska
7 p.m. in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
8 p.m. in Montana, New Mexico, and Utah

Virtual Location: Watch the virtual event here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRB-Vb4eIQw

Join the conversation during the virtual program. After the speakers finish their discussion, you will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Please submit your question(s) in the YouTube comments section. If you are not able to do that because you do not have a Google email account, please submit your questions to [redacted].

After the live broadcast, the program will be available to watch on demand on the Museum's YouTube page.

https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustmuseum

QUESTIONS

For more information, please contact the Western Regional Office at [redacted]. You may cancel your registration here or modify your registration here.

Sincerely,
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
#USHMM

You see, I originally received an email on March 2nd, 2023, from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum with the subject line, "Register Today I Upcoming Program on Extremism", which stated the following:

Public Program: When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered “Extreme”

Extremist beliefs and violence are on the rise. White supremacists and other hate groups exploit antisemitic myths, racism, and conspiracy theories often directly inspired by Nazi ideology. Holocaust history warns us of the violence that can follow when such threats go unchecked.

Join us in-person or virtually as we discuss the dangers posed when extremist ideas are normalized and what is being done to challenge them.

This program, which is free and open to the public, is part of our award-winning Stay Connected Live series.

THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 7 P.M. MST
[Center redacted] | [Campus Redacted]
[City redacted], AZ [ZIP Code redacted]

REGISTER TODAY

SPEAKERS:

[✓] [Name redacted], [Title redacted], United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

[✓] [Name redacted], Holocaust survivor and distinguished [Title redacted]

[✓] [Name redacted], [Title redacted], Moonshot

For more information, please contact the Museum’s Western Regional Office at [redacted] or [redacted].

Event Livestream

If you cannot attend in person, join the live discussion virtually.

4 p.m. in Hawaii
6 p.m. in Alaska
7 p.m. in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
8 p.m. in Montana, New Mexico, and Utah

Register to watch >>

Thus, I registered to watch the livestream that same day, which is why I received a confirmation email on March 2nd, 2023, from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum with the subject line, "Registration Confirmation | When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered 'Extreme'", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

You are registered for When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered “Extreme.” Here are the event details:

Date:
Thursday, March 30, 2023

Time:
7 p.m. MST

Event will be streamed at:
4 p.m. in Hawaii
6 p.m. in Alaska
7 p.m. in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington
8 p.m. in Montana, New Mexico, and Utah

Virtual Location:
Watch the virtual event here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRB-Vb4eIQw

Join the conversation during the virtual program. After the speakers finish their discussion, you will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Please submit your question(s) in the YouTube comments section. If you are not able to do that because you do not have a Google email account, please submit your questions to [redacted].

After the live broadcast, it will be available to watch on demand on the Museum's YouTube page.

https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustmuseum

Please review your registration details below:

Are you planning to attend in person or virtually? Virtually

How did you hear about this event? Museum e-mail

How old are you? 46-60 years old

I'd like to receive news and updates from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Yes

QUESTIONS

For more information, please contact the Western Regional Office at [redacted]. You may cancel your registration here or modify your registration here.

Sincerely,
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
#USHMM

Now, to clarify, I started to watch the event livestream, however, I decided to wait until after the event had livestreamed to watch it, since I only have a cellular data plan through my cell phone company (so, I don't have access to Wi-Fi on my smartphone), because I was concerned that the livestream would take up too much cellular data. (Although, I am just assuming that!)

In addition to that, once I had decided to wait until after the livestream concluded in order to watch the video, I also decided to make a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, shortly after the livestream had started, in order to show my support for the program "When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered 'Extreme.'" –Paul Whiting (written March 30th, 2023, revised April 20th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 11th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised June 1st, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

---------------------------------------------

P.S.: I just finished watching the video of the program "When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered 'Extreme.'" And so, my take on the presentation was that I found it to be a very informative and thought-provoking discussion, because of how it presented the way that "extremist ideas" are often times accepted by those who are feeling lonely and disconnected from personal relationships and society in general. Thus, those who join extremist movements are simply looking for a way to feel connected and included. Therefore, if they are recruited by extremist groups, they can receive the connection which they feel they may be lacking. And that need for feeling a personal connection is also how they can be brought out of extremist thinking as well—or even prevented from joining extremist groups in the first place—by receiving that same kind of personal connection through intervention techniques, such as crisis counseling, in order to help them with their feelings of loneliness with regard to personal relationships and disconnection from society at large.

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March 31st, 2023 Update: I received a mailer from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), just a few days ago, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read, "Majority Makers Membership Card Enclosed", which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter):

Dear Paul,

Thank you for your generous recurring monthly contribution to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) of $3.

It is my pleasure to welcome you today as a Majority Maker member and enclose your official Majority Makers Membership Card. I hope you will carry it with pride as a symbol of your monthly support and your commitment to the progressive causes for which we all fight.

House Democrats are facing an uphill battle in retaking the majority — the twice-impeached former president and his extreme MAGA Republicans are raising millions to cement their hold on the House and retake the Senate.

As a Majority Maker, your monthly contribution allows us to meet this challenge. We're backing our Frontline incumbent Democrats, holding key Republicans accountable, building unprecedented field operations across the country and so much more.

As a thank you, Majority Makers will receive exclusive updates about the state of our races, opportunities to hear from our team and our Democratic leaders directly and more.

Together, we're fighting back against Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans who continue to stand in the way of progress.

Again, I can't thank you enough for joining our Majority Makers — you are a pivotal part of this team as we work to take back the House For The People.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

So, I made a one-time donation to the DCCC in order to show my support for the Democrats in the House of Representatives who are "backing our Frontline incumbent Democrats, holding key Republicans accountable, building unprecedented field operations across the country and so much more," since "together, we're fighting back against Trump and extreme MAGA Republicans who continue to stand in the way of progress ... as we work to take back the House For The People." –Paul Whiting (written March 31st, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised May 18th, 2023)

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YEAR 2023 UPDATES FOR APRIL:

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April 1st, 2023 Update: (This is not an April Fools' joke.)

I received an email from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) today, April 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "Urgent call to action – we need your voice to protect the right to protest!", which stated the following:

Paul –

On Monday, legislators in Oregon are considering a "Domestic Terrorism" law of the kind used to jail and harass social, racial, environmental, and climate justice activists in states across the country.

The offenses covered in House Bill 2772 are already prohibited under currently existing state and federal law; law enforcement agencies possess the tools and legal capacity to investigate and prosecute crimes against critical infrastructure and mass harm.

We don't need new laws that can be used to chill speech and intimidate activists.

We need to flood legislators' inboxes to urge them to vote NO on HB 2772. Please take a few minutes to fill out our action alert.

TAKE ACTION***

Simply handing law enforcement a new law will not solve Oregon's growing issue of violent extremism. It certainly will not address the worrying levels of law enforcement sympathy towards, and membership in, right-wing violent extremist groups.

Instead of rushing to pass a new terrorism law, let's urge lawmakers to listen to Oregonians who have suffered at the hands of biased policing and police misconduct, and work to address the problem of white supremacist sympathies in law enforcement.

Don't let Oregon follow Georgia in passing an over-broad terrorism law that allows law enforcement to label non-violent protesters as domestic terrorists. Send your message today!

In solidarity,

ACLU of Oregon

URGENT CALL TO ACTION – SAY NO TO UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS DOMESTIC TERRORISM LAWS IN OREGON!

Tell the House Judiciary Committee to say NO to HB 2772. Oregon does not need a "domestic terrorism" offense of the kind abused against environmental and racial justice protestors across the US!

Oregon, your voice will protect the right to protest!

Legislators in Oregon are considering a "Domestic Terrorism" law of the kind used to jail and harass social, racial, environmental, and climate justice activists in states across the country.

The offenses covered in House Bill 2772 are already prohibited under currently existing state and federal law; law enforcement agencies possess the tools and legal capacity to investigate and prosecute crimes against critical infrastructure and mass harm.

We don’t need new laws that can be used to chill speech and intimidate activists.

Message Recipients:

Chief Sponsor, Representative [redacted]
Sponsor, Representative [redacted]
Sponsor, Representative [redacted]
Sponsor, Representative [redacted]

Members of the House Judiciary Committee —

[No. 1] Representative [redacted]
[No. 2] Representative [redacted]
[No. 3] Representative [redacted]
[No. 4] Representative [redacted]
[No. 5] Representative [redacted]
[No. 6] Representative [redacted]
[No. 7] Representative [redacted]
[No. 8] Representative [redacted]
[No. 9] Representative [redacted]

House Leadership —

[No. 1] Representative [redacted]
[No. 2] Representative [redacted]
[No. 3] Representative [redacted]
[No. 4] Representative [redacted]
[No. 5] Representative [redacted]
[No. 6] Representative [redacted]
[No. 7] Representative [redacted]
[No. 8] Representative [redacted]
[No. 9] Representative [redacted]
[No. 10] Representative [redacted]
[No. 11] Representative [redacted]
[No. 12] Representative [redacted]
[No. 13] Representative [redacted]

YOUR MESSAGE:

Subject:

I oppose unnecessary and dangerous domestic terrorism laws for Oregon!

Dear House Judiciary Committee,

I am a community member in Oregon who believes a new terrorism law is not the answer to violent extremism in our state.

While I recognize the impulse to “just do something” in the face of growing white supremacist violence, creating a domestic terrorism criminal offense would simply double down on the systems and practices that have been used to harm historically marginalized communities and activists.

The offenses covered in House Bill 2772 are already illegal under state and federal laws. Law enforcement agencies already possess the legal tools they need to investigate and prosecute crimes against critical infrastructure or which cause widespread harm. House Bill 2772, on the other hand, risks categorizing a wide array of property damage as “domestic terrorism.” Similar laws outside Oregon have been used against social, racial, environmental and climate justice activists[.]

Simply handing law enforcement a new law will not solve Oregon’s growing issue with violent extremism. It certainly will not address the worrying levels of law enforcement sympathy towards and membership in right-wing violent extremist groups.

Instead of rushing to pass a new terrorism law, lawmakers should listen to Oregonians who have suffered at the hands of biased policing and police misconduct and work to address the problem of white supremacist sympathies in law enforcement.

Don’t let Oregon follow Georgia in passing an over-broad terrorism law that allows law enforcement to label non-violent protesters as domestic terrorists.

Vote NO on House Bill 2772 and protect Oregonians from politicized terrorism prosecutions!

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

Then, after I sent the letter above to the State of House Judiciary Committee (including the Chief Sponsor [of HB 2772], the Sponsors [of HB 2772], the Members of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Oregon House Leadership) via the ACLU of Oregon website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU of Oregon in order to show my support for voting 'NO' on HB 2772, because "creating a domestic terrorism criminal offense would simply double down on the systems and practices that have been used to harm historically marginalized communities and activists," since "the offenses covered in House Bill 2772 are already illegal under state and federal laws." –Paul Whiting (written April 1st, 2023, revised April 10th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised February 21st, 2024)

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April 2nd, 2023 Update: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, April 2nd, 2023, when I noticed several articles whose topics all had something to do with the Republicans being at war with various issues.

And this most assuredly isn't the first time that I have noticed this "Republican War on Everything That Republicans Don't Like" trending in the news, but I realized as I was reading the first one of the three articles mentioned below about Republicans—the topic of which is the phasing out of incandescent lightbulbs—is that they all seem to touch on similar overall themes. (The articles are listed in the order that I read them.)

Therefore, as a self-designated 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' I have concluded that the "Republican War on Everything That Republicans Don't Like" is actually the following:

1. The Republican War on What's Changing for Them (such as incandescent vs. LED lightbulbs).

"Biden admin moving forward with light bulb bans in coming weeks" from Fox News:

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-moving-forward-light-bulb-bans-coming-weeks.amp

2. The Republican War on What's Different from Them (such as non-conforming gender identity individuals and LGBTQ+ communities).

"Uptick in legislation suggests transgender issues are the GOP’s new cultural frontier" from NBC News:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna77818

3. The Republican War on What's Challenging for Them (such as addressing climate change).

"House GOP approves broad bill to ‘unleash’ American energy" from AP News:

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-energy-oil-biden-republican-congress-b2d799a4b69dec464afb906c14f938d2

And all of this "Republican War on Everything That Republicans Don't Like" sure is good news for the Democrats because, as the NBC News article about how "...transgender issues are the GOP’s new cultural frontier" points out:

"In a sense, these legislative approaches and targets feel very familiar in 2023. They look like a base-driven approach to governing — laws and bills from Republican officials and lawmakers aimed at resonating with Republican voters.

That’s become a popular template for American politics these days, of course. But come election time you usually need more than just your base to win, especially nationally. And, beyond the base, it’s not at all clear the GOP’s current focus on gender and sexuality will be a plus for the party in 2024."

–Paul Whiting (written April 2nd, 2023, revised April 19th, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised May 7th, 2023)

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April 2nd, 2023 Update—Continued: I was scrolling through YouTube Recommendations, when I noticed a video titled, "MO Republicans ELIMINATE Public Library Funding."

Now, I didn't watch the video at first, because I sometimes do a "copy link text" command from a video that I might be interested in watching like this: "MO Republicans ELIMINATE Public Library Funding Rebel HQ • 26K views • 8 hours ago".

And then, I do a Google search for more information about that video's topic before I decide whether to watch that particular video based upon any additional information that I am able to find online, thereby potentially saving cellular data on my cell phone's monthly data plan. And if it turns out that the video's topic is one that I am interested in viewing, then I watch the video.

You see, I discover a lot of news through YouTube Recommendations that I don't normally learn about when I am doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google—in order to stay a more informed voter, as well as a more informed citizen.

Thus, I searched for "Missouri Republicans ELIMINATE Public Library Funding" on Google and I found several articles. So, I selected an article by Truthout titled, "Missouri GOP Seeks to Eliminate All Funding for Public Libraries in State Budget." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Missouri GOP Seeks to Eliminate All Funding for Public Libraries in State Budget" from Truthout:

By Chris Walker, TRUTHOUT | Published March 30, 2023

Missouri’s Republican-led House of Representatives has given initial approval to a state budget that would strip libraries of state funding in what appears to be retaliation for a lawsuit filed by librarians seeking to overturn a law expanding book bans in schools.

Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage), chair of the House Budget Committee, proposed eliminating all funding for public libraries in the state last week, after a lawsuit was filed by the Missouri Libraries Association (MLA) in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) against a state law that bans certain materials from schools and libraries.

Smith’s proposal was passed by the committee and forwarded to the full House, where it was approved as part of the full budget on Tuesday. The full budget must be approved once more before it is sent to the Senate for consideration.

The Missouri law that librarians are currently challenging in court bans materials that the state has deemed sexually explicit from schools, including school libraries. The law has been used to purge hundreds of titles from the shelves, particularly books that include LGBTQ characters or racial justice themes. Holocaust history and human anatomy books are also among the materials that have been banned. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://truthout.org/articles/missouri-gop-seeks-to-eliminate-all-funding-for-public-libraries-in-state-budget

And after I read the article, I made a one-time donation to Truthout [which is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization] in order to show my support for Truthout's Journalism, as described in the following statement, which appeared at the end of the above-mentioned article:

NOT EVERYONE CAN PAY FOR THE NEWS. BUT IF YOU CAN, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

Truthout is widely read among people with lower incomes and among young people who are mired in debt. Our site is read at public libraries, among people without internet access of their own. People print out our articles and send them to family members in prison — we receive letters from behind bars regularly thanking us for our coverage. Our stories are emailed and shared around communities, sparking grassroots mobilization.

We’re committed to keeping all Truthout articles free and available to the public. But in order to do that, we need those who can afford to contribute to our work to do so — especially now, because we only have hours left to raise over $9,000 in critical funds.

We’ll never require you to give, but we can ask you from the bottom of our hearts: Will you donate what you can, so we can continue providing journalism in the service of justice and truth?

And so, I donated what I could!

Then, I finally watched the above-mentioned video, which originally prompted me to do the search for this issue regarding "Missouri Republicans ELIMINATING Public Library Funding," as I mentioned above. Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Missouri Republicans ELIMINATING Public Library Funding

Missouri Republicans voted to completely strip funding for public libraries. The GOP controls the State's House Of Representatives, as well as the Senate. Mike Parson, Missouri's Governor, is also a Republican. David Shuster breaks it down on Rebel HQ.

https://youtu.be/yDefKXvwdsI

–Paul Whiting (written April 2nd, 2023, revised April 3rd, 2023, revised April 19th, 2023, revised April 20th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

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April 3rd, 2023 Update: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, April 3rd, 2023, with the subject line, "SURVEY FOR Paul", which stated the following:

Paul,

...When it comes to our issues, what we don't know can hurt us.

We've seen state legislatures nationwide pass bans on some or all abortions, and courts restricting access to care after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the federal right to abortion.

The more we know about what is really happening — not just where we live, but nationwide — the better we can protect our health and our rights.

So, we need supporters like you to share what inspired you to join us in our mission — and we built a survey to make it easy for you to tell us.

I'M IN***

If you've been feeling unsure about how recent court cases affect abortion access, or how we can use our power to protect patients, we completely understand. It's confusing and widely varies based on where you live.

The question isn't if that defining Supreme Court ruling most harms Black, Latino, Indigenous, rural, and low-income communities due to systemic racism and discrimination in health care; the question is how much it will harm them.

Take our survey to share what you know about abortion access across the country.

Over 20 million women, trans and nonbinary people already lost their right to an abortion — with additional bans working their way through the court system and state legislatures. We really need to make sure Planned Parenthood supporters like you, Paul, understand exactly what's happening in this defining moment.

TAKE THE SURVEY***

Help us understand what motivates you to take action and get involved. Take the survey now to help out.

Thank you for doing your part to stay informed and for helping power the movement to defend our health, our futures, and our freedom.

— Planned Parenthood

"Good Eggs and Bad Bunnies: Your Chocolate Choices, Ranked by Sustainability" from Time Magazine

By Aryn Baker | April 5, 2023

When it comes to health, chocolate is something of a mixed bag—a little bit of dark chocolate every day is good for the heart, but too much of the creamy, sugary kind is bad for both arteries and waistline. Chocolate’s impact on the planet is equally tangled. The $128 billion-a year chocolate industry has long been synonymous with unfair labor practices, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, but is also a major source of income for the West African nations of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which, combined, produce three quarters of the world’s cocoa. Both countries have lost most of their forest cover over the past 60 years, and cocoa plantations are responsible for approximately a third of those losses.

Boycotting chocolate is not the answer, says Amourlaye Touré, the Ivorian human rights and climate advocate for West Africa at Mighty Earth, an environmental NGO based in Washington, D.C. A chocolate ban would “result in a crisis in the cocoa sector, throwing millions of impoverished farmers into greater despair.” Instead, he says, consumers should seek out sustainably produced chocolate. But when 40% of the world’s chocolate is completely untraceable, it’s hard to make the right choice.

Enter the Chocolate Scorecard, an annual assessment of the world’s major chocolatiers conducted by a consortium of international academics and 37 civil society groups including those from cocoa growing nations. The consortium ranks the 56 producers responsible for 95% of the world’s chocolate on the basis of deforestation and climate, traceability, labor rights, and sustainable farming practices. Released every spring just before chocolate bunny season, a.k.a. Easter, the scorecard is denominated by color-coded eggs—green for good, yellow for improving, orange for trying, and red for “needs to catch up to the rest of the industry.” Total scores are aggregated into similarly color-coded bunnies. The scorecard’s ranking system, says Touré, who worked on the rankings, addresses the most pernicious aspects of the cocoa industry. “Governments, traders, producers, chocolate companies, and civil society must all work together to improve traceability and transparency in the industry. Only then will we be able to end deforestation in cocoa supply chains and improve livelihoods for farmers.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6268946/chocolate-sustainability-ranked

By the way, here is the introduction to the Chocolate Scorecard website that is mentioned in the Time article above (please see the hyperlink below for the website):

WHAT’S REALLY GOING INTO THE CHOCOLATE WE BUY?

We eat chocolate for comfort, celebration, and indulgence. Cocoa is the key ingredient in chocolate. What is really going on with the sourcing of cocoa? We surveyed the world’s biggest chocolate companies to find out!

https://www.chocolatescorecard.com

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too!

–Paul Whiting (written April 6th, 2023, revised April 8th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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April 8th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, April 8th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "How Food Companies' Massive Profits Are Making Your Groceries More Expensive." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

A brief summarization of the article can be found below, which includes an illustration showing the "notable food companies with massive net income is increases over the past year" (by the way, I hand-typed the text of the illustration below on my smartphone):

"How Food Companies' Massive Profits Are Making Your Groceries More Expensive" from Time Magazine

By Nik Popli | April 6, 2023

It’s been more than a year since the U.S. launched its battle against high inflation. Yet, nearly every grocery item still costs more than it did in the past.

A bag of potato chips that could have been purchased for $5.36 last year will cost you $6.17 today. A dozen eggs that used to cost $2.01 now sets you back $4.21. A pound of butter went from $3.77 to $4.87.

Across the country, the high grocery prices have crunched budgets for essential food items. But at the same time, some of the largest food corporations are raking in profits. Experts say those profits are helping to make your groceries even more expensive.

“Follow the money, and the story is clear,” Robert Reich, the former US. Labor Secretary, tweeted last week. “Food corporations are using inflation as cover to jack up prices.” ...

[START OF ILLUSTRATION]

Makin' bacon
Notable food companies with massive net income is increases over the past year

Cal-Maine Foods
↑ 718%
$40 million to 323 million
Includes Egg-Land's, Land O' Lakes, Farmhouse and 4-Grain

Kraft-Heinz
↑ 448%
$255 million to 887 million
Includes Kraft, Heinz, Oscar Mayer, Jell-O, Ore-Ida, Lunchables, Smart Ones, Weight Watchers, Kool Aid, Caprisun and Philadelphia

Conagra Brands
↑ 56%
$219 million to $342 million
Includes Marie Calender's, Reddi-Wip, Slim Jim, Duncan Hines, Orville Redenbacher and Hunts

Cal-Maine Foods: Feb. 26, 2002 to Feb. 25, 2023
Kraft-Heinz: Dec. 25, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2022
Conagra Brands: Feb. 27, 2022 to Feb. 26, 2023

Conagra Brands, which makes Slim Jim, Reddi-Wip and Marie Calender's frozen meals, is only the latest food company to post big profits[.]
Lon Tweeten-Time

[END OF ILLUSTRATION]

... Over the last year, the price of food eaten at home has soared more than 10%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with some items spiking even higher. Cereals and bakery goods are up 14.6% from a year ago, closely followed by dairy and nonalcoholic beverages, which have both risen 12.3%. The other major grocery store food groups—meats and fresh produce—are up 6.8% and 5.4%, respectively. Prices increases have slowed in recent months, but show no signs of going back to pre-pandemic levels.

The trend shows that the packaged food industry is benefitting from passing the price increases along to American consumers. And as more food companies are reaping the rewards of higher profit, it could result in your grocery prices staying at these inflation-driven levels for longer, says Chris Becker, a senior economist at Groundwork Collaborative, which promotes left-leaning economic policies.

“When shareholders see that other corporations are getting away with high pricing, they start wanting to get in on it,” he says. “So other corporations then raise prices to deliver profit margins.”

In other industries, like electronics and home furnishing, consumers are likely to cut back on spending if prices are too high. But that hasn’t been as big a concern among food industry executives, Becker says, since people will always need to spend on groceries in order to live.

“Food companies are taking advantage of this very precarious moment,” says Irit Tamir, Director of Oxfam America’s private sector department, which seeks to fight inequality to end poverty and injustice. “They are hiding behind a very good story of the pandemic, inflation, and the Ukraine war to say that they need to raise prices, but they are actually just creating a smash and grab for profit, exploiting and exacerbating inflation.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6269366/food-company-profits-make-groceries-expensive

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 8th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 9th, 2023 Update: Happy Easter, everyone! I decided to make one-time donations today, April 9th, 2023, to charities who are helping those in need during Easter, which includes local nonprofits who are helping homeless folks (Union Gospel Mission, Portland Rescue Mission and Blanchet House of Hospitality), as well as nonprofits who are helping hungry folks, including a local food bank (Oregon Food Bank) and a national hunger-relief organization (Feeding America). And I was inspired to make these donations by an advertisement video that I saw on a news website recently, which was for one of the local nonprofits, here in Portland, Oregon, that I donated to today who are helping homeless folks! –Paul Whiting (written April 9th, 2023, revised April 13th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023 and revised March 24th, 2024)
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April 9th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On April 11th, 2023: Happy Easter, everyone! I received a mailer from The Salvation Army Portland Metro today, April 11th, 2023, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read, "Our pantry is almost empty!", which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter):

The Salvation Army
DOING THE MOST GOOD

Dear Mr. Whiting,

We have an urgent request — and we need your help.

Here in the Portland Metro area, requests for food assistance continue to come in. Surging inflation is causing more neighbors to turn to us in need. Their pantries are empty. They tell us: "Our family is hungry. Please help!"

It's heartbreaking.

Let me tell you about the kinds of people who come through our doors, desperate for help:

⋆ A single mom, working a job that pays minimum wage. She struggles to afford the rising cost of food and other essentials. Her paycheck just don't stretch that far. Her kids are hungry.

⋆ A widow learning to live on reduced Social Security benefits after the death of her husband. Taxes, insurance, and other necessary expenses leave her with nothing to spend at the grocery store.

⋆ A young family man, back at work after being laid off for several months. He continues to catch up with bills and other expenses, and worries about how he will feed his family.

(( Everyone who comes to our doors has a story ... some of them more tragic than others. But all of them have one thing in common: the basic need for food. ))

We try to keep a variety of food and food vouchers on hand, so people in need can feed their families. But with so many people coming to us for help, we are challenged to meet everyone's needs.

Please give now, and help us serve our neighbors who need help right here in the Portland Metro area. Your generosity will offer a love beyond crisis for families who are running out of food.

For people in need,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

Thank you and God bless you!

And so, I made a one-time donation to The Salvation Army Portland Metro, in addition to The Salvation Army USA, in order to show my support for helping The Salvation Army "serve our neighbors who need help."

Plus, here is the message that I wrote to The Salvation Army Portland Metro in the "Leave a comment" section on their donation page:

Dearest Salvation Army Portland Metro,

Happy Easter! This donation is for your "Our pantry is almost empty!" mailer, which I just received today, April 11th, 2023.

By the way, I am sorry that I didn't donate to you on Easter Sunday, but I am out of my apartment for a while, since it is being repaired for water damage due to a flood (which ironically happened on Christmas Eve at about 5:30 AM, and that is why I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" that night!) and I am only checking my mail about every seven days.

Yours very truly,

-Paul Whiting
Poet, Artist and Philosopher
Portland, Oregon

P.S.: I was so inspired by the letter that accompanied your above-mentioned "Our pantry is almost empty!" mailer that I also decided to donate to The Salvation Army USA, as well!

Thus, these donations are a part of my recent contributions "to charities who are helping those in need during Easter," as described above in my 'April 9th, 2023 Update,' which can be found above and that also appears as 'My Writing About Donating To Help Homeless Folks And Hungry Folks During Easter (for 2023)' on some of my blogs.

–Paul Whiting (written April 11th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised July 22nd, 2023, revised August 14th, 2023, revised November 12th, 2023 and revised March 24th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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April 10th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, April 10th, 2023, with the subject line, "[Action Alert] Protect medication abortion access now", which stated the following:

A judge hand-selected by anti-abortion activists came after medication abortion. Take action now.

DEFEND ABORTION ACCESS***

Last Friday, a federal district court in Texas issued a ruling blocking the approval of mifepristone – one of two drugs used in more than half of the abortions in this country today.

This unprecedented ruling comes 23 years after the FDA approved mifepristone. During that time, it has been used by millions of people in the United States alone for safe and effective early abortion and miscarriage care.

We must speak out loud and resolutely against this harmful decision now: Urge the courts to reverse this decision and dismiss this case immediately.

TAKE ACTION***

Paul, let's be clear about who was involved in Friday's decision: The case was brought by extreme anti-abortion groups to a hand-selected judge, [name redacted]. It is part of a larger campaign to ban abortion entirely nationwide, even in states that have legal protections for abortion access.

And let's also be clear about who this decision hurts most: Removing approval of mifepristone will severely compromise abortion access for patients by straining clinics and providers across the nation who are already grappling with the effects of Roe v. Wade being overturned and abortion banned in more than a dozen states.

The impact will be felt disproportionately by people who already face severe health disparities and barriers to accessing health care – that includes people of color, people struggling to make ends meet, young people, and people living in rural areas.

If our opponents think they can just steamroll medical ethics and jeopardize patients' health and safety with ideological extremism – they should think again. We at the ACLU are using every tool at our disposal right now to fight back, and we will not stop until everyone can access the essential reproductive health care they need.

That's why we're immediately calling on the courts to reverse this ruling and uphold the law. Please join us in this fight by adding your name to our urgent petition today.

Remember, Paul: Together, we show up. Together, we win.

In solidarity,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU

TELL THE COURTS: PROTECT MEDICATION ABORTION NOW

In the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, an extremist judge blocked FDA approval of mifepristone – which is used in more than half of abortions nationwide.

For 23 years, mifepristone has offered an exceedingly safe and effective, FDA-approved means of ending a pregnancy – with study after study confirming its critical role in abortion and miscarriage care.

The unprecedented ruling has the potential to strain clinics and providers across the nation who are already grappling with the effects of Roe v. Wade being overturned and abortion banned in more than a dozen states. The impact will be felt disproportionately by people who already face severe health disparities and barriers to accessing health care – including people of color, people struggling to make ends meet, young people, and people living in rural areas.

If anti-abortion extremists think they can steamroll medical ethics and jeopardize patients' health and safety with ideological extremism like this – they should think again. We at the ACLU are using every tool at our disposal right now to ensure everyone can access the safe and essential reproductive health care they need. That includes our immediate calls to appeals courts to reverse this ruling and uphold the law: Please join us in this fight by adding your name to our petition now.

SUPPORT THIS PETITION [PETITION TEXT]:

The ruling in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA blocking FDA approval of mifepristone is unconscionable. Mifepristone – approved 23 years ago and used effectively by millions of people for medication abortion – is perfectly safe. Anti-abortion extremists are attempting to use the courts to ban abortion nationwide, even in states that have legal protections for abortion access. This is why I'm joining the ACLU and people across the country in urging the courts to reverse this harmful decision and uphold the law.

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I signed the petition above, I received a confirmation email today, April 10th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect medication abortion access for all.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: https://www.aclu.org/protectmife

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

In the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, an extremist judge blocked FDA approval of mifepristone – which is used in more than half of abortions nationwide. This is part of a larger campaign to ban abortion entirely nationwide.

But we will not allow anti-abortion activists to threaten our ability to control our own bodies, lives, and futures.

That's why I just signed the ACLU's petition, calling on the appeals courts to immediately reverse this ruling and uphold the law: Please join my by adding your name to our petition now:

https://www.aclu.org/protectmife

Thanks.

Then, after I signed the petition above to the courts, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for "immediately calling on the courts to reverse this ruling [in the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA] and uphold the law." –Paul Whiting (written April 10th, 2023, revised April 11th, 2023, revised April 15th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised March 13th, 2024)

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April 11th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, April 11th, 2023, with the subject line, "First Roe, now this", which stated the following:

Paul –

Last year, we saw the conservative Supreme Court turn back the clock on our right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade – abandoning 50 years of precedent that had ensured that millions of people had the right to decide if and when they wanted to be pregnant.

Last week, the fallout from that decision continued as a Trump-appointed Texas judge issued a ruling attempting to block the FDA's decades-old approval of mifepristone – one of two drugs used in medication abortion care. If the decision is allowed to take effect, access to abortion care will be severely compromised in every state across the country – a move that could have devastating consequences on millions of people's lives.

The ACLU is taking swift and immediate action – and I'm reaching out to ask for your urgent support in this work. We're working with partners to respond to this ruling with every tool at our disposal and to mobilize people across the country to send the clear message that we won't let this attack go by without fierce backlash.

DEFEND ABORTION ACCESS
DONATE NOW***

If we're going to bring the full resources of the ACLU to this challenge – and there is no question that we must – we need your urgent support.

Paul, confronting this kind of all-out assault on reproductive rights and people's civil liberties requires us to fight back every time and everywhere. With your gift today, we'll be there across the nation – responding on all fronts:

[✓] In the courts to block state abortion bans
[✓] In state legislatures to defeat state abortion bans and to pass protective state legislation to expand access to care
[✓] In the streets as we mobilize people around the country to demonstrate their support for our abortion rights

At this critical time for the future of reproductive freedom and all of our civil liberties, the ACLU has a unique and irreplaceable role to play. And so do you.

Please, make your immediate and generous gift today.

The ACLU has been showing up for abortion rights for decades. And our fight for reproductive freedom will continue until every person can access the essential care they need.

Thanks for everything you do,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU

Dear Paul,

Last month marked Black Maternal Health Week.** This annual observance is a time to deepen the national conversation about the health and well-being of Black people and amplify community-driven and culturally relevant policy and care solutions. Planned Parenthood is proud to elevate the voices and experiences of Black women, pregnant people, families, and communities.

Evidence-based solutions and culturally relevant care are essential to respond to the rising rates of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. As we celebrate the critical roles of Black mothers, we must also recognize that historic and present-day systemic racism puts their health at risk. Pregnancy-related mortality rates are three times higher for Black women than for white women in this country, and this gap widened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Black people also have higher rates of preterm births and low-birth weight births. Research shows that racism significantly harms the mental and physical health of Black people.

Planned Parenthood lifts the work of Black-led birth justice and maternal health organizations because their invaluable work serves Black mothers and the support systems in their families and communities every day. Their missions merit your support all year round.

Donate now to four incredible organizations committed to advancing Black maternal health every day.

[✓] Black Mamas Matter Alliance: a Black women-led alliance that centers Black people, advocates, drives research, builds power, and shifts culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.

[✓] Mothering Justice: a grassroots policy and advocacy organization that provides mothers of color with the resources and tools to use their power to make equitable changes in policy.

[✓] SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective: an organization that builds a network to improve institutional policies and systems that affect the reproductive lives of communities marginalized by systemic racism.

[✓] National Birth Equity Collaborative: an organizational expert on the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of Black people, advocating to end the Black maternal health and infant mortality crises.

Black women, trans, and nonbinary people need, want, and deserve to go through pregnancy freely, safely, and joyfully.

Make a donation to advance Black maternal health care. Your gift will be equally distributed among these four organizations.

Thanks to the dedication of incredible partners focused on Black maternal health — and the support of people like you — we can help make sure every patient gets the care they deserve.

Planned Parenthood

DONATE NOW »***

Black Maternal Health Week is recognized each year from April 11-17. This year, President Biden issued his third White House Proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week. He declared this week as an urgent call for action.

Due to the alarming state of Black maternal health, he wants all Americans to know:

[✓] That prejudices within our systems cause the problem

[✓] How big the problem is

[✓] Why we need to solve it quickly

He asks that everyone raise the voices and experiences of Black women, families, and communities. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/focus-areas/maternal-health/black-maternal-health#:~:text=Black%20Maternal%20Health%20Week%20is,an%20urgent%20call%20for%20action.

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April 12th, 2023 Update: I received an email from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company) today, April 12th, 2023, with the subject line, "Sign the petition: "Thoughts and prayers" are not enough. Ban assault weapons now.", which stated the following:

Dear Fellow Progressive,

Seventy four.

That's how many people have been killed or injured by guns at American schools this year, including the three children and three teachers who were murdered by a shooter carrying an assault-style weapon in Nashville last month.

Time and again, politicians call for "Thoughts and prayers" in the wake of these senseless acts, but we're calling on politicians to take action on what actually could have prevented it: an assault weapons ban.

Tell Congress: Pass an assault weapons ban now. Click here to sign the petition.

Sign the Petition***

Banning assault weapons saves lives. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban, which lasted until 2004, reduced the risk of a person in the U.S. dying from a mass shooting by 70%. Both the number of deaths and the number of annual incidents decreased significantly.

Today, without an assault weapons ban, not only does the U.S. top the world for mass shootings, but we have about four times more mass shootings than the number two nation on that list, Russia.

Congress must act responsibly and enact a federal assault weapons ban immediately. If they fail to act, state legislatures must step in with a ban in their states. Washington and Illinois have already initiated such measures. Other states must follow suit.

Please join us and demand Congress pass an assault weapons ban now to protect our children, our communities and to help save lives. Click here to sign the petition.

Thank you for speaking out.

-The team at CREDO Mobile

SIGN THIS: "Thoughts and prayers" are not enough. Ban assault weapons!

[Petition Text:]

With the March 27 school shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, TN, America suffered its 129th mass shooting of 2023. A shooter carrying assault-style rifles fatally shot three students and three teachers.

This senseless act could have been prevented with an assault weapon ban.

Banning assault weapons saves lives. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban, which lasted until 2004, reduced the risk of a person in the U.S. dying from a mass shooting by 70%. Both the number of deaths and the number of annual incidents decreased significantly.

The positive effect of banning assault weapons is especially evident when you compare the number of mass shootings in the U.S. to our peer nations. Not only is the U.S. at the top of the list, but we have about 4 times more mass shootings than the number two nation on that list, Russia.

Time and time again, assault weapons are used in the deadliest mass shootings in America. Between 2009 and 2018, assault weapons accounted for 25% of death and 76% of nonfatal injuries in mass shootings. They are uniquely lethal, allowing the most murders in the shortest amount of time. They are weapons of war and have no place in our homes.

Congress must act responsibly and enact a federal assault weapons ban. If they fail to act, state legislatures must step in with a ban in their states. Washington and Illinois have already initiated such measures. Other states must follow suit.

Sign the petition to Congress: Pass an assault weapons ban NOW!

Participating Organizations:

✓ Alliance for Gun Responsibility
✓ Blue Future
✓ The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus
✓ Cedar Key Progress
✓ CREDO Mobile
✓ Daily Kos
✓ Demand Progress
✓ Democratic Values
✓ Every Single Vote
✓ Other98
✓ People Power United
✓ Progress America
✓ Progressive Reform Network

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Email: [redacted]
Zip/Postal Code: [redacted]

Thus, I signed the petition to Congress in order to show my support to "tell Congress: pass an assault weapons ban now," because "banning assault weapons saves lives," since "the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, which lasted until 2004, reduced the risk of a person in the U.S. dying from a mass shooting by 70%." Therefore, "Congress must act responsibly and enact a federal assault weapons ban immediately." –Paul Whiting (written April 12th, 2023, revised April 15th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised July 24th, 2023)

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April 12th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On April 13th, 2023: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Action Fund yesterday, April 12th, 2023, with the subject line, "Speak out to protect abortion access", which stated the following:

Paul —

A federal judge in Texas issued a ruling late last week declaring the FDA's decades-old approval of a safe abortion medicine, mifepristone, unlawful. Mifepristone is the first of two pills used in most medication abortions in the U.S. (sometimes also known as "the abortion pill").

The U.S. Department of Justice has already appealed the Texas ruling and asked the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to block it from taking effect. Right now, the Texas judge's ruling hasn't taken effect yet and mifepristone is still available.

But what we need right now is to hear from you — and the millions of other people who want to protect abortion access.

Speak out now — add your name to the People's Brief. (If your contact information is saved, your signature will be added automatically with just one click.)

[PEOPLE'S BRIEF TEXT:]

The ruling in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, which blocks the FDA's approval of mifepristone, is unconscionable and inconsistent with the law.

Mifepristone — approved more than 20 years ago and used effectively by millions of people for medication abortion — is perfectly safe.

Anti-abortion extremists are attempting to weaponize the courts to ban abortion nationwide, even in states that have legal protections for abortion access.

This is why I'm joining Planned Parenthood Action Fund and people across the country in urging the courts to reverse this harmful decision and uphold the law.

Signed,
Paul

SIGN***

Like so many other attacks on abortion rights and access, the effort to ban mifepristone isn't about the law. And it certainly isn't about health — mifepristone was first approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago, has been used by more than 5 million people in the United States, and has a safety record of more than 99%.

The Texas case is part of a coordinated, nationwide assault on abortion. It's about denying us the right to make decisions about our own bodies and futures. It's about taking effective tools away from providers and patients.

Don't let this abuse of our court system stand unchallenged. Sign on to the People's Brief to demand an immediate reversal of this dangerous ruling.

This isn't the first time that groups working to ban abortion have tried to weaponize our courts to block access to care. They don't care about legal precedent, fundamental rights, or the health of pregnant people.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund will continue to do everything we can to protect access to care. We will fight in Congress, in statehouses across the country, and in every place where our health and rights are under attack. Help strengthen and grow this movement and make your voice heard. Sign the People's Brief now. (If your contact information is saved, your name will be added automatically with just one click.)

With an appeal of this ruling already underway, this situation could change quickly. We'll be in touch soon with more information and ways you can help protect reproductive freedom.

Thank you for sticking with us.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

P.S. Plans this weekend? Join a Bans Off Our Bodies event near you (or virtually!) to get loud and show decision makers at every level that we're still here and fighting for our reproductive health and rights. RSVP now »

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/rightfully-ours/bans-off-our-bodies

Thank you for adding your name to the People's Brief, Paul.

We need the media, our leaders, and our judges to know that we can't stand by while our health and rights are trampled. That starts by banding together in solidarity against the attack on medication abortion, and it means recruiting our friends to do the same.

(Just so you know, the text that was originally located here in this part of the email was relocated by me below under [P.S.] after the signature line for the sake of clarity.)

You can help make an even bigger difference by showing your support for Planned Parenthood Action Fund and asking your friends and family to join you.

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

You can also help defend access to health care and protect our reproductive rights by making a gift to Planned Parenthood Action Fund. We'll put your gift to work immediately mobilizing grassroots activists in key states, pressuring lawmakers, magnifying the voices of those most affected by attacks on our health and rights, and more.

I'm so glad to know that we can count on you to raise your voice when it counts — thanks again for speaking out.

— Planned Parenthood Action Fund

[P.S.] Got plans this weekend? Join a Bans Off Our Bodies event near you (or virtually!) to get loud and show decision makers at every level that we're still here and fighting for our reproductive health and rights. RSVP now >>

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/rightfully-ours/bans-off-our-bodies

A Texas court just overlooked science and 20 years of patient experience to block the FDA's approval of mifepristone, a safe and effective drug used in medication abortion. We need judges to reverse the decision now!

https://weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/051EdSwFK02qyRiseuxmSA2?snw=2&ref=a6c2b9ba-a3cf-45f3-b041-e58387ef04d8

Plus, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Action Fund in order show my support in "joining Planned Parenthood Action Fund and people across the country in urging the courts to reverse this harmful decision and uphold the law," due to the fact that "a federal judge in Texas issued a ruling late last week declaring the FDA's decades-old approval of a safe abortion medicine, mifepristone, unlawful" because, in all actually, "the effort to ban mifepristone isn't about the law ... the Texas case is part of a coordinated, nationwide assault on abortion."

And, speaking of what is considered "unlawful," is the denial of abortion care for those who are force impregnated through rape, or incest, considered "unlawful" by these extremist conservatives?

It makes you wonder if the real reason that extremist conservatives are beating the proverbial "abortion is murder" drum so loudly is because they support forced impregnation as the only way that is feasible for them to procreate, since they are too dysfunctional to have consensual adult relationships—and that is why they are enthusiastic proponents of forced impregnation through rape and/or incest!

It's no wonder these extremist conservatives are in the Republican Party of "abortion is murder"; but, making guns laws as lax as possible—for the life, health and safety of law-abiding gun owners—is simply protecting the Second Amendment right of crazed and murderous individuals to be able to perform "retroactive abortions" on other people's children, as deemed morally necessary by these crazed individuals. And these murderous individuals are also somehow always operating independently as "lone wolves" and never with the implied permission of the politicians who cannot manage to pass common sense gun safety laws—including banning assault weapons—and who can, apparently, only protect other people's children from being murdered before they are born, but not after.

–Paul Whiting written (written April 13th, 2023, revised April 14th, 202, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised May 23rd, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised June 28th, 2023)

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April 14th, 2023 Update, Written On April 15th, 2023: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Action Fund yesterday, April 14th, 2023, with the subject line, "UPDATE: SCOTUS delays court orders decimating access to the abortion pill", which stated the following:

BREAKING: Supreme Court issues a stay in the medication abortion case. Access to mifepristone remains until at least Wednesday.

Paul, the Supreme Court just stepped in to temporarily block the disastrous lower court rulings that threaten access to mifepristone, a safe pill commonly used in medication abortion. But the Supreme Court's stay of the lower courts' ruling is only in place through Wednesday, April 19 [2023].

This means that for now, mifepristone remains on the market with FDA approval. And it can continue to be used safely and effectively for medication abortion — as it has been for decades by more than 5 million people in the United States.

But the future of medication abortion is still under threat, which means access to abortion is still under threat. More than half of abortions in the United States are now medication abortions.

Paul, thank you for signing the People's Brief to demand that mifepristone remain as a safe, accessible option for medication abortion. Will you forward this email to three friends and ask them to sign their names too? They can sign their names here:

https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/mife

Sincerely,

Planned Parenthood

P.S. Plans this weekend? Join a Bans Off Our Bodies event near you (or virtually!) to get loud and show people across the country that we'll continue to support access to abortion and fight for our reproductive health and rights. RSVP now »

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/rightfully-ours/bans-off-our-bodies

And so, I am posting the email above on this blog post 'update' in order to share it with my readers "and ask them to sign their names too!" –Paul Whiting (written April 15th, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised November 17th, 2023)
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April 14th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On April 15th, 2023: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) yesterday, April 14th, 2023, with the subject line, "Paul: Supreme Court grants stay in mifepristone case", which stated the following:

Paul, the Supreme Court granted a request to temporarily block a decision that severely restricted the use of mifepristone for abortion, allowing the medication to remain available at least until end of day Wednesday, April 19th.

Today's ruling is not the end of the line in the case: Now the courts must put an end to this baseless case – which is part of anti-abortion extremists' plan to ban abortion nationwide.

It threatens access not only to abortion and miscarriage care, but also to a wide swath of critical and life-saving medications. No matter what happens next, we know this fight is far from over.

Before next Wednesday, please take the time to join us and people across the country in urging the courts to reverse the harmful lower court decisions and uphold the law.

PROTECT MEDICATION ABORTION NOW***

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

TELL THE COURTS: PROTECT MEDICATION ABORTION NOW

In the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, an extremist judge blocked FDA approval of mifepristone – which is used in more than half of abortions nationwide.

For 23 years, mifepristone has offered an exceedingly safe and effective, FDA-approved means of ending a pregnancy – with study after study confirming its critical role in abortion and miscarriage care.

The unprecedented ruling has the potential to strain clinics and providers across the nation who are already grappling with the effects of Roe v. Wade being overturned and abortion banned in more than a dozen states. The impact will be felt disproportionately by people who already face severe health disparities and barriers to accessing health care – including people of color, people struggling to make ends meet, young people, and people living in rural areas.

If anti-abortion extremists think they can steamroll medical ethics and jeopardize patients' health and safety with ideological extremism like this – they should think again. We at the ACLU are using every tool at our disposal right now to ensure everyone can access the safe and essential reproductive health care they need. That includes our immediate calls to appeals courts to reverse this ruling and uphold the law: Please join us in this fight by adding your name to our petition now.

SUPPORT THIS PETITION [PETITION TEXT]:

The ruling in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA blocking FDA approval of mifepristone is unconscionable. Mifepristone – approved 23 years ago and used effectively by millions of people for medication abortion – is perfectly safe. Anti-abortion extremists are attempting to use the courts to ban abortion nationwide, even in states that have legal protections for abortion access. This is why I'm joining the ACLU and people across the country in urging the courts to reverse this harmful decision and uphold the law.

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I signed the petition above, I received a confirmation email today, April 15th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect medication abortion access for all.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: https://www.aclu.org/protectmife

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

In the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, an extremist judge blocked FDA approval of mifepristone – which is used in more than half of abortions nationwide. This is part of a larger campaign to ban abortion entirely nationwide.

But we will not allow anti-abortion activists to threaten our ability to control our own bodies, lives, and futures.

That's why I just signed the ACLU's petition, calling on the appeals courts to immediately reverse this ruling and uphold the law: Please join my by adding your name to our petition now:

https://www.aclu.org/protectmife

Thanks.

Then, after I signed the petition above to the courts, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for "immediately calling on the courts to reverse this ruling [in the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA] and uphold the law." –Paul Whiting (written April 15th, 2023, revised April 20th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023 and revised June 2nd, 2023)

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April 15th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, April 15th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Abortion Rights Benefit People Who Want Kids, Too." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Abortion Rights Benefit People Who Want Kids, Too" from Time Magazine

By Peggy O’Donnell Heffington | April 14, 2023

On April 7, 2023, Texas Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk ordered the Food and Drug Administration to invalidate its 23-year-old approval of mifepristone, one of the components of a medication abortion, a ruling that would effectively remove the drug from the market. Hours later, a Federal Judge in Washington state ordered the FDA to not make any changes to mifepristone’s current availability. Since then, a Federal Appeals Court has ruled that it can stay on the market, but imposed sharp restrictions for accessing it.

The legal wrangling over mifepristone has produced an outpouring of outrage among Democrats, as well as a sharply worded letter of rebuke from the pharmaceutical industry, which now bears the signatures of hundreds of executives. Meanwhile, Republicans have been uncharacteristically muted—Florida Gov. Ron de Santis tweeted about Good Friday in the hours after Kacsmaryk’s ruling—with the exception of Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican from Mississippi. Judge Kacsmaryk’s decision, she wrote on Twitter, was “a victory for pregnant mothers & their unborn children.”

Since the Supreme Court released its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health this past June, overturning Roe v. Wade, those of us who value reproductive rights have worried about people having to travel across state lines to access abortions they need or want; about the risks of self-managed abortions by those who can’t or would prefer not to travel; about doctors and patients facing criminal charges. We have spent less time worrying about the implications of limiting abortion access for people who were pregnant with (or already parenting) children they very much wanted. It’s obvious how restricting access to reproductive options affects people who don’t want to have a child, or who don’t want to be parents. It’s less obvious how it affects people who do, or who already are. But if we truly value mothers, children, and the work and responsibilities of parenting, that is exactly what we should be worried about.

In the wake of the Dobbs decision, a number of women I know who don’t want children, or don’t want them soon, expressed anger and fear about having lost the right to make decisions about their lives and their futures. But it wasn’t just people without kids who were angry. Friends who were pregnant or who already had children also told me they felt like something had been taken from them. One woman I know put it starkly: She realized that her ability to joyfully, fully consent to parenting had been contingent on her ability to also not consent. You can’t say yes if you don’t also have the option of saying no. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6271956/abortion-rights-benefit-parents

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 15th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 17th, 2023 Update: This update is a follow-up to my 'April 17th, 2022 Update,' where I explained, in part, the following:

"...This update is a follow-up to my 'March 17th, 2022 Update, Which Also Discusses March 16th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, that I made a donation on March 17th, 2022, to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website. And with that one-time donation, I included a recurring monthly donation in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel. Thus, that recurring monthly donation started today, April 17th, 2022..."

Plus, this update is a follow-up to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, the following:

"...In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel:

01. USO: United Service Organizations recurring donation of $10.00 (which used to be $5.00 per month, but I increased it by an additional $5.00 per month; so starting on August 17th, 2022, the USO recurring donation is now $10.00 per month)..."

Therefore, today, April 17th, 2023, is the first full year that I have made a recurring monthly donation to the USO!

In addition to that, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message—in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written April 17th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised July 30th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023, revised October 22nd, 2023, revised November 18th, 2023 and revised April 30th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

P.S.: For my complete charitable donation updates—that include some of my current "Online Activism," as well as most all of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs.

Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts:

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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April 17th, 2023 Update—Continued: This update is a follow-up to my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued,' where I explained, in part, the following:

"I have started making recurring monthly donations today, April 17th, 2022, to Democratic political organizations...

...And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making these recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com** (although, I did not include a tip for ActBlue on these donations, which I usually do, due to the fact that the 'tip box' did not appear, because I made these donations through ActBlue Express):

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association

03. DNC: Democratic National Committee

04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors

06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association

08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State

09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials

10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials

11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee

12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon..."

Plus, this update is a follow-up to my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 17th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, the following:

"I explained on my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued' that I started making recurring monthly donations on April 17th, 2022, to Democratic political organizations via ActBlue.com**; however, I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022.

You see, I think that my ActBlue account was compromised because, on June 8th, 2022, I attempted to make a $1.15 donation to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), plus I included an $0.11 tip for ActBlue, but when the payment processed, it was for $1,000.11! And that is why I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' for a detailed explanation..."

Besides that, this update is a follow-up to my 'June 17th, 2022 Update,' where I explained, in part, the following:

"This update is a follow-up to my 'April 17th, 2022 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 17th, 2022,' where I explained that I deleted my ActBlue account on June 11th, 2022...

...So, I have restarted making recurring monthly donations today, June 17th, 2022, to Democratic political organizations...

...And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com** [although, because I no longer have an ActBlue account—since I deleted it, due to the fact that I think the account was compromised—I am still donating through the ActBlue website (they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations), but I am donating for some of these recurring donations through other payment processors, such as Google Pay]:

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association
03. DNC: Democratic National Committee
04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors
06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association
08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State
09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials
10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials
11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee
12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon..."

In addition to that, this update is a follow-up to my 'July 7th, 2022 Update, Written On July 11th, 2022,' where I explained, in part, the following:

"...I am also making recurring donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations of $3.00 on the 17th of each month: and my plan is to continue donating those recurring donations indefinitely, since that is all that I can really afford to donate given my monthly spending budget. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.)

And so, here are the Democratic political organizations to which I am making recurring monthly donations via ActBlue.com**...:

01. DCCC: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
02. DGA: Democratic Governors Association recurring donation of $3.00
03. DNC: Democratic National Committee recurring donation of $3.00
04. DSCC: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
05. NCDM: National Conference of Democratic Mayors recurring donation of $3.00
06. DLCC: Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee recurring donation of $3.00
07. DAGA: Democratic Attorneys General Association recurring donation of $3.00
08. DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State recurring donation of $3.00
09. NDCO: National Democratic County Officials recurring donation of $3.00
10. DMO: Democratic Municipal Officials recurring donation of $3.00
11. NDRC: National Democratic Redistricting Committee recurring donation of $3.00
12. DPO: Democratic Party of Oregon recurring donation of $3.00

Total Democratic Organizations Monthly Recurring Donations: $36.00..."

**[I deleted my ActBlue account! Although, I am still processing payments through the ActBlue website, since they seem to be the main donation processing website for most Democratic political organizations and many progressive organizations. Please see my 'June 11th, 2022 Update' on my blog post "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which can be found on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, for a detailed explanation.]

Thus, today, April 17th, 2023, is the first full year that I have made recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations! Plus, this past year is the first time that I have donated to Democratic political organizations when it isn't an election year; however, I decided to change the way that I am donating to Democrats, so that I am helping their fundraising and coordinating operations throughout the year and not just during election years.

And I have just gotta say how incredibly nice it is to be able to make recurring monthly donations to Democratic political organizations—because the payments process automatically each month—and I don't have to do one extra thing in order to help fund the operations of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations throughout the year!

–Paul Whiting (written April 17th, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023, revised May 31st, 2023, revised June 11th, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023, revised August 16th, 2023 and revised April 30th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

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April 18th, 2023 Update: For Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) 2023 in Israel, I donated to organizations that honor the time "when we come together as a nation to memorialize those who were murdered during the Holocaust."

And I was inspired to make these donations by the following sources:

Source No. 1: I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, April 18th, 2023, with the subject line, "As we remember the Holocaust", which stated the following:

Paul,

My name is [name redacted], and I am a Holocaust survivor and a volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This week marks the Days of Remembrance, when we come together as a nation to memorialize those who were murdered during the Holocaust.

As I watch the final preparations for the commemoration come together, I am remembering those whom I lost: my mother, [name redacted], who was only 31 when she was arrested in France and killed at Auschwitz; my beloved uncle, [name redacted]; and most members of my family and our community.

Paul, I volunteer at the Museum in their memory. Will you join me in honoring them, along with the other victims of the Holocaust, by making a gift during the Days of Remembrance?

After liberation, my grandmother and I returned home to find that everything was gone. Our family photos, prayer books, even the gilded book I won in school, had been looted. I have been able to recover a few photos of my family from before the Holocaust, but they are all I have. And I’m fortunate. Many survivors only have memories of their loved ones.

But those memories will endure. I have shared my experience of living through the Holocaust, as have many others, to help the Museum safeguard the truth of history and to inspire people young and old to confront hatred and promote human dignity.

I hope you will give today, during the Days of Remembrance. Your gift is a powerful act to show solidarity with survivors.

Thank you for your support of the Museum. It brings me great comfort to know that future generations will learn what happened to me and my loved ones when hate was left unchecked.

Sincerely,
[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

And so, I donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to honor those loved ones whom [name redacted] lost, "along with the other victims of the Holocaust" and in order "to show solidarity with survivors."

Source No. 2: Then, I did a search on Google for "Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) 2023" in order to find more organizations to which I could donate for Yom HaShoah and I found an article on the 'My Jewish Learning' website titled, "Yom Hashoah: Holocaust Memorial Day." Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yom-hashoah-holocaust-memorial-day

And so, I donated to 'My Jewish Learning,' which "was launched in 2003 and is now a part of 70 Faces Media, the largest nonprofit, nondenominational Jewish media organization in North America."

Source No. 3: As I mentioned above, I did a search on Google for "Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) 2023" in order to find more organizations to which I could donate for Yom HaShoah and I also found an article on the 'Yad Vashem — The World Holocaust Remembrance Center' website titled, "Overview: Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day 2023." Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/remembrance-day/overview.asp

And so, I donated to 'Yad Vashem — The World Holocaust Remembrance Center,' which "is the ultimate source for Holocaust education, documentation and research."

Therefore, I made these donations to the organizations mentioned above, including the 'United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,' 'My Jewish Learning' and 'Yad Vashem — The World Holocaust Remembrance Center,' in order to show my support for Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) 2023 in Israel, which began in the evening of Wednesday, April 17th, 2023 and ended in the evening of Thursday, April 18th, 2023.

"Remembrance Day Calendar" from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:

"The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah. When the actual date of Yom Hashoah falls on a Friday, the state of Israel observes Yom Hashoah on the preceding Thursday. When it falls on a Sunday, Yom Hashoah is observed on the following Monday. In the United States, Days of Remembrance runs from the Sunday before Yom Hashoah through the following Sunday."

https://www.ushmm.org/remember/days-of-remembrance/resources/calendar

"International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities between 1933 and 1945 by Nazi Germany, an attempt to implement their 'final solution' to the Jewish question."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Holocaust_Remembrance_Day

"Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah (Hebrew: יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה, lit. 'Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day'), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah (יום השואה) and in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and for the Jewish resistance in that period. In Israel, it is a national memorial day. The first official commemorations took place in 1951, and the observance of the day was anchored in a law passed by the Knesset in 1959. It is held on the 27th of Nisan (which falls in April or May), unless the 27th would be adjacent to the Jewish Sabbath, in which case the date is shifted by a day."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_HaShoah

Thus, these donations are a way for me to show solidarity with survivors through this annual day of remembrance, which is held in reverence to the victims of the Holocaust. –Paul Whiting (written April 18th, 2023, revised April 19th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised December 6th, 2023 and revised August 31st, 2025)
---------------------------------------------
April 18th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written on April 20th, 2023: [April 20th, 2023 Update]: I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum three days ago, April 17th, 2023, with the subject line, "Join us as our nation commemorates Days of Remembrance", which stated the following:

2023 National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance

Join with people across the country to remember the victims of the Holocaust, honor the survivors, and pay tribute to the rescuers and the liberators. The power of their history inspires us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide. Watch a livestream of the ceremony at the US Capitol on Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. ET, as the Museum leads the nation in commemorating the Days of Remembrance.

FEATURED SPEAKER

Ambassador [Name redacted], [Title redacted]

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Days of Remembrance
2023 Commemoration

Thank you for your interest.

You will receive an email reminder approximately ten minutes before the live broadcast, scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 20. Until then, explore below if you would like to know more about the groups we honor and remember during Days of Remembrance.

Then I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, April 20th, 2023, with the subject line, "Watch commemoration now: Days of Remembrance ceremony", which stated the following:

Livestream Starts Soon

2023 National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance

Join with people across the country to remember the victims of the Holocaust, honor the survivors, and pay tribute to the rescuers and the liberators. Ambassador [name redacted], [title redacted], will speak at the US Capitol ceremony.

WATCH NOW:

https://www.ushmm.org/watch/2023-days-of-remembrance-commemoration

On Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. ET, watch a livestream of the Days of Remembrance ceremony, established by the US Congress as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, during which we remember the six million Jews who were murdered. The power of their history inspires us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide. Since 1982, the Museum has organized and led the national Days of Remembrance ceremony with Holocaust survivors, Members of Congress, White House officials, the diplomatic corps, and community leaders.

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Watch Museum Programs

2023 Days of Remembrance Commemoration

The US Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, during which we remember the six million Jews who were murdered. Since 1982, the Museum has organized and led the national Days of Remembrance ceremony with Holocaust survivors, Members of Congress, White House officials, the diplomatic corps, and community leaders. As we lead the nation in honoring the survivors, paying tribute to the rescuers, and celebrating the liberators, we are reminded of the power of their history to inspire all of us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide. Watch here live on April 20 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

WATCH LIVE

Thursday, April 20, 2023, 10:30 a.m. ET

https://www.ushmm.org/watch/2023-days-of-remembrance-commemoration

Now, to clarify, I did not wake up today, April 20th, 2023, until around 8:00 AM. So, by the time I got to checking my email, the live broadcast of the "National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance" had already concluded.

Thus, I watched the video after the event had livestreamed, and that is also how I watched another the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum program titled, "When Extremist Ideas Are No Longer Considered 'Extreme,'" which is explained in my 'March 30th, 2023 Update.'

Besides that, I also decided to watch the video on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Channel on YouTube. Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance

The US Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, during which we remember the six million Jews who were murdered. Since 1982, the Museum has organized and led the national Days of Remembrance ceremony with Holocaust survivors, Members of Congress, White House officials, the diplomatic corps, and community leaders. As we lead the nation in honoring the survivors, paying tribute to the rescuers, and celebrating the liberators, we are reminded of the power of their history to inspire all of us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Xt83NZ9xeqE

In addition to that, I decided to make a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, shortly before I started to watch the video, in order to show my support for the program "National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance." –Paul Whiting (written April 20th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 11th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

---------------------------------------------

P.S.: I started watching the video of the program "National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance" at 10:30 AM PDT. And I finished watching the video approximately one hour and fourteen minutes later; however, I did rewatch certain segments of the video, as I was watching the commemoration ceremony.

And so, my take on the ceremony was that I found it to be a poignant and moving commemoration, because of how it presented the history of the Holocaust, as it relates to current world events regarding Holocaust denial and the rise in antisemitism. The first speaker described this modern dilemma, as follows:

"...Welcome to our Nation's commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. As everyone knows World War II involved two wars: a military one and a Nazi Germany genocidal war against the Jews, as well as other racial and political so-called enemies, such as Roma and Sinti, Slavs, people with disabilities, and gay men. These wars claimed an average of 27,600 lives every day, or one death every three seconds. In addition to this extraordinary loss of life, the future of freedom was at stake, something worth remembering in the hallowed halls of this temple of democracy. That is why every year, we begin this ceremony with a tribute to the American soldiers who fought to defeat Nazism and liberated the concentration camps seventy eight years ago this month. Those soldiers had become hardened by battle, yet nothing prepared them for what they would witness. Humans had engaged in war since the beginning of time, but continent-wide genocide from a modern state: this was new. A threshold had been crossed. Those young soldiers knew it. And their leader, General Dwight Eisenhower, whose statue so appropriately stands in the rotunda of this sacred building, most certainly knew it. He took time from the war effort to visit a camp to see if the reports he had read could possibly be true. When he entered Ohrdruf, a subcamp of Buchenwald, he realized that they did not even begin to describe what human beings had done to other human beings. Eisenhower immediately ordered other allied soldiers to witness the camps; but he did much more. Worried that people would not believe the truth, he urged journalists and members of Congress to visit the camps and to be witnesses. He hoped that an abundance of firsthand accounts of the atrocities would prevent anyone from ever disbelieving them, or attributing them to propaganda. Sadly, he was wrong—very wrong. Today we witness that very charge of propaganda from those who would deny, or minimize, the Holocaust. This amidst rising antisemitism and racism. Those soldiers who fought for our freedom would be shocked to see our world..."

Hi Paul,

For decades, we’ve fought hard with supporters like you to make sure that deeply personal decisions about our lives and our futures are ours to make.

But the reality is the fight is far from over. Every single day, extremists are waging relentless attacks on our fundamental freedoms, including our hard-fought wins to protect the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare.

We refuse to stand by while Planned Parenthood patients and communities throughout Oregon have our right to access to care threatened. It’s time to push back.

Today, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, in partnership with Basic Rights Oregon and ACLU Oregon announced a historic Equal Rights for All ballot campaign — a bold next step to protect fundamental freedoms for every Oregonian.

Tell Oregon lawmakers to support Equal Rights for All today!

We want voters to have our voices heard in November 2024. Here’s our plan.

WHAT: Senate Joint Resolution 33 was introduced in the Oregon House this morning by chief sponsors Senator Lieber, Senator Wagner, and Senator Frederick. If passed, Oregonians will be given the opportunity to vote on the Equal Rights for All measure in November 2024.

HOW: The Equal Rights for All measure will protect our fundamental rights and freedoms to control our bodies, lives, and futures – regardless of our sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation – and make it clear in the Oregon Constitution that:

Every Oregonian has the freedom to make personal healthcare decisions and the right to access essential healthcare including contraceptives and abortion.

Every Oregonian has the right to marry who they love, removing Oregon’s ban on same-gender marriage that was inserted into our constitution nearly two decades ago.

We need constitutional safeguards that will protect us and the people we love from further attacks. This is the most powerful line of defense against politicians who want to undermine our fundamental rights and freedoms.

And we need your help.

There’s so much work to be done, and many ways you can join the fight!

Click here to send an email to your lawmaker urging them to support SJR 33***

Click here to donate to PPAO so we can keep this work going***

Onwards,
[Title redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

Contact your legislator today for an Equal Rights for All Measure!

For decades, we've fought hard to make sure that deeply personal decisions about our lives and our futures are ours to make. The fight is far from over. Every single day, anti-abortion extremists wage relentless attacks on our fundamental freedoms, including our hard-fought wins to protect the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, including abortion.

We refuse to stand by while Planned Parenthood patients and communities throughout Oregon have our right to access health care threatened. It's time to push back.

We want voters to have our voices heard in November 2024. Here's our plan.

Senate Joint Resolution 33 was introduced in the Oregon House, and if passed, Oregonians will be given the opportunity to vote on the Equal Rights for All measure in November 2024. The Equal Rights for All measure will protect our fundamental rights and freedoms to control our bodies, lives, and futures – regardless of our sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation – and make it clear in the Oregon Constitution that:

Every Oregonian has the freedom to make personal healthcare decisions and the right to access essential healthcare including contraceptives and abortion.

Every Oregonian has the right to marry who they love, removing Oregon's ban on same-gender marriage that was inserted into our constitution nearly two decades ago.

We need your help. Contact your lawmakers now to tell them to pass SJR 33 and protect our fundamental rights to reproductive freedom, gender-affirming care and marriage equality!

Prefix (Optional): Mr.
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Preferred Language (Optional): English
Pronouns (Optional): He/Him/His
Gender (Optional): Man
Sexual Orientation (Optional): Gay
Race (Optional): Caucasian or White
Ethnicity (Optional): Danish, English (British)
Street Address: [redacted]
Postal Code: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Message Recipients:

[My Oregon] State Senator

[My Oregon] State Representative

Subject: Please Pass SJR33

Dear [elected official],

I am writing in as your constituent. Across the country, and at the federal level, we have experienced relentless attacks on our personal freedoms. These attacks chip away at our fundamental rights, threatening our access to a full range of reproductive and health care including contraception, abortion, and gender-affirming health care.

For these reasons, the Oregon Legislature must pass SJR 33 to affirm and protect personal freedom and equal rights for all in Oregon by updating Oregon’s constitution to ensure that everyone has equal rights to make private decisions and access healthcare regardless of our sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. We must protect our ability to make our own health care decisions, marry the person we love, and stop politicians who want to turn back the clock on our fundamental rights and freedoms.

Oregonians overwhelmingly believe in expanding these protections. 7 in 10 Oregonians believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, and 4 in 5 Oregonians want no government interference in the decision. 65% of Oregonians believe all people should have access to the health care they need, regardless of gender. I strongly urge your support of this measure.

When the time comes, will you vote in support of SJR 33, to give all Oregonians equal rights under our constitution?

Sincerely,
Mr. Paul Whiting
[Address redacted]
[Email redacted]

Then, after I submitted the email above to my Oregon State Senator and State Representative, via Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon website, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon in order to show my support for the Senate Joint Resolution 33 (SJR 33), so that "Oregonians will be given the opportunity to vote on the Equal Rights for All measure in November 2024" in order to "protect our fundamental rights to reproductive freedom, gender-affirming care and marriage equality!" –Paul Whiting (written April 19th, 2023, revised April 24th, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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April 20th, 2023 Update [April 18th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written on April 20th, 2023]: I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum three days ago, April 17th, 2023, with the subject line, "Join us as our nation commemorates Days of Remembrance", which stated the following:

2023 National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance

Join with people across the country to remember the victims of the Holocaust, honor the survivors, and pay tribute to the rescuers and the liberators. The power of their history inspires us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide. Watch a livestream of the ceremony at the US Capitol on Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. ET, as the Museum leads the nation in commemorating the Days of Remembrance.

FEATURED SPEAKER

Ambassador [Name redacted], [Title redacted]

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Days of Remembrance
2023 Commemoration

Thank you for your interest.

You will receive an email reminder approximately ten minutes before the live broadcast, scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 20. Until then, explore below if you would like to know more about the groups we honor and remember during Days of Remembrance.

Livestream Starts Soon

2023 National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance

Join with people across the country to remember the victims of the Holocaust, honor the survivors, and pay tribute to the rescuers and the liberators. Ambassador [name redacted], [title redacted], will speak at the US Capitol ceremony.

WATCH NOW:

https://www.ushmm.org/watch/2023-days-of-remembrance-commemoration

On Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. ET, watch a livestream of the Days of Remembrance ceremony, established by the US Congress as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, during which we remember the six million Jews who were murdered. The power of their history inspires us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide. Since 1982, the Museum has organized and led the national Days of Remembrance ceremony with Holocaust survivors, Members of Congress, White House officials, the diplomatic corps, and community leaders.

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Watch Museum Programs

2023 Days of Remembrance Commemoration

The US Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, during which we remember the six million Jews who were murdered. Since 1982, the Museum has organized and led the national Days of Remembrance ceremony with Holocaust survivors, Members of Congress, White House officials, the diplomatic corps, and community leaders. As we lead the nation in honoring the survivors, paying tribute to the rescuers, and celebrating the liberators, we are reminded of the power of their history to inspire all of us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide. Watch here live on April 20 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

WATCH LIVE

Thursday, April 20, 2023, 10:30 a.m. ET

https://www.ushmm.org/watch/2023-days-of-remembrance-commemoration

National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance

The US Congress established the Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust, during which we remember the six million Jews who were murdered. Since 1982, the Museum has organized and led the national Days of Remembrance ceremony with Holocaust survivors, Members of Congress, White House officials, the diplomatic corps, and community leaders. As we lead the nation in honoring the survivors, paying tribute to the rescuers, and celebrating the liberators, we are reminded of the power of their history to inspire all of us to confront antisemitism, all forms of group-targeted hate, and genocide.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Xt83NZ9xeqE

"...Welcome to our Nation's commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust. As everyone knows World War II involved two wars: a military one and a Nazi Germany genocidal war against the Jews, as well as other racial and political so-called enemies, such as Roma and Sinti, Slavs, people with disabilities, and gay men. These wars claimed an average of 27,600 lives every day, or one death every three seconds. In addition to this extraordinary loss of life, the future of freedom was at stake, something worth remembering in the hallowed halls of this temple of democracy. That is why every year, we begin this ceremony with a tribute to the American soldiers who fought to defeat Nazism and liberated the concentration camps seventy eight years ago this month. Those soldiers had become hardened by battle, yet nothing prepared them for what they would witness. Humans had engaged in war since the beginning of time, but continent-wide genocide from a modern state: this was new. A threshold had been crossed. Those young soldiers knew it. And their leader, General Dwight Eisenhower, whose statue so appropriately stands in the rotunda of this sacred building, most certainly knew it. He took time from the war effort to visit a camp to see if the reports he had read could possibly be true. When he entered Ohrdruf, a subcamp of Buchenwald, he realized that they did not even begin to describe what human beings had done to other human beings. Eisenhower immediately ordered other allied soldiers to witness the camps; but he did much more. Worried that people would not believe the truth, he urged journalists and members of Congress to visit the camps and to be witnesses. He hoped that an abundance of firsthand accounts of the atrocities would prevent anyone from ever disbelieving them, or attributing them to propaganda. Sadly, he was wrong—very wrong. Today we witness that very charge of propaganda from those who would deny, or minimize, the Holocaust. This amidst rising antisemitism and racism. Those soldiers who fought for our freedom would be shocked to see our world..."

There are more great speeches in this video—along with beautiful music and singing—so I hope that you, my readers, will consider taking the time to watch "National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

April 21st, 2023 Update, Written About March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On April 21st, 2023]: I am writing this update later than I originally found out about the news that it is regarding—which is specifically Jimmy Carter's presidency and the Iran hostage crisis—since I heard this news approximately one month ago, on March 24th, 2023, via a video on YouTube titled, "New claim about Iran hostage crisis sabotage may change narrative of Carter presidency." Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

New claim about Iran hostage crisis sabotage may change narrative of Carter presidency

In 1980, a prominent Republican sought to sabotage then-President Jimmy Carter's re-election by asking Middle Eastern leaders to get a message to the Iranians; keep the American hostages until after the election and Reagan will give you a better deal. That's according to a New York Times report. Jonathan Alter, author of "His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life," joined Geoff Bennett to discuss.

https://youtu.be/f12IQiV2oxU

"A Four-Decade Secret: One Man’s Story of Sabotaging Carter’s Re-election" from The New York Times

A prominent Texas politician said he unwittingly took part in a 1980 tour of the Middle East with a clandestine agenda.

By Peter Baker | March 18, 2023

WASHINGTON — It has been more than four decades, but Ben Barnes said he remembers it vividly. His longtime political mentor invited him on a mission to the Middle East. What Mr. Barnes said he did not realize until later was the real purpose of the mission: to sabotage the re-election campaign of the president of the United States.

It was 1980 and Jimmy Carter was in the White House, bedeviled by a hostage crisis in Iran that had paralyzed his presidency and hampered his effort to win a second term. Mr. Carter’s best chance for victory was to free the 52 Americans held captive before Election Day. That was something that Mr. Barnes said his mentor was determined to prevent.

His mentor was John B. Connally Jr., a titan of American politics and former Texas governor who had served three presidents and just lost his own bid for the White House. A former Democrat, Mr. Connally had sought the Republican nomination in 1980 only to be swamped by former Gov. Ronald Reagan of California. Now Mr. Connally resolved to help Mr. Reagan beat Mr. Carter and in the process, Mr. Barnes said, make his own case for becoming secretary of state or defense in a new administration.

What happened next Mr. Barnes has largely kept secret for nearly 43 years. Mr. Connally, he said, took him to one Middle Eastern capital after another that summer, meeting with a host of regional leaders to deliver a blunt message to be passed to Iran: Don’t release the hostages before the election. Mr. Reagan will win and give you a better deal. ...

Expert analyzes new account of GOP deal that used Iran hostage crisis for gain

The Iran hostage crisis consumed the last year of the Carter presidency, contributing to a perception of weakness. Saturday, a new allegation has surfaced that Ronald Reagan's campaign worked to prevent the U.S. hostages from being freed before Election Day. Gary Sick, who was the Iran expert on President Carter’s National Security Council, joins John Yang to discuss.

https://youtu.be/sb3iqtfXsmI

Anyway, I usually try to write these kind of 'updates' in a much more timely manner; but, at the time that I originally heard this news, I kind of thought that writing about it would be sort of pointless, since it ain't gonna make Jimmy Carter retroactively win his 1980 presidential election!

Then, I got to thinking a couple of days ago that this alleged manipulation of the 1980 presidential election by the Ronald Reagan campaign is just the kind of thing that Republicans seem to do all of the frickin' time with regard to elections. So, that is why I decided it was, in fact, relevant to write about this recent news with regard to the 1980 presidential campaign between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, because history seems to keep repeating itself... –Paul Whiting (written April 21st, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

April 21st, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) today, April 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "ANNOUNCEMENT: Historic ballot measure campaign", which stated the following:

Paul –

You're invited!

Earlier this week, alongside our partners Basic Rights Oregon and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, we announced the Equal Rights for All campaign. The goal of this campaign is for Oregon voters to pass a ballot measure in November 2024, which would amend our state constitution to make it clear that:

[✓] Oregonians have the freedom to make our own healthcare decisions and the right to access the essential care we need, including contraceptives and abortion care.

[✓] Oregonians can marry who we love, removing Oregon's ban on same-gender marriage, which was inserted into our constitution nearly two decades ago.

[✓] Every Oregonian is afforded the same protections to live a life free of government actions that discriminate – from housing and employment to public accommodations to state services – regardless of our sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

This ballot measure is an opportunity for Oregonians to speak our values of equality and freedom into action through our state constitution. Oregonians deserve to be heard.

On Wednesday, we took a big first step. The proposed constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 33, was introduced in the Oregon Senate and sponsored by all of our Democratic senators. Oregon lawmakers will decide before the end of the 2023 legislative session whether to refer the amendment to Oregon voters. If passed, Oregonians will be given the opportunity to vote on the measure in the November 2024 general election.

Please fill out our action alert to urge your legislators to support SJR 33!

TAKE ACTION***

Oregon has led the country with laws that promote democracy and protect our rights and freedoms. We can continue to lead – and be a beacon of hope across our country – by enshrining abortion and reproductive healthcare rights, transgender rights, and marriage equality in the Oregon Constitution via the Equal Rights for All ballot measure.

Read more about the campaign and our vision for an Oregon in which everyone has the freedom to be who we are, marry who we love, and pursue our dreams in our full press release.

We look forward to sharing more about this work and how you can get involved soon. We cannot take our fundamental rights for granted, and it's time to fight for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities, together.

ACLU of Oregon Team

YES ON SJR 33 FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL!

Act Now

In Oregon, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to be who we are, marry who we love, and pursue our dreams. As a state, we've worked for decades to protect our rights and freedoms so that each of us can make deeply personal decisions about our bodies, lives, and futures.

But the reality is that we're facing a moment when extremists across the country are moving aggressively to insert themselves into the most personal decisions we can make. At a time when we can no longer count on the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold our long-held federal constitutional protections, we are seeing relentless attacks on our fundamental rights and freedoms – including our ability to choose and access essential healthcare and marry who we love. These coordinated attacks are happening in Oregon and nationwide.

With this constitutional amendment, Oregonians have the opportunity to vote our values into our state constitution and protect decades of hard-won rights and freedoms. Simply put, this amendment will make it clear in the Oregon constitution that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make deeply personal decisions about abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage, free from undue political interference and discriminatory actions by the government.

Message Recipients:

Your [Oregon] Governor
Your [Oregon] State Senator
Your [Oregon] State Representatives

YOUR MESSAGE

Message Subject:

Vote Yes on SJR 33 for Equal Rights for All

I am an ACLU of Oregon supporter writing to urge you to support the Equal Rights for All ballot measure referral.

Oregon has led the country with laws that promote democracy and protect our rights and freedoms. We can be a beacon of hope across our country. We can continue to lead by enshrining our rights and freedoms to abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage equality into the Oregon Constitution via the Equal Rights for All ballot measure.

This is also an opportunity for Oregon to update our constitution to reflect our values - that we have the right and freedom to marry who we love by - removing Oregon's ban on same-gender marriage that was inserted into our constitution nearly two decades ago.

This ballot measure also provides Oregon the opportunity to double down on our core value of equality in our constitution. There is no place in our state for government actions that discriminate due to our sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation - whether in employment, housing, state services, or health care.

With this constitutional amendment, Oregonians have the opportunity to vote our values into our state constitution and protect decades of hard-won rights and freedoms. Simply put, this amendment will make it clear in the Oregon constitution that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make our own deeply personal decisions about abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage, free from undue political interference and discriminatory actions by the government.

Oregonians overwhelmingly support our fundamental rights and freedoms to control our own bodies, lives, and futures without undue political interference and discriminatory government actions. And the polling is clear: Oregon voters understand that our rights are under relentless assault and support these constitutional safeguards that will protect us and the people we love from further attacks. Please vote Yes on SJR 33 for Equal Rights for All. Oregon voters deserve to have our voices heard.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, April 21st, 2023, from the ACLU of Oregon with the subject line, "Thank you for your support!", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect civil liberties in ACLU of Oregon. This is an important issue and your lawmakers need to hear from you.

Take the next step and share this action with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

And keep an eye on our social media accounts and emails for more information on how to support and get involved in the Equal Rights for All Campaign!

Thank you for your support!

ACLU of Oregon

So, I selected the "Twitter" option (by the way, I only have a Twitter account so I can read tweets which are included in some online articles that I read) in order for me to provide you, my readers, with the text and hyperlink below:

Let's enshrine our core values in the Oregon Constitution to ensure that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make our own decisions in deeply personal areas such as abortion, contraception, gender identity and related health care, and same-gender marriage - free from political interference and discriminatory government actions.

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/or-era?initms_aff=or

Then, after I sent the letter above to the Oregon State Governor, as well as my State Senator and my State Representatives, via the ACLU of Oregon website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU of Oregon in order to show my support for the "Equal Rights for All ballot measure" (SJR 33), because "this amendment will make it clear in the Oregon constitution that each of us has the rights and freedoms to make our own deeply personal decisions about abortion and reproductive health care, gender identity and related health care, and marriage, free from undue political interference and discriminatory actions by the government." –Paul Whiting (written April 21st, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 23rd, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023 and revised February 21st, 2024)

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April 22nd, 2023 Update: Happy Earth Day, everyone! I donated today, April 22nd, 2023, to environmental organizations in honor of Earth Day, each of which is an organization "coming out of the conservation or environmental movements that seeks to protect, analyse or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation from human forces." And I donated to virtually all of these organizations through their websites (Environmental Action, World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, Union of Concerned Scientists, EARTHDAY.ORG and Sierra Club). Besides that, I donated to one of them from their website via ActBlue.com (Endangered Species Coalition).

By the way, as you can see from the accumulated partial list below of environmental "organizations from sources across the web," which I found today on a Google search for "Environmental Organizations," there truly are an incredible number of organizations that are dedicated to the environment and wildlife:

Organizations
From sources across the web:

Sierra Club

The Nature Conservancy

World Wide Fund for Nature

Greenpeace

Environmental Defense Fund

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

Rainforest Alliance

Conservation International

Global Footprint Network

Earth Island Institute

350.org

Surfrider Foundation

Rainforest Action Network

Oceana

Friends of the Earth International

The Climate Reality Project

Wildlife Conservation Society

Friends of Nature

Fauna and Flora International

Wetlands International

International Union for Conservation of Nature

Earthjustice

Citizens' Climate Lobby

Audubon

Rainforest Trust

Forest Stewardship Council

International Rivers

Climate Action Network

Earthwatch Institute

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

PADI AWARE

American Forests

Indigenous Environmental Network

Green Cross International

Xerces Society

Greenpeace USA

Defenders of Wildlife

IDEAS For Us

Worldwatch Institute

Rainforest Foundation US

Society for the Environment

Rainforest Foundation UK

This Is My Earth

Center for Development and Strategy

Green Africa Youth Organization

Fondation Pacifique

World Resources Institute

Arab Forum for Environment and Development

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

[Blogger's Note: By the way, the environmental organizations above are just the list that appeared based upon the specific time that I did the above-mentioned Google search, because when I went back a little bit later on in order to verify some of the names, the list had changed!]

Therefore, when I donate to environmental organizations each year for Earth Day, I choose to select some of the same organizations and I also select some different organizations. So, I make many of those selections due to them being organizations that I usually donate to, or maybe due to emails that I receive from some organizations (please see my 'April 22nd, 2023 Update—Continued,' which can be found below as an example of this), or perhaps due to donation videos for some organizations that I see on YouTube, all of which can inspire me throughout the year to donate all the way up until Earth Day each year.

You see, I usually make donations to various environmental organizations on April 22nd of each year—as a way to celebrate Earth Day—and as a way to support the environmental organizations to which I choose to donate on Earth Day, which is the day that I feel thematically corresponds directly to the causes that those particular organizations represent.

And it's not just on Earth Day that I do this!

Thus, I donate to various charitable organizations during the year on a particular 'theme day,' so to speak, which I feel corresponds directly to those particular charitable causes, because it helps me to remember to donate to those particular charitable causes during the year that I feel have a corresponding 'theme day.'

Plus, I am spreading the charitable love throughout the entire year—and not simply having a year's worth of charitable giving 'bunch up,' so to speak, on Giving Tuesday. So then, whichever charitable organizations don't have an obvious corresponding 'theme day,' I can donate to those charitable organizations during Giving Tuesday, since I haven't already given to those particular organizations sometime during the year!

That is why I coordinate some of my charitable giving during the year with a particular 'theme day' that some charitable causes correspond to—such as the above-mentioned environmental organizations whose causes I feel directly correspond to the 'theme day' of Earth Day!

In addition to that, many of these organizations that I donated to today offered 'matched' donations today for Earth Day, and so I donated through those 'matched' donation offers on those particular websites. And I also paid for the donation processing fee—almost every time the processing fee was offered to be added to the donation—in order for 100% of my donation to go to that organization! –Paul Whiting (written April 22nd, 2023, revised April 23rd, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised November 21st, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2024 and revised April 24th, 2024)

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April 22nd, 2023 Update—Continued: Happy Earth Day, everyone! I received an email way back on March 6th, 2023, from the Endangered Species Coalition with the subject line, "Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act in 2023", which stated the following:

Paul,

In 2023, we are celebrating 50 years since the Endangered Species Act became law—half a century of protecting, conserving and recovering wildlife from the brink of extinction. The Act remains a long-lasting example of commitment, cooperation, and the conservation triumphs that we can make when working together.

Make a gift today to make sure all endangered species remain protected by the Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 has become a landmark piece of legislation that is modeled all over the world. It turns our shared value to protect our wildlife into a national commitment to conservation. It is the strongest policy we have to save species and serves as a safety net for plants, birds, fish, and wildlife.

By instituting protections for these species and the critical habitats in which they live, the Endangered Species Act has allowed for the recovery of such iconic species as the bald eagle, American alligator, whooping crane, and the humpback whale. The immensely popular and bipartisan bill passed in December, 1973 by a vote of 92-0 in the Senate and 355-4 in the House.

In 2023 and for the next fifty years and beyond, we must continue to defend, fund, and strengthen the Endangered Species Act, so that future generations of Americans can experience the world's diverse plants and animals, and the habitats upon which they depend. The Endangered Species Coalition will continue to use grassroots mobilization, allied membership voices, artwork, and educational outreach programs to make sure the importance of the ESA is understood and is not weakened by representatives and legislation that serves special interests and ignores imperiled species.

Your donation will support ESC’s efforts to uphold and defend the Endangered Species Act.

In 2023, the 50th anniversary provides a unique, year-long opportunity to build support for the Endangered Species Act and imperiled species by celebrating conservation achievements, highlighting conservation needs, and reminding the public and decisionmakers why plants, fish and wildlife are beloved and vital to the heritage we share as Americans. And just as in 1973, an unprecedented coalition of agencies, organizations, individuals and nonprofits are coming together to celebrate this conservation legacy.

Make a gift to ESC in honor of the Endangered Species Act’s 50th anniversary.

Donate to the Endangered Species Act at 50***

Thank you for your commitment to wildlife and wild places.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
Endangered Species Coalition

The Plastic Problem - A PBS NewsHour Documentary

By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans. It’s an environmental crisis that’s been in the making for nearly 70 years. Plastic pollution is now considered one of the largest environmental threats facing humans and animals globally.

In “The Plastic Problem: PBS NewsHour Presents”, Amna Nawaz and her PBS NewsHour colleagues look at this now ubiquitous material and how it’s impacting the world, why it’s become so prevalent, what’s being done to mitigate its use, and what potential alternatives or solutions are out there. This hour-long program travels from Boston to Seattle, Costa Rica to Easter Island to bring the global scale of the problem to light.

https://youtu.be/1RDc2opwg0I

And after I watched the video—which I had specifically saved on my YouTube 'Watch Later' Playlist to watch on Earth Day—I decided to write this 'update' as part of my Earth Day 'updates,' so that I could encourage you, my readers, to consider watching the video too! –Paul Whiting (written April 22nd, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised October 21st, 2023, revised April 22nd, 2024 and revised April 24th, 2024)

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April 22nd, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written On April 24th, 2023 [My Writing About The Passing Away Of An Internationally Renowned Star, Dame Edna Everage (a.k.a. Barry Humphries)]:

It is with gracious decorum and pageantry that I wish to commemorate the passing of Dame Edna Everage (a.k.a. Barry Humphries), who was the "Housewife Gigastar."

Years ago, I watched The Dame Edna Experience television show (I think that it was in syndication), but I don't recall precisely where I watched it (I think it was in Salt Lake City, Utah), or precisely when I watched it (I think that it was in the 1990s after the show had originally aired, from September, 12th, 1987 to December 22nd, 1989) which, as Dame Edna would say is, "Spooky!"

By the way, I read the entire Wikipedia webpage about Barry Humphries, which can be found below, while I was searching for the name of the Dame Edna television show that I watched back in the 1990s. So, for all you Dame Edna fans out there, it's a very interesting read regarding Mr. Humphries long, and often times sordid, career...

...That is, at least according to the critics!

"Barry Humphries" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Humphries

Plus, I did a search on YouTube for "Dame Edna," because I was planning to select a video that summed her up, but there were so many videos from which to choose that it was overwhelming...

...The same way Dame Edna was overwhelming!

And that's why I decided to simply provide the hyperlink below to the above-mentioned YouTube search, so that you can see for yourself the spectacular spectacle of the sparkling, shining, shimmering, satiny and sequined star:

https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=Dame+Edna

–Paul Whiting (written April 24th, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised December 6th, 2023 and revised August 31st, 2025)

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April 23rd, 2023 Update: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, April 23rd, 2023, when I noticed three articles on Politico.com!

The first Politico article that I read today is titled, "The Surprising Geography of Gun Violence." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Surprising Geography of Gun Violence" from Politico

America’s regions are poles apart when it comes to gun deaths and the cultural and ideological forces that drive them.

By Colin Woodard | 04/23/2023 | 07:00 AM EDT

Listen to the southern right talk about violence in America and you’d think New York City was as dangerous as Bakhmut on Ukraine’s eastern front.

In October, Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis proclaimed crime in New York City was “out of control” and blamed it on George Soros. Another Sunshine State politico, former president Donald Trump, offered his native city up as a Democrat-run dystopia, one of those places “where the middle class used to flock to live the American dream are now war zones, literal war zones.” In May 2022, hours after 19 children were murdered at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott swatted back suggestions that the state could save lives by implementing tougher gun laws by proclaiming “Chicago and L.A. and New York disprove that thesis.”

In reality, the region the Big Apple comprises most of is far and away the safest part of the U.S. mainland when it comes to gun violence, while the regions Florida and Texas belong to have per capita firearm death rates (homicides and suicides) three to four times higher than New York’s. On a regional basis it’s the southern swath of the country — in cities and rural areas alike — where the rate of deadly gun violence is most acute, regions where Republicans have dominated state governments for decades. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/04/23/surprising-geography-of-gun-violence-00092413

The second Politico article that I read today is titled, "How the White House sees its debt ceiling standoff with McCarthy." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"How the White House sees its debt ceiling standoff with McCarthy" from Politico

As angst around the standoff grows, Biden is confident and not budging.

By Eli Stokols | 04/22/2023 | 07:00 AM EDT

There is currently no backchannel between the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Amid the simmering standoff over spending with the ticking time bomb of the debt ceiling in the background, the Republican leader and President Joe Biden are negotiating — if you want to call it that — in public.

And even though the prospect of default would inflict intense pain on the country, the White House is quite confident at the moment that such a doomsday scenario is avoidable and that, politically, it holds the upper hand. But as the danger of default nears, the politics may shift and force the president to adjust course.

The endgame is still hard to see, weeks or even months away depending on how quickly the nation approaches default. But the political battle entered a new phase this week when McCarthy finally put forth a legislative proposal in his speech Monday, laying out the spending cuts Republicans wanted in exchange for a one-year debt ceiling increase — and giving the White House officials something specific to attack.

And attack they have. Biden’s speech Wednesday at a Maryland union hall served as a summation of his team’s theory of the case. And White House aides have made it clear they’re eager to continue talking about this, whether through emails from the press shop, Cabinet officials describing the specific impacts of proposed cuts or at the briefing room podium.

On Friday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called McCarthy’s proposal a “ransom note” and emphasized a new VA analysis on the impact of proposed GOP cuts on veterans healthcare. The president’s economic agenda, the White House believes, is popular. Repealing laws that have helped the middle class and created jobs, cutting taxes for corporations and the rich, and risking default are not. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/22/white-house-debt-ceiling-mccarthy-00093318

The third Politico article that I read today is titled, "One reason the debt fight is getting awkward for Republicans." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"One reason the debt fight is getting awkward for Republicans" from Politico

GOP lawmakers want to repeal clean-energy programs as part of a deal to avert a default. But those programs are creating jobs in Republican-held districts.

By Emma Dumain and Timothy Cama | 04/22/2023 | 07:00 AM EDT

Earlier this year, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene heralded the expansion of a South Korean solar panel production company in her district — a $2.5 billion cash infusion.

“QCells, the solar company ... I think they’re fantastic,” she said. “I support all kinds of energy.”

It was made possible by the tax incentives included in President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which the Georgia Republican, along with all of her GOP colleagues, opposed.

Greene is far from alone among Republicans cheering clean energy investments created by Democratic policies they all snubbed. And that’s creating some awkward dynamics for GOP lawmakers who are seeking to wipe out Biden’s clean-energy spending plans as part of any deal to avert a U.S. debt default.

The White House, and supporters of Biden’s clean energy programs, are eagerly seizing on the contradiction.

“The Biden Clean Energy Plan has helped create more than 140,000 clean energy jobs across the U.S. — the majority of which are in Republican-held districts,” said Lori Lodes, executive director of the group Climate Power, citing its own estimates of the law’s economic impact.

“Now MAGA extremists are threatening to implode our country’s economy — and the clean energy manufacturing boom that’s happening in their communities — to protect their own corporate, anti-climate interests,” she said.

According to data provided by Climate Power, which was then reviewed, vetted and confirmed by POLITICO’s E&E News, at least 37 congressional districts now represented by Republicans have welcomed expansions of new clean energy operations fostered by three major Biden-era laws — last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law or the CHIPS and Science Act. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/22/gop-attacks-energy-spending-00093204

And so, the reason that I wrote this 'update' about these three articles from Politico is because I thought that each article discussed issues (out of the many issues that there are to discuss) that relate to three core problems which are affecting the United States of America today, all three of which seem to be enthusiastically supported by Republicans, specifically:

1. rampant gun violence being blamed on Democratic led states; and

2. the debt ceiling hike being used as a hostage in order to demand draconian cuts to the federal budget, including

3. "GOP lawmakers want[ing] to repeal clean-energy programs as part of a deal to avert a default."

And so, that is why I decided to highlight these articles from Politico for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 23rd, 2023, revised April 24th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised September 3rd, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 24th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon today, April 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "[take action] Help us keep the pressure up", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

The coordinated attacks on our reproductive rights and access to care keep coming. But advocates like you refuse to stop fighting back. Far from it. In the last month, we’ve flooded the State Capitol, sent hundreds of emails, and packed hearing rooms in Salem to give lawmakers our input. But our work is not over.

Tell your lawmaker today —support Reproductive Health & Access to Care (HB 2002).

There are less than two months left in the Oregon Legislative session, and we need to keep the pressure up. Tell your lawmaker: we need equitable access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care.

CONTACT LAWMAKERS***

As extremists across the nation ramp up assaults on our lives and freedom, Oregon lawmakers have the opportunity to show our nation what it means to protect providers and patients seeking gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon.

Together, we can ensure every Oregonian has the freedom to make our own health care decisions and access the care we need with dignity and respect.

Thanks for being with us,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

Tell Oregon lawmakers: Our bodies are our own. Vote YES on House Bill 2002!

Everyone deserves access to high quality health care--no matter who you are, where you live, or how much money you make. That includes the full spectrum of sexual, reproductive and gender affirming care. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, we've seen states across the nation take steps to ban and restrict access to gender affirming care, denying transgender and gender-expansive people life-saving medical care. People in Oregon have already felt the impacts of the rapidly changing healthcare landscape.

House Bill 2002, Reproductive Health & Access to Care, will create a more equitable heath care system by: protecting providers and health care centers; expanding access to care; and ensuring fundamental rights.

Now, we need your help. Our lawmakers need to hear from you to firm up their yes votes for HB 2002. Email the Oregon House & Senate to demonstrate the groundswell of community support for reproductive and gender justice!

Prefix (Optional): Mr.
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Date of Birth (Optional): N/A
Preferred Language (Optional): English
Sexual Orientation (Optional): Gay
Race (Optional): Caucasian or White
Ethnicity (Optional): Danish, English (British)
Street Address: [redacted]
Postal Code: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Message Recipients:

[My Oregon] State Senator

[My Oregon] State Representative

Subject: Please vote YES on HB 2002

Dear [elected official],

I am writing as your constituent in support of HB 2002.

I strongly believe that access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health care is a basic human right. For too many Oregonians, reproductive and gender affirming care are still out of reach because of geography, income, or insurance coverage. Eighteen states currently have abortion bans or restrictions in effect, including Idaho. This decreased access exacerbates reproductive health care deserts, especially in Eastern Oregon.

Access to abortion and gender-affirming care are two sides of the same coin. Both are deeply personal medical decisions that should be made in consultation with one’s doctor and chosen support systems. Trans rights are under attack nationwide, with over 300 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills introduced into state legislatures in 2023 alone. We should not be making policy decisions based on fear and misinformation. Instead, Oregon should stand strong as a leader for LGBTQIA+ rights and health care access.

House Bill 2002 will help pave the way towards a future in which every Oregonian has the ability to make decisions about their own bodies and access the full range of reproductive, sexual, and gender affirming health care. I urge you to vote yes.

Sincerely,
Paul Whiting
[Address redacted]
[Email redacted]

Then, after I submitted the email above to my Oregon State Senator and State Representative, via Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon website, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon in order to show my support for the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill (HB 2002), which will "will create a more equitable heath care system by: protecting providers and health care centers; expanding access to care; and ensuring fundamental rights." –Paul Whiting (written April 24th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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April 24th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Friends of Willamette Week (FOWW) [Willamette Week is a local news publication here in Portland, Oregon—and I am a monthly contributor to the Willamette Week] today, April 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "Today is the day! 🗞️", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Today marks the beginning of our first Spring Drive. Over the next week, we hope to raise $25,000 to support Willamette Week’s journalism. Along the way we will showcase: the impact of our investigative and watchdog reporting, how our newsroom works, and most importantly, how your support plays a critical role in our ability to provide Portland free and independent journalism.

Willamette Week’s mission is to provide: “Portlanders with an independent and irreverent understanding of how their worlds work so they can make a difference.” For nearly half a century, Willamette Week has been holding the powerful accountable and helping Portlanders make informed decisions on a range of issues—from local news to arts and culture to, of course, which candidates and initiatives to support. Today, WW distributes 23,000 copies weekly inside the city limits of Portland and has more than 800,000 regular online readers in Oregon and around the world.

When it comes to breaking news like a fentanyl market operating in the heart of downtown or a police officer moonlighting in another state, we want Portlanders to know about it. That’s why our stories don’t hide behind paywalls or require paid subscriptions. At the same time, being Portland’s watchdog and tirelessly reporting on important local issues has real costs. We can no longer rely solely on advertising or event revenue. The future of local news depends on new revenue models, as Publisher Anna Zusman explains:

"Historically, our business was largely funded by advertising and event revenue. Looking at a comparison of 2019 and 2022, we see very different stories. Overall, our revenue and expenses have been reduced by roughly 30%, and our funding model looks very different."

Your support is a key ingredient in Willamette Week’s ability to perform our role as Portland’s most consequential news source. Currently, you cover slightly more than 10% of our operating expenses. We think we do our job well, but we can do even better with added support: more in-depth reporting. Expanded free distribution. Continuing to hold the powerful to account.

Thank you,

[Name redacted]

FOWW [Title redacted]

And so, I made a one-time donation to Friends of Willamette Week in order to help support 'WW' that "for nearly half a century...has been holding the powerful accountable and helping Portlanders make informed decisions on a range of issues—from local news to arts and culture to, of course, which candidates and initiatives to support." And that's why I support Willamette Week! –Paul Whiting (April 24th, 2023) –Paul Whiting (written April 24th, 2023, revised April 26th, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)
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April 24th, 2023 Update—Continued (Follow-Up, Written On April 25th, 2023): I received an email from Friends of Willamette Week (FOWW) [Willamette Week is a local news publication here in Portland, Oregon—and I am a monthly contributor to the Willamette Week] today, April 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "Behind the scenes", which stated the following—and which also included an illustration titled, "Timeline: Creating A Story" (by the way, I hand-typed the text of the illustration below on my smartphone):

Hi Paul,

You know in-depth, investigative reporting requires substantial time, effort and resources. That’s likely one of the reasons you’re a Friend of Willamette Week.

But, you may not know what goes on behind the scenes in our newsroom. Today’s newsletter offers a case study in how one of our recent stories developed. We begin with a timeline of reporter Sophie Peel’s recent cover story on La Mota.*

*[Please see the hyperlink below for the article:]

https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/03/29/the-power-couple-of-oregon-cannabis-bankrolled-top-democrats-even-as-their-companies-taxes-and-bills-went-unpaid

[START OF ILLUSTRATION]

Timeline: Creating A Story

1. Research
↓
2. Interviews
↓
3. Gathering Records
↓
4. Write Draft
↓
5. Editing
↓
6. Creative Consultation
↓
7. Legal Review
↓
8. Layout & Photos
↓
9. Proofread
↓
10. Final Approval
↓
11. Delivery

[END OF ILLUSTRATION]

Peel spent months reporting on this story. She conducted hundreds of interviews and pored over tax liens, court records, and property tax records in two states. After composing a draft, the story underwent six rounds of editing, scrutinized by two editors and a copy editor who reviewed it for grammar and style. The creative director was brought in to consult on the story’s presentation in print and online. The story underwent pre-publication legal review while the page layout, photography, and cover package were being developed. New proofs were reviewed and finally approved. All this, before the paper was delivered to hundreds of Willamette Week’s blue boxes and indoor racks around Portland and the story appeared online. In the following weeks, we’ve seen the immense impact of Sophie’s reporting—including a state agency revoking a half-million-dollar grant—and have published several follow-ups.**

**[Please see the hyperlinks below for the articles:]

https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/04/12/a-nonprofit-co-founded-by-la-motas-ceo-got-a-half-million-dollars-from-the-state

https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2023/04/14/kotek-has-not-requested-la-mota-be-included-in-state-investigation-of-olcc

This kind of reporting is an example of WW’s commitment to journalistic excellence. Rigorous work like this is expensive, and we operate with the understanding that quality journalism is worth the investment. It’s the reason why, to this day, Willamette Week is the only weekly in America to ever be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Our point? Willamette Week aims to inform, inspire and engage readers, and we cannot do it alone. If you value in-depth reporting, please continue to support us.

Thank you,

[Name redacted], FOWW [Title redacted]

Contribute today.***

...We are a group of students in Seattle Public Schools fighting to improve conditions for students and community members from the north end to the south end and everywhere in between.

We are tired of witnessing our friends and peers become the victims of gun violence. Since adults won't protect us, we're protecting ourselves through advocacy.

They told us to grow up, so we did and lobbied for a bill to ban ALL assault weapons in the entire state of Washington. We fought hard for this measure-thousands walked out in November after a student was shot and killed at Ingraham High School, and last month, we led a caravan down to the Washington state capitol to pressure lawmakers. Student organizing made the difference we need to see in this state.

While this was a big win for us and students all over the state, we still have a lot of work ahead of us in the gun violence prevention movement - and beyond. Our next initiative is advocating for more comprehensive mental health care for Seattle Public School students, while continuing to push for Seattle Public Schools to train security staff on anti-racism and de-escalation. But we don't yet have the funds to do this important work.

We NEED to raise $200,000 in order to stay in operation and expand into a statewide organization. Our work has already made critical progress in Washington, and we're just getting started. So Paul, will you consider chipping in $25, $50, or whatever you can spare to Seattle Student Union right now so we can keep advocating for students and youth across our state? It means the world to us. ...

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ssugvp

And so, I made a one-time donation to Seattle Student Union in order to show my support for this "group of students in Seattle Public Schools fighting to improve conditions for students and community members," who successfully "lobbied for a bill to ban ALL assault weapons in the entire state of Washington," which "was a big win for [them] and students all over the state." However, "[they] still have a lot of work ahead of [them] in the gun violence prevention movement - and beyond," which means that "[they're] just getting started." So, that's why "I chipp[ed] in whatever [I could] spare to Seattle Student Union." –Paul Whiting (written April 24th, 2023, revised April 26th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 12th, 2023 and revised June 2nd, 2023)

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April 24th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, April 24th, 2023, when I noticed three Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The first Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "Congress Re-Introduces Bill to Protect Kids From Online Sexual Abuse. Here’s What to Know." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Congress Re-Introduces Bill to Protect Kids From Online Sexual Abuse. Here’s What to Know" from Time Magazine

By Solcyre Burga | April 23, 2023

As legislators hound down on social media apps like TikTok out of concern for data privacy, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced new legislation that would make big tech accountable for having child sex abuse material—content that depicts sexual activity with a minor—on their platforms.

The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies, or EARN IT Act, introduced on Thursday would remove existing legal immunity from corporations that “knowingly facilitate or profit” from sexually explicit images of children.

“Tech companies have the technology to detect, remove, and stop the distribution of child sexual abuse material. However, there is no incentive to do so because they are subject to no consequences for their inaction,” Erin Earp, RAINN’s interim vice president for public policy, said in a press release.

The bill would also facilitate investigations into the origins of the explicit content and update federal statutes to use the term child sexual abuse material instead of child pornography.

This marks the third time this bill has been introduced in the last three years, as prior efforts failed amid concerns that it would reel back freedom of expression online because the proposed legislation targets Section 230, a law which says online sites are not responsible for third-party content posted on their site. (The Supreme Court heard oral arguments related to Section 230 in February, which seemed to sway towards upholding the legal shield.)

“Unfortunately, the role of the internet/social media in the increased number of [child sexual abuse material] online is based on profit,” says John-Michael Lander, founder of Voice for the Voiceless, which teaches ways to help survivors and identify groomers. “Many sites initially set stipulations and guidelines to protect children, but these guidelines are easily bypassed, making managing the total daily number of uploads challenging.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6273895/congress-re-introduces-bill-to-protect-kids-from-online-sexual-abuse

The second Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "Why ESG Is So Confusing." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Why ESG Is So Confusing" from Time Magazine

By Justin Worland | April 20, 2023

A few weeks ago, I wrote a story about the anti-ESG movement in Texas’s foray into insurance. Soon after, I received a very thoughtful response from a declared ESG opponent taking issue with the idea that ESG metrics are relevant for insurers. The one issue: he had used the term ESG in a completely different way from how I had intended.

The experience was a reminder of something I’ve grown increasingly aware of in recent months while looking into the ESG backlash: the acronym means different things to different people. This matters for a wide range of reasons. Most obviously, it has at times led supporters and skeptics of ESG investing to talk past each other. But, perhaps more importantly, it has contributed to confusion among neutral observers, including many investors and business leaders.

I’m not going to solve this huge messaging challenge with this one column, but my hope is that talking about this confusion can help you sift through the noise.

As most readers of this column will likely know, ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. But that’s where the agreement seems to end.

Talk to many proponents of ESG at big companies or financial services firms and you’re likely to hear the metrics described as a way to measure material business concerns. Hurricanes and droughts, to name two obvious examples, affect the bottom line, so considering those risks are not only an imperative for the planet, but make smart business sense.

Opponents of ESG, on the other hand, tend to describe it as some form of “woke capitalism.” These opponents argue that the investors and businesses that employ ESG are concerned with social outcomes untethered from financial returns and are willing to sacrifice profit to get those social outcomes.

So who’s right? ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6273398/esg-explained

The third Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "How America Lost the COVID-19 War." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"How America Lost the COVID-19 War" from Time Magazine

BY PHILIP ZELIKOW | APRIL 24, 2023

Zelikow is the White Burkett Miller Professor of History at the University of Virginia and the former Executive Director of the 9/11 Commission. Lessons From the Covid War by the Covid Crisis Group publishes this week.

The United States government has decided it is time to declare a formal end to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The end of the emergency is a time to reflect on what we have experienced and where we go from here.

For over two years, I have led the Covid Crisis Group, a group of 34 experts originally formed with the goal of helping to lay the groundwork for an inevitable (we thought) National Covid Commission. We interviewed nearly 300 people. We organized task forces. We mapped out agendas. We shared insights across our different backgrounds and did a substantial amount of research.

With an official inquiry nowhere in sight, our group felt we had to share what we have learned, in our just-published report, “Lessons from the Covid War.”

The members of our group are angry. They are angry because they feel that good Americans, all over the country, were let down by ineffective institutions, a slow and uneven initial response, shoddy defenses, and inadequate leadership. We came away from many of our discussions consistently impressed with the ingenuity and dedication of people all over the country. That is why so many of us are so frustrated. Americans improvised to fight this war, usually doing the best they could. They had to struggle with systems that made success hard and failure easy.

It is best to think of COVID as a war, the most expansive global struggle since the Second World War. The U.S. fought the COVID war without an army or a battle plan. We met a 21st century global emergency with structures fundamentally designed for 19th century problems, and it showed. Our scientific knowledge was unsurpassed. Thousands of people and organizations made heartrending, life-saving efforts. Americans spent more public money on the crisis than anyone. Yet the U.S. suffered many more casualties than any other affluent country, despite having the best access to remarkable vaccines.

The COVID war shows how our wondrous scientific knowledge has run far, far ahead of the organized human ability to apply that knowledge in practice. If we want to avoid a repetition of the catastrophe of 2020-22, we cannot ignore that the COVID war revealed a collective national incompetence in governance. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6273915/how-america-lost-the-covid-19-war

And the reason that I wrote this 'update' about these three articles from Time Magazine is because I thought that each article discussed important issues, including "legislation that would make big tech accountable for having child sex abuse material—content that depicts sexual activity with a minor—on their platforms," and "the ESG backlash [and how] the acronym means different things to different people," as well as "lessons from the Covid War."

And so, that is why I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 24th, 2023, revised April 25th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 7th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 25th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, April 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "Tell Border Patrol to release pregnant migrants", which stated the following:

Paul –

Today, the ACLU, alongside over 175 other organizations and medical professionals sent a letter to Troy Miller, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – parent agency of the Border Patrol. In it, we demanded the agency uphold the reproductive rights and health of migrants in the wake of new evidence of harm.

The fact is, border detention centers are notoriously unsafe for anyone, let alone people who are pregnant.

Still, border agents routinely put pregnant migrants in cells, denying people adequate and necessary medical care. These conditions are life-threatening.

That's why we're demanding change, and we need you to speak out today with us: Tell CBP to uphold the reproductive rights and health of migrants who are pregnant, nursing, or postpartum.

PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR MIGRANTS***

Paul, today's letter follows multiple unaddressed letters from the ACLU, alongside fellow advocacy groups as well as medical professionals, including an October 2022 letter signed by 130 signatories.

Since that October letter, we have learned of multiple new instances of harm. That includes an incident this January, in which Border Patrol agents apprehended and transported a pregnant woman who was having contractions to a San Diego hospital, and then attempted to separate her from her school-aged daughter – a wholly unnecessary action that caused extreme stress and harm to both pregnant mother and her young child.

We will not allow this injustice to continue. Send a message to CBP today demanding that pregnant, postpartum, and nursing persons and infants be released as soon as possible – so they can access the safe reproductive health care they need.

Thank you in advance for speaking out. Together, we can make a change.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU

UPHOLD THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HEALTH OF MIGRANTS

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detention facilities – notorious for medical neglect and degrading conditions – aren't safe for anyone, let alone pregnant, nursing, and postpartum people or infants. Yet families in CBP custody are put in life-threatening situations every day. In one case, a mother was forced to give birth holding on to a garbage can, and later she and her newborn spent the night in a freezing cold cell.

This egregious treatment must end and you can take action to make sure that happens: Send a message to CBP today demanding that pregnant, postpartum, and nursing persons and infants must be released as soon as possible – so they can access the safe reproductive health care they need.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Uphold the reproductive rights and health of migrants

With limited access to medical care and inadequate conditions, CBP facilities are a life-threatening risk to pregnant, nursing, and postpartum people and their infants. I’m calling on you to immediately issue new guidance that ensures this population can be released as soon as possible to their networks of care in the United States. Each day that passes without such a policy places more families at risk.

Specifically, I am asking that you promptly expand your November 2021 policy to include directives to:

Expedite processing to minimize the time that people who are pregnant, postpartum, and/or nursing, and their families, are in CBP custody to only the time period necessary to process them for release from CBP custody. In no case should custody exceed 12 hours from the time of initial apprehension.

Ensure that, together with their families, people who are pregnant, postpartum, and/or nursing are released from CBP custody as soon as possible after any discharge from an offsite hospital, and not transferred back to CBP detention for any purposes, including processing.

The only way to ensure migrants receive the reproductive care they need is for CBP to release them to their networks of care while they pursue their immigration cases. Please do so for the safety and dignity of this vulnerable population now.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, April 25th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to defend the reproductive rights and health of migrant families in CBP detention.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/migrant-health

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detention facilities -- notorious for medical neglect and degrading conditions -- aren't safe for anyone. Yet families in CBP custody are put in life-threatening situations every day.

I just joined the ACLU in action by sending a message to the CBP today urging for the release of pregnant, postpartum, nursing persons and infants as soon as possible. Will you join me? aclu.org/migrant-health

Thanks.

Then, after I sent the letter above to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to do my part in "calling on [the CBP] to immediately issue new guidance that ensures this population [of migrants who are pregnant, postpartum, and/or nursing] can be released as soon as possible to their networks of care in the United States" to ensure that "they can access the safe reproductive health care they need." –Paul Whiting (written April 25th, 2023, revised April 26th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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April 25th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, April 25th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon: A Tale of Two Sudden Cable News Exits." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon: A Tale of Two Sudden Cable News Exits" from Time Magazine

By Judy Berman | April 24, 2023

In a matter of minutes on Monday, the face of cable news changed dramatically. First, Fox News reported that it had “parted ways” with Tucker Carlson, the host of the conservative cable news network’s hit 8 p.m. show Tucker Carlson Tonight. Then, just as the Succession memes started flowing, longtime CNN host Don Lemon posted a note on Twitter informing followers that he’d just heard, via his agent, that the network was firing him. (CNN has since disputed that characterization, tweeting that Lemon “was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”)

It’s tempting to lump together these two departures, considering that they were announced almost simultaneously. (Lemon was open about his termination, whereas Carlson’s exit was publicly framed as a mutual decision. A source at Fox confirmed to TIME that the decision was not a financial one and suggested that Carlson was likely surprised by the decision, given his signoff on Friday’s show, but would not provide further comment.) Carlson and Lemon have something else in common, too: both men are controversial, and have faced backlash from the media and the public as well as their co-workers. The Fox News star leans into his role as a provocateur, promoting a right-wing agenda that barely bothers to conceal its grounding in racism, sexism, xenophobia, conspiracy thinking, religious intolerance, and hatred of the LGBTQ community. His less inflammatory CNN counterpart, meanwhile, has been mired in accusations of misogyny and bad behavior on set. But it would be a mistake to read their tandem dismissals as some righteous act on the part of cable news media writ large to purge itself of toxic men. The cases have important differences, though both will surely impact how TV covers the 2024 presidential election. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6274088/tucker-carlson-don-lemon-firing

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 25th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 27th, 2023 Update: I was on YouTube watching a video titled, "Companies and employees at odds over return-to-office policies," when I saw an advertisement from Stand.earth in the form of a YouTube video titled, "73 Orca Remain." Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

73 Orca Remain

Orca habitat destruction leaves 73 southern resident killer whales in existence. Meanwhile, Canada continues to allow ocean dumping.

https://act.stand.earth/page/44568/petition/1

By the way the hyperlink above was not actually in the video description, so I provided it from the original advertisement that I saw, as I mentioned at the beginning of this 'update.'

https://youtu.be/e5QMjF7BaRk

And, after I watched the video above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced website, which can be found below:

Canada's Dangerous Waters

[Tell Canada to end aquatic clearcutting now]

Canada’s shipping laws are promoting aquatic clearcutting. By incentivizing ocean dumping, these laws are helping to destroy the kelp forests and accelerate the decline of critically endangered species.

Deadly consequences for the ocean and global biodiversity are happening in Canada. Right now, Canada’s famously lax ocean dumping laws encourage ships to save and dump their waste once the ships cross the Canadian maritime border.

How are ships getting away with this? Canada has no laws in place to stop them. Any ship can dump sewage directly into the ocean, contributing to the destruction of kilometers of critical habitat and food sources for endangered and threatened species.

The global population of critically endangered southern resident killer whales is down to 74. Endangered sea otters are struggling to survive. At one time kelp forests stretched for kilometers, now habitat is fractured and subject to deadly heat waves and red tides. Were this destruction to be visible above the surface, global citizens could see the results: Canada’s shipping laws are promoting aquatic clear-cutting.

From critically endangered orcas to kilometers of kelp forests, nothing can escape the destruction from ship pollution–unless Canada acts now.

Tell the Minister of Transport to stop ocean dumping and get serious about protecting our oceans. Add your name.

To: Canada's Minister of Transport

Dear Minister [Name redacted],

There are no acceptable levels of ocean dumping and pollution, especially when it's hastening the destruction of critically endangered species and an entire underwater kelp forest ecosystem. Canada must pass legal protections for the kelp forest ecosystem and endangered species by ending the dumping of untreated and undertreated wastes from ships in our waters now.

People across Canada and around the world understand that Canada’s ocean dumping laws are promoting what is essentially aquatic clear-cutting. This tarnishes Canada’s global reputation as an environmental leader. We, the undersigned, urge Canada to immediately and completely eliminate the open practice of ocean dumping from vessels in the Salish and Great Bear Sea.

For the oceans,

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Email Address: [redacted]
Country: [redacted]
Zip or Postal Code: [redacted]
Phone Number: [redacted]

Then, after I sent the letter above to Canada's Minister of Transport, via the Stand.earth website, I made a one-time donation to Stand.earth in order to do my part in asking "Canada [to] pass legal protections for the kelp forest ecosystem and endangered species [in the Salish and Great Bear Sea] by ending the dumping of untreated and undertreated wastes from ships in our waters now." –Paul Whiting (written April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

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April 28th, 2023 Update: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, April 28th, 2023, when I noticed an article on Politico.com titled, "Tucker who? GOP establishment says meh to TV gadfly’s demise." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Tucker who? GOP establishment says meh to TV gadfly’s demise" from Politico

Carlson exerted pull over Donald Trump’s foreign policy and routinely harangued hawks from his former Fox News perch. Now that he’s gone, Republicans won’t even celebrate.

By Anthony Adragna | 04/27/2023 | 02:50 PM EDT

Tucker Carlson grabbed ratings, and Donald Trump’s ear, by savaging the GOP foreign policy establishment on Capitol Hill. But those Republicans aren’t exactly celebrating Carlson’s eviction from the airwaves.

In fact, the party’s hawkish lawmakers are largely shrugging at the former Fox News host’s departure from cable news. Those Republicans contend that Carlson’s influence — though significant, on both their base voters and a handful of Trumpian members — never truly resonated in national security and military matters.

And as much as they know Carlson’s fans will follow him wherever he lands next, they don’t see his loss of a public platform as likely to affect the GOP’s evolution on national security.

“You have got to think about the scale — I know he had an audience of three million people. There are 330 million people in the country,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said, adding that Carlson and other cable anchors have bigger sway over what lawmakers “think is wrong, versus how they can make things better.”
That response stems in part from Republican lawmakers’ disinterest in giving Carlson too much credit for the occasionally polarizing messages he broadcast on foreign policy. He waged a relentless campaign against further U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He filmed his show in Hungary, the scene of significant democratic backsliding, and praised its far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Carlson also exerted serious pull on Donald Trump’s views on foreign policy and military issues while blocking and tackling for the former president. He defended Trump’s meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, saying that leading a country “means killing people.” And he called the outrage over Saudi Arabia’s government-sanctioned killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi “false.”

Steve Bannon claimed in 2019 that Carlson “has more influence on national security policy than many of the guys on [Trump’s] National Security Council.” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a Trump ally, said this week on Newsmax that he and Carlson were “directly involved in persuading President Trump to ignore some of the bad advice he was getting.”

But for members of Congress, Carlson’s noisiest jeremiads against them amounted to little more than static. As South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the chamber’s No. 2 Republican, put it: “National security issues, those are for most members a responsibility they take very seriously. And, yes, there are influencers out there. But I don’t think, one way or the other, that swings votes.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/27/tucker-carlson-donald-trump-gop-00094214

And I decided to highlight this article from Politico for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 28th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 7th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 28th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, April 28th, 2023, when I noticed an article on NYTimes.com titled, "DAVID BROOKS OPINION: Joe Biden and the Struggle for America’s Soul." (By the way, I am a subscriber to The New York Times.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Joe Biden and the Struggle for America’s Soul" from The New York Times

By David Brooks | April 27, 2023

Joe Biden built his 2020 presidential campaign around the idea that “we’re in a battle for the soul of America.” I thought it was a marvelous slogan because it captured the idea that we’re in the middle of a moral struggle over who we are as a nation. In the video he released this week launching his re-election bid, he doubled down on that idea: We’re still, he said, “in a battle for the soul of America.”

I want to dwell on the little word “soul” in that sentence because I think it illuminates what the 2024 presidential election is all about.

What is a soul? Well, religious people have one answer to that question. But Biden is not using the word in a religious sense, but in a secular one. He is saying that people and nations have a moral essence, a soul.

Whether you believe in God or don’t believe in God is not my department. But I do ask you to believe that every person you meet has this moral essence, this quality of soul.

Because humans have souls, each one is of infinite value and dignity. Because humans have souls, each one is equal to all the others. We are not equal in physical strength or I.Q. or net worth, but we are radically equal at the level of who we essentially are.

The soul is the name we can give to that part of our consciousness where moral life takes place. The soul is the place our moral sentiments flow from, the emotions that make us feel admiration at the sight of generosity and disgust at the sight of cruelty.

It is the place where our moral yearnings come from, too. Most people yearn to lead good lives. When they act with a spirit of cooperation, their souls sing and they are happy. On the other hand, when they feel their lives have no moral purpose, they experience a sickness of the soul — a sense of lostness, pain and self-contempt.

Because we have souls, we are morally responsible for what we do. Hawks and cobras are not morally responsible for their actions; but humans, possessors of souls, are caught in a moral drama, either doing good or doing ill.

Political campaigns are not usually contests over the status of the soul. But Donald Trump, and Trumpism generally, is the embodiment of an ethos that covers up the soul. Or to be more precise, each is an ethos that deadens the soul under the reign of the ego.

Trump, and Trumpism generally, represents a kind of nihilism that you might call amoral realism. This ethos is built around the idea that we live in a dog-eat-dog world. The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. Might makes right. I’m justified in grabbing all that I can because if I don’t, the other guy will. People are selfish; deal with it. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/opinion/biden-trump-soul-america-election-2024.html

And I decided to highlight this article from The New York Times for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 28th, 2023, revised April 29th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 7th, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 28th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, April 28th, 2023, when I noticed an article on NYTimes.com titled, "PAUL KRUGMAN OPINION: Joe Biden and the Not-So-Bad Economy." (By the way, I am a subscriber to The New York Times.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Joe Biden and the Not-So-Bad Economy" from The New York Times

By Paul Krugman | April 27, 2023

Joe Biden has, to nobody’s surprise, formally announced that he is seeking re-election. And I, for one, am dreading the year and a half of political crystal ball gazing that lies ahead of us — a discussion to which I will have little if anything to add.

One thing I may be able to contribute to, however, is the way we talk about the Biden economy. Much political discussion, it seems to me, is informed by a sense that the economy will be a major liability for Democrats — a sense that is strongly affected by out-of-date or questionable data.

Of course, a lot can change between now and November 2024. We could have a recession, maybe as the delayed effect of monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve. We might all too easily face a financial crisis this summer when, as seems likely, Republicans refuse to raise the debt ceiling — and nobody knows how that will play out politically.

Right now, however, the economy is in better shape than I suspect most pundits or even generally well-informed readers may realize.

The basic story of the Biden economy is that America has experienced a remarkably fast and essentially complete job market recovery. This recovery was initially accompanied by distressingly high inflation; but inflation, while still high by the standards of the past few decades, has subsided substantially. The overall situation is, well, not so bad.

About jobs: Unless you’ve been getting your news from Tucker Carlson or Truth Social, you’re probably aware that the unemployment rate is hovering near historic lows. However, I keep hearing assertions that this number is misleading, because millions of Americans have dropped out of the labor force — which was true a year ago.

But it’s not true anymore. There are multiple ways to make this point, but one way is to compare where we are now with projections made just before Covid struck. In January 2020 the Congressional Budget Office projected that by the first quarter of 2023 nonfarm employment would be 154.8 million; the actual number for March was 155.6 million. As a recent report from the Council of Economic Advisers points out, labor force participation — the percentage of adults either working or actively looking for work — is also right back in line with pre-Covid projections.

In short, we really are back at full employment.

Inflation isn’t as happy a picture. If we measure inflation by the annual rate of change in consumer prices over the past six months — my current preference for trying to extract the signal from the noise — inflation was almost 10 percent in June 2022. But it’s now down to just 3.5 percent.

That’s still above the Fed’s target of 2 percent, and there’s intense debate among economists about how hard it will be to get inflation all the way down (intense because nobody really knows the answer). But maybe some perspective is in order. The current inflation rate is lower than it was at the end of Ronald Reagan’s second term. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/opinion/joe-biden-reelection-economy.html

And I decided to highlight this article from The New York Times for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written April 28th, 2023, revised April 29th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 7th, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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April 30th, 2023 Update: I received a text message today, April 30th, 2023, from USA for UNFPA (formerly known as the 'United Nations Fund for Population Activities' that is now called the 'United Nations Population Fund'), which stated the following:

Hi - I wanted to share this picture of UNFPA medical staff in Sudan working to safely deliver babies even amidst the outbreak of armed conflict in the country.

Pregnant women have been shot by waring military forces on the way to deliver their babies and others have been forced to give birth in their homes or cars.

It is estimated that in the capital of Khartoum alone, there are 219,000 pregnant women, 24,000 of whom are expected to give birth in the coming weeks.

Will you please be there for Sudanese women and ensure that UNFPA staff have the resources they need to continue providing lifesaving care during this escalating crisis? You can donate securely to support women and girls in this disaster and worldwide at the link below:***

TY for your generous support.

- [Name redacted], [Title redacted] at USA for UNFPA

April 30th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received several emails from the USO (United Service Organizations) from April 16th, 2023 through April 25th, 2023, regarding "The Official 2023 USO T-shirt." And each email was essentially asking me to "Please, upgrade your monthly gift to receive your limited edition 2023 USO T-shirt today!"

Now, the reason that I mention these emails is because I usually donate a few times per month to the USO! However, this month, April 2023, I realized that it is not really in my monthly budget to upgrade my recurring donation to the USO. So, that is why I haven't written any 'updates,' so far this month, regarding USO donations.

Therefore, I decided to go onto the USO.org website today, April 30th, 2023, in order to make a one-time donation to the USO for the month of April 2023. And on the USO's website, a donation prompt appeared, which stated the following:

"While Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to escalate, thousands of U.S. troops have been deployed throughout Eastern Europe in support of our NATO allies and Ukraine. We rely on the generosity of supporters like you to provide service members around the world with critical support now and into the future."

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, the USO has stood by America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "April 30th, 2023 Update—Continued":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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YEAR 2023 UPDATES FOR MAY:

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For my "May 1st, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 1st, 2023 Update: May is Military Appreciation Month! And I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "A Military Appreciation Month gift for you!", which stated the following:

Happy Military Appreciation Month, Paul!

We’ll be celebrating this special month with all sorts of ways to honor and support our heroes in uniform, but first, we’re kicking it off with a special digital giveaway for our most dedicated military supporters — including you!

We designed these exclusive phone backgrounds with patriotic Americans like you in mind, and we hope you love them as much as we do. Click here to choose and download one now and show your military pride this Military Appreciation Month!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD***

We’re so grateful for supporters like you who help keep our brave troops connected to family, home and country through every step of their military journey. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you do to stand with our troops.

[Name redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And so, I selected my "favorite patriotic phone background to download it and show [my] military pride during this special month." Plus, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "Our service members keep our nation safe. And we work hard to keep them connected to home — but we can’t do that without support from military supporters like you. Our troops are counting on you to be a part of this important work for our country." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 1st, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 1st, 2023 Update—Continued: I received a text message today, May 1st, 2023, from Everytown for Gun Safety, which stated the following:

Your Oregon rep is about to vote on a bill to stop ghost guns & raise the age to buy guns! Tap the link to tell them to vote yes***

-Everytown

Tell Oregon Lawmakers: Stop Ghost Guns And Raise The Age To Buy Guns!

Your representative in the state house votes soon on a gun safety bill that would:

[✓] Stop ghost guns—untraceable, do-it-yourself firearms made from easy-to-get building blocks that can be purchased with no background check and no questions asked.

[✓] Let local governments regulate firearms in city-owned spaces, like parks and hospitals.

[✓] Raise the age for purchase and possession of semi-automatic assault rifles, from 18 to 21. It's critical that we prevent teenagers from buying and owning exceptionally dangerous guns.

Send a message telling your lawmaker to vote YES on this gun safety bill >>

Dear Lawmaker,

I'm urging you to vote yes on a critical gun safety bill on the House floor.

Omnibus bill HB 2005 would raise the age for purchase and possession of semiautomatic assault rifles, from 18 to 21. Research shows that individuals 18 to 20 years old commit homicides at a rate nearly three times greater than adults 21 and over. Raising the age will help prevent firearm deaths.

HB 2005 would also prohibit ghost guns and other untraceable firearms. These guns are increasingly a weapon of choice for gun traffickers and people prohibited from possessing firearms.

Additionally, HB 2005 would allow local governments to regulate firearms on their property. Please vote YES on this critical gun safety bill. Thank you.

Complete the form to send your message now:

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Street address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

And after I sent the letter above to my representative in the Oregon State Legislature, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, I made a one-time donation to Everytown to say "Thank you!" for letting me know about this critical gun safety bill being voted on in the State of Oregon, because it's a really good idea to do each of the following:

✓ Stop ghost guns—untraceable, do-it-yourself firearms made from easy-to-get building blocks that can be purchased with no background check and no questions asked.

✓ Let local governments regulate firearms in city-owned spaces, like parks and hospitals.

✓ Raise the age for purchase and possession of semi-automatic assault rifles, from 18 to 21. It's critical that we prevent teenagers from buying and owning exceptionally dangerous guns.

–Paul Whiting (written May 1st, 2023, revised May 4th, 2023, revised May 12th, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised May 1st, 2024)

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May 2nd, 2023 Update, Written From May 3rd, 2023 To May 4th, 2023: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) on May 2nd, 2023, with the subject line, "The Supreme Court is failing to protect rights. We have a strategy.", which stated the following:

Paul –

Last year's Supreme Court term was the most conservative in a century, as President Trump's three nominees exercised their newfound power to rule against liberty and shrink our constitutional rights.

We're not letting that stop our work.

Since SCOTUS isn't protecting people's rights – let alone expanding them – we at the ACLU know more than ever that turning to state courts is now urgent and necessary when it comes to showing up for our freedoms across the country.

That's why today, the ACLU is launching our new State Supreme Court Initiative to fight for the expansion of civil liberties and civil rights through state constitutions.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.aclu.org/news/topic/state-supreme-court-initiative

With lawyers in every state in the country, the ACLU is uniquely situated to do this important work and to develop cross-state expertise on state constitutional litigation. As the two attorneys leading this initiative's work, we know too well that state constitutions often protect more rights than the U.S. Constitution – and that makes them a powerful backstop against the attacks of those looking to curtail rights.

That's where this new initiative will be crucial – and the ACLU knows how to win. This litigation strategy will build on the progress that we have already made in state courts on a range of issues, including:

→ Gerrymandering in Ohio

→ Abortion Access in Montana

→ LGBTQ Rights in North Carolina

→ Criminal Legal Reform in Massachusetts

Make no mistake: These issues are only some of the many we can and will continue pursuing to protect people's rights as we add new cases through this initiative.

Paul, having you with us in this work is going to be essential to the progress we know we can and will achieve. So please be sure to read up on our plans ahead for the State Supreme Court Initiative here – and thank you so much for being a part of this critical fight for civil liberties.

For the people,

[Name redacted] (she, her) and [Name redacted] (he, him)
Senior Staff Attorneys
ACLU State Supreme Court Initiative

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, an overview of which can be found below (which also includes any corresponding referenced webpages):

State Supreme Court Initiative

Last updated on May 2, 2023

The U.S. Supreme Court is increasingly not an option to protect, let alone expand, civil liberties and civil rights. Last year’s Supreme Court term was the most conservative in a century, as President Trump’s three nominees exercised their newfound power to rule against liberty and shrink our constitutional rights.

But state supreme courts offer promise in the face of a hostile federal judiciary. That’s why we’re taking the fight to the states – we want to show up with as many resources and tools as we have available. The ACLU is launching a dedicated effort, called the State Supreme Court Initiative, to fight for the expansion of rights through state supreme courts, both through litigation and advocacy work.

The State Supreme Court Initiative will build on the organization’s existing work in state supreme courts and will expand the organization’s litigating capacity. With lawyers in every state in the country, the ACLU is uniquely situated to do this important work and to develop cross-state expertise on state constitutional litigation. ...

... Where We've Made Progress

The ACLU and our affiliates have long been litigating for civil liberties and civil rights in state courts and we’ve seen a wide range of state constitutional victories over the past several years, a testament to our commitment to using state courts to protect and expand these rights. Below is a sample.

[Blogger's Note: By the way, I listed each one of the "Where We've Made Progress" titles below in the order that they appear (and I also provided a hyperlink for each one), which includes the ACLU's subcategories of "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" that are contained within the "FEATURED" categories. And I assigned each one of these categories, and subcategories, with a corresponding number to help you, my readers, to be able to view each one of the "FEATURED" categories, as well as each one of the "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" subcategories, where they are applicable, because there really are a lot of these categories and subcategories... Therefore, I did all of this so you can clearly see, via the hyperlinks that you have clicked, whether—or not—you have read each one of the relevant articles, because there really is a pertinent summary in each one of these individual articles from the "State Supreme Court Initiative" website! Besides that, here is another clarification that I need to make: on each one of the ACLU webpages below, you have to scroll down past an offer to "Stay informed about our latest work in [that webpage's topic]" via an email sign-up, past an offer of "THE LATEST" ACLU articles, past an offer to "EXPLORE MORE" ACLU website topics and, finally, past the offer for the above-referenced "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" subcategories in order to actually see the pertinent summary of each article, which is always titled, "WHAT'S AT STAKE."]

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[1.0] Gerrymandering:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/voting-rights/gerrymandering

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[2.0] Abortion:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/reproductive-freedom/abortion

[2.1] (ABORTION) FEATURED:

[2.1-A] End Forced Pregnancy:

https://www.aclu.org/news/topic/end-forced-pregnancy

[2.2] (ABORTION) WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON:

[2.2-A] Abortion and Insurance:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/reproductive-freedom/abortion/abortion-and-insurance

[2.2-B] Abortion Clinic Regulations:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/reproductive-freedom/abortion/abortion-clinic-regulations

[2.2-C] Federal Abortion Legislation:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/reproductive-freedom/abortion/federal-abortion-legislation

[2.2-D] State Abortion Legislation:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/reproductive-freedom/abortion/state-abortion-legislation

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[3.0] LGBTQ Rights:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights

[3.1] (LGBTQ RIGHTS) FEATURED:

[3.1-A] Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures:

https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights

[3.2] (LGBTQ RIGHTS) WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON:

[3.2-A] Criminal Justice Reform for LGBTQ People:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/criminal-justice-reform-lgbtq-people

[3.2-B] LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Protections:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-nondiscrimination-protections

[There are two more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategories under this "LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Protections" subcategory, which are titled as follows:]

(3.2-B-One) "On the Job":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-nondiscrimination-protections/job

(3.2-B-Two) "Public Places":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-nondiscrimination-protections/public-places

[3.2-C] LGBTQ Parenting:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-parenting

[There are three more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategories under this "LGBTQ Parenting" subcategory, which are titled as follows:]

(3.2-C-One) "Discriminatory Treatment in Foster Parenting and Adoptions":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-parenting/discriminatory-treatment-foster-parenting-and-adoptions

(3.2-C-Two) "Discriminatory Treatment of Transgender Parents":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-parenting/discriminatory-treatment-transgender-parents

(3.2-C Three) "Establishing Legal Parent-Child Relationships":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-parenting/establishing-legal-parent-child-relationships

[3.2-D] LGBTQ Relationships:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-relationships

[There are two more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategories under this "LGBTQ Relationships" subcategory, which are titled as follows:]

(3.2-D-One) "Domestic Partnerships":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-relationships/domestic-partnerships

(3.2-D-Two) "The Freedom to Marry":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-relationships/freedom-marry

[3.2-E] LGBTQ Youth:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth

[There are seven more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategories under this "LGBTQ Youth" subcategory, which are titled as follows:]

(3.2-E-One) "Anti-LGBTQ Web Filtering":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth/anti-lgbtq-web-filtering

(3.2-E-Two) "Free Expression and Censorship":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth/free-expression-and-censorship

(3.2-E-Three) "Gay-Straight Alliances":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth/gay-straight-alliances

(3.2-E-Four) "Harassment and Bullying":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth/harassment-and-bullying

(3.2-E-Five) "Outing":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth/outing

(3.2-E-Six) "Prom and Other School Dances":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth/prom-and-other-school-dances

(3.2-E-Seven) "Trans and Gender-Nonconforming Youth":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/lgbtq-youth/trans-and-gender-nonconforming-youth

[3.2-F] Transgender Rights:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights

[There are four more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategories under this "Transgender Rights" subcategory, which are titled as follows:]

(3.2-F-One) "Transgender People and Discrimination":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights/transgender-people-and-discrimination

(3.2-F-Two) "Transgender People and Health Care":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights/transgender-people-and-health-care

(3.2-F-Three) "Transgender People and ID":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights/transgender-people-and-id

(3.2-F-Four) "Transgender People and the Military":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights/transgender-people-and-military

---------------------------------------------

[4.0] Criminal Law Reform:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform

[4.1] (CRIMINAL LAW REFORM) FEATURED:

[4.1-A] MOBILE JUSTICE:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/mobile-justice

[4.2] (CRIMINAL LAW REFORM) WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON:

[4.2-A] Drug Law Reform:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/drug-law-reform

[There is one more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategory under this "Drug Law Reform" subcategory, which is titled as follows:]

(4.2-A-One) "Marijuana Law Reform":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/drug-law-reform/marijuana-law-reform

[4.2-B] Public Defense Reform:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/public-defense-reform

[There are two more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategories under this "Public Defense Reform" subcategory, which are titled as follows:]

(4.2-B-One) "Indigent Defense":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/public-defense-reform/indigent-defense

(4.2-B-Two) "Right to Counsel":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/public-defense-reform/right-counsel

[4.2-C] Reforming Police:

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police

[There are five more "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON" extra subcategories under this "Reforming Police" subcategory, which are titled as follows:]

(4.2-C-One) "Asset Forfeiture Abuse":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/asset-forfeiture-abuse

(4.2-C-Two) "Police Corruption":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/police-corruption

(4.2-C-Three) "Police Excessive Force":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/police-excessive-force

(4.2-C-Four) "Police Militarization":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/police-militarization

(4.2-C-Five) "Search and Seizure":

https://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/search-and-seizure

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DONATE TO THE ACLU

The ACLU has been at the center of nearly every major civil liberties battle in the U.S. for more than 100 years. This vital work depends on the support of ACLU members in all 50 states and beyond.

We need you with us to keep fighting — donate today.

Donate: https://action.aclu.org/give/now

---------------------------------------------

Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:

https://www.aclu.org/news/topic/state-supreme-court-initiative

So, I read the articles listed above on the ACLU website (that is why I also included all of the corresponding website hyperlinks). And I made a one-time donation to the ACLU (that is why I also included a hyperlink to their donation webpage) in order to show my support for the ACLU's State Supreme Court Initiative, besides showing my support for the ACLU's LGBTQ Project, since the aforementioned LGBTQ Project is referenced in the above-mentioned "LGBTQ Rights" articles, in addition to showing my support for the ACLU's Criminal Law Reform Project, since the aforementioned CLRP is referenced in the above-mentioned "Criminal Law Reform" articles! –Paul Whiting (written May 3rd, 2023 to May 4th, 2023, revised May 5th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023 and revised June 27th, 2023)

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May 3rd, 2023 Update, Written On May 4th, 2023: I received a mailer from Feeding America yesterday, May 3rd, 2023, with a 'QR code message' on the back of the envelope that read, in part, "Your gift can provide TWICE as many meals," which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter):

Dear Paul Whiting,

With food prices still high and summer break just around the corner, it's vital we help children who rely on school-provided meals—like Elijah. Because everyone deserves access to the food they need to thrive.

Elijah is an 11-year-old boy who wants to be a robotic engineer. "I want to build robots that help around the house," he says. "Helping people makes me feel proud of myself."

As the oldest of five children, Elijah knows a lot about helping. He pitches in by watching his siblings or helping his grandpa with chores. When he's not helping out, he stays busy doing schoolwork and pursuing his passion—robotics. The free breakfast and lunch Elijah gets at school helps him stay focused. "When I'm hungry, I get tired or I'll get distracted," Elijah says. "But when I'm not, I'm on-task and I can focus."

However, when school is out, Elijah loses access to the school meals that he relies on. With summer vacation lasting up to 90 days, that could mean nearly three months without reliable meals.

Together, we can bridge that gap. Feeding America is working to end summer hunger through programs that provide meals to children when they are most at risk of hunger—and you can be a part of these efforts.

Paul Whiting, that's why I'm hoping you'll contribute to the $500,000 challenge match from pop culture retailer BoxLunch. Right now, your gift plus their contribution can help provide TWICE as many meals.

If you could return all three of your Summer Challenge Match vouchers—one for June, one for July and one for August—you can help summer programs get the estimated 32 million meals needed to help children have enough to eat over the summer and year-round.

Elijah's grandfather was able to provide the meals his family needed with help from their local meal program, which is served by the Feeding America network.

Normally when you give, every $1 helps provide at least 10 meals. Today, with the help of BoxLunch's generous challenge match—and the Feeding America network—every $1 you give can help provide at least 20 meals and have DOUBLE the impact!

To take advantage of this opportunity for your dollar's impact to go TWICE as far, simply return one, two or three of the enclosed Summer Challenge Match vouchers with your donation in the envelopes provided.

With your $15 gifts for June, July and August, you'll help us provide food to children and families who might not know where their next meal will come from.

Children can face hunger during the summer, after school, over the weekend and on school vacations. In fact, more than 22 million children in America count on school meals programs—and fewer than 1 in 6 have access to summer meals.

Paul Whiting, you can help change that. Right now, during our Summer Challenge Match, your support can help provide TWICE as many meals for children like Elijah.

Parents and caregivers across the country want to know their children will always have the food they need to grow up healthy and strong. Together, we're doing everything we can to support them.

Thank you for helping make this important work possible.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted], Feeding America

P.S. Summer is just around the corner, so please give as soon as you can. Remember, right now, your donation can have DOUBLE the impact for children facing hunger this summer. Kids like Elijah are counting on us! Thank you so much for your help.

"QR code message": Your gift can provide TWICE as many meals. Scan here or visit www.SupportFeedingAmerica.org/Match

And so, I made a one-time donation to Feeding America in order to support the "Summer Challenge Match!" –Paul Whiting (written May 4th, 2023 and revised May 18th, 2023)

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May 3rd, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 4th, 2023: I received a postcard from Greenpeace yesterday, May 3rd, 2023, with a image on the front of the card of an ocean snorkeler, swimming in front of a Greenpeace ship, who is holding a sign that reads, "THANK YOU!" And the postcard stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter):

PAUL, WE DID IT!

The world has agreed on a Global Oceans Treaty—a monumental win for ocean protection!

It's the biggest conservation agreement in history, and huge victory you helped win with your generous support for Greenpeace. Thank you!

The marine sanctuaries this treaty makes possible will give whales, turtles, and other severely stressed marine animals the chance they desperately need to recover and rebuild their numbers. And they will provide a pathway for our oceans to survive climate change and plastic pollution.

We've still got a lot of work ahead of us—we always do, don't we?—but for right now, for just a moment anyway, let's take heart in being reminded once again that when we stand together in shared vision and unwavering conviction, there's nothing we can't accomplish.

Thank you so much for being a part of that!

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

By the way, here is a press release from the Greenpeace website titled, "Nations Agree on Historic Global Oceans Treaty" that provides statements by representatives of Greenpeace "in response to nations finalizing text for a Global Oceans Treaty," which was published on the day that the treaty was signed, March 4th, 2023. An introduction to the press release can be found below:

"Nations Agree on Historic Global Oceans Treaty" from Greenpeace.org

March 4, 2023

© Stephanie Keith / Greenpeace

The Global Oceans Treaty agreed on today is the biggest conservation agreement in the history of the world. It provides a pathway to establish marine sanctuaries so that countries can turn their commitment to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030 into a reality...This is a huge victory for the billions of people who depend on healthy oceans and for the animals that call the oceans home. It is a win against climate change and biodiversity loss. Everyone on Earth should breathe a collective sigh of relief. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the press release:

https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/nations-agree-on-historic-global-oceans-treaty/

And that's why I decided to write this 'update,' so that I could share the great news about the Global Oceans Treaty via the above-mentioned Greenpeace postcard! –Paul Whiting (written May 4th, 2023 and revised May 18th, 2023)

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May 4th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon today, May 4th, 2023, with the subject line, "URGENT ACTION: Republican Senators have walked out on Oregonians.", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Yesterday [May 3rd, 2023], twelve Oregon senators chose not to come to work, blocking our legislative priorities, Oregon House Bill 2002 and Senate Joint Resolution 33, from moving forward.

Take action now.*** Extremist politicians need to feel the pressure and get back to work — and our champion senators need to feel supported for their commitment to show up for our communities.

Make no mistake. This walkout is a move designed by Republicans to deny Oregonians our fundamental freedoms and the essential health care we need to survive and thrive.

We need your help. Contact your senator and make your voice heard.***

We refuse to let extremist politicians hold our fundamental rights hostage and block policies that are broadly supported by Oregonians.

Urge our lawmakers to support the right to reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and fundamental freedoms for ALL Oregonians!

Onward,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]

Contact your State Senators today to pass SJR 33 and HB 2002 and end the walkouts!

Right now, our fundamental rights are being held hostage by a minority of extremist politicians who will stop at nothing to criminalize health care and control the lives and futures of Oregonians. These politicians are bailing on their jobs and constituents to advance their extremist beliefs.

We need you to send a message of support to our legislators who are championing HB 2002 and SJR 33—and demand lawmakers who fled their jobs come back to work and do what they were elected to do.

Send a message to your lawmakers now to support the right to reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and fundamental freedoms for ALL Oregonians!

Prefix (Optional): Mr.
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Preferred Language (Optional): English
Pronouns (Optional): He/Him/His
Gender (Optional): Man
Sexual Orientation (Optional): Gay
Race (Optional): Caucasian or White
Ethnicity (Optional): Danish, English (British)
Street Address: [redacted]
Postal Code: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Message Recipients:

[My Oregon] State Senator

Subject: Showing up for our rights

Dear [elected official],

I am writing in as your constituent. Thank you for your leadership and unwavering commitment to fight for Oregonians’ rights and access to the full spectrum of reproductive and gender-affirming care, without discrimination or political interference.

I want to express my appreciation for [you] sponsoring both Senate Joint Resolution 33 and HB 2002, and let you know that I stand with you in advance of the upcoming Senate votes. In a moment in which some of your colleagues are playing games with our lives and futures, I appreciate your bold leadership and steadfast representation of your constituents. [Emphasis added.]

Oregon voters overwhelmingly support our ability to make personal decisions about our bodies, our lives, and our futures — without government interference. Thank you for continuing to do what’s right.

Thanks again for your hard work and for voting in alignment with Oregon values! We are counting on you to protect and expand our access to essential and lifesaving healthcare, and to defend our rights from politicians who want to turn back the clock on our freedoms.

Sincerely,
Mr. Paul Whiting
[Address redacted]
[Email redacted]

Then, after I submitted the email above to my Oregon State Senator, via Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon website, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon in order to show my support for "our legislators who are championing HB 2002 and SJR 33—and demand lawmakers who fled their jobs come back to work and do what they were elected to do" in order "to pass SJR 33 and HB 2002 and end the walkouts!" –Paul Whiting (written April 24th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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May 5th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 5th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Proud Boys Verdict Is a Rebuttal to Those Claiming Jan. 6 Wasn't an Insurrection." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Proud Boys Verdict Is a Rebuttal to Those Claiming Jan. 6 Wasn't an Insurrection" from Time Magazine

By Philip Elliott | May 4, 2023

In an all-too-common alternative reality, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was merely a sightseeing group that got a little over its skis. Or it was a Democratic “false flag” operation meant to make Republicans look bad. Or Antifa infiltrated the good-natured, good-government groups and lit the kindling that left the Capitol shattered. No one—let alone democracy itself—was ever at risk, the death and injury tolls are totally bogus, and anyone suggesting it was an insurrection is just fake news.

Well, that fanciful hogwash once again fell apart. A federal jury here in Washington on Thursday convicted four more far-right Proud Boys—the so-called Donald Trump’s Army—on charges of seditious conspiracy, a crime dating back to the Civil War era when secessionist Southerners tried to break the Union government. (A fifth Proud Boy was found guilty on lesser charges but was found not guilty on seditious conspiracy charges.) Those convictions follow two other trials of members of a separate but equally noxious group, the Oath Keepers.

Put simply, the Department of Justice is now 3-and-0 in its most serious cases against the leaders who orchestrated and carried out a plan meant to overturn the results of the 2020 elections and to install its loser, then-President Donald Trump, in the White House for another four years despite a deafening loss. It is entirely fair to call the planning and execution of Jan. 6 what it was: an insurrection. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277254/proud-boys-verdict-jan-6-insurrection

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 5th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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May 6th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 6th, 2023, when I noticed three Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The first Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "These Photos Show the Most Defining Moments of King Charles III’s Coronation." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"These Photos Show the Most Defining Moments of King Charles III’s Coronation" from Time Magazine

By Armani Syed | May 6, 2023

After months of meticulous planning, and what many have dubbed a lifetime spent in wait, King Charles III has been crowned as Britain’s monarch.

World leaders and royals hailing from other nations gathered at Westminster Abbey, London’s iconic monument, on Saturday to witness an intricate ceremony in which Charles and Queen Camilla were anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The coronation event was a show of pageantry that has long been synonymous with the British royal family; it saw the nearly 5 lbs. solid gold St. Edward’s Crown placed on Charles’ head to mark the role he took on when he ascended the throne last September, following the death of his mother and predecessor Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles was the embodiment of luxury as he sat on the coronation throne surrounded by vestments that were used in the coronations of his ancestors. During the ceremony, he changed into a white linen tunic with a plain collar known as the Colobium Sindonis, which he wore beneath the Supertunica—a full-length gold coat. Camilla was crowned in a modified version of Queen Mary’s crown. Many British citizens have questioned how appropriate the lavish display—funded by the U.K. government—is at a time when the effects of the cost of living crisis are felt at large across the nation.

The ceremony aimed to capture the essence of multicultural Britain by incorporating many communities and faiths into its historically Christian traditions; in his capacity as U.K. Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who observes Hinduism, read aloud from the bible during the ceremony. Other faith leaders from Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist groups entered Westminster Abbey together to greet the King. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277386/photos-king-charles-iii-coronation

The second Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "Charles Was Crowned King. Here Are the Highlights From His Coronation." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Charles Was Crowned King. Here Are the Highlights From His Coronation" from Time Magazine

By Armani Syed And Yasmeen Serhan | (Originally Published) May 6, 2023

King Charles III was crowned during his coronation in London today, as millions tuned in to watch the ceremony in the U.K. and around the world.

Crowds of thousands have gathered in central London to greet the King and Queen Consort Camilla on their journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

Camilla, Charles’ wife of eighteen years, was also crowned Queen after the King.

Just after 10:20 a.m. Charles and Camilla left Buckingham Palace to travel to Westminster Abbey in an elaborate black and gold carriage known as the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. They moved along the 1.3 mile “Kings Procession” route through central London. Crowds lined the route, braving a light drizzle. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277570/king-charles-coronation-latest-updates

The third Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "'A Human-Rights Nightmare.' Anti-Monarchy Protesters Have Already Been Arrested at King Charles III's Coronation." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"'A Human-Rights Nightmare.' Anti-Monarchy Protesters Have Already Been Arrested at King Charles III's Coronation" from Time Magazine

By Yasmeen Serhan / London | (Originally Published) May 6, 2023

Graham Smith, the head of the U.K.’s leading anti-monarchy movement, was planning to lead thousands of fellow republicans in protest of King Charles III’s coronation. In the end, he didn’t get the chance. Smith and five others were arrested on Saturday morning in Central London, according to the group.

The reason for the arrest remains unclear. At approximately 7:30 a.m. local time, Smith and his fellow protesters were collecting drinks and placards for attendees when, according to The Guardian, they were stopped by the police. A spokesperson for Republic told the newspaper that the police would not provide a reason for the arrest. In photos of the arrest posted to Twitter by the campaign group, Smith can be seen sitting on the ground surrounded by police officers. In a video, one officer can be heard saying: “They’re under arrest—end of.”

The Metropolitan Police, which has deployed 11,500 officers for the coronation, subsequently tweeted that they had made “a number of arrests” in the area, adding that “the individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277591/anti-monarchy-protesters-arrested-king-charles-coronation

And the reason that I wrote this 'update' about these three articles from Time Magazine is because I thought that each article discussed important moments regarding King Charles III's coronation including "the most defining images of the historic event," and "the highlights from his coronation," as well as "anti-monarchy protesters [having] already been arrested at King Charles III's coronation."

And so, that is why I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 6th, 2023, revised May 7th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023 and revised March 26th, 2024)

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May 7th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 7th, 2023, when I noticed three Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The first Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "How Conservatives Are Changing Their Mind on Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"How Conservatives Are Changing Their Mind on Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips" from Time Magazine

By Anisha Kohli | May 5, 2023

In a rapid shift since last year, over a dozen states have moved to legalize fentanyl test strips. The change is one that harm reduction proponents argue is necessary during an era where fentanyl overdose is a leading cause of death in American adults under 45.

After years of advocacy from medical professionals and Democratic politicians, including the Biden Administration, fentanyl test strips are finally becoming less polarizing—but only to an extent. Staunch conservatives were deeply opposed to the strips—which allow people to test drugs for traces of fentanyl—for years, arguing that they enabled drug abuse. A mass of Republican-controlled legislatures, including Utah, Kentucky and Mississippi, have backtracked in recent months and welcomed policy to decriminalize the strips.

“If political leaders are serious when they say that this [the opioid epidemic] disturbs them, then an easy first step—it’s just one step, there are many other things that can and should be done—but an easy first step is to make fentanyl test strips legally available,” Dr. Jeffrey Singer, a surgeon and senior fellow in the Cato Institute’s health policy department, tells TIME.

Test strips are available in more than 30 other states and Washington D.C., according to recent counts. In states where they’re legal for distribution, the strips are up for sale in pharmacies and frequently handed out for free at public health department centers, harm reduction clinics, and even college campuses.

Support for the strips has become fairly bipartisan, but small clusters of conservative lawmakers have consistently opposed legislation to increase access to the strips, such as in Texas where bills have been stalled for weeks.

“I think it’s an absolute no-brainer that they [test strips] are essential tools for public health and reducing overdoses,” says Jennifer Carroll, a medical anthropologist of substance abuse impact and policy at North Carolina State University. “Anyone who questions that utility hasn’t left the house very much because this is not a controversial topic.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277480/legalizing-fentanyl-test-strips

The second Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "The Writers Strike Is Taking a Stand on AI." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Writers Strike Is Taking a Stand on AI" from Time Magazine

By Simmone Shah | (Originally Published) May 4, 2023

The last time the Writers Guild of America went on strike, in 2007, workers pushed back against the nascent streaming industry, advocating for higher residual payments for content released over streaming. Now a new technology, artificial intelligence, stands to drastically change Hollywood again as Guild strikers return to the picket line.

Streaming giants like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ have come to dominate the industry, changing the models by which content is produced and distributed and making it increasingly difficult for writers to earn a sustainable income. And as artificial intelligence technology rapidly improves, the WGA aims to place limits on the use of AI in movies and TV scripts.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) —which is negotiating the contract on behalf of Hollywood studios, streamers, and production companies—say their priority is “the long-term health and stability of the industry” and they are dedicated to reaching “a fair and reasonable agreement” according to the Associated Press.

“AI raises hard, important creative and legal questions for everyone…” the AMPTP said in an emailed statement to TIME. “It’s something that requires a lot more discussion, which we’ve committed to doing.”

The WGA proposed regulations around the use of AI to create source material and write, or rewrite, literary material. A negotiations proposal chart released by WGA on Monday shows that AMPTP rejected their proposal, instead countering with “annual meetings to discuss advancements in technology.” (The WGA did not respond to requests for comment as of publication.) ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277158/writers-strike-ai-wga-screenwriting

The third Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "Too Many High School Seniors Are Turning Away from College Altogether." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Too Many High School Seniors Are Turning Away from College Altogether" from Time Magazine

By Melissa S. Kearney And Luke Pardue | May 4, 2023

Kearney is Director of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group and the Neil Moskowitz Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland; Luke Pardue is a Fellow at the Aspen Economic Strategy Group and an Economist at Gusto.

For many high school seniors and their families, May 1st is “National College Decision Day,” when millions of students make a personal decision about their academic future. It is also a decision with financial implications that will shape much of their lives. While headlines often cite the ultra-competitive landscape for highly selective schools, recent years have brought about a drop in overall college enrollment. Some of this reflects pandemic-related disruptions to college plans. But recent survey data suggests that we might be seeing a more persistent turn away from college: more than half of Americans don’t even think college is worth the investment. This is very worrisome, as completing college is as important as ever to bolstering both individual economic security and America’s economic competitiveness.

In April, a Wall Street Journal-NORC poll found that 56% of Americans think that a college degree is not worth the cost, the highest rate in the survey’s ten-year history. These attitudes are also reflected in the actions of our youngest generation, as fewer students opt to pursue a college degree. In February, the National College Clearinghouse reported the sixth straight year of declining enrollment in 2- or 4-year colleges. In 2021, there were 1.8 million fewer undergraduates enrolled in college than there were in 2017.

But the fact remains that overwhelmingly economic data show that a college degree confers meaningful economic advantages. Even in today’s tight labor market, college graduates find work much easier and tend to command significantly higher incomes. Today, the unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree or greater is currently half that of those with a High School degree or GED. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277318/high-school-seniors-are-turning-away-college

And the reason that I wrote this 'update' about these three articles from Time Magazine is because I thought that each article discussed important issues, including "fentanyl test strips...finally becoming less polarizing...which allow people to test drugs for traces of fentanyl," and "streaming giants like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ [having] come to dominate the industry, changing the models by which content is produced and distributed and making it increasingly difficult for writers to earn a sustainable income," as well as "too many high school seniors...turning away from college altogether," because "many students fear being burdened with loans after graduation."

And so, that is why I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 7th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023 and revised March 26th, 2024)

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May 7th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written From May 7th, 2023 To May 8th, 2023: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, May 7th, 2023, when I noticed eleven different articles on various news websites, including Politico.com, USAToday.com, CNN.com, NYTimes.com, APNews.com, KGW.com and Axios.com, in addition to a twelfth article that I noticed a few days ago from Time.com!

Now, I usually provide a longer introduction to these news articles that I highlight regarding current news, on these types of 'updates' that I write, which usually includes the name(s) of the author(s), as well as the date of publication.

However, due to the number of articles for which I had an introduction to write, I have decided to forego my usual writing format for this particular current news 'update' and simply provide the title of each article with the news organization's name—along with a simplified introduction from each article—in addition to a hyperlink for each article.

Plus, I am grouping these articles generally in the order in which I read them, but also by news organization, as well as by category for articles that may be related by topic.

And, speaking of articles that are related by topic, one of these articles that I am highlighting today, which is from Time.com, was actually read by me a few days ago; however, this particular article's topic relates directly to one of the articles that I read today!

So, without further ado, here are the articles:

No. 1: One of the Politico articles that I read today is titled, "Is the United States Creating a ‘Legion of Doom’?" A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"Is the United States Creating a ‘Legion of Doom’?" from Politico

The emerging China-Russia-Iran axis may force the United States to choose between some unappealing options.

Moscow has directed a lot of vitriol toward the West over the past year. The volume of that rhetoric sometimes drowns out an awkward fact about Moscow’s foreign policy reorientation away from the West and toward allies like China and Iran: Russian elites are not exactly thrilled with their new partners. In my conversations with Russian academics, there has been plenty of grumbling about the meager quality of Chinese support, for example. This reflects a longstanding Russian hubris toward its eastern neighbor dating back to the days of Stalin and Mao. The Russian disdain directed toward Iran is even greater. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/03/19/us-china-russia-relations-00087633

No. 2: Another one of the Politico articles that I read today is titled, "How DeSantis gave Democrats the ‘session from hell’." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"How DeSantis gave Democrats the ‘session from hell’" from Politico

Florida Republicans fuel DeSantis’ likely 2024 bid.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature ended its session calmly on Friday, wrapping up a monumental stretch of lawmaking that will serve as the springboard for Gov. Ron DeSantis when he begins his expected run for president in the next few weeks.

The relatively lightweight final day was in contrast to the frantic and emotionally charged moments that had dominated the 59 days of the annual session — one of the most productive stretches of right-wing lawmaking any state’s seen in years. Week after week, legislators pushed through measures dealing with abortion, guns, the death penalty, immigration, schools and gender identity, sometimes amid protests inside the capital. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/05/desantis-no-meat-left-on-the-bone-after-florida-legislature-ends-session-00095613

No. 3: One of the USA Today articles that I read today is titled, "After taking NY for granted, Democrats have a new plan to win back the House in 2024." (By the way, I am a subscriber to USA Today.) A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"After taking NY for granted, Democrats have a new plan to win back the House in 2024" from USA Today

After surprising failures in 2022, Democrats have recognized the path to reclaiming House control runs through New York.

Democrats defied expectations in the 2022 midterm elections, beating back President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings and record inflation. By the end of the cycle, they expanded their majority in the Senate and narrowly lost control of the House.

They came close but ultimately couldn't hand Biden another two years of total Democratic control in Washington.

Unexpectedly, the state that helped Republicans to clinch the House with a five-seat majority was reliably blue New York. Republicans there flipped four Democratic seats and snagged several other competitive races.

Now, Democrats are looking to reclaim lost ground in 2024 and usher in a new era of leadership, elevating House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to serve as the first Black Speaker of the House. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/05/06/2024-elections-ny-democrats-winning-house/70174400007

No. 4: Another one of the USA Today articles that I read today is titled, "The Republican Party has become the very cancel culture it pretends to rail against." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Republican Party has become the very cancel culture it pretends to rail against" from USA Today

PBS: Canceled. Transgender kids: Canceled. Books that contain a passing profanity or, heaven forbid, something suggesting that sexual attraction is a thing that exists: Canceled.

When Republican lawmakers and talking heads speak these days, this is what I hear:

“I HATE liberal cancel culture and believe in absolute free speech! I would also like to ban, do away with or silence Disney, NPR, Bud Light, the FBI and CIA, this big pile of books over here, M&Ms, Mr. Potatohead, college professors, any Democratic lawmaker I don’t want to hear speak, “wokeness,” any mention of diversity, drag shows, people who defend drag shows, people who defend people who defend drag shows, any mention whatsoever of the existence of LGBTQ people, this other big pile of books over here, the entire Department of Education, PBS and Oreos.”

It all makes perfect sense if you have too much time on your hands and too few functioning brain cells to process the meaning of the word “hypocrisy.” And it confirms that today’s mainstream Republican Party — the party of Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson — has become the party of cancel culture, a bubble-dwelling collection of right-wing caricatures who speak an intolerant and often conspiratorial language most regular Americans, and particularly most younger Americans, can’t understand. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2023/05/07/republican-hypocrisy-gop-party-cancel-culture/70188510007

No. 5: One of the CNN articles that I read today is titled, "‘Nationalism’ redefines the American right." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"‘Nationalism’ redefines the American right" from CNN

(CNN) — The American right wing, long identified with the conservative movement, is increasingly latching onto something very different – nationalism – which frightens some students of history but is inspiring to a new breed of Republicans.

Some recent examples:

• Laying out his platform in a series of videos, former President Donald Trump accuses a “globalist class” of not putting America first.

• Amid the wreckage of ousted Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s cable career lies a journey from garden-variety conservative to explicit White nationalist.

• An up-and-coming congressional backbencher calls for the GOP to be “the party of nationalism.”

These moments, which seem unremarkable to a regular consumer of news, remind us that the Republican Party has been struggling for decades to reconcile its internal partnership of nationalists and conservatives. If you just woke up to American politics in the past 30 years, the two terms seem synonymous, but they haven’t always been. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/06/politics/nationalism-conservatism-what-matters/index.html

No. 6: Another one of the CNN articles that I read today is titled, "House Republicans grapple with cutting DOJ and FBI funding amid growing internal divisions and outside pressure." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"House Republicans grapple with cutting DOJ and FBI funding amid growing internal divisions and outside pressure" from CNN

(CNN) — House Republican leadership came into power on a pro-police, tough-on-crime message. Four months later, that position is in limbo.

The internal differences emerged soon after Republicans took control of the House. In January, an effort to pass a resolution expressing support for law enforcement agencies, which was meant to serve as a messaging tool, fell apart. The House GOP’s behind-the-scenes disagreements reflect growing divisions inside the conference over whether to defund or restrict the Department of Justice and FBI. The contentious political issue is returning to center stage as CNN has learned that some House Republicans are actively sketching out ways to limit certain federal law enforcement programs through the appropriations process. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/04/politics/house-republicans-doj-fbi-funding-divisions/index.html

No. 7: The New York Times article that I read today is titled, "Migrant Child Labor Debate in Congress Becomes Mired in Immigration Fight." (By the way, I am a subscriber to The New York Times.) A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"Migrant Child Labor Debate in Congress Becomes Mired in Immigration Fight" from The New York Times

Revelations that migrant children have been exploited for cheap labor brought calls for action, but a partisan battle over immigration policy has complicated lawmakers’ efforts.

Weeks after revelations that migrant children are being regularly exploited for cheap labor in the United States prompted bipartisan outrage and calls to action on Capitol Hill, Congress has moved no closer to addressing the issue, which has become mired in a long-running partisan war over immigration policy. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/07/us/politics/child-labor-immigration-democrats-republicans-biden.html

No. 8: One of the AP (Associated Press) News articles that I read today is titled, "Hard to read? Oregon GOP boycott comes down to reading level." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"Hard to read? Oregon GOP boycott comes down to reading level" from AP News

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Republicans blocking votes on bills about abortion, gun control and gender-affirming health care in Oregon this week have based their boycott on an obscure, 44-year-old state law that requires bill summaries to be written at the reading level of an eighth- or ninth-grader.

GOP leadership says their walkout — which marked its third day on Friday — is about “every bill” but that two bills that would expand protections for abortions and transgender health care and place more limitations on gun ownership “specifically don’t qualify” under the 1979 law.

Democrats say Republicans didn’t take issue with the writing style of bipartisan bills they backed earlier in the session until hot button issues were on the table. The fate of the contested bills is now unclear. Republicans have staged walkouts before, but this year legislators with 10 unexcused absences are disqualified for reelection, thanks to a new voter-approved constitutional amendment[.] ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-walkout-republicans-boycott-abortion-gun-control-bills-173513a8fb3e105131aeacefe59f18b1

No. 9: Another one of the AP (Associated Press) News articles that I read today is titled, "Oregon Republicans stay home ahead of abortion, guns votes." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"Oregon Republicans stay home ahead of abortion, guns votes" from AP News

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Republican state senators in Oregon didn’t show up to work on Wednesday, denying the Democrats who control the chamber a quorum and casting doubt on planned votes later this week on legislation pertaining to gun safety, abortion rights and gender-affirming health care.

The boycott comes as several statehouses around the nation, including in Montana and Tennessee, have been battlegrounds between conservatives and liberals. Oregon has been increasingly divided between the liberal population centers like Portland and Eugene, and its mostly conservative rural areas.

The office of Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner said 10 Republican senators and the chamber’s lone independent were absent Wednesday, and that four of the Republicans and the independent were absent without an excuse. The so-called walkout prevented the Senate from holding its scheduled session.

Republicans said they were protesting over bill summaries not being written in plain language. They based their boycott on a 1979 state law that requires summaries of bills to be readable by those with an eighth or ninth-grade education — measured by a score of at least 60 on the Flesch readability test, said GOP Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-republican-walkout-abortion-guns-transgender-8e105011a6016f36090bba7326a38431

No. 10: The KGW-TV ("a television station in Portland, Oregon, United States, affiliated with NBC") article that I read today is titled, "Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner calls on Senate Republicans to return to work amid walkout." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner calls on Senate Republicans to return to work amid walkout" from KGW-TV

For a third day in a row, the Oregon state Senate could not move forward with its job as most Republicans once again didn't show up to work in the Senate chamber.

SALEM, Oregon — Friday, for a third day in a row this week, the Oregon state Senate could not move forward with its job at the state capitol in Salem. Most Senate Republicans didn't show up to work in the Senate chamber.

Senate President Rob Wagner spoke out about it in Friday's session and delivered some demands. He said that they will work weekends to try and get their work done. But what that may do is just speed up the absentee tally.

“This is the third straight day that we have failed to achieve a quorum on the floor of the Oregon State Senate,” said Wagner as he gaveled the attempt at a quorum to an end.

Many seats on the floor of the Senate chamber were empty. Five Republicans lit up in white on the attendance board as unexcused absence, while an exasperated Senate President reminded those before him that there is a June 25th deadline to end the session.

“In order to ensure that we complete our work by that deadline, we will be holding sessions every single day if we have to — including weekends,” said Wagner.

The Republican caucus continues to claim the way that bills are being presented in the Senate is unconstitutional because of a readability rule that has been that hasn't been enforced for years. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/oregon-senate-republicans-walkout-third-day/283-fa1f9135-ed54-430f-8851-150937988059

No. 11: The Axios article that I read today is titled, "'Good riddance': GOP lawmakers' private glee at Tucker Carlson firing." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"'Good riddance': GOP lawmakers' private glee at Tucker Carlson firing" from Axios

A sizable number of GOP lawmakers are quietly cheering Fox News’ decision to remove Tucker Carlson from its airwaves as making it easier to provide aid to Ukraine, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Carlson was one of the most vocal critics of continued support to Ukraine, often going after lawmakers by name on his program. His commentary was a source of regular heartburn for defense hawks.

• One House Republican pointed to Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s rhetoric this week as a sign of the tides potentially changing.

• McCarthy, who'd earlier opposed giving a “blank check” to Ukraine, gave his full-throated support while speaking to reporters in Israel on Monday. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.axios.com/2023/05/04/tucker-carlson-ukraine-fox-news-republicans

No. 12: And, finally, the Time Magazine article that I read a few days ago is titled, "Tucker Carlson Is Only One Part of Putin's Disinformation War in the Western Media." A simplified introduction to the article can be found below:

"Tucker Carlson Is Only One Part of Putin's Disinformation War in the Western Media" from Time Magazine

The western media has shown strange mixes of courage and cowardice, as well as naivety and cynicism, in their parroting of Putin disinformation. On the one hand, the Murdoch-controlled Wall Street Journal has pursued the truth on Russia’s economic implosion to the peril of its kidnapped Moscow based reporter Evan Gershkovich. Paradoxically, in the aftermath of Tucker Carlson’s firing from the Murdoch-controlled Fox News last week, perhaps the loudest laments came from, of all places, the Kremlin, with Kremlin commentators mourning the loss of an anchor who consistently echoed Putin’s talking points to the point where Russian state media often used re-runs of Tucker’s show.

In fact, CNN’s Erin Burnett just showed how false declarations from Carlson that “if there is any single American who deserves scorn and indeed blame for the invasion of Ukraine, it is Joe Biden” and “Ideologues within the Biden Administration did not want a negotiated peace in Ukraine, they wanted a regime change war against Russia” literally echoed, word-for-word, prior commentary from Kremlin spokespeople and Russian state media. Even worse, Carlson repeated, verbatim, doctored and false “intelligence” that there were seven Ukrainian casualties for every Russian casualty when in reality these numbers were invented, the product of a pro-Putin former Navy technician named Sarah Bils digitally altering leaked documents from the Discord trove and posting them online.

But Tucker Carlson is not the only western journalist to repeat Russian propaganda. Steven Brill and Gordon Crovitz’s Newsguard has found more than 350 news sites promoting 100 false narratives about Russia’s war in Ukraine. One pervasive but false propaganda myth hits particularly close to home. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6276130/putins-disinfomation-war-western-media

And I decided to highlight these articles from Politico, USA Today, CNN, The New York Times, AP News, KGW-TV, Axios and Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written from May 7th, 2023 to May 8th, 2023, revised May 9th, 2023, revised August 24th, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023, revised September 28th, 2023, revised October 17th, 2023 and revised October 19th, 2023)

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May 8th, 2023 Update: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, May 8th, 2023, when I noticed an article on MSNBC.com titled, "As jobs market remains hot, Republicans pretend not to notice." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"As jobs market remains hot, Republicans pretend not to notice" from MSNBC

How good has job growth been under President Joe Biden? Republican leaders continue to find themselves literally at a loss for words.

By Steve Benen | May 8, 2023

It was on Friday morning when the latest job numbers were released, and it was a few hours later when President Joe Biden celebrated the good news during remarks at the White House.

“We added 250,000 jobs last month, that’s on top of the 12 million jobs we’ve already added just since we came in office a little over two years ago,” the Democrat boasted. Biden went on to note that the overall unemployment rate is at a half-century low, the unemployment rate among Black workers has reached an all-time low, and working-age women are participating in the labor force at the highest rate in 75 years.

One day after the president took an understandable victory lap, the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll pointed to data that no doubt disappointed the incumbent.

"Biden inherited from Trump an economy badly damaged by the coronavirus pandemic, but the public sees the former president as a better economic steward than the incumbent. In the poll, by 54 percent to 36 percent, Americans say Trump did a better job handling the economy when he was president than Biden has done during his presidency so far."

There are, to be sure, a variety of reasons that contribute to results like these — most notably Americans’ frustration with high inflation — which help obscure the fact that Trump’s economic record just wasn’t that impressive.

But it’s also notable that Republican leaders have helped downplay the significance of good economic news by completely ignoring it, making it more likely that much of the public simply hasn’t heard about the developments. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/shows/maddow/blog/rcna83312

And I decided to highlight this article from MSNBC for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 8th, 2023, revised July 14th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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May 9th, 2023 Update, Which Also Discusses May 7th, 2023: National Teachers’ Day is today, May 9th, 2023, since National Teachers’ Day is yearly (annually) on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May!

Plus, National Teachers' Day is observed within National Teacher Appreciation Week, which this year is May 8th, 2023 through May 12th, 2023 due to the fact that National Teacher Appreciation Week is yearly (annually) during the first full school week of May.

And I received an email from National Today on May 7th, 2023, with the subject line, "Teacher Appreciation, Eating What You Want, Apple Pie. The Week Ahead", which stated, in part, the following:

THIS WEEK ON NATIONAL TODAY

We’re showing our appreciation for educators, indulging our food cravings, and chewing on delicious apple pie facts this week. Created by Eleanor Roosevelt, National Teachers’ Day honors teachers and the important role they play in educating young minds. We invite you to carbo-load, satisfy your sweet tooth, and eat breakfast for dinner if you like on Eat What You Want Day, and sink your teeth into all there is to know about one of America’s most popular desserts on National Apple Pie Day. ...

... Tuesday 9 May

National Teachers’ Day

Everyone has had that favorite teacher that has helped inspire them.

Read more:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-teachers-day

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, an introduction to which can be found below:

NATIONAL TODAY

NATIONAL TEACHERS' DAY – MAY 9, 2023
[Observed in the] U.S.

National Teachers’ Day is observed on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May (May 9) and we’re more than ready to show our appreciation to those who have taught us. Everyone has had that favorite teacher that has helped inspire them. This day meant to honor them was actually made by a teacher. None other than First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt herself. Eleanor Roosevelt was more than Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife, she has a history of civic duty and was an advocate for fellow teachers. Her love for education began at a young age when she was privately tutored and encouraged by her aunt Anna “Barnie” Roosevelt. No matter how high she rose on the social ladder, she never forgot where she came from. There are plenty of education scholarships available if your favorite teacher has inspired you to become an educator.

WHEN IS NATIONAL TEACHERS' DAY 2023?

Teachers, coaches, senseis, and mentors are celebrated on National Teachers Day on May 9.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL TEACHERS' DAY

In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt stood up to Congress in hopes of convincing them that teachers needed a day to be recognized for all that they do. Until that point, the celebration of the day wasn’t clear. It’s believed that some schools in certain states were already observing the day, but there wasn’t a clear consensus and she wanted to make it official.

The National Education Association (NEA) in partnership with the Kansas State and Indiana State Boards of Education, lobbied Congress in order for the day to be recognized. Despite her best efforts, the first National Teachers’ Day didn’t become an official national day until 1980.

At its inception, National Teachers’ Day was celebrated on March 7 until 1984 when it was moved to May. Thanks to the assistance of the National PTA, it evolved into Teacher Appreciation Week, giving teachers more time to bask in appreciation. A year later, the NEA established that the first Tuesday of the week would be National Teacher Appreciation Day.

Today, the official national day celebrates teachers by gift-giving and the showering of accolades from students and parents alike. The hashtags #TeacherAppreciationDay and #NationalTeachersDay are used on social media to show teachers making a difference to the world at large. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-teachers-day

–Paul Whiting (written May 9th, 2023, revised June 27th, 2023, revised August 7th, 2023, revised August 9th, 2023 and revised May 12th, 2024)

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May 9th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, May 9th, 2023, with the subject line, "Send a thank you note to nurses", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

It's National Nurses week!** Nurses care for patients like no one else — and not just when it comes to treatment. When we need a reassuring smile, a hand to hold, or just to know that someone is there with us, nurses are there. This week, we're saying “thank you” to all of the nurses who work so hard every day to care for their patients.

Nurses are the heart and soul of health care in this country — so let's show them the appreciation they deserve. Will you show your thanks by signing a card today? We'll deliver your note to Planned Parenthood health center staff in your area.***

Illustrations of stethoscopes, thermometers, pills, and band-aids are scattered on a bright yellow background. In the center it says 'Celebrating Nurses Today and Every Day' in navy blue letters.

Planned Parenthood health center nurses work so hard to ensure that people have access to the full range of reproductive health care — including cancer screenings, birth control, testing and treatment for STDs, and accurate sexual and reproductive health information.

Nurses protect the lives and health of millions of people, families, and communities daily by providing quality health care with skill, dedication, and with compassion.

Nurses are always there for their patients. The least we can do is show how much we appreciate them this week. Show your appreciation with a thank you today!

And thank YOU for staying with us,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Thank a Nurse

Show your appreciation for nurses. Send a thank you note to Planned Parenthood health center nurses today.

Nurses care for patients like no one else — not just when it comes to treatment, but when we need a reassuring smile, a hand to hold, or just to know that someone is there with us. To all of the nurses who dedicate their lives to caring for others, thank you.

SEND YOUR MESSAGE:

THANK YOU for providing quality, supportive care to your community every single day.

THANK YOU for welcoming patients no matter who they are, who they love, what they need, or how much they can afford.

THANK YOU for putting the health and rights of patients ahead of politics.

Your compassion and commitment are needed now more than ever, and I am proud to stand with you. Thanks for always being there for the patients who rely on Planned Parenthood every day, no matter what.

Your Information:

First Name (Optional): Paul
Last Name (Optional): Whiting
Postal Code: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

And, after I sent the thank you card above, I received a confirmation email today, May 9th, 2023, from Planned Parenthood Federation of America with the subject line, "Thank you! One more thing?", which stated the following:

Paul,

Thank you for signing our card to thank nurses at Planned Parenthood health centers. Nurses are the heart and soul of health care in this country and deserve our endless gratitude and appreciation.

You can help make an even bigger difference by showing your support for Planned Parenthood and asking your friends and family to join you.

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

You can also help out by making a tax-deductible gift to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Your support will help us stand strong in the face of continued attacks on reproductive health and rights, and support Planned Parenthood health centers in providing vital care like birth control, cancer screenings, abortion services and more.

Together we can make a difference in protecting reproductive health and rights — thanks for taking action and pitching in when it counts.

— Planned Parenthood

Show your appreciation for nurses by sending a thank you card today.

https://weareplannedparenthood.org/onlineactions/KonySJl6zEyUDjBh9J6lbA2?snw=2&ref=78c26674-a90a-49b4-89d1-2546d4ddd53c

Plus, after I sent the thank you card above to the Planned Parenthood health center staff, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Federation of America to show my support for National Nurses Week, which "begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th." –Paul Whiting (written May 9th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised May 23rd, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

---------------------------------------------

**"National Nurses Week History" from ANA Enterprise (American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Nurses Foundation):

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale's birthday. These permanent dates enhance planning and position National Nurses Week as an established recognition event. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be celebrated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA's state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

The ANA supports and encourages National Nurses Week recognition programs through the state and district nurses associations, other specialty nursing organizations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions.

A Brief History of National Nurses Week...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nursingworld.org/education-events/national-nurses-week/history

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May 9th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 9th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "The Extreme New Tactic in the Crusade to Ban Books." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Extreme New Tactic in the Crusade to Ban Books" from Time Magazine

By Summer Lopez | May 8, 2023

Not content to demand books be removed from classroom shelves, or to pass laws that restrict topics students can read about in school libraries or even discuss in classrooms, now the book banning movement is going after publishers, with legislation that would censor what books they can publish or distribute to public schools, with imprisonment and fines as possible punishment upon conviction in some cases. Today’s efforts to ban books in schools are already unparalleled in recent history, and over the past year, new laws have supercharged the movement; but legislation that directly targets publishers represents a novel attack on books in schools.

In Tennessee, a new law, just signed by Governor Bill Lee, makes it a felony for a book publisher, distributor, or seller to provide “obscene matter” to a public school serving any K-12 students. Those found to have violated the prohibition would face between one and six years in prison and a fine of at least $10,000.

In Texas, HB 900, which just passed the state’s House of Representatives, would require book vendors to give books with any reference to sex a rating of either “sexually explicit” or “sexually relevant.” Books rated “sexually explicit” could not be sold to schools, and those deemed “sexually relevant” would require parental approval for students to access.

And at the federal level, Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) introduced H.R. 863 in February, which would “prohibit a publishing house from knowingly furnishing sexually explicit material to a school or an educational agency,” and ban the provision of federal funds to any school that obtains sexually explicit material or to any educational agency that distributes it.

Of course, book publishers and distributors aren’t putting pornography in schools. And it is already a federal crime to distribute obscene materials to minors, rendering these new bills unnecessary, if that were their goal. But these bills aren’t actually about obscene materials. They’re about giving book ban activists another way to advance their broad censorship crusade. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277933/state-book-bans-publishers

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 9th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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May 9th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written On May 13th, 2023: Did you know that the second annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day is on May 9th, 2023?

Neither did I! That is, until I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 13th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "What 3 Grieving Dads Want You to Know About America's Fentanyl Crisis." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An overview of the article can be found below:

"What 3 Grieving Dads Want You to Know About America's Fentanyl Crisis" from Time Magazine

By Ed Ternan , Dean Jeske And George Gerchow | May 9, 2023

We’ve all seen and heard the headlines on this full-blown epidemic in our country, and we’ve heard cries from all sides of the political spectrum about who is to blame. But, as three grieving dads who lost their children from fentanyl poisoning, we know the truth about illicit fentanyl: it can affect each and every one of us when we least expect it. There is a massive education gap around this issue, and it is important to not only share our stories, but also to share the facts about fentanyl that can better inform all of us, especially the precious young people in all our lives.

In April 2021, Dean and his wife Indre lost their son Peter to this deadly epidemic. Peter was 22 years old, just five weeks from his college graduation, and had recently accepted a job offer in Denver. On a Monday evening, Peter stayed home to study rather than joining his friends to watch the NCAA basketball championship game. Late that evening, Peter took a single pill he believed was a “safe” prescription medication. In reality, Peter was poisoned by a fake pill made with fentanyl. With Peter as their inspiration, Dean and Indre have been speaking to young people to give them accurate information about this crisis and, hopefully, save lives.

On March 12, 2021, George lost his 17-year-old son, Xavier (X) to fentanyl poisoning. After a day of lifting weights and playing basketball, X was given half a pill that looked like Percocet but turned out to be 99% fentanyl and 1% cocaine. Fake street pills look exactly like legitimate prescription drugs, making it nearly impossible to tell what is actually poison. Since X’s passing, his family has made it their life’s mission to try to prevent anyone else from feeling this kind of pain, starting with their own community in Colorado.

Ed and his wife Mary lost their son Charlie to this crisis when he was poisoned by a fake pill made with fentanyl on May 14, 2020. A college senior like Peter, Charlie was waiting for a telephone job interview on that Thursday afternoon when he took the pill he was told was a Percocet. Charlie died quietly in his bed in a house full of roommates who assumed he was napping. He was 22. Ed and Mary formed the nonprofit Song for Charlie in his honor, and now devote their time to creating and distributing educational resources for families about the risks associated with drug use and self-medication in the age of fentanyl and other synthetics.

Often consumed unknowingly, illicit fentanyl is driving the recent increase in U.S. overdose deaths. It is being used to make fake prescription pills, “fentapills,” and is also found in common street drugs like cocaine, MDMA, and heroin. Fake pills have been found in all 50 states and are the main reason fentanyl-involved deaths are growing fastest with young people. We should all assume that any prescription pill we see online is fake, including Oxy, Percocet, Adderall, and Xanax, and we should install updated drug-education programs in our schools as part of a multipronged effort to reduce drug harms. ...

... On this National Fentanyl Awareness Day,* we tell our stories to raise awareness about this urgent national problem that isn’t a left, right, or center issue; it is a human issue. As regular citizens, we can’t stop these pills from being created, but we can do something absolutely critical to start to regain some control: we can commit to education and demand reduction, working together to ensure that young people have the knowledge and tools they need to keep themselves safe from drugs that could contain fentanyl.

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277243/fentanyl-deaths-young-people-fake-pills

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too!

*National Fentanyl Awareness Day website:

Raising awareness about an urgent national problem: people are dying at alarming rates due to illicit fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. Get the facts and share them widely. Spread the word with us for our second annual activation on May 9, 2023. ...

... OUR PARTNERS

We have a growing coalition of nonprofits, influencers, politicians, parents, educators, students, and others to share information on social media about this critical problem.

BECOME A PARTNER** ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the website:

https://www.fentanylawarenessday.org

**I became a National Fentanyl Awareness Day partner! And so, I received an email from National Fentanyl Awareness Day today, May 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "We have received your response for National Fentanyl Awareness Day: Become a Partner", which stated the following:

Thank you for your partnership!

Here is the link to utilize our partner toolkit, which includes sample graphics, caption copy, messaging guidelines and sample emails to spread the word!

DOWNLOAD TOOLKIT

What is your organization's name? Poet, Artist and Philosopher

Organization Type: Other

Organization Website: https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

Organization’s Point of Contact Name: Paul Whiting

Organization’s Point of Contact Email: [redacted]

As National Fentanyl Awareness Day partner, your organization agrees to:

[✓] Share information about the issue on social media

[✓] Inform staff, members and stakeholders about the Day

[✓] Be listed publicly (name, website URL) on the National Fentanyl Awareness Day website

Therefore, as a National Fentanyl Awareness Day partner, my goal is to "share information about the issue" with you, my readers, on my blogs! –Paul Whiting (written May 13th, 2023, revised May 15th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised May 31st, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023 and revised May 7th, 2024)

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May 10th, 2023 Update: I think that Republicans are reading these 'updates' that I am writing on my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," which is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog!

I am like the Tucker Carlson of Woke Socialist Blogging!

(Wait, maybe that's a bad comparison, because Tucker Carlson is bad: in fact, Tucker is now—apparently—even bad for Fox News!)

But I digress...

You see, I wrote an 'update' yesterday, May 9th, 2023, about "three different articles on various news websites, including ABCNews.com, VanityFair.com and AlJazeera.com" that I noticed when "I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google" yesterday.

And I almost didn't include the article from AlJazeera.com because I was concerned about it appearing to be a little too "Woke Socialist" and also because, according to Wikipedia, Al Jazeera English is:

"...an international 24-hour English-language news channel owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network, which is owned by the monarchy government of Qatar. It is the first English-language news channel to be headquartered in Western Asia."

Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera_English

Also, from Al Jazeera's website, they state:

"News, analysis from the Middle East & worldwide, multimedia & interactives, opinions, documentaries, podcasts, long reads and broadcast schedule."

Please see the hyperlink below for the website:

https://www.aljazeera.com

(By the way, I subscribe to the Al Jazeera English channel on YouTube—along with FRANCE 24, PBS NewsHour, The Real News Network, Rebel HQ, WatchlistTYT and TYT Investigates—since Al Jazeera posts a lot of international news videos that I don't usually get from my news searches on Google under the topic of "World News.")

Anyway, the article in question is titled "Opinion: Republicans are pushing American democracy to its breaking point," as I described in my "May 9th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written From May 9th, 2023 To May 10th, 2023," which can be seen above.

So, after I posted said 'update,' all of a sudden today, May 10th, 2023, I start getting all of these emails and text messages from different organizations that are regarding topics such as "Stop Republicans from gaining the Senate majority," and "LIFE-CHANGING SOCIAL SECURITY NEWS" (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS and I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI), as well as "The New York Times just revealed that 119 members of the 'chaotic' Republican House Majority voted to OVERTURN the 2020 election."

Coincidence? I don't think so!

It's as if I am being inundated with scare tactic messages from alleged anti-Republican organizations who—to me—look like they are actually "DINO" (Democrat in Name Only) organizations.

At least, that's my theory!

So, now that I have the Republicans' attention, I would humbly like to request the following from Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House of Representatives:

Dearest Speaker McCarthy,

Will you please vote for a clean, no-strings-attached debt ceiling raise in order to pay for the funding of the United States federal government that as already been authorized by Congress in the previous budget(s)?

And would you please take the threat of default off the table, just like your colleagues House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, did in the meeting at the White House on May 9th, 2023?

And would you then negotiate the budget, in good faith, during the upcoming budget negotiations, which is the appropriate time to demand budget cuts that can be agreed upon by both the House and Senate, as well as signed by the President of the United States into law?

And, finally, would you please also consider no longer taking hostage the full faith and credit of the United States government, so that you can demand the debt ceiling raise be the ransom to be paid for said hostage?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for considering these humble requests!

As a "Woke Socialist Blogger" of the United States of America, I truly look forward to you, House Minority Leader Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, and President Biden, all reaching an agreement to raise the debt ceiling in order to fund the spending that was already approved by Congress.

Thank you for your valuable time and thoughful consideration in this matter.

–Paul Whiting (written May 10th, 2023, revised May 25th, 2023 and revised October 13th, 2023)

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May 10th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) today, May 10th, 2023, with the subject line, "Join us for a rally in Salem tomorrow at 5 p.m.", which stated the following:

Paul –

We urgently need your support and advocacy.

Multiple senators have failed to show up to do their jobs as legislators – for over a week now – and the Oregon Senate has been brought to a halt.

These legislators are absent because they do not have the votes to stop HB 2002, a bill that protects and expands abortion and transgender healthcare access across our state and SJR 33, a bill that would make clear that the Oregon Constitution prohibits government discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, which include rights and freedoms to abortion, gender-affirming care, and marriage equality.

With partner organizations, The ACLU of Oregon is planning a rally at the Salem Capitol tomorrow, Thursday, May 11, 5 p.m. ...

... When lawmakers refuse to do their job, they are failing constituents, families, patients, workers, and all Oregonians. They're holding captive not only the right to access abortion care, transgender healthcare, and to marry who we love, but many other bills that Oregonians also strongly favor, which supports stable housing, accessible healthcare, our rural economies, protection from drought and wildfires exacerbated by the climate crisis, behavioral health support, and more.

Tell legislators to stop playing games with our rights and get back to work.

In partnership,

ACLU of Oregon Team

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below (by the way, I only included portions of this webpage that were relevant to "HB 2002 — Reproductive Health and Access to Care"):

2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HUB

Our state's path towards racial justice, civil rights and civil liberties will be shaped in Oregon's 2023 legislative session — from January 17 to June 25, 2023. ...

... HB 2002 — Reproductive Health and Access to Care

No one should be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will and face the life-altering consequences of being denied essential health care.

While Oregon has broad legal protections of abortion and gender-affirming care, we have more work to do to ensure safe, equitable, and continuing protections and access across our state. Our rights are under attack and we must fight back — together. ...

... TAKE ACTION - ASK YOUR LAWMAKERS TO PLEDGE TO ACT ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & ACCESS TO CARE

Then, after I read the ACLU of Oregon webpage above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

The time to fight for our rights is right now.

Together, the Reproductive Health & Access to Care Bill (HB 2002) and the Equal Rights for All Constitutional Ballot Referral (SJR 33) will move Oregon forward by working to protect, strengthen, and expand equitable access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care and enshrining our rights and freedoms in Oregon’s constitution.

Support HB 2002 & SJR 33: Reproductive & Gender Justice

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Preferred Language (Optional): English
Street Address: [redacted]
Postal Code: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Learn More: Reproductive Health & Access to Care (HB 2002)

In Oregon, we believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own health care decisions and access the care they need to survive and thrive. For years, our state has led the nation in protecting and expanding access to the full spectrum of sexual, reproductive, and gender affirming care. Despite our progress, significant barriers to the full spectrum of care still exist in our state for many communities including: low-income Oregonians, those living outside of the I-5 corridor, women, LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

With the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, we lost legal protections for abortion. Since then, states are moving aggressively to ban abortion and criminalize providers. And the same extremists who want to ban abortion and criminalize care are also waging attacks on LGBTQ2SIA+ people. More than 300 bills attacking trans and queer rights have been introduced, and already several bills banning and restricting transgender health care have passed this year alone.

As states across the nation ramp up assaults on our lives and freedom, we know we must keep showing up and organizing to protect our rights.

With HB 2002, Oregon can be a leader — by protecting and expanding access to reproductive and transgender health care we can…

[✓] Protect providers and health centers' ability to deliver care to all patients who seek gender-affirming and reproductive health care in Oregon.

[✓] Expand access to gender-affirming, reproductive, and sexual health care for rural Oregonians, low-income folks, students, and all those in our community who experience barriers to care.

[✓] Ensure fundamental rights to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, so that no one can ever be criminalized for their reproductive health decisions or pregnancy outcomes.

Together, we’re creating a future where every person belongs, has the power to determine their own future, and has access to the care they need.

Tell lawmakers to support these bills ⬇️

Support HB 2002 & SJR 33: Reproductive & Gender Justice

Message Recipients

1. [Name redacted] Representative
2. [Name redacted] Rep.
3. [Name redacted] Representative
4. [Name redacted] (Title Unknown)
5. [Name redacted] Rep.
6. [Name redacted] Senator
7. [Name redacted] State Representative
8. [Name redacted] Representative
9. [Name redacted] Senator
10. [Name redacted] Representative
11. [Name redacted] Senator
12. [Name redacted] Senator
13. [Name redacted] Representative
14. [Name redacted] Senator
15. [Name redacted] (Title Unknown)
16. [Name redacted] Representative
17. [Name redacted] Representative
18. [Name redacted] Representative
19. [Name redacted] Rep.
20. [Name redacted] Senator
21. [Name redacted] State Representative
22. [Name redacted] Representative
23. [Name redacted] Representative
24. [Name redacted] Senator
25. [Name redacted] Representative
26. [Name redacted] Representative
27. [Name redacted] Representative
28. [Name redacted] Representative
29. [Name redacted] Rep.
30. [Name redacted] Representative
31. [Name redacted] Rep.
32. [Name redacted] (Title Unknown)
33. [Name redacted] Representative
34. [Name redacted] Senator
35. [Name redacted] Rep.
36. [Name redacted] Rep.
37. [Name redacted] Senator
38. [Name redacted] Representative
39. [Name redacted] State Representative
40. [Name redacted] Rep.
41. [Name redacted] Representative
42. [Name redacted] Senator
43. [Name redacted] Rep.
44. [Name redacted] Senator
45. [Name redacted] Senator
46. [Name redacted] Rep.
47. [Name redacted] Rep.
48. [Name redacted] Senator
49. [Name redacted] Representative
50. [Name redacted] Senator

Send the following message:

Subject: Please support HB 2002 & SJR 33

Dear [elected official],

As a supporter of the Fair Shot for All agenda, I am writing to urge you to strongly support the Equal Rights for All ballot measure referral SJR 33 and Reproductive Health Access to Care HB 2002, which would affirm Oregon’s value of ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms to access healthcare and control our own bodies, lives, and futures without undue political interference.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we have seen states move aggressively to ban abortion, interfere in personal decisions, put in place discriminatory policies, and wage attacks on our LGBTQ2SIA+ people. In Oregon, we believe everyone should have access to the care they need and deserve to live in a world free from discrimination.

The Equal Rights for All ballot constitutional amendment referral will give Oregonians the opportunity to protect our rights and decades of hard-won freedoms. The amendment will enshrine our core values in the Oregon constitution and ensure that we can make deeply personal decisions free from government interference, including the right to abortion, contraception, and same-gender marriage.

As Oregonians, we can all agree that every person deserves to make their own decisions about our bodies and our medical care. HB 2002 will help us achieve this by protecting the right to abortion and gender-affirming care in statute, and making care accessible to all Oregonians.

The Equal Rights for All ballot measure referral and HB 2002 will continue strengthening our protection as a state and continue Oregon’s leadership in protecting our fundamental rights. Please vote YES on SJR 33 and HB 2002.

Sincerely,
Paul Whiting
[Address redacted]
[Email redacted]

Then, after I submitted the email above to the State of Oregon Reps., Representatives, and State Representatives [which I assume are the same], as well as the State of Oregon Senators, via the Fair Shot for All website, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon in order to show my support for "the Equal Rights for All ballot measure referral SJR 33 and Reproductive Health Access to Care HB 2002, which would affirm Oregon’s value of ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms to access healthcare and control our own bodies, lives, and futures without undue political interference." –Paul Whiting (written May 10th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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May 11th, 2023 Update, Which Also Discusses May 10th, 2023: I received a mailer from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) later in the evening yesterday, May 10th, 2023, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read, "Kevin McCarthy and Republicans are a Threat to Your Social Security and Medicare," which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter):

Dear Paul/Dear Fellow Democrat,*

They're at it again. Speaker McCarthy and extreme MAGA Republicans are taking direct aim at Social Security and Medicare. Just like former Speaker Paul Ryan and President Donald Trump before them.

House Republicans have said they would gut Social Security and Medicare for years, and they are now rallying to make their dreams a reality. Their eagerness to strip Americans of their hard-earned benefits is not just unpopular, but it sends a clear message to voters that Republicans will not stand up for everyday families.

Speaker McCarthy and the MAGA crowd are plotting to leverage must-pass bills to gut Social Security and Medicare. While plans range from raising the Social Security eligibility age, privatizing Social Security, flat cuts to Medicare, and gutting Social Security programs altogether, one thing is certain: Republicans are coming for seniors earned benefits.

They'll lie and dissemble because their agenda is enormously unpopular — even among Republican voters.

They're trying to destroy Social Security and Medicare by holding America hostage. They're threatening to make the U.S. government default on its debt — blowing up the economy and obliterating Americans' retirement accounts — unless they get their ransom on Social Security and Medicare.

House Democrats are the firewall against this insanity. They will stand up and fight back against extremist schemes. Just as they did in decades past, House Democrats are demanding that America uphold the sacred obligation of Social Security and Medicare for all seniors and people with disabilities.

But to do that and so much more for our families, we need you to help as we retake the House Majority. You can help us do that by taking two actions today:

1) Rush a generous contribution to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) today. Your early support will help fund the early organizing work critical to taking back the House.

2) Please complete your enclosed DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare and return it today. Let Democratic leaders know protecting Social Security and Medicare is your priority in 2024.

Your support will help us hold MAGA Republicans accountable for the harm their extremist policies and reckless tactics would inflict on everyday Americans — not just seniors, but all of us who are counting on receiving our full Social Security and Medicare benefits in the future. And we'll hold them accountable by taking back the House Majority.

Your contribution to the DCCC will help ensure that we can protect and elect House Democrats in 2024.

Republicans only hold a five seat majority. And there are 18 Republicans in districts President Biden won in 2020. We must defeat everyone of them.

So please fill out your DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare today and rush a generous contribution to the DCCC. The work to hold extreme MAGA Republicans accountable and take back a House Democratic Majority begins today.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
DCCC [Title redacted]

P.S. Please be sure to complete your ballot and return it by the tabulation deadline, so your opinion can be considered by Democratic Party leaders. And please continue your support of the DCCC today. Thank you.

*By the way, I actually received 2 of these mailers, since the DCCC has me in their system twice! And I called them about this at the end of March 2023 in order to let them know about a duplicate listing in their system of my name with two middle initials; however it will probably take some time for them to correct that duplicate, since I called them a couple of months ago. That is why I wrote the salutation as "Dear Paul/Dear Fellow Democrat," because the duplicate mailer, with double middle initials for my name, addresses the letter's recipient as "Dear Paul" and the regular mailer, with one middle initial for my name, addresses the letter's recipient as "Dear Fellow Democrat."

Plus, I decided to include my responses for the DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare, which can be seen below:

DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare

Complete, Sign and Return your Ballot by June 7, 2023

Paul [Middle Initial] Whiting
[Apt. No. redacted]
[Street Address redacted]
[City, State and ZIP Code redacted]

INSTRUCTIONS: Please cast your vote by answering the questions on your personal DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare below. Please validate your ballot by signing and dating it where indicated. Thank you.

PART I:

YES, you can count on me to stand with the DCCC against Kevin McCarthy and the MAGA Republicans' plans to slash Social Security and Medicare by taking the following steps:

[✓] Completing my personal DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare to help shape Democratic campaign priorities. Please share my answers with Democratic Party Leaders.

[✓] Rushing my contribution to the DCCC today to help Democrats take back the House and hold Republicans accountable at the ballot box. My contribution to the DCCC is enclosed for:

[  ] $55   [  ] $85   [  ] $110   [✓] Other $10.00

"I made a $10 contribution online today, May 11th, 2023 via ActBlue."

PART II:

Ballot Question #1: Speaker Kevin McCarthy and extreme MAGA Republicans want to cut funding for Social Security and Medicare. Do you support this?

[  ] Yes   [✓] No   [  ] Unsure

Ballot Question #2: Speaker McCarthy and MAGA Republicans are trying to hold the debt ceiling hostage to force their Social Security and Medicare cuts through. This would make the U.S. default on its debt for the first time in history, sending the economy into a deep recession and decimating Americans' retirement accounts. How should Democrats respond to these tactics?

[✓] Refuse to negotiate with hostage takers and fiercely defend Social Security and Medicare.

[  ] Negotiate and compromise.

[  ] Unsure.

Ballot Question #3: How do you feel about these MAGA Republican proposals:

A) Raise Social Security and Medicare retirement ages?
[  ] Support   [✓] Oppose   [  ] Unsure

B) Privatize Social Security and Medicare?
[  ] Support   [✓] Oppose   [  ] Unsure

C) Reduce Social Security payments?
[  ] Support   [✓] Oppose   [  ] Unsure

D) Sunset Social Security and Medicare by putting them on a clock for elimination unless reauthorized every five years?
[  ] Support   [✓] Oppose   [  ] Unsure

Survey Validation: Please sign and date below to verify your willingness to participate in the Official Democratic Survey.

Signature Paul Whiting Date 05/11/23

So, I completed the DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare survey, which I am planning to mail early next week. And I also made a one-time donation to the DCCC in order to show my support for "House Democrats [who] are the firewall against this insanity [of] "Speaker McCarthy and the MAGA crowd ... plotting to leverage must-pass bills to gut Social Security and Medicare," because "they're threatening to make the U.S. government default on its debt ... unless they get their ransom on Social Security and Medicare." However, "[House Democrats] will stand up and fight back against extremist schemes. Just as they did in decades past, House Democrats are demanding that America uphold the sacred obligation of Social Security and Medicare for all seniors and people with disabilities." –Paul Whiting (written May 11th, 2023, revised May 12th, 2023, revised May 13th, 2023 and revised May 18th, 2023)

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P.S.: The following is my email letter to the DCCC regarding having "received a second, duplicate mailer for the 'DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare' with my name listed as having TWO middle initials, instead of ONE middle initial":

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Paul Whiting and I am a monthly donor to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and I also donate one-time contrubutions on occasion.

And I am writing to you today, May 11th, 2023, to let you know that you have me in your system TWICE under two different editions of my name.

So, I called the contribution hotline at 1-877-433-6388 on March 31st, 2023 in order to report this issue, for the first time, which was in response to your "Majority Makers Membership Card" campaign mailer.

[Please see my 'March 31st, 2023 Update.']

Now, I am writing to you in response to your "Kevin McCarthy and Republicans are a Threat to Your Social Security and Medicare" campaign mailer, which I donated to today, May 11th, 2023, via ActBlue in the amount of $10.00 (Order Number: [redacted]).

(By the way, I did fill out the "DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare" today on the edition of the ballot where my name was listed correctly, which I am planning to mail early next week.)

Thus, I received a second, duplicate mailer for the "DCCC Ballot to Save Social Security and Medicare" with my name listed as having TWO middle initials, instead of ONE middle initial, as follows:

Paul [Two Middle Initials] Whiting
[Apt. No. redacted]
[Street address redacted]
[City, State and ZIP Code redacted]

Therefore, to clarify, I DO NOT have two middle initials: I only have one middle initial. And that is why I am writing to you today as a follow-up to my phone call on March 31st to the DCCC on the contribution hotline.

By the way, the representative to whom I spoke said that she would request to have the duplicate listing with the "[Two Middle Initials]" as the middle initial removed. And I realize that organizations such as the DCCC will often times preprint your mailers in advance...

...However, I am just making sure that I am following up on this issue for as long as it takes to get it resolved, since I am concerned about the duplicate mailers that I am receiving, which have a negative impact on the environment.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Yours very truly,

Paul [Middle Initial] Whiting
[Apt. No. redacted]
[Street Address redacted]
[City, State and ZIP Code redacted]

Plus, after I sent the email letter regarding the duplicate mailer, I made a one-time donation to the DCCC, in addition to the donation above!

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May 11th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 11th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "How the Biden Administration Plans to Deal With the Looming Border Crisis." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"How the Biden Administration Plans to Deal With the Looming Border Crisis" from Time Magazine

By W.J. Hennigan | May 10, 2023

Anticipating a border surge when Title 42 lifts on Thursday, the Biden Administration announced several enforcement and diplomatic measures aimed at stemming the flow of migrants unlawfully crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday that the Administration is bracing for increases in unauthorized border crossings, which are already at record levels, once the pandemic restrictions end on May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The Trump-era authorities prevented migrants from requesting asylum and allowed U.S. border agents to quickly expel migrants for public-health reasons.

With the end of Title 42 looming, Mayorkas described the vexing and potentially destabilizing challenges the nation faces in the mounting crisis. Crowds of migrants have gathered in Mexico in recent days as border cities—and places as far afield as Chicago and New York—have declared states of emergency in response to the thousands of migrants arriving without food and shelter. “This places an incredible strain on our personnel, our facilities and our communities with whom we partner closely,” Mayorkas told reporters at DHS headquarters. “Our plan will deliver results, but it will take time for those results to be fully realized.”

The Administration’s plan hinges on boosting the federal law-enforcement presence along the border, reinforcing penalties for those who cross illegally, and enhancing collaboration with international partners. Mayorkas acknowledged these are short-term fixes that will not deliver lasting results and called upon Congress to deliver new legislation. “Our immigration laws today are outdated,” he said. “The solutions we are implementing are the best available within our current legal authority. But they are short-term solutions to a decades-old problem.”

DHS is adding more than 24,000 law-enforcement personnel and 1,100 new Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) processing coordinators, which is double the number from last year. About 1,500 active-duty troops have been called to the border to assist CBP in an administrative capacity. The first 550 service members arrived Tuesday near El Paso, Texas, to perform support duties like data entry and warehouse work that’s intended to free up CBP agents to detain and process migrants. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6278656/biden-title-42-migration-border-crisis

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 9th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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For my "May 11th, 2023 Update—Continued Further"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 11th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I received a text message today, May 11th, 2023, from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following:

What're you waiting for?! Our troops are counting on your support, so please, take advantage of this exclusive match opportunity before it's too late! Rush $29 now (or $52 for two!) - while all gifts are doubled - to get your exclusive 2023 USO T-shirt! >>***

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's statement regarding the exclusive match opportunity:

"By donating $29 for one limited edition USO T-shirt or $52 for two, you can show your proud military support and stand united in service with our brave troops. Every donation toward a T-shirt will be doubled by Wonder® and Tastykake® and helps support critical programs for our service members — including care packages, calls home and bedtime stories with their kids. This is a limited time offer, so please donate now to have your gift doubled and get your USO T-shirts before they’re gone." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 11th, 2023 Update—Continued Further":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 12th, 2023 Update: I received an email from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company) today, May 12th, 2023, with the subject line, "Take the Survey: Are you a socially responsible consumer?", which stated, in part, the following:

Dear Paul,

When we were founded nearly 40 years ago, not too many companies were in business to make the world a better place.

[Illustration graphic for the survey below of a scale with money on one side and the love of planet Earth on the other side:]

https://credomobile.typeform.com/RespBrand

Along with a few other forward-thinking companies, CREDO helped pioneer the idea of social responsibility by donating a portion of our revenue to organizations making positive change.

Today, countless consumers purchase from "socially responsible" companies — but what does that really mean and do you consider yourself socially responsible?

Will you take a couple minutes to fill out our quick survey about what it means to be a socially responsible company and consumer? Your answers will help us understand your needs and how we can continue to do better for our customers and the planet.

Take Survey:

https://credomobile.typeform.com/RespBrand

Empower climate justice, economic justice, and women's rights just by paying your phone bill. ...

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

When we were founded nearly 40 years ago, not too many companies were in business to make the world a better place — so CREDO helped pioneer the idea of "social responsibility" by donating a portion of our revenue to organizations making positive change.

Today, countless consumers purchase from "socially responsible" companies — but what does that really mean and do you consider yourself socially responsible?

Will you take a couple minutes to fill out our quick survey about what it means to be a socially responsible company and consumer?

---------------------------------------------

Question 1 → Do you consider yourself a socially responsible consumer?

A) Yes ✓

B) No

Question 2 → How likely are you to purchase goods and services from a socially responsible company?

A) Highly likely ✓

B) Somewhat likely

C) Neither likely nor unlikely

D) Somewhat unlikely

E) Not at all likely

Question 3 → Which of the following do you consider actions of a socially responsible consumer?

Choose as many as you like:

A) Try to purchase from B-corporations ✓

B) Reduce the number of things you purchase

C) Research company political donations on Open Secrets or similar sites

D) Reduce use of plastics or non-recyclable/non-reusable items ✓

E) Shop local ✓

F) Buy organic or fair trade ✓

G) Buy union made ✓

H) Socially responsible investing

I) Use Hybrid or electric car or no car at all [I walk everywhere I go!] ✓

J) Eat vegetarian or vegan [I am vegan!] ✓

K) Other: I am signed up for 100% renewable electricity with my power company Portland General Electric! ✓

Question 4 → Please rank the most important aspects of a socially responsible company?

Drag and drop to rank options:

[My Choice No.] 1: Protects the environment

[My Choice No.] 2: Treats employees and suppliers well

[My Choice No.] 3: Has a diverse staff and management team

[My Choice No.] 4: Provides a high quality product or service

[My Choice No.] 5: Provides an inexpensive product or service

[My Choice No.] 6: Donates to progressive politicians

[My Choice No.] 7: Donates to progressive organizations working to make a better world

[My Choice No.] 8: Donates to charities that relieve suffering

Question 5 → Is it important for a company to take a stand on political issues?

A) Yes - it is very important ✓

B) Yes - it is somewhat important

C) No - it is not very important

D) No - I do not consider political issues when I make purchases

Question 6 → Have you ever stopped using a product because of a political stance a company took?

A) Yes ✓

B) No

Question 7 → You said that you stopped using a product because of a political stance taken by a company. Can you explain what happened?

Answer: I stopped utilizing AT&T as my cell phone company and I switched to CREDO Mobile!

Question 8 → Are you more or less likely to purchase a product or service from a company if that company helps employees obtain out-of-state abortions BUT the company also donated to anti-abortion causes, politicians and judges?

A) I would be more likely to purchase from this company

B) I would be less likely to purchase from this company ✓

C) It would not matter to me

D) Other

Question 9 → How much more would you pay for a product or service from a socially responsible company - assuming all other things were the same?

A) I would not pay more for a product or service from a socially responsible company

B) I would pay 5-10% more for a product from a socially responsible company

C) I would pay 10-15% more for a product from a socially responsible company

D) I would pay more than 15% more for a product from a socially responsible company

E) If I had the option, I would always purchase from a socially responsible company, no matter how much more it cost ✓

Question 10 → How likely are you to purchase from a smaller, socially responsible company – that you may not have as much experience with vs. a larger, national brand that is not socially responsible.

A) Much more likely ✓

B) Somewhat more likely

C) About the same / it depends

D) Somewhat less likely

E) Much less likely

Question 11 → Do you ever research whether or not a company is socially responsible?

Y) Yes

N) No ✓

Question 12 → How frequently do you purchase from Amazon?

A) All the time

B) Sometimes

C) Sometimes and I feel bad about it

D) Rarely

E) Never [I used to have an Amazon.com account, which I would use occasionally, but I recently deleted it, because of the way Jeff Bezos treats the workers at Amazon warehouses, amongst other issues.] ✓

Question 13 → What types of products/services do you try to purchase from socially responsible companies?

Choose as many as you like:

A) Food ✓

B) Clothing ✓

C) Personal care items ✓

D) Books

E) Cleaning products ✓

F) Cars

G) Media ✓

H) Utilities ✓

I) Electronics/Tech ✓

J) Other

Question 14 → What are some socially responsible companies you purchase products and services from?

Answer: I purchased from natural food cooperatives (Food Front Co-op, Alberta Co-op, and occasionally People's Food Co-op, which are all here in Portland, Oregon), Good Will (in Portland, Oregon), Portland General Electric (in Portland, Oregon), YouTube and CREDO Mobile!

Question 15 → Consider the following statement:

CREDO Mobile donates a portion of its revenue to progressive non-profits that empower climate justice, economic justice, and civil rights. CREDO has donated more than $94 million since 1985 to make the world a better place."

Does this make you more or less likely to switch your mobile service to CREDO Mobile?

A) More likely

B) Less likely

C) No change

D) I am already a CREDO customer [I stopped utilizing AT&T as my cell phone company and I switched to CREDO Mobile!] ✓

Question 16 → What is your age?

A) Under 35

B) 35 - 44

C) 45 - 54

D) 55 - 64 [I am 56 years old!] ✓

E) 65 - 74

F) 75+

G) Prefer not to state

Question 17 → Is there anything else you'd like to add? In particular, what does socially responsible mean to you?

Answer: The following is "How I Use 'Conscious Consumerism' To Live With Respect To The Planet Upon Which I Live," which is from my blog post "My Point Of View On...Global Warming" that is located on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog):

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-27-global.html

"How I Use 'Conscious Consumerism' To Live With Respect To The Planet Upon Which I Live"

My Point Of View No. 1: I only eat plant-based foods, which means that I'm vegan. I also try to buy minimally processed natural foods, as well as organically grown, fair trade, rain-forest safe, and non-GMO products. Also, I try to buy local products as much as possible.

My Point Of View No. 2: I try to buy 100% recycled paper products, including toilet paper, facial tissues and paper towels.

My Point Of View No. 3: I try to buy natural personal care products, such a oral hygiene products, as well as organic shampoo and conditioner, organic soaps and natural cleaning products, wherever possible.

My Point Of View No. 4: I buy 100% clean electricity for my apartment and rechargeable batteries for my devices that can use rechargeable batteries.

My Point Of View No. 5: I travel by walking — which is exercise for me — although, that limits to how far I can travel by walking.

My Point Of View No. 6: I keep up with politics in order to stay more informed as a voter. And I make sure that I vote in every election, including "special elections."

My Point Of View No. 7: I also keep up with the news in order to stay more informed as a citizen. And I subscribe to news organizations that I can afford given my budget.

My Point Of View No. 8: I budget very carefully, so that I know where every penny is going. And I track what I save when I spend money, such as store discounts and coupons, as well as other discounts, so that I can spend that money on other things.

(I explain more about my budget in the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/i9DrMHEH-rQ)

My Point Of View No. 9: And the mobile phone company that I'm with, CREDO Mobile, is also very environmentally conscientious and socially conscientious. Plus, they make regular donations to different organizations that are trying to do good in the world.

My Point Of View No. 10: And, so, this is how I am doing my part to try and reduce the affects of global warming!

-Paul Whiting (a.k.a., A Creative Writer) "I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-27-global.html

Question 18 → Please provide your email address and we will share the results of the survey with you.

You will receive periodic newsletters and special offers.

Email address: [redacted]

---------------------------------------------

Thus, I decided to write this 'update' in order to share my survey answers with you, my readers, and to also invite you to take this survey too! By the way, I have been with CREDO Mobile since 2013, so it will be my tenth anniversary this September. –Paul Whiting (written May 14th, 2023, revised May 26th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

https://credomobile.typeform.com/RespBrand
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May 12th, 2023 Update (Follow-Up, Written On May 26th, 2023): I received an email from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company) today, May 26th, 2023, with the subject line, "The results are in: Are you a socially responsible consumer?", which stated, in part, the following—and which also included an untitled infographic (by the way, I hand-typed the text of the infographic below on my smartphone):

The results are in: Are you a socially responsible consumer?

A few weeks ago, we polled CREDO members on their consumer habits, particularly regarding what it means to be a socially responsible consumer and how a company's political stances influence purchasing decisions.

The results were eye-opening and incredibly interesting — especially in light of recent news that companies like Target have unfortunately capitulated to right-wing threats against the LGBTQ community leading up to Pride celebrations. (Quick reminder: Support for the LGBTQ+ community is a core value of CREDO and we will never waiver in our support for equal rights.)

Have a look at the results in this infographic below — then, please feel free to help expand on the 96% of our socially-responsible members and consider adding a line to your CREDO service!

[START OF INFOGRAPHIC]

96% of CREDO members consider themselves socially responsible consumers.

97% of CREDO members were at least somewhat likely to purchase from a socially responsible company.

What do CREDO members feel are the most important aspects of being a socially responsible company?

77%: Care for the environment;
68%: Treating employees well;
44%: Diverse management team;
10%: Providing an inexpensive product or service;
47% of CREDO members had 'Protecting the environment' as the most important aspect of a socially responsible company.

CREDO members care about a company's political stances:

91% of CREDO members say that it's important for a company to take a stand on political issues.

71% of CREDO members would be less likely to purchase from a company that donated anti-choice politicians, even if the company helped its employees travel to get an abortion.

92% of CREDO members would pay more to purchase from a socially responsible company.

What are CREDO members doing to try to be socially responsible consumers?

Reduce the use of plastics or non-recyclable materials: 91%
Shop local: 85%
Buy organic or fair trade: 79%
Reduce the number of things you buy: 75%
Buy Union made items: 61%
Eat vegetarian or vegan: 42%
Try to purchase from B-corporations: 27%

[END OF INFOGRAPHIC]

Thus, I decided to write this 'update' in order to share the answers of other CREDO members from the survey that I took on May 12th, 2023, with you, my readers! (Please see my 'May 12th, 2023 Update' above for the survey.) By the way, I have been with CREDO Mobile since 2013, so it will be my tenth anniversary this September. –Paul Whiting (written May 26th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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May 12th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received a text message today, May 12th, 2023, from the National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC), which stated the following:

The GOP just passed a bill that would cut Social Security funding by 23%.

Do you approve of the GOP's Social Security Cuts?

Yes: https://go.traindemocrats.org/5126
No: https://go.traindemocrats.org/5126

We need your response by 11:59, click your answer above!

National Democratic Training Committee

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

RESPOND NOW
↓ LIVE POLL ↓

Do you approve of GOP cuts to Social Security?

YES
NO ✓

Email Address: [redacted]

SUBMIT IMMEDIATELY →

[A FEW QUICK FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS]

Do you or someone you know benefit from Social Security? [The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS and I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI.]

YES ✓
NO

Would you or someone you know be disadvantaged by massive cuts to Social Security?

YES ✓
NO

Do you think it’s WRONG that Republicans want to cut Social Security benefits that seniors have paid into their entire lives?

YES ✓
NO

Do you APPROVE of the Biden Administration’s HISTORIC increase in Social Security payments?

YES ✓
NO

Do you support Democrats' plan to ELIMINATE taxes on Social Security benefits? [Although, I answered "YES" on this question, I don't necessarily disagree with the benefits being taxed because—from what I understand—the amount deducted from employees' checks to pay Social Security deductions are pretax and, thus, that is probably why Social Security benefits are taxed once they are paid, since they are considered taxable income!]

YES ✓
NO

Experts estimate that without Social Security payments, 37.8% recipients could fall below the poverty line and into financial ruin.

Do you believe Democrats should PROTECT this vital program from Republican attacks at all costs?

YES ✓
NO

Republicans are currently threatening to defund Social Security through the debt ceiling process.

How important is it to you personally that Social Security benefits be protected?

(5) Extremely important ✓
(4) Very important
(3) Somewhat important
(2) Not very important
(1) Not important at all

Millions of Americans depend on Social Security to get by. Would you make a small sacrifice today if you knew it would help protect the future of Social Security?

Yes! ✓

[YOU’RE ALMOST DONE] We’re asking for a small contribution today to elect more Democrats and END Kevin McCarthy’s Majority. Here’s why:

[1] Republicans want to raise the retirement age and defund Social Security -- threatening millions of vulnerable seniors.

[2] The National Democratic Training Committee spent and won BIG in 2022 -- which means we can WIN in 2024, but that work starts NOW.

[3] We need [12] more donations in the next hour to stay on track and hit our strict midnight goal. This work is expensive, and every dollar counts!!

With 2024 looming, we’re leaving NOTHING to chance. So we’re pleading: Will you dig deep and chip in to SAVE Social Security and END McCarthy’s Majority?

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

EXPRESS DONATE: $3 >>
EXPRESS DONATE: $15 >>
EXPRESS DONATE: $35 >>
EXPRESS DONATE: $50 >>
DONATE A CUSTOM AMOUNT >> ✓

And, after I took the poll, I made a one-time donation to the National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC) in order show my support for the "Democrats ... PROTECT[ING] this vital program from Republican attacks at all costs," because "Republicans are currently threatening to defund Social Security through the debt ceiling process." –Paul Whiting (written May 12th, 2023, revised May 13th, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023 and revised January 7th, 2024)

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May 13th, 2023 Update: Today, May 13th, 2023, is the "Mother's Day of Action" by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America! And I received several emails from Moms Demand Action over the last few days, outlining this "Mother's Day of Action as we call on Congress to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW."

So, I have listed the emails in chronological order by the date in which they were received.

The first email that I received from Moms Demand Action was on May 6th, 2023, with the subject line, "We're demanding an assault weapons ban NOW. Join us for a Mother's Day of Action: On Saturday May 13, we're rallying to demand Congress reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban.", which stated the following:

Paul–

This Mother's Day Weekend, we're asking for what we all want: For our kids to come home safe and for our families not to be ripped apart by gun violence.

Join us Saturday, May 13 for a Mother's Day of Action as we call on Congress to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW. Find an event near you.

FIND AN EVENT***

As a mother of four, inaction on this crisis leaves me terrified for my children. Gun violence continues to kill 120 people every day, and there have already been more than 180 mass shootings this year. In several of them, an assault weapon was used to kill children while at school, to attack people in acts fueled by hate and bigotry, and to retaliate at former workplaces.

The good news is that we already know that banning assault weapons works. In 1994, after Congress banned assault weapons with bipartisan support, rates of gun violence and mass shootings began to go down. But in 2004, the gun lobby prevented Congress from renewing the ban. That inaction has helped make this crisis as utterly devastating as it has become. We're not going to let the gun lobby win. Banning assault weapons worked before. It can work again now.

And as Moms Demand Action's first ever Executive Director, I know from experience that we can get the job done.

Last summer, we got Congress to pass a major gun safety law for the first time in a generation, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. That victory followed a decade of progress in statehouses across the country where Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers not only helped pass hundreds of good gun safety laws, but also blocked 90 percent of bills backed by the gun lobby.

This Mother's Day Weekend, we're asking our lawmakers to save lives—and we're going to make our voices heard in every single congressional district across the country.

Join us on Saturday, May 13 for a Mother's Day of Action, as we call on Congress to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW: Find an event near you.

Banning assault weapons will not end this crisis altogether, but with your support, we can make sure our country takes this huge step toward a future free from gun violence.

Thank you for being a part of this movement. I can't wait to see you on Mother's Day Weekend.

[Name redacted]
She/Her/Hers
[Title redacted]
Moms Demand Action

The second email that I received from Moms Demand Action was on May 7th, 2023, with the subject line, "Allen, Texas", which stated the following:

Paul–

Yesterday, we emailed you about our upcoming Day of Action to demand a reinstatement of the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Later yesterday, in Allen, Texas, a man walked into an outlet mall and used an assault weapon to shoot and kill at least eight people, leaving at least another seven people wounded.

We should be able to send our kids shopping, or to school, or to the movies, or a friend's house, without fear that they might not return home. Instead, we're stuck in an endless cycle of gun violence devastating our communities and families, all while our lawmakers do little to prevent it.

Mass shootings are not acts of nature—they are preventable tragedies caused by lawmakers' inaction and the gun industry's greed. We shouldn't have to live like this.

Join us at a rally near you on Saturday, May 13 to demand our lawmakers do something about this crisis by reinstating the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Thank you for being in this fight,

Moms Demand Action

The third email that I received from Moms Demand Action—and from Everytown for Gun Safety—was on May 10th, 2023, with the subject line, "We are fed up.", which stated the following:

Paul,

Every day more people are killed or wounded by guns. Our kids are being traumatized. Yet gun lobby-backed lawmakers are turning their backs on us. We've had it.

We are fed up and we will not accept the status quo. That's why, we are launching a Mother's Day of Action this weekend with events across the country calling on Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban.

Everytown and Moms Demand Action are organizing our communities and showing up in statehouses across the country to demand life-saving action—and we rely on your grassroots support to keep going. Donate today to help us fight for a future free from gun violence >>***

Thank you for being with us,

Everytown and Moms Demand Action

P.S. We just added more events across the country for our Mother's Day of Action this Saturday! Sign up to attend an event near you >>***

The fourth email that I received from Moms Demand Action was on May 12th, 2023, with the subject line, "We're rallying TOMORROW. Find an event near you: We're rallying to demand Congress reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban.", which stated the following:

Paul–

We've had enough. We're not going to let the gun lobby win. Banning assault weapons worked before. It can work again now.

We're rallying in communities across the country TOMORROW, Saturday, May 13 to demand Congress reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban immediately—and our volunteers have been adding new events every single day.

Will you join us? Find an event near you and help demand an assault weapons ban NOW.

FIND AN EVENT***

We've needed Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban for years. Our country had one for nearly a decade—and it worked. But in 2004, the gun lobby prevented Congress from renewing the ban, even though it had bipartisan support.

In the years since, we've become all too familiar with the consequences. Inaction has helped make this crisis as utterly devastating as it has become. Gun violence continues to kill 120 people every day, and there have already been more than 180 mass shootings this year. In several of them, an assault weapon was used to kill children while at school, to attack people in acts fueled by hate and bigotry, and to retaliate at former workplaces.

Assault weapons have no place in our communities, and we refuse to let our lawmakers continue to do nothing. Lives are at stake. Inaction is not an option.

Thank you for being in this fight,

[Name redacted]
She/Her/Hers
[Title redacted]
Moms Demand Action

The fifth email that I received from Moms Demand Action was today May 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "Join us in demanding action: Send [your representative in Congress] a message demanding an assault weapons ban NOW", which stated the following:

Paul–

We're rallying in communities across the country today to demand action. Will you join us by sending a message?

Tell [Your Representative in Congress]: Reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban NOW!

SEND MY MESSAGE***

We've needed Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban for years. Our country had one for nearly a decade—and it worked. But in 2004, the gun lobby prevented Congress from renewing the ban, even though it had bipartisan support.

In the years since, we've become all too familiar with the consequences. Gun violence continues to kill 120 people every day, and there have already been more than 210 mass shootings this year. In several of them, an assault weapon was used to kill children while at school, to attack people in acts fueled by hate and bigotry, and to retaliate at former workplaces.

Today, thousands of volunteers are showing up in their communities to make loud and clear that inaction is not an option. Assault weapons have no place in our communities, and we refuse to let our lawmakers continue to do nothing.

Be a part of this Mother's Day of Action: Send a message telling [your representative in Congress] to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Thank you for being a part of this movement. Together, we'll build a future free from gun violence.

Moms Demand Action

Tell Your U.S. Representative: Oppose Gutting Our Gun Laws And Support Gun Safety Legislation

Gun lobby allies in Congress continue to attack the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)—the federal agency tasked with enforcing our gun laws, solving gun crimes, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence.

Just weeks after a school shooting in Nashville where the shooter used an assault weapon equipped with an arm brace, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation that would make it easier for dangerous individuals to get their hands on these modified guns.

Enough is enough. Common-sense gun policies on background checks, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and assault weapons can help prevent shootings and keep our families safe. Inaction is not an option, and these extreme attempts to gut our gun laws are shameful.

Demand the U.S. House prioritize gun safety. Our U.S. representatives must reject this extreme attempt at undermining the ATF, and take action on common-sense gun legislation like expanding background checks to all gun sales, passing a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban.

Dear Representative,

I am writing to you as a constituent filled with grief, fear, and anger. I am fed up. As countless acts of preventable gun violence continue to threaten the safety of communities across the country day after day, I am urging you to oppose the extreme attempts to attack the ATF, including efforts to repeal the ATF's arm brace rule, and, instead, support action on gun safety. I ask you to support common-sense legislation that would expand background checks to all gun sales, create a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban. This common-sense legislation can help prevent tragic mass shootings, as well as the 120 gun deaths that happen every day.

Please, I'm urging you to prioritize public safety. Take action and save lives.

Complete the form to send your message now:

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Prefix: Mr.
Email address: [redacted]
Street address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above to my representative in Congress, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, I made a one-time donation to Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (via the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund) in order to do my part to "be a part of this Mother's Day of Action [by] send[ing] a message telling [my representative in Congress] to reinstate the bipartisan assault weapons ban." –Paul Whiting (written May 13th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised June 12th, 2023 and revised September 7th, 2023)

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For my "May 14th, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 14th, 2023 Update: Happy Mother's Day, everyone! I signed a Mother’s Day card to military moms around the world from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 14th, 2023, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "Missing your name on our Mother’s Day card", which stated the following:

Paul: Happy Mother's Day! We hope you and yours are celebrating all the caring moms in your life. But for many military moms around the world, this day can be particularly difficult.

So what is a "military mom"? Military moms are mothers who are currently serving in our nation's military, sacrificing time with their own children to protect our freedoms. Military moms are also the mothers of service members — thousands of miles away from their kids on a holiday like today.

That's why it is so important to show our support for troops and their families when we can, but especially on days like today.

So please, before our midnight goal deadline, will yours be one of the 10,000 email signatures we need to meet our goal to honor and thank our military moms?

Sign the Mother's Day card to honor military moms around the world.

SIGN NOW***

Thank you for helping make sure military moms know just how much they are appreciated on their special day — and for everything you do to support the brave troops around the world as they defend our country.

The USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to military moms, "Happy Mother’s Day! We are incredibly appreciative of the sacrifices you and your family make every day in service of our country and the freedoms we all cherish." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 14th, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 14th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 14th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "How to Be There When Mother’s Day Isn’t Easy." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"How to Be There When Mother’s Day Isn’t Easy" from Time Magazine

By Simmone Shah | May 12, 2023

In the early 1900’s, Anna Jarvis created Mother’s Day as a way to memorialize her mother who had passed away and acknowledge the sacrifices made by mothers who had worked to improve the lives of others.

Whether it is the supermarket displays of flowers and cards or the deluge of promotional sales for gifts, what the holiday has become often leaves little space for loss. “The holiday itself was established to honor someone who’s mother died,” says Meghan Riordan Jarvis, a clinical psychotherapist with experience in the fields of trauma, grief, and loss. “But we’ve morphed it into taking our mothers to brunch.”

Part of this shift is because some find it difficult to know how to support someone who is struggling on Mother’s Day. Experts tell TIME that supporting someone through the day can be as simple as acknowledging their feelings surrounding the holiday.

In recent years, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our approach to the holiday has become a little more inclusive of the difficult emotions it might bring up. “There’s a broader awareness in society that the holiday might not be a happy situation for everyone,” says Natalia Skritskaya, co-founder of the Clinic for Prolonged Grief in New York.

Major companies, including Etsy and Doordash, have created options for individuals to “opt-out” of promotions around major holidays. As of April 26th, more than 80,000 consumers opted out of receiving Mother’s Day marketing from DoorDash this year, according to Axios.

For those who are struggling with loss of any kind, the holiday can feel particularly isolating. “With Mother’s Day and holidays in general, we have a fantasy notion of what the day is supposed to be like,” says Riordan Jarvis, who adds that our traditions around the holiday often surface feelings of loss amongst those whose relationship to motherhood might not be picture perfect. “The holiday invites that [yearning.] I want the days back when my child was alive. I want a different mother than I have. I want to be a mother and I’m not.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6279577/mothers-day-support-grief

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 14th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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P.S.: On a personal note, my mother passed away in 2004. And so, I also have a complicated relationship with Mother's Day.

However, I do celebrate Mother's Day through my blogging as a way to honor all mothers, including my own mother, as well as the mother of us all, Mother Earth!

Thus, that is why I decided to share this Time Magazine article in order to acknowledge those who, like me, may have a different kind of experience on Mother's Day for many different reasons...

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May 14th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, May 14th, 2023, when I noticed an article on CBS News.com titled, "A 'shocking' reality for U.S. moms: Half have no retirement savings." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"A 'shocking' reality for U.S. moms: Half have no retirement savings" from CBS News MoneyWatch

By Aimee Picchi | May 12, 2023 / 8:12 AM / MoneyWatch

On Mother's Day, the best gift for your mom might be a contribution to her 401(k) or IRA plan, with research revealing a significant gap between moms and dads in financial preparedness for retirement.

About half of mothers across the U.S. have zero dollars in retirement savings, compared with roughly one-third of fathers who are unable to put money away for their later years, according to a recent analysis from The Century Foundation, which examined data from the Financial Health Network.

The findings highlight a troubling and pervasive lack of retirement readiness for millions of mothers, who are much less likely to save because of factors including a persistent gender pay gap and because moms are more likely than fathers to take time off from work to care for children. Giving up a job also stunts their potential Social Security benefits given that the program is based on a person's highest earnings over 35 years.

"When you see half of moms don't have any retirement savings, that's a really shocking statistic," said Laura Valle Gutierrez, a fellow at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank, and the author of the new report.

She added, "Moms are really the ones paying the cost for a system that doesn't properly value care work."

The gap between fathers' and mothers' retirement savings is also evident among workers with full-time jobs, who are more likely to have access to retirement benefits than people who work in part-time jobs or gig work. About 73% of dads in full-time jobs have a retirement account, compared with 66% of mothers, Gutierrez found.

"One of the things that surprised me is how persistent this gap is, no matter how we cut the data," Gutierrez noted.

The reason, she added, traces back to several issues that have had a compounding impact on mothers' financial health. They include the wage gap, where women earn less for doing the same job as men, and occupational segregation, which describes how women tend to be funneled into lower-paying careers like teaching while men are often encouraged to train for better-paying jobs like engineering.

Family care responsibilities also commonly inhibit mothers' ability to save for retirement, especially if they scale back work to look after children, parents or other relatives.

"Moms are doing this lifetime of caring and working for their families, and when it comes to retirement they are just unprepared and aren't able to go into retirement securely," she said. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/mothers-day-half-of-moms-have-no-retirement-savings/

And I decided to highlight this article from CBS News for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 14th, 2023, revised May 18th, 2023, revised August 26th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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May 15th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Everytown for Gun Safety today, May 15th, 2023, with the subject line, "SURVEY: Do you think Congress should ban assault weapons?", which stated the following:

Paul, our movement to end gun violence is stronger than ever.

Thousands of people across the country joined more than 200 events organized by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action this weekend to demand that Congress reinstate the bipartisan Assault Weapons Ban. We're making this an issue our politicians can't ignore.

We've banned assault weapons before, and it worked.

In 1994, Congress banned assault weapons with bipartisan support, which reduced the likelihood of mass shooting fatalities by 70 percent. But in 2004, the gun lobby intervened to stop Congress from renewing the ban.

Their inaction has helped make this crisis as utterly devastating as it has become. Banning assault weapons worked before. It can work again now.

Paul, we need to hear from you:

Take our short 4-question survey about banning assault weapons and what you think our elected leaders should do to prevent gun violence.***

Thank you for being with us,

Everytown for Gun Safety

Take Everytown's Assault Weapons Ban Survey Will you take just 60 seconds to answer a few questions to inform our strategy to prevent gun violence in America?

AR-15s and other assault weapons are the firearm of choice of gunmen who commit mass shootings.

Do you agree that Congress should reinstate the bipartisan Assault Weapons Ban?

[A] ✓ Yes, Congress should stand up to the gun lobby and pass the Assault Weapons Ban

[B] No, weapons of war should be allowed in our communities

Were you aware that even as our gun violence crisis grows worse, the gun industry is raking in $9 billion every year?

[A] I had no idea!

[B] ✓ I knew they were profiting a lot, but I didn't realize it was THAT much.

[C] Yes, I'm all too aware.

What do you think should be the top priorities in Congress to curb gun violence? Select all that apply:

✓ Banning assault weapons

✓ Passing a strong federal Red Flag Law

✓ Requiring background checks on ALL gun sales

✓ Passing secure storage legislation to prevent unintentional child shootings

✓ Other: Passing legislation to raise the age to buy ALL guns to 21 years of age.

Everytown for Gun Safety is a movement of nearly 10 million mayors, teachers, survivors, gun owners, and supporters like you fighting to keep our families and communities safe. Our work is only possible due to the generous support of passionate people like you who want to live in a world without the fear of gun violence.

But we can’t do this important work without your help. Will you make a donation today to help us continue our work to prevent gun violence?

✓ Yes I'll donate...

[Everytown's ActBlue donation page:]

Give to Everytown and Help Defeat the Gun Lobby's Extremism

The gun lobby's influence over lawmakers has shaped our gun laws for far too long. Your generous donation helps us work to prevent gun violence and save lives by:

[✓] Defeating the gun lobby's guns everywhere agenda
[✓] Opposing armed extremism
[✓] Pressuring lawmakers to improve our gun laws
[✓] Educating the public about common-sense gun laws and responsible gun ownership
[✓] Mobilizing grassroots supporters
[✓] Amplifying the voices of survivors of gun violence

And, after I took the survey above, I made a one-time donation to Everytown in order to support events organized by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action this weekend, during the Mother's Day of Action! –Paul Whiting (written May 15th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023 and revised June 5th, 2023)

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May 15th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was on YouTube watching a video titled, "Star Trek: Picard | Restoring A Classic | Paramount+," when I saw an advertisement from USA for UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in the form of a YouTube video titled, "Sudan Emergency."

By the way, I tried to find the video on YouTube—as I have done with other 'updates' such as this one where I am highlighting a fundraising ad—but, I was unable to locate this video on the USA for UNHCR channel; however, the description from the donation page states, in part, the following:

Your Kindness Will Protect Families

Thousands of children, women and men have been forced to flee escalating violence in Sudan. Vulnerable families have lost access to vital lifesaving supplies and are in dire need of protection, shelter, food and water. These families are resilient, but they can't survive on strength alone — resources are stretched thin, and they need your generosity more than ever.

Your compassionate support can help keep UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on the ground. You will help provide lifesaving aid including food, medicine and clean water. You can stand with these families from Sudan — and refugee families around the world — with a generous donation right now. You'll provide the relief that comes with knowing they are not alone.

Your tax-deductible gift to USA for UNHCR can change lives from Sudan to Afghanistan and from Syria to Ukraine — wherever refugees are in need of help. Please don't hesitate. Every second counts, any amount helps and your kindness truly makes a difference.

✓ USA for UNHCR is a non-profit 501(c)(3)

✓ Gifts are 100% tax-deductible

✓ All donations are processed securely

✓ As a donor, you’ll receive updates on how your gift helps families like these

Any amount you give can help ease the suffering of those in urgent need...

Then, right after I saw the advertisement from USA for UNHCR, I saw an advertisement from UNICEF USA (formerly known as the 'United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund' that is now called the 'United Nations Children's Fund') in the form of a YouTube video titled, "You Can Help." The description from the donation page states the following:

Help Grant a Mother's Greatest Wish

All children deserve to grow up safe and healthy.

Your 100% tax-deductible donation to UNICEF USA helps ensure the world’s most vulnerable children get the nutrition, water, protection, education and health care they need to survive and thrive. You can make a difference today.

And, after I watched both of the videos above, I made a one-time donation to USA for UNHCR in order to do my part to "stand with these families from Sudan — and refugee families around the world," as well as a one-time donation to UNICEF in order to do my part to "help grant a mother's greatest wish," because "all children deserve to grow up safe and healthy." –Paul Whiting (written May 15th, 2023, revised May 19th, 2023, revised June 20th, 2023 and revised October 12th, 2023)

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May 15th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I received an email from The National Fentanyl Awareness Day Team today, May 15th, 2023, with the subject line, "NFAD [National Fentanyl Awareness Day] 2023 Recap + Survey," which stated the following:

Our second-ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day was a success because of you! Thank you for partnering with us to learn about fentanyl and to spread the word to save lives. We couldn’t do this work without you. Below are a few brief updates (and a survey!) as we wrap up our 2023 effort:

May 9 Highlights – Together, our coalition garnered:

[✓] 866 partners signed on to spread the word
[✓] 106 mentions in the press about the Day
[✓] 58 community activations
[✓] 34,000 visits to our website
[✓] 2,110 speaker series attendees
[✓] Bipartisan US Senate and House Resolutions Introduced
[✓] Recognition on the Google homepage
[✓] Posts from Meta, Snap, The MLB, and Billie Eilish!

Please complete this brief partner survey*** to help us inform our 2024 plans and how we can better support partners in the future.

Speaker Series Recordings: You can now access recordings of all 5 of our speaker sessions on our website. Please feel free to pass along to your network and rewatch!

We are so grateful for your support this year. We’ll be in touch with further updates, but if you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email redacted].

With so much gratitude,

The National Fentanyl Awareness Day Team

National Fentanyl Awareness Day Partner Survey

How did you activate on May 9th?

[  ] Posted on social
[  ] Attended webinars(s)
[  ] Attended or hosted an in-person event
[  ] Sent an email to my network
[✓] Posted a 'May 9th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written On May 13th, 2023' on my website blog post: https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html

How did you originally hear about National Fentanyl Awareness Day?

[  ] Another partner organization
[✓] News [Please see my 'May 9th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written On May 13th, 2023,' a copy of which can be found below]
[  ] Social media
[  ] Other (please specify)

What NFAD resources did you find most helpful?

[  ] Social media graphics / posters
[  ] Email drafts
[✓] Website facts
[  ] May 9 speaker series

How can NFAD better support your activation in the future? Any other feedback you’d like to share?

Here is the above-mentioned 'May 9th, 2023 Update' that I wrote on my blog for National Fentanyl Awareness Day:

---------------------------------------------

May 9th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written On May 13th, 2023: Did you know that the second annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day is on May 9th, 2023?

Neither did I! That is, until I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 13th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "What 3 Grieving Dads Want You to Know About America's Fentanyl Crisis." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An overview of the article can be found below:

"What 3 Grieving Dads Want You to Know About America's Fentanyl Crisis" from Time Magazine

By Ed Ternan , Dean Jeske And George Gerchow | May 9, 2023

We’ve all seen and heard the headlines on this full-blown epidemic in our country, and we’ve heard cries from all sides of the political spectrum about who is to blame. But, as three grieving dads who lost their children from fentanyl poisoning, we know the truth about illicit fentanyl: it can affect each and every one of us when we least expect it. There is a massive education gap around this issue, and it is important to not only share our stories, but also to share the facts about fentanyl that can better inform all of us, especially the precious young people in all our lives.

In April 2021, Dean and his wife Indre lost their son Peter to this deadly epidemic. Peter was 22 years old, just five weeks from his college graduation, and had recently accepted a job offer in Denver. On a Monday evening, Peter stayed home to study rather than joining his friends to watch the NCAA basketball championship game. Late that evening, Peter took a single pill he believed was a “safe” prescription medication. In reality, Peter was poisoned by a fake pill made with fentanyl. With Peter as their inspiration, Dean and Indre have been speaking to young people to give them accurate information about this crisis and, hopefully, save lives.

On March 12, 2021, George lost his 17-year-old son, Xavier (X) to fentanyl poisoning. After a day of lifting weights and playing basketball, X was given half a pill that looked like Percocet but turned out to be 99% fentanyl and 1% cocaine. Fake street pills look exactly like legitimate prescription drugs, making it nearly impossible to tell what is actually poison. Since X’s passing, his family has made it their life’s mission to try to prevent anyone else from feeling this kind of pain, starting with their own community in Colorado.

Ed and his wife Mary lost their son Charlie to this crisis when he was poisoned by a fake pill made with fentanyl on May 14, 2020. A college senior like Peter, Charlie was waiting for a telephone job interview on that Thursday afternoon when he took the pill he was told was a Percocet. Charlie died quietly in his bed in a house full of roommates who assumed he was napping. He was 22. Ed and Mary formed the nonprofit Song for Charlie in his honor, and now devote their time to creating and distributing educational resources for families about the risks associated with drug use and self-medication in the age of fentanyl and other synthetics.

Often consumed unknowingly, illicit fentanyl is driving the recent increase in U.S. overdose deaths. It is being used to make fake prescription pills, “fentapills,” and is also found in common street drugs like cocaine, MDMA, and heroin. Fake pills have been found in all 50 states and are the main reason fentanyl-involved deaths are growing fastest with young people. We should all assume that any prescription pill we see online is fake, including Oxy, Percocet, Adderall, and Xanax, and we should install updated drug-education programs in our schools as part of a multipronged effort to reduce drug harms. ...

... On this National Fentanyl Awareness Day,* we tell our stories to raise awareness about this urgent national problem that isn’t a left, right, or center issue; it is a human issue. As regular citizens, we can’t stop these pills from being created, but we can do something absolutely critical to start to regain some control: we can commit to education and demand reduction, working together to ensure that young people have the knowledge and tools they need to keep themselves safe from drugs that could contain fentanyl.

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6277243/fentanyl-deaths-young-people-fake-pills

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too!

*National Fentanyl Awareness Day website:

Raising awareness about an urgent national problem: people are dying at alarming rates due to illicit fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. Get the facts and share them widely. Spread the word with us for our second annual activation on May 9, 2023. ...

... OUR PARTNERS

We have a growing coalition of nonprofits, influencers, politicians, parents, educators, students, and others to share information on social media about this critical problem.

BECOME A PARTNER** ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the website:

https://www.fentanylawarenessday.org

**I became a National Fentanyl Awareness Day partner! And so, I received an email from National Fentanyl Awareness Day today, May 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "We have received your response for National Fentanyl Awareness Day: Become a Partner", which stated the following:

Thank you for your partnership!

Here is the link to utilize our partner toolkit, which includes sample graphics, caption copy, messaging guidelines and sample emails to spread the word!

DOWNLOAD TOOLKIT

What is your organization's name? Poet, Artist and Philosopher

Organization Type: Other

Organization Website: https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

Organization’s Point of Contact Name: Paul Whiting

Organization’s Point of Contact Email: [redacted]

As National Fentanyl Awareness Day partner, your organization agrees to:

[✓] Share information about the issue on social media

[✓] Inform staff, members and stakeholders about the Day

[✓] Be listed publicly (name, website URL) on the National Fentanyl Awareness Day website

Therefore, as a National Fentanyl Awareness Day partner, my goal is to "share information about the issue" with you, my readers, on my blogs! –Paul Whiting

---------------------------------------------

Thank You!

Your submission has been received.

–Paul Whiting (written May 15th, 2023, revised May 16th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023 and revised May 7th, 2024)

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May 16th, 2023 Update: I voted today, May 16th, 2023, in Portland Oregon's Multnomah County Special District Election! –Paul Whiting (May 16th, 2023)

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May 16th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 17th, 2023: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google yesterday, May 16th, 2023, when I noticed an article on APNews.com titled, "Biden speaks out against ‘antisemitic bile’ during Jewish American Heritage Month celebration." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Biden speaks out against ‘antisemitic bile’ during Jewish American Heritage Month celebration" from AP (Associated Press) News

By Colleen Long and Aamer Madhani | May 16, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Jewish American Heritage Month on Tuesday by highlighting his administration’s efforts to combat rising antisemitism, at a White House reception that featured performances from the stars of the Broadway revival of “Parade.”

Biden told the crowd it was important to him personally to guard against the rise of “antisemitic bile” in the world, and in particular the U.S.

“Jewish Americans are shattered by a long and painful history of the oldest, the most sinister forces hate and anti-semitism,” he said, talking about how he learned of the horrors of the Holocaust from his father and how it has motivated him to speak out against hate.

He also reiterated how his decision to run for the White House in 2020 was shaped by a 2017 neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The president, who just weeks ago announced he would run for reelection, spoke frequently during the 2020 campaign about the “Unite the Right” rally led by white nationalists bearing torches. Clashes between that group and a large gathering of counterprotesters led to the death of counterprotester Heather Heyer when a white nationalist drove his car into the crowd.

Then-President Donald Trump said of the incident that “you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides.”

“That’s when I knew we had to stay engaged in the work of our time,” Biden said. “Hate never goes away. It just hides under the rocks until someone breathes oxygen on the rocks and it comes roaring back out.”

Biden highlighted his appointment of America’s first ambassador-level special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, increased federal funding to help secure synagogues, Jewish community centers and Jewish day schools, and convening a White House summit on combating hate-fueled violence. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://apnews.com/article/biden-jewish-american-heritage-antisemitism-ben-platt-3151626b18a30c5018392fb6df84c3e9

And I decided to highlight this article from AP News for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 17th, 2023, revised May 30th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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May 19th, 2023 Update: I received an email from UNICEF USA (formerly known as the 'United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund' that is now called the 'United Nations Children's Fund') today, May 19th, 2023, with the subject line, "UNICEF’s mental health response in times of crisis", which stated the following:

Paul, children's mental health needs are an urgent priority for UNICEF — but global funding for mental health and psychosocial support services is severely limited, especially as mounting emergencies threaten the well-being of millions.

Call on your legislators to support the Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings (MINDS) Act, which would support the integration of mental health services in U.S. foreign assistance for children.

Within moments, a natural disaster or escalating conflict can disrupt a child’s life and severely impact their mental health. They could be in school one day and fleeing their homes and communities to seek safety the next. UNICEF knows how crises have long-term effects on the development and positive mental health of children and that’s reflected in emergency response.

Alongside the immediate delivery of essential supplies and services, UNICEF acts quickly to assess and respond to the mental health needs of children living through crises:

[✓] In the wake of violent conflict in Sudan, UNICEF and partners are establishing Child-Friendly Spaces to ensure that children's well-being and safety are prioritized, providing counseling and offering necessary interventions to children.

[✓] Following the earthquakes in Turkey, UNICEF and partners have reached more than 250,000 children and caregivers with psychosocial support, including over 51,000 through 47 support hubs.

[✓] As war continues in Ukraine, UNICEF’s Spilno Spots have brought psychosocial care, medical checks and referrals to services to nearly 750,000 children.

Urge Congress to pass the MINDS Act and ensure that more support is available to meet the mental health needs of children >>***

During times of crisis, an increasing number of children and parents are expected to be in need of mental health and psychosocial support to cope with what they’re experiencing. UNICEF is there to promote positive mental health for every child — whether it’s making space for them to express their emotions after a challenging event or training teachers and caregivers to recognize and respond to children’s mental health needs.

No matter the situation, UNICEF acts to invest in children’s mental health and well being to help them live their best lives — and you can too. Use your voice to call on your legislators to increase mental health support for children around the world >>***

Thank you for helping children thrive,

[Name redacted]
UNICEF USA

Urge Congress to Support Mental Health Around the Globe

Good mental health and psychosocial well-being is essential for children, adolescents, caregivers and communities to thrive. Yet the impacts of COVID-19 are challenging mental health like never before. Even prior to the pandemic, 14 percent of the world’s children and adolescents experienced some form of mental health condition.

Mental health is a global issue, yet stigma and underfunding have limited investment in mental health services and support, particularly in low-income countries. UNICEF knows that anxiety, depression and other stress-related problems threaten children’s ability to grow up healthy and happy. Failure to address mental health and psychosocial issues can stall children’s development and bar them from opportunities to participate meaningfully in society.

The Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings (MINDS) Act (H.R.1570 / S.767), led by Rep. [Name redacted] [Affiliation redacted] and Rep. [Name redacted] [Affiliation redacted] in the House of Representatives and Sen. [Name redacted] [Affiliation redacted] in the Senate, would support the integration of mental health services in U.S. foreign assistance programming, with a particular focus on children, their families and other vulnerable populations.

Investments in the mental health, resilience and well-being of children and caregivers not only benefit individual families but can also help break cycles of poverty and violence and contribute to more prosperous societies.

Join us in calling on elected officials to prioritize mental health services for children and caregivers in U.S. foreign assistance. Ask your member of Congress to cosponsor and pass the MINDS Act today!

SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR OFFICIALS WITH ONE CLICK!

Title: Mr.
Full Name: Paul Whiting
Address: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
City and state not required.
Phone: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]

SEND EMAIL

Sending to:

Rep. [Name redacted]
[Affiliation redacted]

Sen. [Name redacted]
[Affiliation redacted]

Sen. [Name redacted]
[Affiliation redacted]

Message your lawmakers:

As your constituent and a UNICEF supporter, I am deeply concerned about the mental health of children and their caregivers around the world. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic — such as increased isolation — have strained mental health globally like never before. Prior to the pandemic, 14 percent of the world’s children and adolescents experienced some form of mental health condition. Additionally, an estimated 15-23 percent of children around the world live with a parent with a mental disorder.

UNICEF has found that mental health conditions threaten children’s ability to grow up healthy and happy. Conflict, trauma and economic insecurity compound the risk of mental health disorders and failure to address mental health and psychosocial issues can stall children’s development and bar them from opportunities to participate meaningfully in society.

Mental disorders represent a significant percentage of the global disease burden, and depression is among the primary causes of illness and disability in adolescents. Anxiety and depression alone cost the global economy $1 trillion each year. Yet, for every $1 spent to scale up treatment for depression and anxiety, there is a $4 return on investment in better health and productivity. Investments in the mental health, resilience and well-being of children and caregivers not only benefit individual families but can also help break cycles of poverty and violence.

As mental health emerges as an increasingly important aspect of overall health, U.S. foreign assistance should reflect mental health as a priority and coordinate investments in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), particularly for young people and their caregivers.

The Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act (H.R.1570 / S.767), led by Rep. [Name redacted] [Affiliation redacted] and Rep. [Name redacted] [Affiliation redacted] in the House of Representatives and Sen. [Name redacted] [Affiliation redacted] in the Senate, is a bipartisan bill that would support the integration of mental health services in U.S. foreign assistance by codifying the role of the USAID Coordinator for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and creating an interagency MHPSS working group, led by the Coordinator, to ensure collaboration across USAID and the State Department. The legislation focuses on children, caregivers and vulnerable populations across both development and humanitarian settings.

This bill is necessary to enable young people to gain access to appropriate mental health services in communities and schools, and build on parenting programs to ensure vulnerable families get the support and protection they need at home. Supporting children and their families now could prevent a lifetime of mental health challenges. I strongly urge you to cosponsor and vote for the MINDS Act.

Thank you for considering my request and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Paul Whiting
[Address redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, May 19th, 2023, from UNICEF USA with the subject line, "Thank You! Now, learn how you can go further for children in the U.S.", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action on this issue and urging Congress to address the need for greater access to mental health services and psychosocial support for children and youth around the globe. Please share this link with your friends and family so they can join you in this action:

https://act.unicefusa.org/iDffqBw

Interested in advocating for mental health services for children in the U.S.?

Visit act.unicefusa.org/mentalhealthUS to learn more and take action.

In partnership,

UNICEF USA

Then, after I sent the letter above to my Oregon Representative and Senators in Congress, via the UNICEF USA website, I made a one-time donation to UNICEF USA in order to do my part to "urge Congress to pass the MINDS Act and ensure that more support is available to meet the mental health needs of children," in order to "prioritize the mental health of children [by doing the following]:

1. Establishing Child-Friendly Spaces in emergencies
2. Supporting community-based mental health programs
3. Providing mental health support for parents and caregivers
4. Training teachers to offer psychosocial support
5. Raising awareness to destigmatize mental health."

–Paul Whiting (written May 19th, 2023 and revised October 12th, 2023)

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May 19th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU today, May 19th, 2023, with the subject line, "It was cruel and illegal then. It still is. That's why we're suing.", which stated the following:

Paul –

In case you missed it, we are suing to stop Biden's new asylum ban, which prevents most people seeking protection at the U.S. border from even being considered for asylum. The ban is a retreat from our nation's highest values and its historic promise as a beacon of hope for those in need of refuge. Here's what to know – and action you can take immediately:***

Our challenge was filed swiftly after the Biden administration unveiled this new policy last week: an asylum ban that largely mimics two Trump-era policies that were blocked by the courts.

This ban, which directly violates a promise President Biden made during his campaign, was introduced right as Title 42, another anti-asylum policy, ended. Biden's new ban prohibits asylum for nearly everyone seeking it at the border unless they are lucky enough to secure a scarce appointment through an inaccessible phone app. And it only allows narrow exceptions that are nearly impossible for most to meet.

Let's be clear: People fleeing persecution have a legal right to seek asylum, no matter how they reach the border. And forcing people who are running for their lives to try their luck in securing a limited appointment slot through a faulty app is inhumane and will only subject people to further danger.

We've been down this road before with Trump, Paul. The asylum bans were cruel and illegal then, and nothing has changed. That's why we're suing alongside our affiliate the ACLU of Northern California, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and National Immigrant Justice Center.

If you're hoping to take action in this fight, join our petition now telling President Biden to end this asylum ban.*** If you've already signed, then please share the link along as much as possible. Email it, tweet it, text it – whatever you prefer to help amplify the message.

For decades, the ACLU has worked to protect the fundamental right to seek asylum in the U.S. – and we promise you that we won't stop now.

Thank you for being with us in this critical work,

The ACLU Team

TELL BIDEN: SEEKING ASYLUM IS A LEGAL RIGHT.

The Biden administration has implemented a policy that will unlawfully deny asylum to people seeking protection at the southern border who don't first wait to apply for asylum in Mexico or other countries they passed through — despite the fact that many of these countries don't have working asylum systems. In doing so, President Biden broke a direct campaign promise.

This new asylum ban is, at its core, Trump’s asylum bans. It will leave the most vulnerable people in much the same position as Trump’s policy did — at risk and unfairly denied the protection of asylum for reasons that have nothing to do with their need for refuge. Adding a mobile app and tinkering with the details of the ban can’t fix its fundamental problems.

The ACLU is actively suing to stop this new new ban, because whether from President Trump or President Biden, these asylum bans are illegal and place people’s lives in grave jeopardy. But we need your voice in this fight: Please tell President Biden to end this asylum ban and uphold his campaign promise to restore the right to seek asylum.

SUPPORT THIS PETITION

To President Biden: I am deeply concerned about your new policy that will unlawfully deny asylum to people at the southern border. Your asylum ban will leave the most vulnerable people in much the same position as Trump’s policy did — at risk and unfairly denied the protection of asylum for reasons that have nothing to do with their need for refuge. That is why I’m reaching out to state clearly and resolutely that I oppose this asylum ban.

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, May 19th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action for the rights of asylum seekers.

Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link:

https://action.aclu.org/petition/tell-biden-seeking-asylum-legal-right

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

The Biden administration has implemented a new policy that will unlawfully deny asylum to people seeking protection at the southern border who don't first wait to apply for asylum in Mexico or other countries they passed through — even though many of these countries don't have working asylum systems.

This new asylum ban is, at its core, Trump’s asylum bans. We must all speak out and fight for the rights of asylum seekers now. That’s why I just added my name to ACLU’s petition urging President Biden...to end this asylum ban.

Will you join me?

https://action.aclu.org/petition/tell-biden-seeking-asylum-legal-right

Thanks.

Then, after I sent the letter above to President Biden, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to do my part in "telling President Biden to end this [new] asylum ban," which is "at its core, Trump’s asylum bans," because "it will leave the most vulnerable people in much the same position as Trump’s policy did — at risk and unfairly denied the protection of asylum for reasons that have nothing to do with their need for refuge." –Paul Whiting (May 19th, 2023)

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For my "May 20th, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 20th, 2023 Update [My Writing About Armed Forces Day (for 2023)]: Armed Forces Day is today, May 20th, 2023—since Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday in May each year—and I made a one-time donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) on the USO.org website in order to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices made by our Armed Forces!

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 20th, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 23rd, 2023 Update: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Action Fund today, May 23rd, 2023, with the subject line, "Take action to protect patient privacy", which stated the following:

The Biden administration needs to hear from you, Paul:

Sign your name to support patient privacy protections >>

ADD YOUR COMMENT***

Goal: 25,000 comments

A new rule would limit access to private data that can be used to investigate or prosecute abortion. Support patient privacy.

Paul, for the activists and politicians who want to eliminate access to abortion, intimidation has always been the name of the game. It's no surprise — their agenda is all about control and punishment.

We've seen anti-abortion activists harassing patients and staff outside of health centers. We've seen Texas empower private citizens to go after friends and caregivers who help people have abortions. And now we're seeing prosecutors investigate and intimidate patients and providers for seeking or providing basic health care.

Here's what we believe: Your personal health care data should not be used to punish you for seeking the health care you need. Providers should not be compelled to share their patients' personal information when doing so could harm the patient, provider, or a loved one.

In the midst of relentless attacks on our health and rights, we're grateful that the Biden-Harris administration is taking patient privacy seriously. The Department of Health and Human Services recently proposed a new rule that would strengthen the privacy protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act — more commonly known as HIPAA.

But these urgently-needed privacy protections haven't gone into effect yet. The Biden administration is first collecting public comments about this proposed rule, and the deadline is just a few weeks away.

Paul: We've set a goal of collecting 25,000 comments before next month's deadline. Show your support for protecting patient privacy by submitting a comment now.

SUBMIT MY COMMENT***

The proposed rule would help keep people's reproductive health care data private. It would limit when a person's information could be disclosed by a health care provider to investigate or prosecute a patient, provider, or a loved one for seeking, having, or providing an abortion.

No one's privacy should be compromised based on the type of health care they seek. And providers should never be required to share private patient data as a part of hostile state abortion prosecutions.

Right now is our chance to speak out and support these necessary protections. We need to make sure the Biden-Harris administration hears from as many Planned Parenthood Action Fund supporters as possible.

With reproductive health and rights undergoing an onslaught of attacks — from abortion restrictions to the potential reversal of FDA approval for mifepristone and more — every victory we can secure for patients counts.

Add your voice and help reach our 25,000-comment goal before the deadline.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Take action to protect patients

No one's privacy should be compromised when they seek health care. Thank the Biden administration for taking an important step to protect patients seeking abortion and other sexual and reproductive health care, and urge them to finalize the rule as soon as possible.

Please note that when we forward your comments to Regulations.gov, they become part of the public record and will be posted online by the federal agency once they have been reviewed. By submitting this form, you give Planned Parenthood organizations permission to share your note on social media or with media organizations, including your first name and state.

Help fight back.

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Postal Code: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

Do you want to be an associate member of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund? Yes

Protect patient privacy

Dear Biden administration,

Thank you for taking this important step to protect patients who seek abortion and other sexual and reproductive health care with the Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy.

No health care provider should be forced to share their patients' private health information, especially when it could hurt the patient, the provider, or a patient's loved one.

This rule is needed now more than ever, and I strongly support it.

THANK YOU for standing up for the rights of patients to keep their personal health care data personal!

Sincerely,
[Your information here]

And, after I sent the comment above, I received a confirmation email today, May 23rd, 2023, from Planned Parenthood Action Fund with the subject line, "Thank you for taking action!", which stated the following:

Paul,

Thank you for submitting your public comment in support of protecting patients' privacy with the proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.

You can help make an even bigger difference by showing your support for Planned Parenthood Action Fund and asking your friends and family to join you.

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

You can also help defend access to health care and protect our reproductive rights by making a gift to Planned Parenthood Action Fund. We'll put your gift to work immediately mobilizing grassroots activists in key states, pressuring lawmakers, magnifying the voices of those most affected by attacks on our health and rights, and more.

I'm so glad to know that we can count on you to raise your voice when it counts — thanks again for speaking out.

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

A new rule would limit access to private data that can be used to investigate or prosecute abortion. Support patient privacy.

https://weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/bPj54DOnkk-JNRQGeWNdAA2?snw=2&ref=f95faaa9-d151-4f60-b391-5d66be7fa102

Plus, after I submitted the comment above to the Biden Administration, via Planned Parenthood Action Fund website, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Action Fund to show that I am "grateful that the Biden-Harris administration is taking patient privacy seriously," through "the Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy" and to say, "THANK YOU for standing up for the rights of patients to keep their personal health care data personal!" –Paul Whiting (written May 23rd, 2023 and revised June 3rd, 2023)

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May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU today, May 23rd, 2023, with the subject line, "FILED: DeSantis has banned Chinese people from buying property. We're suing.", which stated the following:

Paul –

Over the past two weeks, our attorneys have been filing lawsuit after lawsuit to fight against the surge of attacks on people's most fundamental rights: From the rights and safety of trans people to voting rights to abortion access and beyond.

We will be back with further updates on these urgent fights in the courts soon, but we wanted to uplift one particular breaking lawsuit that our legal teams just filed this week in the state of Florida against yet another harmful ban from Governor DeSantis.

Here's your rundown, Paul – and we'll be back with more news tomorrow on the slew of lawsuits we've hustled to file once our attorneys have had a moment to breathe.

THE BAN: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis very recently signed into law SB 264. This racist law forbids many immigrants from China, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from buying a home in the state – with very limited exceptions. The law singles out people from China for especially draconian restrictions and harsher criminal penalties. Gov. DeSantis has said that this bill is "necessary to combat the influence of the Chinese Communist Policy in Florida," but he is wrongly equating Chinese people with the Chinese government. This law will not keep Floridians safe. It will upend people's lives and make it far more challenging for immigrants to prosper economically in the state.

OUR FIGHT BACK IN COURT: The ACLU, ACLU of Florida, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and DeHeng Law Offices PC are working together to challenge the Florida law before it goes into effect on Saturday, July 1. The plaintiffs in our case include Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida, and who will soon be prohibited from purchasing real estate.

WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT NATIONALLY: Worryingly, Florida isn't alone. Lawmakers across the country are trying to pass laws to ban Chinese citizens and other immigrants from owning property. Just as states have continued to bring out anti-trans, anti-abortion, and anti-voter legislation in droves this year – despite citizens and public opinion clearly stating the opposite – so too are we seeing similar anti-immigrant and xenophobic bills like this one take shape.

The bottom line, Paul, is this: At a time when one in two Asian Americans report feeling unsafe in the U.S. due to their ethnicity – and nearly 80% don't feel they fully belong or are accepted – Florida's leaders have a responsibility to the people who live there to do better.

Until they do, we'll see them in court.

More from our attorneys soon,

The ACLU Team

DONATE NOW

And, after I read the email above, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to help "the ACLU, ACLU of Florida, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and DeHeng Law Offices PC...to challenge the Florida law" that "Governor Ron DeSantis very recently signed into law[,] SB 264," which "forbids many immigrants from China, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from buying a home in the state," because "at a time when one in two Asian Americans report feeling unsafe in the U.S. due to their ethnicity – and nearly 80% don't feel they fully belong or are accepted – Florida's leaders have a responsibility to the people who live there to do better." –Paul Whiting (May 23rd, 2023)

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May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, May 23rd, 2023, with the subject line, "Book burning and censorship in Nazi Germany", which stated the following:

Ninety years ago this month, university students in Nazi clubs led an enthusiastic crowd in the burning of more than 25,000 “un-German” books in a Berlin public square. These planned, torchlit purges occurred in 34 university towns across Germany.

In the aftermath of the book burnings, the Nazi regime raided bookstores, libraries, and publishers’ warehouses to confiscate materials it deemed dangerous. The censorship was an early step toward transforming the country from a democracy to a dictatorship.
‌
“Where They Burn Books, They Will Also Ultimately Burn People”

See how it all began >>

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/book-burning

Helen Keller Penned a Powerful Response

“History has taught you nothing” >>

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Frc5Vm4QntdZcksQbaznvcE6Y9w25J4HsQ8BSUHQxKkhpAa36WPZ5qaTAAX3nweyl&id=34362997676

He Watched His Life’s Work Go Up in Flames

Who was Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld? >>

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/magnus-hirschfeld-2

Book Burnings Did Not Begin or End with the Nazis

Watch Fires of Hate >>

https://m.facebook.com/holocaustmuseum/videos/fires-of-hate/503895038052771/

Nazi Propaganda Minister Incites Berlin Crowd with Fiery Speech

What did Goebbels say? >>

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/film/books-burn-as-goebbels-speaks

As Censorship Widened, Hitler Ousted American Journalist from Germany

Learn her story >>

https://exhibitions.ushmm.org/americans-and-the-holocaust/personal-story/dorothy-thompson

STAY CONNECTED LIVE

Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality

Thursday, June 1, 9:30 a.m. ET

Remind me to watch >>
‌
https://www.ushmm.org/online-calendar/event/vefblvpridemth0601

Donate to Keep Holocaust Memory Alive

DONATE

Keep Holocaust memory alive to inspire citizens and leaders to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity in a constantly changing world. Visit ushmm.org/campaign to learn more.

And, after I read the email above, I read all of the articles mentioned above regarding the Nazi book burnings of 1933. I also signed up to be reminded to watch the livestream "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality." Plus, I made a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in order to help "keep Holocaust memory alive to inspire citizens and leaders to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity in a constantly changing world." –Paul Whiting (written May 23rd, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 16th, 2023 and revised October 7th, 2023)
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May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further (Follow-Up, Written On June 1st, 2023): This update is a follow-up to my 'May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further,' where I explained, in part, that I signed up to be reminded to watch the livestream "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality."

Therefore, I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, June 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "Digital Program Now Available | Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality", which stated the following:

Digital Program Now Available

Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality

Thank you for your interest in today’s discussion. The recording is now available on demand, and we encourage you to share it with friends.

WATCH NOW:

https://m.facebook.com/holocaustmuseum

About This Program

Berlin was known as the gay capital of the world until Nazis began terrorizing LGBTQ+ people and shut down the Eldorado Club in 1933.

But love persisted in spite of Nazi persecution. Repeated arrests and beatings couldn’t crush the bond between Jewish dancer Margot Holzmann Liu and her partner, Marta Halusa. The inhumane conditions at the Ravensbrück concentration camp didn’t prevent prisoners Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang from beginning their lifelong romance.

Watch this special program and join Museum experts in commemorating Pride Month by recognizing these legacies of resilience and rebellion during Nazi rule.

This virtual program and previous episodes are available on demand on the Museum’s Facebook (https://m.facebook.com/watch/34362997676/2572591559664662/) and YouTube (https://youtu.be/jr6Gn5DFDPo) pages.

Now, to clarify, I decided to wait until after the event had livestreamed to watch it, since I only have a cellular data plan through my cell phone company (so, I don't have access to Wi-Fi on my smartphone). Plus, this program started livestreaming at 6:30 AM PDT! Additionally, whenever I watch these livestreamed programs as a recording, I can go back to parts of the program that I wish to repeat in order to watch them over again.

Besides that, I also decided to watch the video on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Channel on YouTube. Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality

Berlin was known as the gay capital of the world until Nazis began terrorizing LGBTQ+ people and shut down the Eldorado Club in 1933.

But love persisted in spite of Nazi persecution. Repeated arrests and beatings couldn’t crush the bond between Jewish dancer Margot Holzmann Liu and her partner, Marta Halusa. The inhumane conditions at the Ravensbrück concentration camp didn’t prevent prisoners Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang from beginning their lifelong romance. Join us as we commemorate Pride Month with their legacies of resilience and rebellion during Nazi rule.

https://youtu.be/jr6Gn5DFDPo

In addition to that, I decided to make a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, shortly before I started to watch the video, in order to show my support for the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality." –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised August 22nd, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

P.S.: I started watching the video of the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality" at 10:07 PM PDT. And I finished watching the video thirty one minutes later. So, my take on the program was that I found it to be a really powerful history of the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nazi Germany, which highlighted endearing stories of Margot Holzmann Liu and Marta Halusa, as well as Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang, who were two lesbian couples that found lifelong loves in unbearable conditions.

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May 24th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU today, May 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "We just filed against a number of anti-trans laws. Here's your rundown.", which stated the following:

Paul –

It's no secret at this point that there is a coordinated attack to strip people away of fundamental freedoms right now. The ACLU's fight is at the crossroads of nearly every civil liberty on the line right now – and we want you to know our attorneys and advocates are moving fast to defend them all.

At this time especially, a growing roster of state politicians have become hellbent on jeopardizing the health and lives of trans youth. And our teams are hellbent on making sure they do not succeed.

It's been an incredibly busy past two weeks of filing lawsuits to protect trans rights and as you’re a community member who helps fuel this work, we want you to have a quick rundown of our latest:

Status of Our Legal Challenges for Trans Youth:

TEXAS: Will File Soon

Briefing: We have pledged to file suit in Texas swiftly against SB 14 – a sweeping new ban that prevents trans youth from accessing medically necessary health care. SB 14 passed in the Texas Legislature last week and Gov. Abbot has stated he will sign the bill when it reaches his desk. When he does, we will see him in court.

OKLAHOMA: Filed

Briefing: A binding legal agreement will prevent Oklahoma from enforcing its ban on care for trans youth as the court decides on our case to block it. We and our partners just filed the agreement – and we're ready to hold Oklahoma's Attorney General to his word.

MISSISSIPPI: Filed and Went to Court

Briefing: We filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Mississippi high school senior who was banned from wearing a dress to graduation because she's transgender, and it quickly went to court. A judge shamefully ruled in the school's favor but we'll be clear: The government shouldn't get to decide what a teen girl can or can't wear to her graduation, and we will not ever stop fighting back.

Paul, trans youth deserve the support and care necessary to give them the same chance to thrive as their peers. Period. And make no mistake that today's updates are only the latest of our many challenges in the ongoing fight across the states.

Elected officials shouldn't be spending their time and resources making it harder for people to access the health care they need. And as long as they're coming after people's freedoms, our fight isn't over.

Thank you for being with us in this crucial work,

The ACLU Team

DONATE NOW

And, after I read the email above, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to do my part to help the "ACLU's fight [which] is at the crossroads of nearly every civil liberty on the line right now," because "elected officials shouldn't be spending their time and resources making it harder for people to access the health care they need," since "trans youth deserve the support and care necessary to give them the same chance to thrive as their peers." –Paul Whiting (May 24th, 2023)

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May 24th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Song for Charlie today, May 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "May 25 Learning Opportunity", which stated the following:

Hello NFAD [National Fentanyl Awareness Day] Supporters,

You are invited to attend the monthly SFC Youth Fentanyl Awareness Collaboration Forum a learning opportunity for anyone wanting to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills. On Thursday, May 25 we are excited to have guest speaker [name redacted] talk to us about the dangers of using fear-based messaging, and how to create empowering messages for youth using evidence-based strategies.

Please forward to anyone who may be interested in joining.

Next Forum:
Thursday, May 25
9-10:30am PST/noon-1:30 EST
Guest Speaker: [Name redacted], [Title redacted] of Community – The Anti-Drug (CTAD) Coalition
“From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower”
Click here to sign up & get a zoom link:

https://www.songforcharlie.org/event-details/youth-fentanyl-awareness-collaboration-meeting-1

** Presentation will be recorded and sent to all on Collaboration Forum mailing list **

Session Description: It’s tempting to try to scare teens into not using alcohol, marijuana, vapes, or other drugs. The possible consequences are indeed really scary. Unfortunately, research shows that using fear appeals can inadvertently have the opposite effect on some teens – and some adults. This session will explore how screaming “don’t go into the basement!” at the movie screen is similar to repeating “don’t do drugs” to young people. How often do they heed that advice? On the other hand, providing guidance, resources and skills can help your audience be the hero in their story. This session offers specific guidelines and checklists to ensure prevention messages in your materials and media campaigns are effective. The presenter will share examples from several campaigns she helped develop including: “You Determine Your Future” video PSAs, “Two Truths” marijuana awareness posters, “You Got This!” and “You Matter” youth drug prevention campaigns, and “Talk, Monitor, Secure” parent/guardian campaign.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to…
1. Identify ways fear appeals may have unintended consequences.
2. List components of effective drug prevention materials.
3. Revise drug prevention materials to be more empowering and effective.

About the speaker: [name redacted] has presented at statewide and national conferences on youth advocacy, the social norms approach and coalition development. In over 20 years of drug prevention experience, she served as [title redacted] at Truth Initiative in Washington D.C., [title redacted] at a local health department in Illinois, and currently as [title redacted] of Community – The Anti-Drug (CTAD) Coalition in the north suburbs of Chicago. She has worked with multiple coalitions at the local, county, and regional level. In addition to drug prevention experience, Ms. [name redacted] worked as a nonprofit consultant for Veterans Moving Forward, a D.C.-based nonprofit that provides service dogs and canine therapy to veterans, and spent three years in the Netherlands, where she served as a social cultural worker helping foreign women integrate into Dutch society and coordinating a community coalition to identify and serve at-risk youth.

About the Youth Fentanyl Awareness Collaboration Forum: The purpose of this forum is to gather organizations doing youth fentanyl awareness work via zoom on a regular basis so we can share what organizations are working on, learn from each other, learn from expert guests, and perhaps collaborate on campaigns/solutions. This forum is targeted at coalitions, non-profits, law enforcement, and other agencies who are trying to raise awareness about fentanyl/fake pills to youth in their communities, but is open to anyone interested in youth fentanyl/synthetic drug awareness.

For those of you who missed the April forum with [name redacted] of NIDA & NIH and [name redacted] of the CDC, you can find copies of the presentations and a link to a recording of the event here: SFC Collaboration Forum Webpage:

https://www.songforcharlie.org/collaboration-forum

If you cannot attend the May 25 forum, but are interested in future forums, click here to sign up*** for future meeting notices.

Future Forums:
[✓] June 22- [Name redacted], [Title redacted], BeMe.com- Best Practices for Teen Advisory Boards
[✓] July 27- Examples of good community fentanyl awareness programs

We hope to see you on May 25!

Best,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
[Email redacted]

www.songforcharlie.org

Hello Fentanyl Awareness Community,

Thank you to everyone who attended the May 25 Collaboration Forum [“From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower”] with guest speaker [name redacted]. It was an enlightening presentation that gave the audience some very helpful tools and strategies to move to more positive & empowering messaging for youth.

You can find copies of [name redacted]’s presentation and a link to a recording of the event here: SFC Collaboration Forum Webpage:

https://www.songforcharlie.org/collaboration-forum

Next Forum:
Thursday, June 22
9-10:30am PST / noon-1:30 EST

9-10am Best Practices for Teen Advisory Boards, Guest Speaker: [Name redacted], [Title redacted], BeMe.com
10-10:30am- tbd

Click here to sign up & get a zoom link:

https://www.songforcharlie.org/event-details/youth-fentanyl-awareness-collaboration-meeting-2

** Presentation will be recorded and sent to all on Collaboration Forum mailing list **

Please forward to anyone who may be interested in joining.

Future Forums:
July 27 - Examples of good community fentanyl awareness programs, multiple guests
August 24 - Topic TBD

We hope to see you there!

Best,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
[Email redacted]

www.songforcharlie.org

About the Youth Fentanyl Awareness Collaboration Forum: The purpose of this forum is to gather organizations doing youth fentanyl awareness work via zoom on a regular basis so we can share what organizations are working on, learn from each other, learn from expert guests, and perhaps collaborate on campaigns/solutions. This forum is targeted at coalitions, non-profits, law enforcement, and other agencies who are trying to raise awareness about fentanyl/fake pills to youth in their communities, but is open to anyone interested in youth fentanyl/synthetic drug awareness.

For those of you who missed our previous forums, you can find copies of the presentations and a links to recordings here: SFC Collaboration Forum Webpage:

https://www.songforcharlie.org/collaboration-forum

By the way, I actually started to attend the May 25th, 2023 Collaboration Forum “From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower,” however, I decided to wait until after the event had broadcast on Zoom to watch it, since I only have a cellular data plan through my cell phone company (so, I don't have access to Wi-Fi on my smartphone), because I was concerned that the broadcast on Zoom would take up too much cellular data. –Paul Whiting (written May 26th, 2023 and revised June 1st, 2023)
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May 24th, 2023 Update—Continued (Follow-Up, Written On May 27th, 2023): I finally got around to watching the May 25th, 2023 Collaboration Forum “From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower” at my local library today, May 27th, 2023! And, at the end of the forum, they provided a link to an evaluation through Google that I submitted, as follows:

May 25 Collaboration Forum Evaluation

Evaluation of “From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower” presentation by [name redacted]

[My email redacted]

* Indicates required question

Please use the following rating scale: *

I increased my knowledge on this topic.

[✓] Strongly Agree
[  ] Agree
[  ] Disagree
[  ] Strongly Disagree

I will use the information I learned.

[✓] Strongly Agree
[  ] Agree
[  ] Disagree
[  ] Strongly Disagree

The presentation met my expectations.

[✓] Strongly Agree
[  ] Agree
[  ] Disagree
[  ] Strongly Disagree

The presenter was knowledgeable and engaging.

[✓] Strongly Agree
[  ] Agree
[  ] Disagree
[  ] Strongly Disagree

The presentation was a good use of my time.

[✓] Strongly Agree
[  ] Agree
[  ] Disagree
[  ] Strongly Disagree

Comments or suggestions on any of the above:

I was really impressed by the presenter's knowledge of the difference between using negative scare tactics to frighten teens away from using "fentapills" (or fake prescription pills made with fentanyl) and using positive empowering messages about choosing healthier options in order to alleviate stress, such as listening to music, exercising, going for a walk, spending time with friends, etc.

What did you find most helpful/interesting?

What I found most helpful was the overall message about "Being Positive," "Being Inclusive," and "Being Empowering!" Because I think that just using negative scare tactics may work for some teens; however, other teens are possibly going to rebel away from that negative messaging and try the fake prescription pills ("fentapills"), because teens are naturally rebellious and negative scare tactics can have the opposite effect on them.

What topics would you like to hear about in future Collaboration Forums?

At this time, I cannot think of what other topics that I would like to hear about in future Collaboration Forums.

This form was created inside of Song for Charlie.

Thus, I wanted to share with you, my readers, the feedback that I provided!

And I also want to encourage you to consider watching the May 25th, 2023 Collaboration Forum “From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower,” which is one hour and thirty four minutes, just to let you know; however, it's really informative!

You can find copies of the “From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower” presentation and a link to a recording of the event here: SFC Collaboration Forum Webpage:

https://www.songforcharlie.org/collaboration-forum

And you need to scroll down and look for the following:

5/25/23: From Horror Film Victim to Action Hero: Transform Materials to Empower with [name redacted]

Then, there is a dropdown menu with the "Recording of Meeting" at the bottom of the menu, with information for the Zoom recording.

So, I hope that you will consider taking the time to watch this really informative forum! –Paul Whiting (May 26th, 2023)

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May 25th, 2023 Update: I received an email from The Real News Network (TRNN) today, May 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "You helped us break a record last year", which stated the following:

Hello Paul,

I’ll be honest with you: publishing news on the Internet can be really weird. One minute, a social media platform like Facebook is giving you a platform to reach hundreds of thousands of people with your team’s articles, and the next minute, Mark Zuckerberg decides to throttle the amount of news in everyone’s feed and the flood of traffic you were depending on turns into barely a trickle.

But sometimes, hard work actually pays off. That’s what happened last year, when our YouTube audience started growing by leaps and bounds. This was thanks to the incredible contributions of all the people on our team—Taya Graham and Stephen Janis’ brilliant work to shine a weekly spotlight on the violence of policing, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges’ fantastic weekly interviews, Marc Steiner’s deep dives into the rise of the right, Mansa Musa’s reporting on the prison industrial complex informed by his own 48 years of incarceration, and of course our Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez’s great conversations on labor organizing and left politics.

All of this essential reporting and critical analysis—powered by your generous support of our work—drove our YouTube channel to new heights last year, with our videos being viewed over 27 million times in 2022—our best year ever, by a margin of well over 5 million views.

We’re on track to do even better this year—with the year about 1/3 over, we’re already well over 20 million views. If we can keep it up, we might be looking at doing more than double last year’s record. That’s 60 million times we are going to break through the corporate media’s blockade to deliver ad-free, un-paywalled, relentlessly independent news directly to the people.

But to do this, we need your renewed support today.

Turning informed reporting on policing, prisons, imperialism, and capitalist exploitation into video that people are excited to watch and share takes resources—it’s not just the people you see on camera, it’s everyone beyond the camera and in the control booth, the editors and producers and technicians who turn good ideas into real video broadcasts.

Would you be able to make a contribution of $225 this year to help? It would be incredibly appreciated, by me, and by everyone here at The Real News.

Cheers,
[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
The Real News Network

P.S. If you are anything like me, it’s way easier to just set up a recurring donation to support projects I love than to remember to make a contribution each year. If that sounds like your speed too, you can set up an automatic monthly or annual donation to support The Real News here.***

Have you seen The Real News? They're an independent media network that's funded by the people who read and watch their coverage. I just made a tax-deductible gift to support their work. Join me and chip in!

https://support.therealnews.com/page/FUNGWBAWASM

By the way, this isn't the first time that I have contributed to TRNN because I subscribe to The Real News Network channel on YouTube! You see, in both 2021 and 2022, I made an annual contribution to The Real News Network; however, I decided to contribute to them monthly starting today, since "the most impactful way to support The Real News is to join [their] growing community of sustaining members—supporters who give a little each month on their credit or debit card to make a big difference." –Paul Whiting (written May 25th, 2023 and revised October 3rd, 2024)

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May 26th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 26th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "What Was Memorial Day Originally Called?" (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"What Was Memorial Day Originally Called?" from Time Magazine

By Olivia B. Waxman | May 25, 2023

In some ways, there are two different Americas on Memorial Day. In one, Americans go on vacation, perhaps indulge in some barbecue, shopping, or relaxing at the beach.

But for those who have ties to the U.S. military, it’s a totally different, often somber occasion, usually marked by visiting the graves of friends and family members who died serving in various armed conflicts.

That’s more in line with how the holiday was first celebrated—before it was even called Memorial Day.

Originally called Decoration Day, the occasion was first marked three years after the end of the Civil War. On May 5, 1868, John Logan, head of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the major Union Army veterans association, issued a proclamation from his Washington, D.C. office telling Americans to celebrate “Decoration Day” on May 30. He urged them to decorate Civil War graves with the “choicest flowers of springtime.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6281712/memorial-day-originally-called

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 26th, 2023, revised May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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May 27th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, May 27th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Why Gas Prices Are Cheaper Right Now." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Why Gas Prices Are Cheaper Right Now" from Time Magazine

By Alana Semuels | May 26, 2023

A year ago, heading into Memorial Day weekend, people were freaking out about gas prices.

Prices at the pump hit $4.72 a gallon on May 30 and then soared past $5 a gallon in June. Diesel prices were as high as they’d been in the U.S. since the government started tracking them, which sent prices soaring for just about everything that moves by truck or boat or plane.

This year, though, travelers are getting a reprieve; gas prices are hovering around $3.57 a gallon, down from both a month ago and a year ago. These lower prices are tied to the price of crude oil, which is down about 35% from last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6283078/gas-prices-cheaper-memorial-day-weekend-2023

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written May 27th, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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For my "May 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I signed a Memorial Day card "to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country" from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 26th, 2023, that I received today via an email with the subject line, "Before you kick off the holiday weekend, please take a moment to thank our troops.", which stated the following:

Paul,

With barbecues, parades and fireworks to look forward to, so many people tend to forget that Memorial Day is an occasion to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country.

Before you celebrate this holiday weekend, we’re asking you to take a moment to remember our fallen heroes and show your support for the brave troops sacrificing so much today. Please, will you be one of the 100,000 patriotic Americans we need across emails, text messages, and advertisements to sign the card before Memorial Day ends, and let our heroes know how much folks back home value their service and sacrifice?

SIGN THE CARD***

My husband has had to miss precious time with family while serving in the U.S. Air Force, and while nothing can make up for those moments missed, I can tell you that having the support and gratitude of folks back home truly meant the world — to both of us.

As they risk their lives to protect ours, your signature, combined with thousands from other patriotic Americans, will send a powerful message of solidarity, one that can uplift a service member during their darkest moments. So please, don’t miss this opportunity to thank our troops: Sign immediately to stand with our heroes in uniform ahead of Memorial Day.

SIGN THE CARD***

Thank you for taking the time to be there for our military heroes before enjoying the holiday weekend with your loved ones. It truly means the world.

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

—[Name redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our troops, "As we honor all of our military heroes this Memorial Day, we want you to know how grateful we are for your courageous service and immense sacrifices. Thank you for everything you do to keep us safe and free." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html
---------------------------------------------
For my "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 27th, 2023"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 27th, 2023: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I received a text message today, May 27th, 2023, from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following:

Hi, it's [name redacted] from the USO. I hope your long weekend is off to a great start - but I'm reaching out today to make sure we all take a few moments to remember what this day is truly about: honoring the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country.

We owe them, and those who continue to risk their lives to defend our country, so much. That's why the USO has set a goal of 100K signatures on this special Memorial Day thank-you card for troops deployed around the world to make sure they know we're thinking about them, today and every day.

As a military spouse, I can tell you that your words of support and gratitude really do make a difference, especially when a service member is missing their family or having a tough day. So, I'm personally asking, will you add your name?***

Thank you,
[Name redacted], USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

So, I signed the Memorial Day card "to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country." Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website. By the way, this is the second time that I have both signed the card and made a donation to the USO for Memorial Day 2023. (Please see my 'May 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023,' which can be found above.)

However, I decided to sign the card again, and donate again, because it's for Memorial Day. And I made this one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our troops, "As we honor all of our military heroes this Memorial Day, we want you to know how grateful we are for your courageous service and immense sacrifices. Thank you for everything you do to keep us safe and free." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 27th, 2023":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html
---------------------------------------------
For my "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On May 28th, 2023"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On May 28th, 2023: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I received a text message today, May 28th, 2023, from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following:

Between beach days and barbecues, too many people forget that Memorial Day is about remembering all the courageous heroes who have lost their lives in service to our country.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧. 𝐈𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?

Please, sign the thank-you card now to help reach our 100K signature goal and show our troops that you value and appreciate their immense sacrifices:***

-Team USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

So, I signed the Memorial Day card "to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country." Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website. By the way, this is the third time that I have both signed the card and made a donation to the USO for Memorial Day 2023. (Please see my 'May 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023,' and my 'May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 27th, 2023,' which can be found above.)

However, I decided to sign the card once more, and donate once more, because it's for Memorial Day. And I made this one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our troops, "As we honor all of our military heroes this Memorial Day, we want you to know how grateful we are for your courageous service and immense sacrifices. Thank you for everything you do to keep us safe and free." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On May 28th, 2023":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html
---------------------------------------------
For my "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I received a text message today, May 29th, 2023, from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following:

This Memorial Day, help us reach 100k signatures on the card supporting our military heroes. They need to know we have their backs, so please, add your name now! >>***

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

So, I signed the Memorial Day card "to honor the military heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country." Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website. By the way, this is the fourth time that I have both signed the card and made a donation to the USO for Memorial Day 2023. (Please see my 'May 29th, 2023 Update, Written On May 26th, 2023,' and my 'May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On May 27th, 2023,' as well as my 'May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On May 28th, 2023,' which can be found above.)

However, I decided to sign the card one final time, and donate one final time, because it's for Memorial Day. And I made this one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our troops, "As we honor all of our military heroes this Memorial Day, we want you to know how grateful we are for your courageous service and immense sacrifices. Thank you for everything you do to keep us safe and free." ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html
---------------------------------------------
For my "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before, Written On May 30th, 2023"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before, Written On May 30th, 2023: Have a Memorable Memorial Day, everyone. I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, May 30th, 2023, with the subject line, "Yesterday, today, and always.", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

Memorial Day weekend signifies many things: the start of summer, outdoor festivities and time spent with loved ones. But most importantly, this day is about solemn remembrance, commemorating the brave service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Yesterday, today and every day, we must reflect on the sacrifice and service of American troops throughout our great nation's history. I am eternally grateful to all the brave heroes in uniform who put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms of our country. We must remember and honor their bravery and commitment every single day of the year.

As you get back to your long weekend, I want to thank this community of dedicated military supporters for understanding what this day is truly all about. No matter what, the USO will continue to remain steadfast in our commitment to honor and support service members and their families — and you are critical to that mission.

Thank you for being a part of this patriotic community and for standing with our courageous heroes in uniform.

Solemnly,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
United Service Organizations, Inc.

So, I wanted to share the email above with you, my readers, as my last 'update' with regard to me signing the USO's Memorial Day card for 2023. You see, I signed the USO's card four times to thank our troops, plus I made four donations to the USO, based upon one email and three text messages that I received from May 26th, 2023 to May 29th, 2023. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before, Written On May 30th, 2023":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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May 29th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before, Like Never Before [My Writing About IAVA's National Moment Of Silence, A.K.A. "The #GoSilent Campaign" (for 2023)]:

For Memorial Day 2023, I participated in the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) national moment of silence "for our nation’s heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice," including "those who lost their lives during the Global War on Terror (GWOT)," which is "a war that continues to be waged to this day," because the "GWOT has killed more than 7,000 U.S. troops across more than two decades – every one of them volunteers." And I also made a donation to the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) in order to show my support for IAVA's #GoSilent Campaign and for our U.S. Veterans. –Paul Whiting (written May 29th, 2023 and revised May 27th, 2024)

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May 30th, 2023 Update: I received a text message today, May 30th, 2023, from USA for UNFPA (formerly known as the 'United Nations Fund for Population Activities' that is now called the 'United Nations Population Fund'), which stated the following:

Hi Paul Whiting — We wanted to send you a quick text because our 2x match for women and girls expires in just 24 hours.

This month we’ve been observing Menstrual Health Day by raising money for our Dignity Kits, which ensure that, even in emergencies, women and girls can manage their periods. UNFPA Dignity Kits include menstrual pads, underwear, soap, laundry detergent, and other essential menstrual hygiene supplies.

But we just received word from our Sudan Office — with armed conflict continuing to escalate, we urgently need to reach an additional 260,692 women and girls with dignity kits.

The situation in Sudan has grown more heartbreaking. 28 hospitals have been attacked or destroyed and 61% of hospitals in the capital city have shut down. Just recently, a maternity hospital in Khartoum was attacked and crucial medical supplies are running dangerously low.

With medical infrastructure stretched to the limits, delivering essential care through our Dignity Kits is more important than ever. And if you donate before midnight tomorrow, your gift will be matched by generous donors — meaning your $90 gift can deliver 12 Dignity Kits instead of 6. Will you please rush a gift before our match runs out? A link to securely donate is below***

For every woman and girl. Always.

— USA for UNFPA

Paul: It's the first day of Pride Month – and while this should be a month of celebration and being in community, LGBTQ people are under attack.

Across the states, politicians are going after the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming people – including blocking access to potentially lifesaving health care, banning kids from school sports, and restricting the First Amendment rights of drag performers. And on Capitol Hill, extremist members of Congress are trying to criminalize and strip trans people of the care they need to live.

We will never let that happen, Paul. The ACLU is fighting back in every way we can, and we need you to join us today. To kick off Pride Month, please send a message to Congress, and tell them to reject any attacks on access to health care for trans people.

PROTECT TRANS LIVES***

We all deserve the right to make decisions about our own bodies, our own futures, and our own lives – but that's not a reality for trans people across the country.

While the ACLU is fighting back at the state level – taking states to court over health care bans and sports bans – we also know this anti-trans movement is far from over.

A new bill was introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress – led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene – that would criminalize the lifesaving health care trans people need. And another bill prohibiting trans girls from being able to play team sports has already passed in the House. This is not the end of these attacks at the federal level.

That's why it's so critical that people like you speak up for trans rights every chance they get – on the first day of Pride Month and every day that follows. Please, send a message to Congress today calling on your elected officials to protect trans people from discrimination.

Thank you in advance for speaking out,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: He, him, his
[Title redacted], ACLU

PROTECT TRANS CARE NOW

The attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.

A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.

We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Protect Trans People from Discrimination

Recently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?

I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.

Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.

Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.

I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.

Thank you. I look forward to your response.

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, June 1st, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect trans people.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link:

Thttps://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-trans-care-now

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

Recently, we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress to criminalize and strip transgender people of their right to safety, dignity, and autonomy.

In fact, a new bill was introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. And any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating.

We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. That's why I just joined the ACLU in sending a message to Congress urging them to protect trans people now.

Will you join me?

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-trans-care-now

Thanks.

Then, after I sent the letter above to Congress, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU because "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get – on the first day of Pride Month and every day that follows," by sending "a message to Congress today calling on [my] elected officials to protect trans people from discrimination." –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2023, revised June 7th, 2023 and revised July 24th, 2023)

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June 1st, 2023 Update—Continued [May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further (Follow-Up, Written On June 1st, 2023)]:

This update is a follow-up to my 'May 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued Further,' where I explained, in part, that I signed up to be reminded to watch the livestream "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality."

Therefore, I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, June 1st, 2023, with the subject line, "Digital Program Now Available | Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality", which stated the following:

Digital Program Now Available

Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality

Thank you for your interest in today’s discussion. The recording is now available on demand, and we encourage you to share it with friends.

WATCH NOW:

https://m.facebook.com/holocaustmuseum

About This Program

Berlin was known as the gay capital of the world until Nazis began terrorizing LGBTQ+ people and shut down the Eldorado Club in 1933.

But love persisted in spite of Nazi persecution. Repeated arrests and beatings couldn’t crush the bond between Jewish dancer Margot Holzmann Liu and her partner, Marta Halusa. The inhumane conditions at the Ravensbrück concentration camp didn’t prevent prisoners Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang from beginning their lifelong romance.

Watch this special program and join Museum experts in commemorating Pride Month by recognizing these legacies of resilience and rebellion during Nazi rule.

This virtual program and previous episodes are available on demand on the Museum’s Facebook (https://m.facebook.com/watch/34362997676/2572591559664662/) and YouTube (https://youtu.be/jr6Gn5DFDPo) pages.

Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality

Berlin was known as the gay capital of the world until Nazis began terrorizing LGBTQ+ people and shut down the Eldorado Club in 1933.

But love persisted in spite of Nazi persecution. Repeated arrests and beatings couldn’t crush the bond between Jewish dancer Margot Holzmann Liu and her partner, Marta Halusa. The inhumane conditions at the Ravensbrück concentration camp didn’t prevent prisoners Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang from beginning their lifelong romance. Join us as we commemorate Pride Month with their legacies of resilience and rebellion during Nazi rule.

https://youtu.be/jr6Gn5DFDPo

In addition to that, I decided to make a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, before I started to watch the video, in order to show my support for the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality." –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised August 22nd, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

P.S.: I started watching the video of the program "Pride Month: Defying the Nazi Campaign to Control Sexuality" at 10:07 PM PDT. And I finished watching the video thirty one minutes later. So, my take on the program was that I found it to be a really powerful history of the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nazi Germany, which highlighted endearing stories of Margot Holzmann Liu and Marta Halusa, as well as Nelly Mousset-Vos and Nadine Hwang, who were two lesbian couples that found lifelong loves in unbearable conditions.

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June 1st, 2023 Update—Continued Further: Did you know that June is PTSD Awareness Month?

Neither did I! That is, until I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) last year on June 29th, 2022, with the subject line, "Military Supporter Update: June 2022."

And I wrote an 'update' labeled, 'June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022' regarding that email from the USO, a copy of which can be found below from my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" that is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog. Plus, this copy of the aforementioned 'update' is also from my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity" that is on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (which is where most of my USO donations 'updates' are located):

---------------------------------------------

June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, June 29th, 2022, with the subject line, "Military Supporter Update: June 2022" with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 103 / June 2022, which stated, in part, the following:

YOUR USO AT WORK
Issue 103 / June 2022

DONATE NOW »

https://secure.uso.org

June has been a busy month here at the USO — from assembling thousands of USO Care Packages for troops deployed to places like Eastern Europe, to running our 11th annual USO T-shirt campaign. (There are still a few days left to get your T-shirt!). We are more grateful than ever for military supporters like you who make everything we do possible.

https://secure.uso.org/2205_t-shirt-2/

We hope you enjoy reading these June highlights...

And the following highlights from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, are regarding PTSD Awareness Month, which is the month of June, and regarding PTSD Awareness Day, which is yearly (annually) on June 27th:

USO recognizes PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD Awareness Month, but supporting our troops’ mental health is always a major USO priority. That’s why we focus so heavily on building connections between service members, helping them stay in touch with loved ones and creating spaces where they can feel safe.

Learn more about how the USO is helping troops impacted by PTSD and other mental health challenges. »

https://www.uso.org/stories/2664-military-suicide-rates-are-at-an-all-time-high-heres-how-were-trying-to-help

---------------------------------------------

BY THE NUMBERS

"27"

June 27 is #PTSDAwarenessDay, an opportunity to remind everyone that there are effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”), although many with PTSD do not get the help they need.

Help spread the word. »

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/index.asp

---------------------------------------------

...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And the following is the information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website highlighting that "JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH":

JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

Help Raise PTSD Awareness

There are currently about 8 million people in the United States with PTSD.

Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don't get the help they need. June is PTSD Awareness Month. Help us spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that treatments really do work and can lead to a better quality of life...

Make the Pledge

Start by making the pledge to Raise PTSD Awareness:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/awareness_pledge_form.asp

And so, I decided to "Make the Pledge" in order to help "Raise PTSD Awareness," which is why I wrote this blog post update! Plus, after I took the pledge, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

“I never wore the uniform myself. Working at DOD has made me feel that I have contributed to my country’s defense but contributing to the USO has multiplied that feeling. Our men and women in uniform deserve everything we can do for them.

“We choose to support the USO because of something I learned. When I worked at the Pentagon, I was asked to contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign, as is every other federal employee. I asked many of my colleagues in uniform where I should direct my donation. Absolutely everyone gave me the same answer: ‘USO!’”

– [Name redacted] and [Name redacted], USO supporters since 1995 (27 consecutive years)

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written June 29th, 2022, revised July 21st, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised December 14th, 2022, revised December 26th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised January 30th, 2023, revised March 27th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023, revised June 27th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023, revised November 18th, 2023 and revised June 9th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988

---------------------------------------------

Please see the hyperlinks below for the "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity" blog post, which contains the above-mentioned 'June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022':

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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Thus, I decided to write this 'update' as a way to highlight that June is PTSD Awareness Month by providing information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website highlighting that "JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH":

JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

Help Raise PTSD Awareness

There are currently about 12 million people in the United States living with PTSD.

Even though PTSD treatments are effective and accessible, most people don't get the help they need. Help spread the word that PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are a Veteran or civilian survivor of sexual assault, serious accident, natural disaster, or other traumatic event—needs to know that treatments really do work and can lead to a better quality of life...

Make the Pledge

Start by making the pledge to Raise PTSD Awareness:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/awareness_pledge_form.asp

And so, I decided to "Make the Pledge" in order to help "Raise PTSD Awareness," which can be found below:

Awareness Pledge Form

Tell us about your individual or organization's local, regional or national involvement by providing the following information.

Name: Paul Whiting

Email or phone: [redacted]

Choose the category that best describes you:

[✓] Individual
[  ] Organization, agency or business
[  ] VA employee
[  ] VA team, clinic or health care facility

Name of organization, agency or business (if applicable): Poet, Artist and Philosopher

Location of VA center, clinic or health care facility (if applicable): N/A

Do you or does your organization provide health care services to Veterans?

[  ] Yes
[✓] No

Website and/or social media sites (if applicable): https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-am-no-longer-being-activist.html

Thank you for filling out the Pledge form.

We really appreciate the effort you are making to spread the word about PTSD Awareness. Every person who shares the information makes a difference.
As part of the National Center for PTSD's Awareness Campaign to honor the individuals and organizations who are partnering with us, we are posting names and links on our page: Working Together to Raise PTSD Awareness.

Please continue to spread the word! PTSD Treatment Works.

Plus, as you can see above, I included my information from the Awareness Pledge Form, which is why I wrote this blog post update! –Paul Whiting (written June 1st, 2023, revised June 2nd, 2023, revised June 27th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised July 30th, 2023, revised August 4th, 2023, revised August 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023 and revised June 9th, 2024)

P.S.: For my complete charitable donation updates—that include some of my current "Online Activism," as well as most all of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs.

Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts:

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html
---------------------------------------------
June 1st, 2023 Update—Continued Further (Follow-Up, Written On June 2nd, 2023): June is PTSD Awareness Month. And I received an email from the National Center for PTSD today, June 2nd, 2023, with the subject line, "Thank You for Pledging to Raise PTSD Awareness", which stated, in part, the following:

Thank You for Making the Pledge...

...We are dedicated to supporting Veterans and others who may be affected by trauma. This June, we are asking you to help us spread awareness that effective PTSD treatments are available. As an individual, you can help in the following ways:

Share and follow the PTSD Awareness Month Calendar [PDF]:

https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnB0c2QudmEuZ292L3VuZGVyc3RhbmQvYXdhcmVuZXNzL2RvY3MvUFRTREF3YXJlX0NhbGVuZGFyLnBkZj91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249SU5EVnBmJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDIuNzc2NjAxNjEifQ.P3qMDplza8yAqy2mXvOlFkU0-QLOFYNrDyxn_-cdRh0/s/3006587051/br/204154567656-l

Sign up for the Virtual Walk:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/virtual_walk.asp?utm_campaign=INDVpf&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Check out our outreach ideas [PDF]:

https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnB0c2QudmEuZ292L3VuZGVyc3RhbmQvYXdhcmVuZXNzL2RvY3MvQXdhcmVuZXNzT3V0cmVhY2hQdWIucGRmP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1JTkRWcGYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDIzMDYwMi43NzY2MDE2MSJ9.IudcmNdJzhUqsTQqgaiaLoYwoinItQSBhEx3rFoXzhc/s/3006587051/br/204154567656-l

Learn how you can help spread the word:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/promo_materials.asp

A PTSD diagnosis can be difficult to navigate, however, by spreading awareness you can make a difference in someone’s life. Consider sharing these resources with your friends and family.

Spread the Word:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVHA/bulletins/35ded03

On behalf of the National Center for PTSD, we thank you for your continued support.

Stay Connected - Subscribe Here:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/publications/subscribe.asp?utm_campaign=INDVpf&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Be sure to forward this update to others so they can subscribe. We send one update per month to keep you informed of the latest PTSD developments.

Thank you,

The Staff of VA’s National Center for PTSD

You see, yesterday, June 1st, 2023, I decided to write an 'update' to highlight that June is PTSD Awareness Month by providing information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website highlighting that "JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH." (Please see my 'June 1st, 2023 Update—Continued Further,' which can be found above.)

And so, I also decided to "Make the Pledge" in order to help "Raise PTSD Awareness," which can be found below (as I also mentioned in my 'June 1st, 2023 Update—Continued Further'):

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/awareness_pledge_form.asp

And thus, I wanted to share with you, my readers, this email from the National Center for PTSD, with its accompanying resources, as a way for you to also consider utilizing said resources in order to help spread the word that "PTSD Treatment Works." –Paul Whiting (written June 2nd, 2023, revised June 14th, 2023 and revised June 28th, 2023)

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June 2nd, 2023 Update: National Gun Violence Awareness Day is today, June 2nd, 2023, since National Gun Violence Awareness Day yearly (annually) on the first Friday in June. And I received a text message today, June 2nd, 2023, from Everytown for Gun Safety, which stated the following:

It's Wear Orange Weekend! Use #WearOrange to show how you're showing up for gun safety, and wear orange all weekend long: stv.fm/2cdovs
-Everytown

And, after I read the text message above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Create a Wear Orange Image

Create your own #WearOrange image! Share it on social media to show everyone why you’re committed to ending gun violence in America.

Now, to be perfectly honest, I am out of my apartment for a while, since it is being repaired for water damage due to a flood (which ironically happened on Christmas Eve 2022 at about 5:30 AM—and that is why I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" that night).

So, I do have an orange shirt for Wear Orange Weekend; however, I don't have access to it right now, because I am not in my apartment.

Besides that, I also received an email message from the 'Everytown and Moms Demand Action Store' exactly one month ago, on May 2nd, 2023, with the subject line, "Wear Orange is exactly a month away. Shop our new special edition Rolling Stone tee and more!", which stated the following:

Paul,

We're gearing up for National Gun Violence Awareness Day this June 2, when we start Wear Orange Weekend to honor those killed and wounded by gun violence. Every year, we renew our commitment to ending gun violence in America by taking action and taking part in Wear Orange.

To get ready for this year's Wear Orange Weekend, we have added some brand new items to our collection—including a special edition t-shirt from Rolling Stone to honor survivors of gun violence.

We've got everything you'll need to #WearOrange with us: Get our new Rolling Stone collab t-shirt and shop our full Wear Orange collection to support National Gun Violence Awareness Day!

As communities across the country are grappling with gun violence, Wear Orange Weekend promises to be an inspiring moment for our movement as we all come together to honor victims and survivors and work together for a future without gun violence.

Thank you for being with us,

Everytown and Moms Demand Action Store

And I even went onto the 'Everytown and Moms Demand Action Store,' on May 2nd, 2023, and found a tee shirt that I liked, but I was concerned that I would not be able to have it delivered to where I am currently staying, while my apartment is being repaired.

Plus, I added the aforementioned tee shirt to my shopping cart at the 'Everytown Store.' (Please see the link below for the shirt.) However, I didn't complete the checkout, so I received an email from the 'Everytown Store' on May 2nd, 2023, with the subject line, "Complete your Purchase", which stated, in part, the following:

You left an item in your cart

Hey Paul, It looks like you left something in your shopping cart at the Everytown Store, but didn't continue to Checkout. And we want to make sure you get your Everytown and Moms Demand Action items so you're ready to show off your support for gun safety. ... Everytown Store

Complete your purchase:

Wear Orange End Gun Violence Stacked Tee × 1 XL:

https://store.everytown.org/products/wear-orange-stacked-tee?variant=42766419394749

Therefore, the reason I wrote this 'update' is to explain that I was seriously thinking about ordering the "Wear Orange End Gun Violence Stacked Tee" in plenty of time for Wear Orange Weekend, but I wasn't sure that I could receive the shirt where I am currently staying.

So, instead, I made a one-time donation to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, which is "the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety," in order to show my support for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and for Wear Orange Weekend 2023!

By the way, here is an explanation of Wear Orange Weekend from the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund "Wear Orange" About webpage:

About Wear Orange

On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s childhood friends decided to commemorate her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.

Whether it’s worn by students in Montana, activists in New York, or Hadiya’s loved ones in Chicago, the color orange honors the more than 120 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day.

Wear Orange began on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya’s 18th birthday. Since then, Wear Orange has expanded to a period of three days each year: National Gun Violence Awareness Day (the first Friday in June) and Wear Orange Weekend (the accompanying weekend). This year, Wear Orange will take place from June 2-4, 2023.

Orange has become the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement. New York gun violence prevention advocate Erica Ford spearheaded orange as the color of peace through her work with her organization, Life Camp, Inc. Whether it’s worn by students in Montana, activists in New York, or Hadiya’s loved ones in Chicago, the color orange honors the 120 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day.

Our movement gains momentum when people come together to fight for a future free from gun violence. In 2022, more than 1,500 partner organizations, influencers, corporate brands, elected officials, and landmarks joined hundreds of thousands of Americans to unite around a call to end gun violence. As Wear Orange pushes on into its ninth year, we hope you will join us by attending Wear Orange events, posting on social media, and much more!

Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:

https://wearorange.org/about

–Paul Whiting (written June 2nd, 2023, revised June 3rd, 2023, revised June 5th, 2023 and revised July 22nd, 2023)
---------------------------------------------
June 2nd, 2023 Update (Follow-Up, Written On June 3rd, 2023): National Gun Violence Awareness Day this year is on Friday, June 2nd, 2023, since National Gun Violence Awareness Day yearly (annually) on the first Friday in June.

And Wear Orange Weekend is the accompanying weekend to National Gun Violence Awareness Day, so this year's Wear Orange Weekend is June 2nd, 2023 through June 4th, 2023.

Plus, this update is also follow-up to my 'June 2nd, 2023 Update,' where I explained that I do have an orange shirt for Wear Orange Weekend; however, I don't have access to it right now, because I am not in my apartment, since it is being repaired for water damage due to a flood.

Besides that, I also received an email message from the 'Everytown and Moms Demand Action Store' almost exactly one month ago, on May 2nd, 2023, with the subject line, "Wear Orange is exactly a month away. Shop our new special edition Rolling Stone tee and more!"

Then, I even went onto the 'Everytown and Moms Demand Action Store,' on May 2nd, 2023, and found a tee shirt that I liked, but I was concerned that I would not be able to have it delivered to where I am currently staying, while my apartment is being repaired.

Thus, the reason I wrote the above-mentioned 'June 2nd, 2023 Update' is to explain that I was seriously thinking about ordering the "Wear Orange End Gun Violence Stacked Tee" in plenty of time for Wear Orange Weekend, but I wasn't sure that I could receive the shirt where I am currently staying.

So, instead, I made a one-time donation yesterday, June 2nd, 2023, to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, which is "the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety," in order to show my support for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and for Wear Orange Weekend 2023!

Then, I received an email from Everytown for Gun Safety today, June 3rd, 2023, with the subject line, "Wear Orange all weekend long!", which stated the following:

Paul–

Wear Orange Weekend is already off to an amazing start—will you join us?

We're going to make ourselves seen and heard all weekend long. Whether you're at an event or wearing orange on your own, we want to see how you're joining the call to end gun violence: Take a picture and post your photo on social media with #WearOrange!

https://wearorange.org/wear-orange

Yesterday, we kicked things off with National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Across the country, thousands of people wore orange to help spread the word—including elected officials, celebrities, and grassroots members of our movement like you. We also turned major landmarks orange to spread the message further, from the Empire State Building in New York to Aloha Tower in Hawaii.

And throughout the day, we honored the origins of Wear Orange by commemorating the birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, whose life served as the inspiration for the first Wear Orange Weekend. (When you're able, please read the impactful story from her parents included in this message.)

Together, we're showing not only our communities, but also the entire country that we can and will build a future free from gun violence.

Thank you for being a part of this movement, and we hope to see you wearing orange this weekend!

Wear Orange and Everytown Support Fund

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: [Name redacted] and [name redacted], Wear Orange
Date: Friday, June 2, 2023
Subject: #WearOrange for Hadiya today

Paul–

Ten years ago—and less than a week after performing at President Obama's second inauguration—our 15-year-old daughter Hadiya was shot and killed. We were devastated by her death, and we've missed her every day for the last decade.

But we have also been filled with hope. Year after year, people across the country have come together to honor her and the hundreds of people killed or wounded by gun violence in the United States every single day.

Today would have been Hadiya's 26th birthday. Now, it's the 9th annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend.

To honor Hadiya and everyone affected by the gun violence crisis, join our family by wearing orange today and all weekend long. Then post your photo on social media with #WearOrange!

WEAR ORANGE:

https://wearorange.org/wear-orange

Wear Orange got its start thanks to Hadiya's friends. In the aftermath of her death, they launched Project Orange Tree to honor her life and raise awareness about gun violence in our community. They asked all of us to wear orange because hunters wear the color to warn other hunters not to shoot—it's the color of safety that signals the need to protect each other.

June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya's 18th birthday—became the very first National Gun Violence Awareness Day. We now commemorate it on the first Friday of every June as the start of Wear Orange Weekend.

We do this work every year because everyone in this country deserves a future free from gun violence. And we wear orange to call for an end to this crisis in all of its forms, including domestic violence, suicide, and city gun violence. Whether it's worn by students in Montana, activists in New York, or Hadiya's loved ones in Chicago, the color orange honors the more than 120 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day.

We have a lot of work left to do before our children are safe. But if the last ten years have shown us anything, it's that we can save lives. We'll honor our loved ones with action and cultivate hope for a better future.

Paul, join us by wearing orange today for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and all of Wear Orange Weekend. Use #WearOrange to show how you're showing up for gun safety and encourage your friends to do the same. Together, we can end this crisis.

Thank you for wearing orange and for being a part of this movement.

[Name redacted] and [name redacted]
[Association redacted]
[Title redacted] of Hadiya's Foundation, a 501c3 organization

P.S. If you are a survivor of gun violence or have a loved one who has been wounded or killed by gun violence, you can share your story on Moments That Survive (https://momentsthatsurvive.org) with the stories of other survivors of gun violence. Please read our Moments That Survive story about Hadiya (https://momentsthatsurvive.org/tribute/cleopatra-pendleton).

Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund (the "Everytown Support Fund") is the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with over eight million supporters. The Everytown Support Fund seeks to improve our understanding of the causes of gun violence and help to reduce it by conducting groundbreaking original research, developing evidence-based policies, communicating this knowledge to the American public, and advancing gun safety and gun violence prevention in communities and the courts. Learn more at www.everytownsupportfund.org. Contributions to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

DONATE

So today, June 3rd, 2023, I made another one-time donation to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, which is "the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety," in order to show my continued support for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and for Wear Orange Weekend 2023! –Paul Whiting (written June 3rd, 2023, revised June 5th, 2023, revised July 22nd, 2023, revised August 22nd, 2023 and revised June 7th, 2024)
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June 2nd, 2023 Update (Follow-Up, Written On June 5th, 2023): National Gun Violence Awareness Day this year is on Friday, June 5th, 2023, since National Gun Violence Awareness Day yearly (annually) on the first Friday in June.

And Wear Orange Weekend is the accompanying weekend to National Gun Violence Awareness Day, so this year's Wear Orange Weekend is June 2nd, 2023 through June 4th, 2023.

Plus, this update is also another follow-up to my 'June 2nd, 2023 Update.' You see, I received an email from Everytown for Gun Safety today, June 5th, 2023, with the subject line, "Thanks for being a part of Wear Orange 2023!", which stated the following:

Paul–

This Wear Orange Weekend was one we won't be forgetting any time soon.

Members of our movement just like you showed up in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. to wear orange and spread hope for a future free from gun violence. Elected leaders took part too, including President Biden, Vice President Harris, members of Congress, governors, state lawmakers, and mayors.

But that's not all. Professional sports teams, faith partners, other non-profit organizations, corporate brands, cultural figures, and so many others each did their part to spread the message of Wear Orange. And with several landmarks lit up in orange lights—from the Empire State Building in New York, to the Nashville sign in Tennessee, to the Aloha Tower in Hawaii—we made sure that our movement was impossible to ignore.

This incredible weekend would not have been possible without our dedicated supporters like you. We cannot thank you enough.

We value your voice in this movement—will you help us continue to demand action? Stay involved by signing up for special updates on what's happening this June:

https://act.everytown.org/sign/WO_stay_involved_2023/?rd=1&refcode=emne_WO_20230605&source=emne_WO_20230605&t=10&utm_campaign=WO_20230605&utm_medium=e&utm_source=emne_WO_20230605&referring_akid=294666.8964407.L6uUQK

Thank you for being a part of this movement and for wearing orange this Wear Orange Weekend. You make this movement as strong as it has become.

Wear Orange and Everytown for Gun Safety

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, which can be found below:

Add Your Name: Be The First To Know What's Happening This June

We've got a lot ahead of us this June. We'll be celebrating Pride Month, demanding our lawmakers take action on assault weapons, and so much more.

Make sure you're ready to be a part of the action: Add your name to be among the first to know what's happening this June and receive special updates from our movement.

Complete the form to sign up now:

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

So, I added my name in order to "stay involved by signing up for special updates on what's happening this June."

Then today, June 5th, 2023, I also made an additional one-time donation to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, which is "the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety," in order to show my concluding support for National Gun Violence Awareness Day and for Wear Orange Weekend 2023! –Paul Whiting (June 5th, 2023)
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June 2nd, 2023 Update (Follow-Up, Written On June 6th, 2023): National Gun Violence Awareness Day this year is on Friday, June 5th, 2023, since National Gun Violence Awareness Day yearly (annually) on the first Friday in June.

And Wear Orange Weekend is the accompanying weekend to National Gun Violence Awareness Day, so this year's Wear Orange Weekend is June 2nd, 2023 through June 4th, 2023.

Plus, this update is also an additional follow-up to my 'June 2nd, 2023 Update.' You see, I received a text message today, June 6th, 2023, from Everytown for Gun Safety, which stated the following:

Thank you for being a part of Wear Orange 2023!

Together, we showed up in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. to wear orange and spread hope for a future free from gun violence.

With the help of elected leaders, celebrities, professional sports teams, faith leaders, and so many others, we made it impossible to ignore our movement.

This incredible weekend would not have been possible without our dedicated supporters like you.

Watch and share our new video to hear a special Wear Orange message from Vice President Harris:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtJx1hmrDCe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the text of which can be found below:

Instagram

momsdemand: This weekend, thousands upon thousands of people from every part of the country came together to #WearOrange in honor of victims and survivors of gun violence and to spread awareness about this crisis, including @VP Kamala Harris.⁠
⁠
Now, we are joining Vice President Harris in calling on Congress to enact common-sense solutions that will save lives. Join us in your state by texting READY to 644-33.

So, I texted "READY" to 644-33. (By the way, I already receive text messages from Moms Demand Action & Everytown for Gun Safety, which is how I received the text message above in the first place.)

And, after I sent the text message above, I received a confirmation text today, June 6th, 2023, from Moms Demand Action & Everytown, which stated the following:

Thanks! I forgot to introduce myself -- I'm [name redacted] from Moms Demand Action & Everytown. Would you reply with your first name?

Then, I replied that my first name is Paul.

And, after I sent that text message above, I received a confirmation text from Moms Demand Action & Everytown, which stated the following:

Nice to meet you, Paul! One last thing: Since some messages are too long for a text, please reply with your email address so we can keep you fully updated. -Moms Demand Action

Then, I replied with my email address.

And, after I sent the text message above, I received a confirmation text from Moms Demand Action & Everytown, which stated the following:

Thanks, we'll be in touch! You can get more involved by downloading Everytown's Demand Action app and start taking action today: https://momsdemandaction.org/app

And so, I wanted to share the text messages and video above from Moms Demand Action & Everytown for Gun Safety regarding National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend 2023! –Paul Whiting (June 6th, 2023)

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June 2nd, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, June 2nd, 2023, when I noticed an article on NYTimes.com, as well as a video and a news briefing on CNN.com!

No. 1: The New York Times article that I read today is titled, "The Calm Man in the Capital: Biden Lets Others Spike the Ball but Notches a Win." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Calm Man in the Capital: Biden Lets Others Spike the Ball but Notches a Win" from The New York Times

President Biden brokered a debt limit deal by following instincts developed through long, hard and sometimes painful experience in Washington.

By Peter Baker | Published June 1, 2023

In the days since he struck a deal to avoid a national default, President Biden has steadfastly refused to boast about what he got as part of the agreement.

“Why would Biden say what a good deal it is before the vote?” he asked reporters at one point, referring to himself in the third person. “You think that’s going to help me get it passed? No. That’s why you guys don’t bargain very well.”

The president calculated that the more he bragged that the deal was a good one for his side, the more he would inflame Republicans on the other side, jeopardizing the chances of pushing the agreement through the narrowly divided House. His reticence stood in striking contrast to his negotiating partner, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has been running all over the Capitol in recent days asserting that the deal was a “historic” victory for fiscal conservatives.

While Mr. Biden knew that would aggravate progressives in his own party, he gambled that he could keep enough of them in line without public chest-beating and figured that it was more important to let Mr. McCarthy claim the win to minimize a revolt on the hard right that could put his speakership in danger. Indeed, in private briefing calls following the agreement, White House officials told Democratic allies that they believed they got a good deal, but urged their surrogates not to say that publicly lest it upset the delicate balance.

The strategy paid off with a strong bipartisan vote by the House on Wednesday night passing the deal, which will suspend the debt ceiling while imposing spending restraints for the next two years. The Senate followed with passage of the bill late Thursday, with similarly bipartisan support.

The president’s approach to the negotiations — and especially their aftermath — reflects a half-century of bargaining in Washington. When someone has been around the track as long as Mr. Biden has, resisting the temptation to spike the ball and claim victory can be critical to actually securing the victory in the first place. From the start of the clash with Mr. McCarthy’s Republicans, Mr. Biden has followed the instincts he has developed through long, hard and sometimes painful experience. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/us/politics/biden-mccarthy-debt-ceiling-deal-who-won.html

No. 2: The CNN video that I watched today is titled, "Biden addresses nation after Senate passes debt limit bill."

Please see the hyperlink below for the video (which is at the top of a CNN Live News webpage):

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/debt-ceiling-senate-vote-06-02-23/index.html

No. 3: The CNN news briefing that I read today is titled, "'Both sides operated in good faith.' Biden hails McCarthy's role in debt deal negotiations." An introduction to the news briefing can be found below:

"'Both sides operated in good faith.' Biden hails McCarthy's role in debt deal negotiations" from CNN

From CNN's Nikki Carvajal | Friday June 2, 2023

President Joe Biden stressed the bipartisan nature of an agreement to raise the debt ceiling in his first Oval Office address on Friday, commending leaders from both parties and warning in stark terms about what could have happened if a deal was not reached.

He also said that he would sign the debt ceiling bill on Saturday.
“I'm speaking to you to report on the crisis averted and what we're doing to protect America's future,” Biden said, speaking from behind the Resolute Desk.
The president went out of his way to mention House Speaker Kevin McCarthy by name, commending him for operating “in good faith.”

“He and I – and our teams – were able to get along, get things done, were straightforward with one another, completely honest with one another, respectful with one another,” Biden said. “Both sides operated in good faith. Both sides kept their word.”
He said the rest of congressional leadership – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – all “acted responsibly and put the good of the country ahead of politics.” ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the news briefing—and then scroll to see the article (which is a part of a CNN Live News webpage):

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/debt-ceiling-senate-vote-06-02-23/index.html

And I decided to highlight this New York Times article, as well as this video and news briefing on CNN, for you, my readers, to consider reading, and watching, too! –Paul Whiting (June 2nd, 2023)

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June 3rd, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, June 3rd, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "The Heavy Cost of Banning Books About Black Children." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Heavy Cost of Banning Books About Black Children" from Time Magazine

By Anna Gifty Opoku-agyeman | June 2, 2023

On May 23, Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb became part of the long list of books authored by Black people to be banned by counties in Florida. Such books include The Black Friend by Fred T. Joseph and All Boys Aren’t Blue by George Johnson. In Gorman’s case, a single parent filed a complaint for the book to be removed, erroneously citing Oprah as the author, and the inclusion of “critical race theory” as justification for removal.

Since Gorman performed her poem for President Biden’s Inauguration ceremony two years ago, millions have flocked to her platform, including children. For months on end, photo after photo appeared across social media of kids of all races, genders, and backgrounds sporting Gorman’s iconic yellow coat and bold red headband. Black children especially saw themselves in her braided updo, gleaming eyes, and infectious smile. She was their ordinary, and extraordinary. She was mine, too.

When I was five years old, I graduated from Head Start, a government program for children of low-income working families, and attended a newly-created, local private school on full scholarship. As one of the few Black children in the school, and the only Black girl in my grade, I became keenly aware that my classmates, who were white and wealthier, did not go home to an affordable housing neighborhood like me. They did not eat the same food as me. Their parents did not work the jobs my parents did. Rather, they lived in detached, single-family houses with green lawns and white picket fences. Their pantries were stocked with snacks I could only dream of.

Navigating these realities led me to books. At least there, I thought, I could begin to understand the two worlds I stood between. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6284174/book-bans-black-children-publishing

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 3rd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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June 4th, 2023 Update: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, June 4th, 2023, when I noticed three different articles on various news websites, including Reuters.com, Politico.com and CNBC.com!

No. 1: The Reuters article that I read today is titled, "McCarthy lauds U.S. debt ceiling deal, House conservatives divided." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"McCarthy lauds U.S. debt ceiling deal, House conservatives divided" from Reuters

By David Lawder | June 4, 2023

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday lauded the debt ceiling deal he negotiated with Democratic President Joe Biden, but a prominent House conservative warned that McCarthy has "credibility issues" that may prompt some Republicans to seek his ouster as the top Republican in Congress.

Representative Ken Buck, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, said the deal had failed to deliver the deeper spending cuts that McCarthy had promised his party when he ran for speaker in January.

The debt ceiling deal keeps fiscal 2024 spending flat at this year's levels, allowing a 1% increase for fiscal 2025. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the deal will cut deficits by about $1.5 trillion over a decade from its current-law baseline forecast.

House Republicans in late April passed a bill demanding $4.8 trillion deficit reduction over 10 years in exchange for a debt ceiling hike, drawing Biden into negotiations that led to the deal's Senate approval on Thursday.

Asked whether the Freedom Caucus would seek a vote to oust McCarthy in response to the deal, Buck told CNN's State of the Union program: "I don't know if the motion to vacate is going to happen right away. I do know that Speaker McCarthy has credibility issues.

To win the speakership in a fractious election process in January, McCarthy agreed to rule changes that allow just one member to force a vote to oust him, making him unusually vulnerable to hardline Republican conservatives.

Other Republicans rushed to McCarthy's defense a day after Biden signed into law the legislation that suspends the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025, averting what would have been a disastrous U.S. payments default that was expected on Monday.

"Speaker McCarthy's position is absolutely safe," U.S. Representative Garret Graves, a Louisiana Republican who helped negotiate the debt ceiling deal, told CBS' "Face the Nation". ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mccarthy-lauds-debt-us-ceiling-deal-house-conservatives-divided-2023-06-04/

No. 2: The Politico article that I read today is titled, "8 takeaways from the debt ceiling vote." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"8 takeaways from the debt ceiling vote" from Politico

The agreement secures some GOP priorities on spending, permits and the safety net, but left the heart of President Joe Biden’s agenda intact — at least until the next fight.

By Politico Staff | 06/01/2023

Congress enshrined a debt-limit deal late Thursday that makes modest progress toward Republicans’ goals of cutting spending, streamlining red tape and attaching more work requirements to federal safety-net programs.

Democrats had to console themselves with the thought that the bargain wasn’t even worse.

These are some of the biggest highlights in the compromise’s spending and policy provisions — a deal that leaves major White House priorities intact but lays out a road map for what conservatives may demand in future fiscal showdowns: ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/01/debt-deal-explained-democrats-gop-00099694

No. 3: The CNBC network article that I read today is titled, "Biden signs debt ceiling bill, avoiding a catastrophic economic default." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Biden signs debt ceiling bill, avoiding a catastrophic economic default" from CNBC

Key Points

President Joe Biden on Friday discussed a bipartisan agreement to lift the debt ceiling, just days before the Treasury estimated the government would run out of money.

He signed the compromise debt ceiling bill into law on Saturday, averting a catastrophic default.

By Emma Kinery | Published Friday, June 2 2023

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday evening gave his first address from the Oval Office to discuss a bill to lift the debt ceiling while capping federal spending, calling it a "critical" agreement. He signed the bill into law on Saturday.

"No one got everything they wanted but the American people got what they needed. We averted an economic crisis and an economic collapse," Biden said.

The compromise debt ceiling bill passed the Senate by a 63-36 margin Thursday evening, winning enough support from both parties to overcome the chamber's 60-vote threshold to avoid a filibuster. On Wednesday, it moved through the House after about 72 hours, passing 314-117.

The agreement comes with little time to spare: The Treasury Department estimated the federal government would run out of money on June 5 had the debt ceiling not been lifted.

"This is vital," Biden said. "Essential to all the progress we've made in the last few years is keeping the full faith and credit of the United States and passing a budget that continues to grow our economy and reflects our values as a nation."

Without the agreement, federal obligations such as Social Security, Medicare and military paychecks would have gone unsent. And failure to lift the debt ceiling would have roiled global financial markets and sparked job losses in the U.S.

The bill comes after weeks of intense negotiations between Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the White House. The final deal handed conservatives several ideological policy victories in exchange for their votes to raise the debt ceiling beyond next year's presidential election and into 2025. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/06/02/biden-says-debt-ceiling-bill-avoids-catastrophic-economic-default.html

And I decided to highlight these articles from Reuters, Politico and CNBC for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 4th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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June 6th, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, June 6th, 2023, when I noticed three Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The first Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "Hollywood Actors Guild Votes to Authorize Strike, as Writers Strike Continues." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Hollywood Actors Guild Votes to Authorize Strike, as Writers Strike Continues" from Time Magazine

By Lindsey Bahr / AP | June 5, 2023

Actors represented by the Hollywood union SAG-AFTRA voted Monday evening to authorize a strike if they don’t agree on a new contract with major studios, streamers and production companies by June 30.

The guild, which represents over 160,000 screen actors, broadcast journalists, announcers, hosts and stunt performers, begins its negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Wednesday, over a month after the Writers Guild of America began striking over its own dispute with AMPTP. If the actors union ultimately moves forward with the strike, it would be limited to television and film productions; news and broadcast work would not be directly affected.

At stake is increased base compensation, which actors say has been undercut by inflation and the streaming ecosystem, the threat of unregulated use of artificial intelligence, benefit plans and the burden of “self-taped auditions” — the cost of which used to be the responsibility of casting and production.

The strike authorization vote, a tool at the bargaining table, comes at a pivotal moment for the industry as 11,500 writers enter their sixth week of striking and the directors guild reviews a recently reached tentative agreement with studios on issues like wages, streaming residuals, and artificial intelligence. Should the actors strike, the industry already hobbled by the writers strike would come to a near-standstill, from production to promoting completed projects.

The WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA have shown solidarity with one another since the writers began walking the picket lines on May 2. Many in Hollywood worried about the very real possibility that all three guilds would strike at the same time, as both the directors and the actors contracts were soon due to expire as well.

That scenario changed Sunday night when the directors guild, which represents 19,000 film, television and commercial directors, announced that they had reached a “truly historic” tentative agreement with studios. The terms, which have not been disclosed in detail to the press or the other guilds, will be presented to the DGA board on Tuesday for approval and then to the membership for ratification.

Representatives for both the writers guild and the actors guild congratulated the directors group for reaching a tentative deal, though neither commented on specific points of the DGA terms. The WGA also said that its bargaining positions remain the same. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6284990/hollywood-actors-writers-strike

The second Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "I Spent My Life Saving the Whales. Now They Might Save Us." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"I Spent My Life Saving the Whales. Now They Might Save Us" from Time Magazine

By Roger Payne | June 5, 2023

More than fifty years ago, my team and I first discovered that whales sing to each other. Recordings we captured of the beautiful, evocative songs of the humpback whale captivated people all over the world. Whale song became the soundtrack for the “Save the Whales” movement, one of the most successful conservation initiatives in history. It led to the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, which marked the end of large-scale whaling in the United States and saved several whale populations from extinction.

In the decades since, I’ve often pondered what it would take to spark a new conservation movement uniquely suited to the opportunities and challenges we face in this age of dire warnings and unassailable evidence of a rapidly changing planet. A movement that inspires a new generation, gives voice to the marginalized, and uses science to inspire awe instead of fear.

The question has recently led me to an initiative I’m involved with called Project CETI (the Cetacean Translation Initiative). In a quest to better understand our world and its inhabitants, CETI scientists are using advanced machine learning and state-of-the-art robotics to listen to and translate the communication of sperm whales. CETI’s work in Dominica is in its early stages, and though much has already been done to lay the groundwork for this massive effort at interspecies communication, including a scientific roadmap published last year.

I find myself at 88 years of age, very close to the end of a long life, coming to terms with the fact that I will not be around to find out what we learn. But what I can tell you is why this monumental journey of discovery matters.

The way I see it, the most consequential scientific discovery of the past 100 years isn’t E = mc2 or plate tectonics or translating the human genome. These are all quite monumental, to be sure, but there’s one discovery so consequential that unless we respond to it, it may kill us all, graveyard dead. It is this: every species, including humans, depends on a suite of other species to keep the world habitable for it, and each of those species depends in turn on an overlapping but somewhat different suite of species to keep their niche livable for them.

But there’s a problem here. No one can even name all the essential supporting species, let alone describe their full roles. We do know that some of the most essential species are microscopic plants and animals that we kill, unintentionally, by the trillions. But we know so little about them, they don’t even have common names, just Latin names. And many are unknown, unnamed, and undescribed species.

Faced with such capacious ignorance, our only rational course of action is to use every means possible, regardless of cost, to try to save all species of life, knowing that if we fail to save enough of the essential ones, we will have no future. The things we consider to be life’s worst disasters—wars, plagues, and pandemics that have killed off tens of millions of people but left a global population of survivors greater than the number of the dead—will seem like minor nuisances compared to what we will experience if we kill off essential species that keep this planet livable for you and me. The consequences of failure are so astronomical, that it is clear that there is nothing else nearly as important and urgent as preserving the rest of life. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6284884/whale-scientist-last-please-save-the-species

The third Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "To Solve the U.S. Nursing Shortage Crisis, the Country Must Change Its Immigration Policies." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"To Solve the U.S. Nursing Shortage Crisis, the Country Must Change Its Immigration Policies" from Time Magazine

By Alex M. Azar And Kathleen Sebelius | June 5, 2023

Alex M. Azar II, a Republican, served as the 24th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2018 until 2021.

Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, served as the 21st United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2009 until 2014.

The United States is about to learn the hard way what happens when an entire generation of nurses retires without enough new clinicians to fill their shoes at the bedside.

As a result, hospitals in the same country that performed the first successful kidney transplant and pioneered anesthesia and heart rhythm restoration will have no choice but to ration care.

That’s the only way to describe what happened to an Alabama man who was turned away from 43 different hospitals across three different states before ultimately dying of a cardiac emergency 200 miles from home because no nearby system had an available intensive care bed it could staff. A spokesman for one hospital said the man “needed medical services that were not available.”

And it’s what happened to expecting mothers in Idaho earlier this year when the only hospital in the 8,000-person city of Emmett said it had become “unsustainably expensive to recruit and retain a full team of high-quality, broad-spectrum nurses to work.” That followed an earlier decision by an upstate New York facility to pause its maternity services after struggling to recruit enough replacements to offset staff resignations and retirements. The terrifying reality is that providers in every corner of the country have closed beds, units, and even entire facilities over an inability to adequately staff bedsides.

A nurse old enough to retire today has only known the U.S. health care system in a nursing shortage, but they’ll tell you it’s never been more challenging. It’s a crisis in five parts, including increased demand for care by an aging population and workforce, restraints that hinder nurses from practicing at the top of their licenses, lingering burnout from the pandemic, an inability to educate enough new nurses, and a recently throttled pipeline of qualified international talent.

To fill the gap in care left by retirements and burnout, federal economists calculate that the U.S. health care system will need to add at least 200,000 new nurses every year through 2026. We’ll be lucky to get half that. One workforce study predicted a shortage of more than 450,000 bedside nurses within the next two years. And as providers grapple with this desperate reality, a zero-sum race to the bottom will emerge in which suburban and urban hospitals raid already overburdened rural systems and long-term care facilities for talent.

Nursing schools reject tens of thousands of applicants every school year. It’s not because these would-be nurses failed to meet admission criteria—it’s largely because the schools don’t have enough nurse educators to train them. As limited instruction capacity squeezes the number of new matriculating nurses, hospitals have increasingly relied on foreign-educated nurses, who’ve grown to represent roughly 15% of the U.S. nursing workforce.

Employment-based health care immigration is a complex labyrinth of rules and regulations that doesn’t make it easy or fast for an international nurse to emigrate and begin treating American patients. Under current law, international nurses compete for the same limited number of employment-based green cards within an enormous pool of applicants that include IT workers, lawyers, engineers, and architects. Unlike those other workers, nurses do not qualify for temporary visas. So, while many computer engineers from other countries apply for green cards after moving to the U.S. and working under an H1-B visa, nurses must complete the immigration process entirely overseas. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6284104/nursing-shortage-crisis-immigration-reform

And I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 6th, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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June 6th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, June 6th, 2023, when I noticed an article on APNews.com titled, "LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning" from AP (Associated Press) News

By Hannah Schoenbaum | June 6, 2023

The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. on Tuesday and released a guidebook pointing to laws it deems discriminatory in each state, along with “know your rights” information and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.*

Sounding the alarm about the current political climate, the nation’s largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans said travel advisories aren’t enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.

“We need champions right now,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in an interview with The Associated Press. President Joe Biden and other LGBTQ+ rights supporters with decision-making authorities, she said, need to be more than just allies.

The declaration is a call to action for “people in power at every level” of government and the business community, she said, urging them to fight for LGBTQ+ rights with the same fervor as they’ve fought for abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.

“When Dobbs fell, you saw a federal response to deal with the abortion crisis that we’re in,” Robinson said. “We are in a crisis of even greater scale to the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, and we need that same sort of response.”

Just a few days into Pride Month, the campaign said it’s taking action in response to an “unprecedented and dangerous” spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping state houses this year, with more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and more than 70 signed into law so far in 2023 — more than double last year’s number.

A recent Associated Press analysis found that many bills seeking to ban or restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, who have been the primary targets of state legislation this year, sprang not from grassroots or constituent demand, but from the pens of a few powerful conservative interest groups.

The HRC guidebook, meanwhile, provides information about filing complaints for civil rights violations and points to resources for financing moves and finding employment, particularly in the 17 states with a trifecta of Democratic leadership in both legislative chambers and the governor’s office.

“The amount of calls I get every day from parents asking how they can move to another state because they’d rather mourn their home than their child is real,” Robinson said. “This is a different level of urgency and demanded a different level of response.”

The emergency declaration is the first in the 43-year history of the HRC, which encompasses a foundation focusing on research, advocacy and education, national and state lobbying campaigns and a political action committee that supports and opposes candidates for office. It comes as Republican-dominated legislatures around the country have restricted various aspects of transgender existence, from pronoun usage and bathroom access to medical care and more. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-emergency-human-rights-campaign-guidebook-5a1195f8a6759bdfd37cd7f5a6c5ee34

*Plus, I also read that article on HRC.org titled, "For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers", which was referenced in the "LGBTQ+ Americans are under attack, Human Rights Campaign declares in state of emergency warning" article above. An introduction to the article can be found below:

"For the First Time Ever, Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans; Issues National Warning and Guidebook to Ensure Safety for LGBTQ+ Residents and Travelers" from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

By HRC Staff | June 6, 2023

HRC’s First-Ever Emergency Declaration Comes After More Than 75 Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills Signed Into Law This Year (More Than Double The Number From Last Year), Creating an Imminent Threat to the Health and Safety of LGBTQ+ People and Families Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year. A new report released by HRC today — LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack — details more than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been signed into law this year alone, more than doubling last year’s number, which was previously the worst year on record.

The sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ measures has spawned a dizzying patchwork of discriminatory state laws that have created increasingly hostile and dangerous environments for LGBTQ+ people, prompting HRC today to also issue a national warning (https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/national-state-of-emergency-for-lgbtq-americans) and downloadable guidebook (https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/LGBTQ-Guidebook-for-Action.pdf) for the LGBTQ+ community — including health and safety resources, a summary of state-by-state laws, “know your rights” information, and resources designed to support LGBTQ+ travelers as well as those already living in hostile states. This guidebook will arm LGBTQ+ people with resources and information to help ensure safety in all 50 states. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/for-the-first-time-ever-human-rights-campaign-officially-declares-state-of-emergency-for-lgbtq-americans-issues-national-warning-and-guidebook-to-ensure-safety-for-lgbtq-residents-and-travelers

And I decided to highlight this AP News article—as well as this Human Rights Campaign article—for you, my readers, to consider reading too!

Besides that, I made an yearly (annual) donation to show my support for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), since the HRC "officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time in its more than 40-year history, following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year [2023]," because "the sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ+ measures has spawned a dizzying patchwork of discriminatory state laws that have created increasingly hostile and dangerous environments for LGBTQ+ people, prompting HRC today [June 6th, 2023] to also issue a national warning and downloadable guidebook for the LGBTQ+ community." –Paul Whiting (written June 6th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)

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June 7th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 7th, 2023, with the subject line, "Pride is joy, resistance – and action. Let's go.", which stated the following:

Paul – Pride began as a protest, and we're channeling that same spirit of resistance this month as LGBTQ people face escalating attacks.

So far this year, state lawmakers have introduced more than 490 anti-LGBTQ bills, most of which target transgender and non-binary people. The ACLU has been fighting back by working in state legislatures, taking unconstitutional policies to court, and mobilizing supporters to protect trans rights. This Pride month, and every day, the ACLU is defending our right to be ourselves – fully, freely, and with joy.

PRIDE IS JOY

Community Stories

In the midst of attacks on trans people's safety and dignity, we're celebrating stories of trans joy. Because when forces larger than us try to break our spirit, we can respond as forcefully and effectively with joy as we can with anger, defiance, and protest. One of our clients explained that after they started using new pronouns for their trans daughter, "It was as if a cloud lifted and Brooke's smile came back. We had a happy, bright-eyed child again." Another trans client explained that "having access to care means I'm able to be myself, and be healthier and more confident – physically and mentally." We're fighting for a society where every trans person has the opportunity to attain that joy, where everyone can live safely and freely as themselves.

PRIDE IS RESISTANCE

Updates On Our Work

The ACLU has been fighting for LGBTQ freedom for decades. And as an organization at the intersection of every civil liberty issue in this country, we know full well that nothing exists in isolation: Our fight to stop attacks on LGBTQ people's First Amendment rights of self-expression, for instance, is a fight to stop attacks on all our First Amendment rights:

[✓] We just filed a lawsuit against a school district that barred a trans student from wearing a dress to her graduation.
[✓] And, we're working to defend Connecticut's trans-inclusive sports policies that support a student's right to be themselves and be part of a team.
[✓] Plus, we recently filed a lawsuit against a city that censored drag performers. Because an attack on one of our rights is an attack on all of our rights.

PRIDE IS ACTION

Take Action With Us

Pride began as a protest – a movement led by Black and brown trans women. And as we continue the fight for LGBTQ freedom today, we need you to take action. Not only are states passing anti-LGBTQ censorship laws, they are also passing bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene even recently introduced a federal ban in the House. That's why we're asking during Pride Month: Please, send a message to your member of Congress urging them to protect trans care.*

Thank you for reading this Pride month's update. We'll be sharing rundowns of this work every week this month, so please stay tuned and thank you in advance for taking action to protect trans rights.

Happy Pride,

The ACLU Team

*By the way, I already sent the above-mentioned "message to [my] member of Congress urging them to protect trans care" on June 1st, 2023, a copy of which can be found below, as quoted from my 'June 1st, 2023 Update,' which can be found above:

"...PROTECT TRANS CARE NOW

The attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.

A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.

We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Protect Trans People from Discrimination

Recently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?

I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.

Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.

Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.

I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.

Thank you. I look forward to your response.

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]..."

And so, for very much the same reason that I donated on June 1st, 2023, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU today, June 7th, 2023, since "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get," because "PRIDE IS JOY," "PRIDE IS RESISTANCE" and "PRIDE IS ACTION!" –Paul Whiting (written June 7th, 2023, revised June 21st, 2023 and revised June 28th, 2023)

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June 8th, 2023 Update [My Writing About Creating A 'New Word,' So To Speak, By Combining Two Existing Words—Namely Disconcert And Consternation—Into The New Word 'Disconcertation,' As It Relates To Outlining A New Dynamic For The Presidency And Vice Presidency Of The United States Of America, In Addition To The First Lady, Or The First Gentleman, As Well As The Second Lady, Or The Second Gentleman]:

This 'June 8th, 2023 Update' is originally from my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" that is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog, which also appears on some of my blogs as the following: "My Writing About Creating A 'New Word,' So To Speak, By Combining Two Existing Words—Namely Disconcert And Consternation—Into The New Word 'Disconcertation,' As It Relates To Outlining A New Dynamic For The Presidency And Vice Presidency Of The United States Of America, In Addition To The First Lady, Or The First Gentleman, As Well As The Second Lady, Or The Second Gentleman."

You see, I was puzzling out an idea by discussing it out loud, which I often do as a self-designated 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher,' when I am figuring out new ideas that I have. And I had an idea that I was puzzling out—by talking about it out loud, as if I am discussing it in front of someone else—that had to do with the presidency, as well as the vice presidency, of the United States of America both being a married couple who represent the average American couple that are "married with children."

And so, there would be a "Mr. and Mrs. President of the United States," as well as a "Mr. and Mrs. Vice President of the United States," both of whom would symbolize a typical married couple in the United States of America as co-parents of their respective families.

And, therefore, "Mr. President," and "Mr. Vice President," as the symbolic husbands and fathers of 'The American Family,' would be in charge of the masculine aspects of the presidency, as well as the vice presidency, that have to do with manly/fatherly issues.

And, thusly, "Mrs. President," and "Mrs. Vice President," as the symbolic wives and mothers of 'The American Family,' would be in charge of the feminine aspects of the presidency, as well as the vice presidency, that have to do with womanly/motherly issues.

So, "Mr. and Mrs. President of the United States" and "Mr. and Mrs. Vice President of the United States," both of whom are a typical married couple that are co-parents of their own families, would work in conjunction with each other as the symbolic co-parents of 'The American Household.' And that would mean there are, in fact, two married couples who represent 'The American Family,' both of whom are "married with children."

Then, Mr. President and Mr. Vice President of the United States would be like the president and vice president of a corporation! And the First Lady and Second Lady of the United States would be like the wives, and mothers, of the American household! However, the First and Second Ladies would have much more say in how 'America's Household' is run, since they would both help make decisions about the country in conjunction with their husbands who are the President and Vice President, respectively.

Plus, it goes without saying that women could be both Mrs. President and Mrs. Vice President! And their husbands could be the First Gentleman and the Second Gentleman, respectively, who would be the stay-at-home fathers of an atypical American household, like in the motion picture "Mr. Mom."

And all of this leads to the following:

1. Two married couples working together as a team to fulfill their respective duties as the President and Vice President, in addition to the First Lady or First Gentleman, as well as the Second Lady or Second Gentleman.

2. The President and Vice President would share more responsibilities so that—for example—if the President is attending a world summit, then the Vice President is still attending to the duties as an 'Interim President,' so to speak, including signing bills into law, which have been passed by Congress, while the President is attending said summit.

3. So, there would always be a "President in Residency," so to speak, at the White House—even while the President is attending to duties which require their presence somewhere else, such as attending a summit or an important state function, or visiting a disaster site, or any situation that requires the President's physical presence away from the White House.

4. And the First Lady, or First Gentleman, as well as the Second Lady, or Second Gentleman, would be paid a salary to fulfill their respective duties as the Hostess, or Host, of the White House, as well as to be spousal advisors to the President and Vice President, respectively, as outlined above.

5. Then, the First Lady/First Gentleman, as well as the Second Lady/Second Gentleman, would co-share in the duties for the management of the White House, co-share in the championship of social causes, and co-share in the representation of the president, as well as the vice president, at official and ceremonial occasions.

6. Additionally, the President and First Lady/Gentleman, as well as the Vice President and Second Lady/Gentleman, would also share responsibilities with regard to decision-making about 'America's Household,' so to speak.

7. Therefore, just like husbands and wives, who are mothers and fathers, both couples would make decisions together while representing their respective roles as husband/father and wife/mother to 'The American Family.'

Finally, this all of this long-winded talk leads to to reason that I originally wrote this 'update' in the first place!

You see, I was talking about these ideas out loud (although, not to the level of detail that I have outlined above, but simply in a general way) when I said something aloud like, "...and all of this would be to the 'disconcertation' of those who don't believe that the President and First Lady/Gentlemen, as well as the Vice President and Second Lady/Gentleman should be equal in power to each other!" (Clearly, I am paraphrasing what I actually said...)

And that's when I realized that there was no such word as 'disconsternation,' which is like the combination of the words 'disconcert' and 'consternation.' So, that's why I decided to create this new word 'disconsternation,' which describes "feelings of being unsettled or dismayed, typically at something unexpected or disturbing."

---------------------------------------------

By the way, here is the definition of the word disconcert, as well as the word consternation, from a Google search of these respective words:

Dictionary: Definitions from Oxford Languages

https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en

[1.] dis·con·cert
/ˌdiskənˈsərt/

verb
gerund or present participle: disconcerting

disturb the composure of; unsettle.
"the abrupt change of subject disconcerted her"

[2.] con·ster·na·tion
/ˌkänstərˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun
noun: consternation

feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.
"I always welcomed clover, much to the consternation of the neighbors"

---------------------------------------------

And here is the definition of this 'new word,' so to speak, "disconsternation," from this self-designated 'Poet, Artist and Philosopher':

Dictionary: Definition from "Paul Whiting: Poet, Artist and Philosopher"

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

[3.] dis·con·ster·na·tion
/ˌdiskänstərˈnāSH(ə)n/

noun
noun: disconsternation

feelings of being unsettled or dismayed, typically at something unexpected or disturbing.
"I outlined a new dynamic for President and Vice President of the United States of America, in addition to the First Lady, or the First Gentleman, as well as the Second Lady, or the Second Gentleman, much to the disconsternation of those who read my blogs"

–Paul Whiting (written June 8th, 2023, revised June 11th, 2023 and revised October 13th, 2023)

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June 9th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, June 9th, 2023, with the subject line, "Our movements are inseparable", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

It's Pride Month, and listen: We love a parade. We love to come together as a joyful, vibrant, diverse, proud community. We love to celebrate. We love love.

But that is only part of Pride.

Pride is also about solidarity, supporting one another, and building power within the LGBTQ+ community. It's about defiance — of laws and lawmakers who would dare to tell us how we can live, who we can love, and what we are worth. It's about building a future of liberation and equality.

It's in that spirit of showing up and speaking out, of solidarity and defiance — and, yes, of love — that Planned Parenthood is supporting partner organizations rooted in the LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month.

Click here to make a donation that will be shared among these partners:

[✓] Gender Justice

[✓] Marsha P. Johnson Institute

[✓] SPARK Reproductive Justice Now!

DONATE***

As a wave of abortion bans has swept through state after state, so have bans on gender-affirming care and other legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people. Each one of these is a direct attack on the right to control our own bodies and lives.

Our movements are deeply intertwined, and our causes are inseparable. When courageous lawmakers stood up to filibuster anti-trans legislation in Nebraska, bill sponsors added an abortion ban to the bill to help force it through.

They showed us who they are in that moment, and demonstrated once again that these bills — abortion bans, gender-affirming care bans, and so much more — are about power and control. The only way to stand against them is to stand together.

Make your special Pride Month gift right now and support grassroots organizations powering this movement.

Thank you for your commitment, your solidarity, and your defiance. And thank you also for the joy, celebration, love, and pride you bring. We need all of it, together, now and for the work ahead.

— Planned Parenthood

"The dull way Americans are being forced to care about climate change risk: Insurance" from USA Today

Trevor Hughes USA TODAY | Published June 11, 2023

DENVER ‒ Smoke descended on New York City, oceans are rising, arctic ice is melting. But one of the most significant and undeniable ways Americans will be impacted by climate change is far less dramatic: Insurance.

Insurance companies across the country are increasingly altering where and how people can live in flood, storm or wildfire-prone areas. State Farm and Allstate have made national headlines recently for their decisions to not offer new homeowner policies in disaster-prone California, and other companies have pulled out of or dramatically raised rates in Louisiana, Florida and Colorado.

In other words, whether or not you believe climate change is a problem, your data-driven insurance company already does — and it's responding, in most cases faster than government regulators. A 2022 report by USA TODAY explored a looming financial catastrophe caused in part by government assurances that people can rebuild where they previously lived, instead of being prompted to relocate somewhere safer.

A recent poll by Ipsos found that 90% of Democrats report being concerned about climate change, compared to 34% of Republicans, many of whom live in disaster-prone states like Florida and Texas.

"What you're really getting into is having to adjust how and where we build to make things [that] are insurable," said Craig Fugate, the head of FEMA during the Obama administration. "The argument has always been that building restrictions make homes unaffordable. But the new question has to be: Is it insurable?"

What does climate change have to do with insurance?

Virtually anyone buying a house with a mortgage must have homeowner's insurance, and insurance companies in disaster-prone areas have been significantly raising rates or withdrawing altogether from certain areas. If you don't have insurance, you can't get a mortgage. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/11/climate-change-effects-hit-us-homeowner-insurance/70288893007

And so, I decided to highlight this article from USA Today for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 11th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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June 12th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today, June 12th, 2023, with the subject line, "Honor the victims and survivors of Pulse with action: Send your message," which stated the following:

Paul—

The same week we're remembering the tragedy at Pulse nightclub—one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history—extremist Republicans in the House are proposing to gut our gun laws.

They want to make it EASIER for potential mass shooters to get the kind of extremely dangerous assault weapons used in multiple shootings, including at Club Q in Colorado Springs and at The Covenant School in Nashville. President Biden took action to regulate this type of weapon under existing law, but extremists now want to roll it back.

Paul, you've already taken action on this important issue—but if we're going to stop extremist lawmakers from gutting our gun laws, we need to keep the pressure up.

The House is voting THIS WEEK to make it easier to get a type of extremely dangerous assault weapon that is highly regulated. Honor the victims and survivors of the shooting at Pulse with action: Send another message to [your representative in Congress] demanding they vote NO!

SEND MY MESSAGE***

Seven years ago, Orlando, Florida and the LGBTQ+ community were changed forever. A gunman opened fire at the LGBTQ+ nightclub Pulse, killing 49 people and wounding more than 50 others, many of whom were Latinx or Black.

We've worked to honor their lives with action, but we cannot ignore how much work we have left to do.

Loss continues to echo throughout and beyond the Latinx, Black, and queer communities. Mass shootings and daily gun violence continue to happen. And to make matters worse, extremist lawmakers in Florida—as well as several other states—are working to make their communities less welcoming, particularly for trans and queer youth.

Being out and openly queer, as many of the victims of the shooting at Pulse were, requires not just an immense degree of courage to be oneself, but also profound belief that a world in which we are able to experience joy and thrive as ourselves is possible.

It is with that intense amount of joy and hope that we, as a movement, must approach ending this deadly crisis. Together, we can turn our dream of a country free from gun violence into a reality—but only if we make it so.

This Pride Month, and on the seven-year-mark of the Pulse tragedy, we are answering the challenges we face with hope and resolve. We will fight to make our country safe for all—regardless of who we are, and who we love.

Honor the victims and survivors of the shooting at Pulse with action: Send a message to [your representative in Congress] now.

Thank you for being a part of this movement.

[Name redacted]
She/Her/Hers
[Title redacted]
Moms Demand Action

Tell Your U.S. Representative: Oppose Gutting Our Gun Laws And Support Gun Safety Legislation

Gun lobby allies in Congress continue to attack the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)—the federal agency tasked with enforcing our gun laws, solving gun crimes, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence.

Just weeks after a school shooting in Nashville where the shooter used an assault weapon equipped with an arm brace, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation that would make it easier for dangerous individuals to get their hands on these modified guns.

Enough is enough. Common-sense gun policies on background checks, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and assault weapons can help prevent shootings and keep our families safe. Inaction is not an option, and these extreme attempts to gut our gun laws are shameful.

Demand the U.S. House prioritize gun safety. Our U.S. representatives must reject this extreme attempt at undermining the ATF, and take action on common-sense gun legislation like expanding background checks to all gun sales, passing a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban.

Dear Representative,

I am writing to you as a constituent filled with grief, fear, and anger. I am fed up. As countless acts of preventable gun violence continue to threaten the safety of communities across the country day after day, I am urging you to oppose the extreme attempts to attack the ATF, including efforts to repeal the ATF's arm brace rule, and, instead, support action on gun safety. I ask you to support common-sense legislation that would expand background checks to all gun sales, create a federal Extreme Risk Protection Order law, and reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban. This common-sense legislation can help prevent tragic mass shootings, as well as the 120 gun deaths that happen every day.

Please, I'm urging you to prioritize public safety. Take action and save lives.

Complete the form to send your message now:

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Prefix: Mr.
Email address: [redacted]
Street address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above to my representative in Congress, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, I made a one-time donation to Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (via the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund) in order to do my part to "honor the victims and survivors of Pulse [nightclub] with action by send[ing]...another message to [my representative in Congress] demanding they vote NO...to stop extremist lawmakers from gutting our gun laws." –Paul Whiting (written June 12th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023, revised July 5th, 2023 and revised September 7th, 2023)

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For my "June 14th, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. A brief overview of the 'update' can be found below:

June 14th, 2023 Update: Did you know that June 14th of each year is both Flag Day and the U.S. Army's birthday?

Neither did I! That is, until I received two emails from the USO (United Service Organizations) last year on June 10th, 2022 and June 12th, 2022, with the subject lines, "How much do you know about the stars and stripes, Paul?" and "Help us celebrate the Army's 247th birthday!", respectively.

And I wrote an 'update' regarding those emails from the USO, a copy of which can be found below: ...

... Thus, today is both Flag Day and the Army’s 248th birthday! And I received a text message today, June 14th, 2023, from the USO (United Service Organizations), which stated the following: ...

... So, I signed the card to "honor those who serve and sacrifice so much for us by wishing the Army a happy birthday!" Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our Army heroes, "We are beyond grateful for the sacrifices you make to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. In honor of the Army’s 248th birthday, thank you for your service!"

And then, for Flag Day, I did a search on Google for "USO Flag Day 2023" and found an article on the USO.org website titled, "When is Flag Day and Five Must-Know American Flag Facts." A brief introduction to the article can be found below: ...

... Plus, after I read the article, I made another one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, the USO has stood by America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "June 14th, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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June 14th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 14th, 2023, with the subject line, "New podcast: Trans kids speak out!", which stated the following:

New Podcast Episode

Let Trans Kids Speak for Themselves

"I really hope for those of you that are younger and you find yourself caught in the hurricane that is the 'trans debate,' that you can find the eye of that hurricane and just learn to be yourself … no matter how far you sink, there will always be someone willing to lift you back up."

– [Name redacted], 15 years old

LISTEN NOW:

https://www.aclu.org/podcast/131254

Then, after I listened to the podcast, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU because, as the podcast host says in her opening statement:

"As legislatures across the country enact anti-LGBTQ bills, one group has taken center stage in our national conversation: trans youth. Of the 491 anti-LGBTQ bills that we are tracking in this legislative session, 118 are bills seeking to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for trans kids. In the midst of all of this we are losing sight of the big picture. Trans kids are simply kids. And they’d like everyone else to let them be that. They don’t want to have to grow up fast, or be thrust into the spotlight. They want to manage their cheer team, build robots in their bedrooms, and go to homecoming with their friends.

So today, we’re passing them the mic, because well, the adults are talking too much and need to sit down and listen."

–Paul Whiting (June 14th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023 and revised April 28th, 2024)

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June 16th, 2023 Update, Written On June 17th, 2023: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) yesterday, June 16th, 2023, with the subject line, "The intersection of racism and queer hate.", which stated the following:

Paul – all Pride month long, we're uplifting the joy, resistance, and action of our communities, especially in the face of escalating attacks against LGBTQ people's rights and safety. Particularly for trans people.

While state lawmakers continue to introduce discriminatory laws (nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills so far this year), the ACLU is working to defend the right to live fully and authentically as ourselves. One crucial piece in all this is the intersection between racism and queer hate that so many Black and brown LGBTQ people are forced to navigate – especially trans people of color. That's why this week, for Pride and in the lead-up to Juneteenth, we want to uplift the stories and work within this fight as we all work towards a liberated future free of harm and full of life.

PRIDE IS JOY

Community Stories

In the midst of attacks on trans people's safety and dignity, we're celebrating stories of trans joy (https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/were-here-to-stay-black-trans-futures). In Alabama, for instance, as anti-trans state bills unfolded, the national press focused solely on the tragedy of being trans in the state, while interviews presented (mostly) white parents of trans youth in Alabama. This gap in storytelling brought about Black Trans Futures (https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/were-here-to-stay-black-trans-futures), a storytelling project by the ACLU of Alabama and the Knights & Orchids Society. As one young Alabamian named Ro shared, "I love my journey. I'm not a man, I'm a trans man and that holds so much power ... There's only one Ro and that Ro is special."

PRIDE IS RESISTANCE

Updates On Our Work

The ACLU has been fighting for LGBTQ freedom for decades. And as an organization at the intersection of every civil liberty issue in this country, we know full well that nothing exists in isolation: Our fight to stop attacks on LGBTQ people's right to exist in public life, includes defending access to protections like fair housing, healthcare, and beyond. Here's just a highlight of some of our work in these areas:

[✓] Systemic racism, widespread poverty, and the criminalization of sex work continues to fuel housing discrimination for marginalized groups within the queer community, especially for trans people. We at the ACLU are educating and fighting for equal access to housing rights: Get informed on the history behind this work and how housing segregation shaped America's 'Gayborhoods.' (https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtq-rights/how-housing-segregation-shaped-americas-gayborhoods)

[✓] We also recently sued Idaho (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/families-sue-to-block-idahos-ban-on-health-care-for-trans-youth) for their unconstitutional law that criminalizes gender-affirming care for trans youth – a challenge that represents our seventh lawsuit defending trans youth's right to health care this year alone.

[✓] Through advocacy, litigation, and lobbying, we're working alongside our partners to push back against ALL attacks on LGBTQ rights across the states, which you can track alongside our team right now (https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights).

PRIDE IS ACTION

Take Action With Us

Pride began as a protest – a movement led by Black and brown trans women. And as we continue the fight for LGBTQ freedom today, we need you to take action. While anti-trans politicians in state legislatures continue to attack young people by passing bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently introduced a federal ban in the House. That's why, we're asking during Pride Month: Please, send a message to your member of Congress urging them to protect trans care.*

Paul, this month and every month – we won't stop fighting for our communities. Thank you for reading this Pride month's update, and remember to watch your inbox all June for more updates as we fight to protect LGBTQ rights and all people's civil liberties.

Happy Pride,

The ACLU Team

"...PROTECT TRANS CARE NOW

The attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.

A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.

We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Protect Trans People from Discrimination

Recently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?

I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.

Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.

Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.

I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.

Thank you. I look forward to your response.

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]..."

And so, for very much the same reason that I donated on June 1st, 2023, and on June 7th, 2023, as well as on June 14th, 2023, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU today, June 17th, 2023, since "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get," because "PRIDE IS JOY," "PRIDE IS RESISTANCE" and "PRIDE IS ACTION!" –Paul Whiting (written June 17th, 2023, revised June 21st, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)

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For my "June 17th, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

June 17th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, June 17th, 2023, with the subject line, "USO Newsletter: Spring Highlights, with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 113 for June 2023, which stated, in part, the following:

As summer goes into full swing, it's more important than ever to remember and honor our troops who may not be able to spend this precious time with their families.

We can't thank you enough for helping our service members stay comfortable and connected to home during this time. Check out the updates below to learn a little more about the work you've helped make possible this past spring! ...

And the following highlights from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, are regarding "How a U.S. Soldier and USO Volunteer in Honduras Helped Lay the Foundation for a New USO Center" and the limited edition 2023 USO T-shirt:

How a U.S. Soldier and USO Volunteer in Honduras Helped Lay the Foundation for a New USO Center

USO centers typically have teams of volunteers working alongside USO employees to deliver crucial support to service members stationed far from home. But for locations that are too remote or dangerous for permanent USO staff to live and work there, we rely on the service members deployed to these particular locations to serve as USO volunteers and run their own centers. These heroes use their downtime during deployment to support their fellow troops, and we couldn't be more thankful for them.

Click here to meet the U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class and USO volunteer who helped establish the USO's first-ever center in Honduras. »

https://www.uso.org/stories/3566-how-a-us-soldier-and-uso-volunteer-in-honduras-helped-lay-the-foundation-for-a-new-uso-center

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BY THE NUMBERS

"13"

That's how many years we've had the official uniform of military supporters! Check out the limited edition 2023 USO T-shirt here. »

https://www.uso.org/tshirt

...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to show my support "helping our service members stay comfortable and connected to home during this [past spring] time" and to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

"I was finally able to talk to my children by using their free Wi-Fi, and I enjoyed my time checking [out] a variety of local cultural opportunities while having snacks in their lounge. It made me [feel] at home!"

— A U.S. Army Spc. and military mom deployed to South Korea

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "June 17th, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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June 17th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense today, June 17th, 2023, with the subject line, "State victories for gun safety are adding up, even where you might not expect", which stated the following:

Paul, this is how we make progress toward a future free from gun violence:

It's only June, but 2023 is already one of our movement's most successful years in state legislatures ever. So far, state legislatures across the U.S. have passed more gun safety policies into law than in any other session in the last five years.

[✓] Even more states have passed critical gun safety laws like assault weapons bans, red flag laws, and laws requiring background checks on all gun sales. More than half of states now have a secure storage law.

[✓] And we're not just passing more good laws—we're stopping the gun lobby in their tracks. From New Hampshire to Missouri to Arizona, we've successfully blocked all of the gun lobby's priorities from advancing in over a dozen states so far this year.

These victories couldn't have happened without the tireless advocacy of our Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers or our millions of grassroots supporters—proof that we are a political powerhouse in the movement to end gun violence.

Fighting for gun safety in every single state would be impossible without our thousands of incredible volunteers. And when we're going toe-to-toe with the gun lobby, it requires a lot of financial resources, too. That's why we rely on grassroots donors to help us keep up this momentum: Donate today to support the work we're doing every day to pass stronger gun laws and work for a future free from gun violence.

Power our grassroots movement. Donate.***

Thank you for your support,

Everytown and Moms Demand Action

"Oregon GOP senators end 6-week walkout after new agreements on abortion, gun bills" from AP (Associated Press) News

By Andrew Selsky | June 16, 2023

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Ending a walkout that held up key bills for six weeks, Republicans showed up for work in the Oregon Senate on Thursday after wresting concessions from Democrats on measures covering abortion, transgender health care and gun rights.

The lawmakers’ walkout — the longest in state history and the second-longest in the United States — came as several statehouses around the nation have been ideological battlegrounds, including in Montana and Tennessee.

The Republican boycott, which prevented the state Senate from reaching a two-thirds quorum needed to pass bills, was prompted by a sweeping measure on abortion and gender-affirming care that Republicans called too extreme. The measure would allow doctors to provide abortions regardless of a patient’s age, with medical providers not required to notify the parents of a minor in certain cases.

As part of the deal to end the walkout, Democrats agreed to change language concerning parental notifications for abortion.

Under the compromise, if an abortion provider believes notifying the parents of a patient under 15 years old would not be in that patient’s best interest, the physician would not have to notify the parents — but would need another provider to concur. However, no second opinion would be needed if involving a parent or guardian would lead to the abuse or neglect of the patient.

Democrats said the measure will still ensure abortion access and protect caregivers from anti-abortion or gender-affirming care measures passed by other states. It will also require that health insurance covers medically necessary gender-affirming care.

Democrats also agreed to drop several amendments on a bill that would punish the manufacturing or transferring of undetectable firearms. The now-removed clauses would have increased the purchasing age from 18 to 21 for semiautomatic rifles and placed more limits on concealed carry.

Democrats immediately filed new versions of both measures reflecting the agreements, and the Senate then passed them. Although the bills were approved earlier by the House, they now will go back to that chamber for a concurrence vote before going to Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek for her signature. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-gop-walkout-ends-e4cf9a17ce536232d158dfe4cc4fc96c

And I decided to highlight this article from AP News for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 17th, 2023, revised August 28th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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June 17th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More: [CONTENT WARNING: THIS UPDATE CONTAINS THEMES WHICH MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!]

I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, June 17th, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Coping With Grief on Father's Day." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Coping With Grief on Father's Day" from Time Magazine

By Leslie Lehr | JUNE 16, 2023

Lehr is the prize-winning author of the pop culture memoir, A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me — and You, exploring the challenge of women today in navigating a new path between sexy and sacred. She is the Novel Consultant for Truby's Writers Studio, a judge for the WFWA debut novel contest, and a member of PEN, the Authors Guild, WGA, Women In Film, the ACLU, and The Women’s Leadership Council of LA

I hate Father’s Day. Not because my father died this year, making it the first without him. It was sudden, but we’d exchanged loving New Year’s greetings 10 days earlier. Despite our political differences, we were on good terms. He had enjoyed every day of his 86 years so much that we teased he inspired the show, Ted Lasso. Of course, I’ll be missing him on Father’s Day, but that’s not what fills me with dread.

I hate Father’s Day because my children’s father died by suicide, and I don’t know how to console them. Or whether it’s my place. I’d been married to their father for 20 years, but we were long divorced and rarely speaking when he ended his pain. It happened several years ago on Christmas Eve, making it impossible to forget that his favorite film was It’s A Wonderful Life. Our oldest daughter suggested that maybe he chose that day to spite us. I wonder if I should disagree, or if it would hurt her more to consider that he may not have been thinking of us at all. That his pain was too overwhelming. That she is fatherless.

I got the phone call after Christmas Eve dinner, celebrating a new home with my new husband. I had decorated extra bedrooms hoping my daughters would both visit. But mourning their father was not what I had I [in] mind. When they arrived two days later, they didn’t need extra rooms. They shared one room, one bed, one parent.

The death certificate stated the cause of death, beyond the wound to the head, was veteran-related PTSD and depression. In addition to physical ailments, he had self-medicated for years. Since our divorce, he had leaned far too hard on one daughter and frightened the other away. His intermittent texts to me alternated between affection and fury. He was not a happy man. But he loved his children. I know he did. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6287415/fathers-day-grief-essay

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 17th, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised August 28th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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P.S.: On a personal note, my father passed away in 2018. And so, I also have a complicated relationship with Father's Day.

However, I do celebrate Father's Day through my blogging as a way to honor all fathers, including my own father, as well as the father of us all, God The Father!

Thus, that is why I decided to share this Time Magazine article in order to acknowledge those who, like me, may have a different kind of experience on Father's Day for many different reasons...

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988

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June 19th, 2023 Update: In observance of Juneteenth, I sent letters to my U.S. House Representative and Senators in Congress urging them to pass the Abolition Amendment (S.J.Res.21/H.J.Res.53), after I did a search on Google for "ACLU Close The Slavery Loophole" and I found a corresponding action on the ACLU website titled, "CONGRESS: END FORCED LABOR IN PRISONS," which can be found below:

Congress: End Forced Labor in Prisons

Despite the fact that many are taught that the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude more than 150 years ago, forced, unpaid labor still persists to this day in our country – due in large part to the "exception clause" of the 13th Amendment. This egregious loophole barred slavery except for people who have been convicted of crimes – which has resulted in the forced labor of incarcerated workers across the country and encouraged the continued overcriminalization of Black and Brown people for centuries.

But there’s legislation that could end the "exception clause" once and for all – and we must demand our lawmakers take action on it. So please send a message to Congress and tell them to pass the Abolition Amendment immediately.

Message Recipients: Your U.S. House Representative and Senators

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Pass the Abolition Amendment (S.J.Res.21/H.J.Res.53)

As your constituent, I urge you to support passage of the Abolition Amendment (S.J.Res.21/H.J.Res.53) – which would end slavery and involuntary servitude in all its forms — including forced labor in prisons.

The "exception clause" to the 13th Amendment barred slavery except for people who have been convicted of crimes. This loophole disproportionately encouraged the criminalization and re-enslavement of Black people during the Jim Crow era, gave rise to Black Codes, convict leasing, and chain gangs. Its harm persists today in the form of forced labor, poverty wages, and reliance on mass incarceration that disproportionately impacts people of color.

Put simply: The "exception clause" has allowed for millions of incarcerated workers over the years to be exploited, underpaid, and excluded from workplace safety protection laws – and it has enabled human rights abuses and systemic racism to go on for centuries.

In the land of the free, forced labor is never acceptable. So please, take action immediately to end the exception – and pass the Abolition Amendment.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent letters to my U.S. House Representative and Senators in Congress, via the ACLU website, I also made a donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for passing the Abolition Amendment in celebration of "The Land of the Free," because slavery is just plain wrong.

Besides that, I also read an excellent article on the ACLU website—that is from June 17, 2022—which is titled, "The Liberating Truth About Juneteenth." A copy of the full article can be found below:

"The Liberating Truth About Juneteenth" from the ACLU

Yasmin Cader, Deputy Legal Director and Director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality | June 17, 2022

As we celebrate Juneteenth, let’s remember exactly what we are celebrating, and why. ... We celebrate our ancestors who secured their own freedom, manifested their own destiny, and gave us a clear path to do the same for ourselves.

When my first born started kindergarten, I learned American enslavement was on the curriculum that year. Before he took that first step into the classroom, I made sure he knew the truth of his ancestors’ resistance to enslavement, including the specific ways we ultimately secured our own freedom. As we say in my house, “we freed ourselves.”

This week as we celebrate Juneteenth, recognized as a federal holiday just one year ago, we must reflect not only on when slavery ended, but how it ended. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865 — two months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued — when the Union army advanced in Texas and Oklahoma declaring the last enslaved people there free. But emancipation’s full history can scarcely be summed up by a single day or announcement.

The revolutionary role that the enslaved played in securing their own liberation is often overlooked. Yet as noted by W.E.B. Du Bois in “Black Reconstruction,” and subsequently by other historians including Steven Hahn and Thavolia Glymph before and during the Civil War, enslaved people engaged in a range of forms of resistance, both armed and subtle. As the Civil War progressed, this resistance catalyzed into what Du Bois famously termed “the general strike.” Enslaved people fled plantations, organized work stoppages and slow downs, nursed union soldiers, and directed them to provisions on plantations, engaged in violent resistance and joined the Union Army. This massive disruption of the wartime economy of the South represented what Du Bois calls a “withdrawal and bestowal of his labor [that] decided the war.” This strike changed the trajectory of the civil war from a war to save the union to a war to end slavery.

It wasn’t until I was a student of political history at Howard University that I learned these truths, and in this quest, became that much more liberated, that much more free. The story of slavery and emancipation I learned before college was more limited, and often obscured the power and agency of enslaved people. But in classrooms across our country today, the ability to teach and learn even the most basic truths about emancipation are vulnerable. Unprecedented attacks on our First Amendment rights to read, learn, and discuss race are widespread, and driven in part by an insistence that white children must not be made to feel the shame or discomfort that may naturally arise with learning our nation’s violent origin story.

Du Bois and his revelations, too, were dismissed by many leading historians precisely because of the discomfort that came with learning the more nuanced truth. His meticulous research challenged existing paradigms for understanding how history happened and who the actors were. Instead of the civil war being a battle between military commanders, he uncovered the central role enslaved people played in defeating the South and the fact that they possessed the knowledge of their actions, its purpose, and its effect. The many historians of the day who dismissed Du Bois were vested in portraying the enslaved as docile, inferior, and grateful to the great white emancipator. The erasure of the humanity, political genius, and fortitude of African Americans helped perpetuate the racial subjugation that we are fighting to this day.

Those historians have something in common with the legislators across the nation who are introducing and passing classroom censorship bills that restrict discussion about race in schools: fear. Fear not just of the exposure of the atrocities committed by white people during slavery, but fear of the ingenuity, strength and resilience of those who were enslaved and how they defeated an essential structure of oppression. Those who seek to silence the type of knowledge produced by Black people do so because they know knowledge is power. And power is dangerous.

Enslaved people’s knowledge of their own freedom, born of their own organized and multifaceted resistance, posed a particular threat to those who sought to silence and capture them. But on June 19, 1865, the rest of the country finally had to learn and acknowledge what many of our ancestors already knew: that they were free.

So as we celebrate Juneteenth, let’s remember exactly what we are celebrating, and why. Let’s reject attempts to thwart our right to discuss and learn about structural racism, let’s reject attempts to erase Black people from history and let’s reject censorship. Instead, let us follow the rigorous path led by Du Bois and Glymph. We celebrate our ancestors who secured their own freedom, who manifested their own destiny, and who gave us a clear path to do the same for ourselves. I teach this truth to my children so that they are not misled into thinking our freedom was secured by others and to quash the false impression that we were simply victims, rather than skillful political actors and survivors. Without knowing our true history, we cannot progress as a nation, and we cannot be truly free.

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/the-liberating-truth-about-juneteenth

Then, after I read the article above, I made another one-time donation to the ACLU in order to show my support for the following statement:

"So as we celebrate Juneteenth, let’s remember exactly what we are celebrating, and why. Let’s reject attempts to thwart our right to discuss and learn about structural racism, let’s reject attempts to erase Black people from history and let’s reject censorship."

–Paul Whiting (written June 19th, 2023 and revised June 20th, 2023)

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June 19th, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On June 20th, 2023: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received yesterday, June 19th, 2023, when I noticed two Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The first Time Magazine article that I read today, June 20th, 2023, is titled, "This Juneteenth, We Must Undo the Toxic Narratives Placed on Black People." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"This Juneteenth, We Must Undo the Toxic Narratives Placed on Black People" from Time Magazine

By Alicia M. Walters And Collette Watson | June 19, 2023

This Juneteenth, Black [folks] will gather as we have for decades to celebrate ourselves, our ancestors, all we are, and the joy that abounds. Others will have a day off work and maybe do something meaningful to honor Black people—but our breath is not bated.

More than a cause for celebration, Juneteenth is a reminder that repair is long overdue. We need a call to create a future where this society is free of anti-Blackness; a call to cultivate a world where Black people are thriving in every way.

It’s been three years since Juneteenth became widely known beyond Black America, and yet the discourse around slavery and its legacy has only devolved. The [state] of Florida has banned the teaching of African American history. Books and even poems by Black authors are being pulled from the classroom.

That’s why we cannot let Juneteenth become just another summer day off. Juneteenth must be a moment of deep reflection, truth-gathering, and actionable change, particularly for those in positions of media and cultural power.

On May 6, 2023, the California state reparations task force named media and culture as one of the sectors to be addressed in recommendations for state-level reparations. Narratives of Black inferiority were the pretext for slavery, and those same stories continue to keep us trapped in cycles of systemic discrimination. We believe that Juneteenth is a vital opportunity to understand the past while tenderly cultivating new narratives that center Black truths in three critical steps: ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6287828/juneteenth-reparations-media

The second Time Magazine article that I read today, June 20th, 2023, is titled, "When Did Slavery Really End in the U.S.? The Complicated History of Juneteenth." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"When Did Slavery Really End in the U.S.? The Complicated History of Juneteenth" from Time Magazine

By Olivia B. Waxman | (Originally Published) June 15, 2023

The push to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, which successfully led to the first national Juneteenth observance last year, brought a new wave of attention to the history behind this celebration: That on June 19, 1865, enslaved men and women in Texas found out—weeks after the Civil War ended—that they were free, and the Union Army’s Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

But the full story was not that simple.

“There are some enslavers in Texas that didn’t tell their enslaved people that they were free, and they had them keep on working,” says Daina Ramey Berry, Professor of History and Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

So then when did slavery actually end in the United States?

There are multiple dates that could be singled out, depending on the geographic location of the enslaved person. The Civil War, fought over slavery, ended in April 1865, but the end of slavery was more like a process, rather than an event that occurred on a particular day. There were some cases of people who escaped to freedom or won their freedom in court years earlier. And Berry argues that the most important date to highlight would be Dec. 6, 1865, when the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, was ratified by the States, just about a year after it was passed by Congress on Jan. 31, 1865.

Most people outside the scholarly community think slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but that’s a common misconception. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6281737/ai-we-cant-trust-big-tech-gary-marcus

And I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 20th, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023 and revised March 26th, 2024)

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June 19th, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On June 20th, 2023: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google yesterday, June 19th, 2023, when I noticed an article on APNews.com titled, "Americans mark Juneteenth with parties, events and quiet reflection on the end of slavery." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Americans mark Juneteenth with parties, events and quiet reflection on the end of slavery" from AP (Associated Press) News

By Bianca Vázquez Toness, Ed White and Adrian Sainz | June 19, 2023

Detroit (AP) — Americans across the country this weekend celebrated Juneteenth, marking the relatively new national holiday with cookouts, parades and other gatherings as they commemorated the end of slavery after the Civil War.

While many have treated the long holiday weekend as a reason for a party, others urged quiet reflection on America’s often violent and oppressive treatment of its Black citizens. And still others have remarked at the strangeness of celebrating a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the nation while many Americans are trying to stop parts of that history from being taught in public schools.

“Is #Juneteenth the only federal holiday that some states have banned the teaching of its history and significance?” Author Michelle Duster asked on Twitter this weekend, referring to measures in Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama prohibiting an Advancement Placement African American studies course or the teaching of certain concepts of race and racism.

Monday’s federal holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued during the bloody Civil War.

On Juneteenth weekend, a Roman Catholic church in Detroit devoted its service to urging parishioners to take a deeper look at the lessons from the holiday.

“In order to have justice we must work for peace. And in order to have peace we must work for justice,” John Thorne, executive director of the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, said to the congregation at Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit.

Standing before paintings of a Black Jesus and Mary, Thorne said Juneteenth is a day of celebration, but it also “has to be much more.”

It was important to speak about Juneteenth during Sunday Mass, the Rev. Lorn Snow told a reporter as the service was ending.

“The struggle’s still not over with. There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://apnews.com/article/juneteenth-federal-holiday-slavery-celebration-6797a36e52bfdd91b9ac41503d3cef38

And I decided to highlight this article from AP News for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 20th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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June 20th, 2023 Update: Did you know that World Refugee Day is yearly (annually) on June 20th?

Neither did I! That is, until I was on YouTube watching a video titled, "Disney's New Amsterdam Theatre: A Broadway Icon (Access Granted)," when I saw an advertisement from Doctors Without Borders USA in the form of a YouTube video.

By the way, I tried to find this video on YouTube—as I have done with other 'updates' such as this one where I am highlighting a fundraising ad—but, I was unable to locate this video on the Doctors Without Borders USA channel; however, the description from the donation page states the following:

MATCH: Make a lifesaving gift this World Refugee Day

100 million people have been forcibly displaced—many of them refugees. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières is providing lifesaving care wherever it’s needed most in more than 70 countries around the world—and we rely on the support of individual donors like you to power our vital work.

Give now before midnight on World Refugee Day, June 20, and your generosity will be MATCHED, dollar for dollar.

All gifts given, up to $500,000, will be doubled through 11:59 p.m. EST on World Refugee Day (June 20). Every dollar you give will be matched with $1. Gifts received after the match has been met will not be matched but will be used where needed most.

Thus, after I watched the video above, I made a one-time donation to Doctors Without Borders USA in order to do my part to "make a lifesaving gift this World Refugee Day," because "Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières is providing lifesaving care wherever it’s needed most in more than 70 countries around the world", since "100 million people have been forcibly displaced—many of them refugees." That is why I gave "before midnight on World Refugee Day, June 20, [so that my] generosity [would] be MATCHED, dollar for dollar."

By the way, here is an article from the United Nations regarding World Refugee Day:

"World Refugee Day | 20 June" from the United Nations

Refugees represent the very best of the human spirit. They need and deserve support and solidarity — not closed borders and pushbacks.
— UN Secretary-General António Guterres

2023 Theme: Hope Away from Home

World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

Background

Every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. There are several types of forcibly displaced persons:

Refugees

A refugee is someone who fled his or her home and country owing to “a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion”, according to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention. Many refugees are in exile to escape the effects of natural or human-made disasters.

Asylum Seekers

Asylum seekers say they are refugees and have fled their homes as refugees do, but their claim to refugee status is not yet definitively evaluated in the country to which they fled.

Internally Displaced Persons

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are people who have not crossed an international border but have moved to a different region than the one they call home within their own country.

Stateless Persons

Stateless persons do not have a recognized nationality and do not belong to any country.

Statelessness situations are usually caused by discrimination against certain groups. Their lack of identification — a citizenship certificate — can exclude them from access to important government services, including health care, education or employment.

Returnees

Returnees are former refugees who return to their own countries or regions of origin after time in exile. Returnees need continuous support and reintegration assistance to ensure that they can rebuild their lives at home.

UN Action

1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol

Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol help protect them. They are the only global legal instruments explicitly covering the most important aspects of a refugee’s life. According to their provisions, refugees deserve, as a minimum, the same standards of treatment enjoyed by other foreign nationals in a given country and, in many cases, the same treatment as nationals.

The 1951 Convention contains a number of rights and also highlights the obligations of refugees towards their host country. The cornerstone of the 1951 Convention is the principle of non-refoulement. According to this principle, a refugee should not be returned to a country where he or she faces serious threats to his or her life or freedom. This protection may not be claimed by refugees who are reasonably regarded as a danger to the security of the country, or having been convicted of a particularly serious crime, are considered a danger to the community.

The rights contained in the 1951 Convention include:

[✓] The right not to be expelled, except under certain, strictly defined conditions;
[✓] The right not to be punished for illegal entry into the territory of a contracting State;
[✓] The right to work;
[✓] The right to housing;
[✓] The right to education;
[✓] The right to public relief and assistance;
[✓] The right to freedom of religion;
[✓] The right to access the courts;
[✓] The right to freedom of movement within the territory;
[✓] The right to be issued identity and travel documents.

Some basic rights, including the right to be protected from refoulement, apply to all refugees. A refugee becomes entitled to other rights the longer they remain in the host country, which is based on the recognition that the longer they remain as refugees, the more rights they need.

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day

–Paul Whiting (June 20th, 2023)

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June 21st, 2023 Update: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "Abortion care, trans care, and bodily autonomy for ALL.", which stated the following:

Paul – all Pride month, we have been updating you in our fight for LGBTQ rights, particularly as trans people nationwide remain targeted. More than anything, we want to make clear that an attack on any community's rights and freedoms is an attack on all our rights and freedoms. That's why we at the ACLU are here.

Given this Pride week also marks the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, that intersectional fight for civil liberties is more evident than ever. Because the very same lawmakers who are banning abortion are also banning lifesaving care for trans people. It's a coordinated attack on our bodily autonomy. But we won't let that happen without a fight. You are the rightful owner of your life story Paul, and together, we will make that clear through Pride and beyond.

PRIDE IS JOY

Community Stories

In the midst of attacks on trans people's safety and dignity, we're celebrating stories from trans people's own experiences. Because when forces larger than us try to break our spirit, we can respond as forcefully and effectively with joy as we can with anger, defiance, and protest. And one area that we know uplifting the voices of trans people is so needed in the movement is in the fight for reproductive freedom. As Cazembe Jackson put it in an interview with ACLU and our partners at We Testify, "As a Black trans man, my abortion experience was not easy, but it saved my life... If I'd heard any other Black trans voices when I got an abortion, I believe it would have been a lot easier." Read his full story (https://www.aclu.org/abortion-stories/cazembe-murphy-jackson).

PRIDE IS RESISTANCE

Updates On Our Work

The ACLU has been fighting for LGBTQ freedom for decades. And as an organization at the intersection of every civil liberty issue in this country, we know full well that nothing exists in isolation: That's why we defend trans people's right to access gender-affirming health care and all people's right to access abortion care. Full stop. Here are just a few of our most recent updates on this work:

[✓] Just yesterday a federal district court judge struck down an Arkansas law (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-judge-overturns-arkansas-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-transgender-youth) that aimed to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The win by the ACLU of Arkansas and our partners makes it clear: science, medicine, and law are clear: gender-affirming care is necessary to ensure these young Arkansans can thrive and be healthy.

[✓] We recently filed a lawsuit in Nebraska (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/new-lawsuit-argues-combined-restrictions-on-health-care-for-trans-youth-and-abortion-violated-state-constitution) over their law that bans abortion after 12 weeks and restricts access to gender-affirming care for young people.

[✓] Last Friday, a federal judge blocked a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth in Indiana from going into effect. This win came out of the ACLU and ACLU of Indiana's challenge against the state (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-court-blocks-indiana-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-trans-youth) and is a testament to the trans youth of Indiana, their families, and their allies, who never gave up the fight.

PRIDE IS ACTION

Take Action With Us

Pride began as a protest – a movement led by Black and brown trans women. And as we continue the fight for LGBTQ freedom today, we need you to take action. During Pride Month, as we fight to protect bodily autonomy and access to life-affirming care for all of us: Please, send a message to your member of Congress urging them to protect trans care.*

Paul, this month and every month – we won't stop fighting for our communities. Thank you for reading this Pride month's update, and remember to watch your inbox all June for more updates as we fight to protect LGBTQ rights and all people's civil liberties.

Happy Pride,

The ACLU Team

"...PROTECT TRANS CARE NOW

The attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are just starting. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is coming, and it affects everyone – even in states that haven't seen any anti-trans attacks.

A new bill has been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won't be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.

We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Protect Trans People from Discrimination

Recently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of access to healthcare that keeps them alive and healthy. As we celebrate our LGBTQ family members, friends, and neighbors this Pride Month, I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?

I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.

Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must stand against this.

Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.

I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community, not only during Pride Month but all year long. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.

Thank you. I look forward to your response.

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]..."

And so, for very much the same reason that I donated on June 1st, 2023, and on June 7th, 2023, and on June 14th, 2023, as well as on June 17th, 2023, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU today, June 21st, 2023, since "it's so critical that people like [me] speak up for trans rights every chance they get," because "PRIDE IS JOY," "PRIDE IS RESISTANCE" and "PRIDE IS ACTION!" –Paul Whiting (written June 21st, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)

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June 21st, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Everytown for Gun Safety today, June 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "We gathered with leaders to celebrate one year since we made history. See and share incredible moments from last weekend: We're proving we can do more than just thoughts and prayers.", which stated the following:

Paul–

This month, we're marking one year since we got Congress to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years.

We gathered with leaders on Friday to celebrate all of the progress we've made—and to make clear that we're ready for what's next.

Check out some of the incredible moments from the Safer Communities Summit on Friday and share them with your friends. From President Joe Biden to U.S. senators to Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action leaders, we all agreed: We are not finished.

SEE WHAT WE DID:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtkiU3gP3iQ/

Last June, our movement made history. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act strengthened our gun laws and made critical funding available to implement proven solutions. Breaking the logjam in Congress over the opposition of the gun lobby opened the door to the further action we need to end this crisis.

And in the year since President Biden signed this life-saving legislation, we have not slowed down. We've been changing the culture and politics of gun safety in our country. We've shown we can do more than just thoughts and prayers when it comes to ending gun violence.

This fight is not over—and it is one that we are winning.

Check out and share these amazing moments from the Safer Communities Summit on Friday. Together, we'll continue to create change and save lives.

Thank you for being a part of this movement.

[Name redacted]
She/Her/Hers
[Title redacted]
Everytown for Gun Safety

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the text of which can be found below:

Instagram

everytown: It was an honor to join @POTUS, lawmakers, local officials, advocates and leaders in the gun violence prevention movement today at the #SaferCommunitiesSummit. We celebrated the immense progress we’ve made with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and where we go from here.

It’s going to take all of us to #EndGunViolence. Join us: Text READY to 644-33.

By the way, I already texted "READY to 644-33" on June 2nd, 2023 as a part of National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend 2023. [Please see my 'June 2nd, 2023 Update (Follow-Up, Written On June 6th, 2023),' which can be found above.]

Plus, I also made a one-time donation to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, which is "the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety," in order to do my part to commemorate "one year since we got Congress to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years." –Paul Whiting (written June 21st, 2023 and revised June 28th, 2023)

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June 22nd, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, June 22nd, 2023, when I noticed a Time.com article titled, "Pride, Against All Odds." (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Pride, Against All Odds" from Time Magazine

By Joey Lautrup and Solcyre Burga | June 22, 2023

In America, the month of June is Pride Month, a celebratory period for the queer community whose origins are tied to the 1969 Stonewall rebellion. It is normally commemorated with parades, drag shows, and rallies—all in an effort to uplift the LGBTQ+ community. But this year, pride has been clouded by legislative attacks against the queer community.

Violence against LGBTQ+ people has been at a high, prompting President Joe Biden to announce a new LGBTQI+ Community Safety Partnership that aims to better protect the queer community. Companies have been targeted—and in some cases experienced bomb threats—for their partnerships with transgender activists, causing some businesses to scale back their pride merchandise or messaging.

In the past six months alone, the ACLU’s legislative tracker found that more than 490 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across state legislatures, targeting trans youth’s access to health care, the right to perform drag and banning discussions about gender identity or sexuality.

And while there has been some successful push back against such policies, causing federal courts to strike down Arkansas’ gender-affirming-care ban on Tuesday and block other healthcare bans in states like Indiana, LGBTQ+ residents still say they feel anxious by the ongoing attacks on the queer community.

“I’m not gonna lie [the Tennessee drag ban] kind of made me very, very nervous,” said Kirkland Pinkerton, a Tennessee drag queen. “The political climate and how fast it changed at the beginning of the year was a slap in the face and I was more nervous to go out in public.”

TIME spoke to Americans in four states—Florida, Missouri, Montana, and Tennessee—that are seeking to limit LGBTQ+ rights. Here’s what they told us: ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6289106/pride-month-2023

And I decided to highlight this article from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written June 22nd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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June 22nd, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, June 22nd, 2023, with the subject line, "Updates on the fight for reproductive freedom", which stated the following:

Paul,

Attacks on reproductive freedom continue to sweep across the country. The lawsuits and legislation all have one goal: to make getting an abortion as difficult as possible, for as many people as possible, in the cruelest way possible.

It's not about keeping people safe and healthy — it's about restricting abortion access. Here's what you need to know:

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Supreme Court gave states the green light to ban abortion. Bans have eliminated some or all abortions in 20 states, putting essential care out of reach for millions of people. We need your help to stop the spread of these bans and get patients the care they need, no matter what.

The legal fight over mifepristone — a medicine used in more than half of all abortions in the country — continues. A handful of anti-abortion groups are suing the FDA to try to deny patients access to this safe, effective medication that has been FDA-approved for decades. For now, mifepristone remains on the market — but the fight isn't over.

Another lawsuit in Texas alleges that Planned Parenthood health centers committed Medicaid fraud — a false and completely baseless claim. Planned Parenthood follows the law. Period. But that hasn't stopped Texas officials from joining this transparent effort to bankrupt Planned Parenthood health centers and take away care from even more people.

We're up against powerful forces, but Planned Parenthood will never stop fighting to ensure that everyone, everywhere can get the care they need. It's your firm commitment that gives us the strength to face these attacks — and together, we are building a powerful movement to defend abortion.

— Planned Parenthood

DONATE NOW »...

...And so, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Federation of America in order to show my support for Planned Parenthood, because they "will never stop fighting to ensure that everyone, everywhere can get the care they need." –Paul Whiting (June 22nd, 2023)

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June 22nd, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I received an email from Everytown for Gun Safety today, June 22nd, 2023, with the subject line, "Your senators rejected an extreme attempt to gut our gun laws! Send a thank you note today!", which stated the following:

Paul, I have some important news: Legislation that would have made it easier for people to get their hands on the especially dangerous assault weapons that have been used in recent mass shootings was shut down today by the gun sense majority in the U.S Senate. Senators [name redacted] and [name redacted] opposed this attempt to gut our gun laws with a resounding no. Send your senators a thank you message for rejecting this extreme attempt to gut our gun laws!

SEND A THANK YOU***

This win comes just one year after the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that broke a nearly 30 year logjam in Congress. As a committed supporter of the movement, Paul, I hope this victory provides you with the hope and encouragement to keep at it! Together we can continue winning and turn our dream of a country free from gun violence into a reality.

Now, let's make sure our lawmakers know that supporting gun safety is always the right decision—send your thank you message today!

Thank you for your continued support and for making your voice heard.

[Name redacted]
He/Him/His
[Title redacted]

Send A Message: Thank Your U.S. Senator For Voting To Support Gun Safety

Your U.S. senator(s) voted for gun safety. Faced with extreme gun legislation that would make it easier for people to get their hands on the especially dangerous assault weapons that have been used in recent mass shootings, your lawmaker responded with a resounding no.

Help make sure your lawmaker knows that supporting gun safety is always the right decision. Send a thank you note to your U.S. senator(s) for rejecting this extreme attempt to gut our gun laws!

SEND MY MESSAGE

Dear Senator(s),

I am writing as your constituent to thank you for prioritizing the safety of our community by voting to oppose S.J.Res. 20. This legislation would have made it easier for mass shooters to get their hands on especially deadly assault weapons. I am grateful to you for voicing your opposition and standing up for gun safety!

Complete the form to send your message now:

Prefix: Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
Street address: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above to my Senators, via the Everytown for Gun Safety website, I made a one-time donation to Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund in order to say to my Senators "thank you for prioritizing the safety of our community by voting to oppose S.J.Res. 20. This legislation would have made it easier for mass shooters to get their hands on especially deadly assault weapons. I am grateful to you for voicing your opposition and standing up for gun safety!" –Paul Whiting (written June 22nd, 2023 and revised September 7th, 2023)

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June 23rd, 2023 Update: I received an email from Song for Charlie today, June 23rd, 2023, with the subject line, "June Newsletter", which stated the following:

Song for Charlie Monthly Newsletter
June 2023

Team Hope

We are amazed and inspired by our partners and their commitment to finding lasting solutions to the fentanyl crisis. We call our network Team Hope and we are energized by the progress we are making in communities across the country.

Fentanyl Education in Jails

SFC [Song for Charlie] is proud to partner with Edovo (https://www.edovo.com) to provide fentanyl education materials to incarcerated people, a group that is vulnerable to overdose. Over 50k incarcerated learners have viewed our content since our launch in May, with a 94% completion rate!

National Impact

On May 31, the US DOE [United States Department of Education] held a Webinar (https://youtu.be/6ANTv8R8LcM) for school administrators across the country. ONDCP [Office of National Drug Control Policy] Director Gupta and Secretary of Education Cardona highlighted the efforts of schools that have implemented life-saving measures for their students. Beaverton (Oregon) School District’s “Fake & Fatal” program, developed with Song for Charlie, was featured as a model for other districts to follow.

[By the way, I started to watch the video above referenced under 'National Impact,' which is titled, "Webinar: School Overdose Response Virtual Town Hall w/ Dr. Gupta and Secretary of Education Cardona," however, I only have a cellular data plan through my cell phone company (so, I don't have access to WiFi on my smartphone). Thus, I was concerned that the webinar on YouTube would take up too much cellular data, so I decided to wait until I had access to WiFi in order to watch it...

...It's June 28th, 2023 and I just finished watching the video "Webinar: School Overdose Response Virtual Town Hall w/ Dr. Gupta and Secretary of Education Cardona" on YouTube! I was going to wait until I had access to WiFi in order to watch it, as I mentioned above, but I had some extra time today, so I decided to watch the video on my smartphone using cellular data...

...Now, rather than trying to summarize the video, as I have done with other videos such as this, I am simply going to provide you with the YouTube description and encourage you to consider watching the video also, which is slightly over 55 minutes, just to let you know; however, it's really informative!

Here is the description from that video (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Webinar: School Overdose Response Virtual Town Hall w/ Dr. Gupta and Secretary of Education Cardona

This virtual town hall took place on May 31, 2023, and brought together educators, school nurses, and federal officials to discuss ways to prevent drug overdoses and drug poisonings in school settings. The discussion centered around the dangers of illicit fentanyl in the drug supply as well as promoting the stocking of Naloxone in schools to reverse overdoses and save lives.

https://youtu.be/6ANTv8R8LcM

Thus, I hope that you will consider watching this truly educational virtual town hall!]

In the States

[Names redacted] attended the Attorney Generals Association National Conference in Los Angeles where [name redacted] participated in a panel discussion about the fentanyl crisis. SFC is ready to support State Governments as they implement their fentanyl education programs for families.

In Schools

Oregon recently passed a law requiring fentanyl education in all middle and high schools. [Name redacted], moved by the death of her friend, Cal Epstein (https://youtu.be/RkmMLR4nbkY) helped to write and drive the bill. SFC’s [names redacted], Cal’s parents, also testified in support of the bill. Mississippi, Oregon, Illinois and Texas have passed similar bills and other states are taking up the issue.

[I watched the video above referenced under 'In Schools,' which is titled, "Fentanyl Awareness: Cal's Story — Two Years Later."]

On the Road

In May, [name redacted] traveled to Boston at the request of Waltham Public School District for student assemblies and a parent information night, during which SFC reached nearly 2,000 high school students and their caregivers!

SFC Champion Corner

Our work depends on generous donors and champions like [names redacted], who recently held their second annual Brooke Hardy Charity Memorial Fundraiser to honor their daughter Brooke’s life. Brooke was taken too soon when she unexpectedly & tragically passed away from a fentanyl poisoning.

The Hardy’s and their children, Brooke’s best friend and neighbors in Denver Colorado came together on May 21st to raise awareness and critical funds to support Song for Charlie. We are beyond grateful for this family and so many of you who are helping us make a true impact!

If you are planning to host your own event, please let us know as we would love to feature you too: [email redacted]

Thank you for your continued support,

[Names redacted]

And, after I read the email above, I made a one-time donation to Song for Charlie in order to support their "national family-run, nonprofit charity dedicated to raising awareness about 'fentapills' — fake pills made of fentanyl." –Paul Whiting (written June 23rd, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023, revised July 16th, 2023, revised August 22nd, 2023, revised October 21st, 2023 and revised November 3rd, 2023)

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June 23rd, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, June 23rd, 2023, with the subject line, "Update: Millions without abortion access one year later", which stated the following:

Tomorrow may be one year without Roe, but we are still fighting back. Support the ACLU's Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative and other critical work. Donate now >>***

ACLU

Paul – tomorrow marks one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and we're in the middle of a crisis.

States across the country have banned abortion, creating criminal penalties for those who provide and help others access abortion care. In some cases, prosecutors have even charged people who have had abortions. And, these laws are disproportionately harming Black, Brown, and low-income individuals who already face barriers to accessing reproductive health care and who are over-policed by the criminal justice system.

We're confronting this injustice head-on. As the director of the Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative, I'm working to connect those who may face criminal investigation or prosecution related to abortion with a network of experienced criminal defense attorneys who are ready to fight for them.

Our work to build this initiative is ongoing, Paul. But with so much work to be done, the ACLU needs your generous support to continue this vital work in the months and years ahead.

PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AND ALL OUR RIGHTS.

DONATE NOW***

Abortion is essential health care – plain and simple. Everyone should be free to make that personal decision for themselves.

[Name redacted], We Testify storyteller, shared her experience, noting, "One misconception about people who get abortions is that we're not responsible, or we don't want the responsibility of having a child. They couldn't be more wrong. I was being responsible in getting my abortion because I knew I could not afford it and wanted to be a good parent for the child I already had."

Everyone should have the right to make their own decisions about their own body, their own family, and their own future.

We won't back down and I am betting, Paul, neither will you.

Your time-sensitive contribution will help us get charges dropped for patients and doctors alike – and support our mission to defend civil liberties for all.

Onward,

[Name redacted] Pronouns: She, her, hers [Title redacted], ACLU

Paul –

Everyone should have the right to decide when and whether to start a family, no matter where they live. But since the Supreme Court's shameful decision to overturn Roe v. Wade exactly one year ago today, 20 states have eliminated all or some access to abortion.

We at the ACLU have been working relentlessly alongside coalition partners, community members, and organizers from within the movement to fight back. Since that awful day a year ago, we have filed more than a dozen lawsuits across the country to defend and proactively protect access to abortion.

And we won't ever give up. Period. Because your personal health care decisions and future should not be up to politicians. You are the rightful owner of your life story, and we will not allow anti-abortion lawmakers to threaten our freedoms without a fight.

So, as we mark the anniversary of the Dobbs decision today, we are asking you to take one small action with us that could make a big impact nationwide: Urge Congress to take action and protect abortion access and reproductive freedom for every single one of us.

PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS NATIONWIDE TODAY***

Anti-abortion extremists are banking on the fact that we might burn out. That after a year of this fight post-Roe, we will no longer have it within us to keep speaking out and saying that abortion is essential health care. So today, Paul, take action to ensure every lawmaker hears us loud and clear: Abortion is health care, and we will never stop fighting for this essential right.

Thank you for all you do, and know we will be back soon with more action you can take to defend our reproductive freedoms.

In solidarity,

The ACLU Team

DEFEND REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM NOW

It's now been a year since the Supreme Court's shameful decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and states across the country have moved to enforce abortion bans – stripping millions of people of their right to decide if, and when, to start a family. As politicians continue to attack our bodily autonomy nationwide, we need federal safeguards more than ever. We need Congress to act.

The House has already re-introduced a bill to affirm the right for health care workers to provide birth control and for people to use it. But more protections are needed to defend reproductive freedom across the board, especially abortion access. Please, send a message to Congress now and urge them to support legislation that safeguards the right to access abortion and all reproductive health care nationwide.

Message Recipients: Your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Defend Reproductive Freedom Now

As your constituent, I'm writing to ask you to support legislation that protects abortion access and reproductive freedom on the federal level. At a time when our right to bodily autonomy is under attack more than ever before, it is increasingly urgent that our country protect access to essential health care nationwide.

We are a year out from the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and even though the vast majority of Americans support access to abortion, politicians around the country are passing laws that ban care, forcing people to travel thousands of miles to the closest provider, self-manage care, or suffer through the life-altering impacts of pregnancy and giving birth against their will. These same politicians have also taken aim at birth control. We cannot allow our reproductive freedom to be chipped away like this.

Our right to make decisions for our own health, futures, and lives are on the line: Please protect everyone's ability to access abortion care and birth control care now.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, June 24th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to defend reproductive freedom.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link https://action.aclu.org/send-message/defend-reproductive-freedom-now

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

~~~~~

Hi friend,

After the Supreme Court's shameful decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, states across the country have moved to enforce abortion bans – stripping millions of people of their right to decide if, and when, to start a family.

As politicians continue to attack our bodily autonomy nationwide, we need federal safeguards more than ever.

That's why I just joined the ACLU in sending a message to Congress urging them to support legislation that safeguards the right to access abortion and all reproductive health care nationwide.

Will you join me?

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/defend-reproductive-freedom-now

Thanks.

Then, after I sent the letter above to my U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU, because "it's now been a year since the Supreme Court's shameful decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and states across the country have moved to enforce abortion bans – stripping millions of people of their right to decide if, and when, to start a family." –Paul Whiting (June 24th, 2023)

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June 24th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, June 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "This is how I feel about you, Paul: Why your support feels especially meaningful right now", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

One of the most effective, insidious weapons used to oppress people is uncertainty. Efforts to undermine our rights and control our futures are fueled by fear and confusion.

Today marks one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped our right to control our own bodies. It's not a coincidence that the ruling unleashed a wave of chaos and uncertainty across the country — that was always one of the goals.

Many pregnant people who don't want to be pregnant or can't stay pregnant are desperate and confused about their options, where or how to get the care they need. Doctors worry that providing care based on the best medical guidance for a patient may put them in legal jeopardy. LGBTQ+ communities, especially trans youth, face the threat that their rights will be denied from one day to the next.

In times like these, when so much is unsettled and unsettling, it means everything to have something solid to hold on to. I want to thank you, Paul, along with countless other Planned Parenthood supporters, for your unyielding support and steady commitment.

Time and again, you have been there for Planned Parenthood and the patients who count on us. You've helped confront legislative and legal attacks on abortion access. You've responded to every setback and injustice with a resilience that has shocked our opponents and grown our movement. I know that no matter what we face, we face it together.

That is strength. That is the certainty we need in this moment.

We're counting on you to continue the fight for abortion rights and access in the face of a hostile Supreme Court and state lawmakers hell-bent on banning reproductive care.

As anti-abortion activists use the courts to enforce an agenda that ranges from banning medication abortion to bankrupting health centers — your voice is essential to driving systemic court reform.

The road ahead is long, difficult, and unpredictable. But I know that you are with us, just as you always have been. That's something that has never been in doubt, not for a moment.

I hope you know how much your steadfast support matters. And more than that, I hope you are able to draw strength from the fact that you are part of a nationwide movement that is just as committed to this work as you are.

Together, we will keep fighting for sexual and reproductive health and rights. We will never back down. Freedom is our birthright, and we will build a just world that includes nationwide access to abortion for all. No matter what.

Thank you for sticking with us,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

And, after I read the email above, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Federation of America in order to show my support for Planned Parenthood, because "together, we will keep fighting for sexual and reproductive health and rights," since "the road ahead is long, difficult, and unpredictable," however "no matter what we face, we face it together." –Paul Whiting (June 24th, 2023)

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June 24th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I received a text message today, June 24th, 2023, from EMILYs List, which stated the following:

EMILYs List is on the frontlines recruiting and training pro-choice candidates to win.

Join & help fuel our fight! >>***

OUR *SECOND ANNUAL* FIGHT BACK FUND

One year ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and we launched an emergency fund to help elect Democratic pro-choice women who would fight back and defend our rights.

The fight is far from over. That's why we're re-launching our Fight Back Fund with an ambitious goal of raising $150,000 for pro-choice candidates who will continue the fight against anti-choice extremism. We'll be fighting back every day, every month, and every year until our rights are restored.

And so, I made a one-time donation to EMILYs List in order to show my support for their "second annual...emergency fund to help elect Democratic pro-choice women who [will] fight back and defend our [pro-choice] rights." –Paul Whiting (June 24th, 2023)

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June 27th, 2023 Update: Did you know that June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day?

Neither did I! That is, until I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) last year on June 29th, 2022, with the subject line, "Military Supporter Update: June 2022."

And I wrote an 'update' labeled, 'June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022' regarding that email from the USO, a copy of which can be found below from my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" that is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog. Plus, this copy of the aforementioned 'update' is also from my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity" that is on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (which is where most of my USO donations 'updates' are located):

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June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, June 29th, 2022, with the subject line, "Military Supporter Update: June 2022" with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 103 / June 2022, which stated, in part, the following:

YOUR USO AT WORK
Issue 103 / June 2022

DONATE NOW »

https://secure.uso.org

June has been a busy month here at the USO — from assembling thousands of USO Care Packages for troops deployed to places like Eastern Europe, to running our 11th annual USO T-shirt campaign. (There are still a few days left to get your T-shirt!). We are more grateful than ever for military supporters like you who make everything we do possible.

https://secure.uso.org/2205_t-shirt-2/

We hope you enjoy reading these June highlights...

And the following highlights from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, are regarding PTSD Awareness Month, which is the month of June, and regarding PTSD Awareness Day, which is yearly (annually) on June 27th:

USO recognizes PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD Awareness Month, but supporting our troops’ mental health is always a major USO priority. That’s why we focus so heavily on building connections between service members, helping them stay in touch with loved ones and creating spaces where they can feel safe.

Learn more about how the USO is helping troops impacted by PTSD and other mental health challenges. »

https://www.uso.org/stories/2664-military-suicide-rates-are-at-an-all-time-high-heres-how-were-trying-to-help

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BY THE NUMBERS

"27"

June 27 is #PTSDAwarenessDay, an opportunity to remind everyone that there are effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”), although many with PTSD do not get the help they need.

Help spread the word. »

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/index.asp

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...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And the following is the information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website highlighting that "JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH":

JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

Help Raise PTSD Awareness

There are currently about 8 million people in the United States with PTSD.

Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don't get the help they need. June is PTSD Awareness Month. Help us spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that treatments really do work and can lead to a better quality of life...

Make the Pledge

Start by making the pledge to Raise PTSD Awareness:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/awareness_pledge_form.asp

And so, I decided to "Make the Pledge" in order to help "Raise PTSD Awareness," which is why I wrote this blog post update! Plus, after I took the pledge, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

“I never wore the uniform myself. Working at DOD has made me feel that I have contributed to my country’s defense but contributing to the USO has multiplied that feeling. Our men and women in uniform deserve everything we can do for them.

“We choose to support the USO because of something I learned. When I worked at the Pentagon, I was asked to contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign, as is every other federal employee. I asked many of my colleagues in uniform where I should direct my donation. Absolutely everyone gave me the same answer: ‘USO!’”

– [Name redacted] and [Name redacted], USO supporters since 1995 (27 consecutive years)

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation.

By the way, did you know that the USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD)? The following description of the USO is from their 'About Us' webpage:

"The USO is not part of the federal government. A congressionally chartered, private organization, the USO relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations and corporations to support its activities, and is powered by a family of volunteers to accomplish our mission of connection."

So, that is why I 'volunteer financially' as a member of the "USO Home Team" through a recurring monthly donation, as well as through one-time donations to the USO each month!

–Paul Whiting (written June 29th, 2022, revised July 21st, 2022, revised August 16th, 2022, revised November 24th, 2022, revised December 14th, 2022, revised December 26th, 2022, revised January 1st, 2023, revised January 30th, 2023, revised March 27th, 2023, revised April 21st, 2023, revised April 27th, 2023, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023, revised June 17th, 2023, revised June 27th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023, revised November 18th, 2023 and revised June 9th, 2024)

[I feel like I need to clarify why there are so many 'revised dates' on this 'update,' just like there are often times so many 'revised dates' on other 'updates' similar to this one! You see, I really try to keep my writing consistent as possible across all of my blogs. Therefore, as I am writing, I try to use the same phraseology wherever possible with regard to similar types of my writing so that, when I am editing my writing, I can change all of the similar writing at the same time and in the same way! Thus, a lot of the revisions indicated above, after my name (–Paul Whiting), and shown right after the original 'written date,' are often times due to these aforementioned consistent-writing revisions.]

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988

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Please see the hyperlinks below for the "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity" blog post, which contains the above-mentioned 'June 1st, 2022 Update, Written On June 29th, 2022':

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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Thus, I decided to write this 'update' as a way to highlight that June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day! Plus, PTSD Awareness Day is observed within PTSD Awareness Month which is June. (Please see my 'June 1st, 2023 Update—Continued Further,' which can be found above, for more information on PTSD Awareness Month.)

And I received an email from National Today on June 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "PTSD Awareness, Working From Home, UFOs. The Week Ahead", which stated, in part, the following:

THIS WEEK ON NATIONAL TODAY

As June draws to a close, we’re raising awareness about PTSD, celebrating the joys of working from home, and learning the truth about UFOs. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a complex mental health condition that’s triggered by a traumatic experience and National PTSD Awareness Day will equip you with the knowledge to understand it and better support those experiencing it. We celebrate the evolution of technology and the relief of no longer having to make the daily commute to the office on National Work From Home Day, and on World UFO Day, people from around the globe gather together, watch the skies for flying saucers, and spread information about a mystery that has captivated our minds since the 1947 incident in Roswell, New Mexico. ...

... Tuesday 27 June

National PTSD Awareness Day

We talk about PTSD, a complex disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing trauma.

Read more:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-ptsd-awareness-day

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, an overview of which can be found below:

NATIONAL TODAY

NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS DAY – JUNE 27, 2023
[Observed in the] U.S.

On June 27, we talk about PTSD, a complex disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing trauma. The trauma necessary to cause PTSD can originate from many events — potentially an accident, combat, a natural disaster, or an assault — but there are other ways PTSD symptoms can arise. A trained professional must diagnose PTSD, based on symptoms like hypervigilance, mood swings, recurring and involuntary flashbacks to the trauma, and avoidance. The National Center for PTSD ( https://www.ptsd.va.gov) declared all of June to be PTSD Awareness month — you can help their campaign by educating yourself and others about the illness, and sharing help with those who might need it.

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HISTORY OF NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS DAY

PTSD in some form or another has long been documented in humans. The earliest known literature about the disorder is a poem from 50 BC. Hippocrates narrated a traumatic battle experience about a soldier who was haunted by PTSD-like combat flashbacks. PTSD has consistently been mentioned since then, notably during the Hundred Year’s War between England and France, and even in the literature of Shakespeare — including Romeo and Juliet.

A new understanding of PTSD came with the Civil War in the 1800s, as the disorder became widespread in the traumatized country. PTSD was known under a variety of names, including “railway spine.” It was in 1915 that some understanding of PTSD was formally introduced into medical literature, under the name “shell shock.”

World War 1 threw the disease into the spotlight, and rudimentary treatments, like electric shock therapy, were attempted. It wasn’t until the 1950s that more modern treatments, like group therapy, were introduced.

The Vietnam War issued in, yet again, a new understanding of the disorder. This coincided with research done by psychologists on both Holocaust victims and rape victims, which helped prove that many kinds of trauma can lead to PTSD.

Today, it’s considered largely treatable, so we’ve made a lot of progress. The Senate recognized June 27 as National PTSD Awareness Day at the urging of Senator Kent Conrad. Conrad wanted to honor a North Dakota National Guard member who had committed suicide after two tours of duty in Iraq. In 2014, the entire month of June was designated National PTSD Awareness Month by the Senate.

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NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS DAY TIMELINE

50 BC
PTSD First Mentioned:
Hippocrates first documented the trauma of battle and flashbacks of combat very reminiscent of modern PTSD.

1915
“Shell Shock” is Coined:
Many soldiers in World War 1 were thought to be “shell-shocked,” a term introduced to medical literature in 1915 to describe symptoms of PTSD.

1974
“Rape Trauma Disorder” Defined:
Psychologist Ann Wolbert Burgess and sociologist Lynda Lytle Holmstrom described “Rape Trauma Syndrome” as a variant of PTSD.

1980
PTSD Appears in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM):
Although PTSD had been acknowledged medically for decades, it wasn’t until 1980 that it was included in the DSM.

June 27, 2010
National PTSD Awareness Day Designated:
After the Senate’s formal acknowledgement, June 27, 2010 became the first National PTSD Awareness Day.

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NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS DAY FAQS

Where is National PTSD Awareness Day [Observed]?

The United States.

What color is PTSD awareness?

PTSD Awareness is represented by the color teal.

Is PTSD preventable?

PTSD is an increasingly recognized and potentially preventable condition, although research is abstract.

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HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS DAY

1. Educate yourself on the symptoms of PTSD:

Learn what the symptoms and causes of PTSD can look like, and understand resources and treatments that can be offered to someone struggling. After you’re familiar with the illness, try going to the National Center for PTSD’s website and take the pledge to raise PTSD awareness.

2. Donate:

An overwhelming percentage of those with PTSD are affiliated with the military. Combat can be a traumatic experience and cause PTSD, so there are many organizations set up to provide aid to veterans with PTSD. Some include Military with PTSD, Wounded Warrior Project, and Military OneSource.

[Military with PTSD: https://m.facebook.com/MilitarywithPTSD]

[Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/mental-wellness/veteran-ptsd-treatment-support-resources]

[Military OneSource: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-basics/wounded-ill-injured-and-caregivers/understanding-and-dealing-with-combat-stress-and-ptsd]

3. Spread the word:

According to the National Center for PTSD, one of the main purposes of PTSD Awareness Month is to spread the word on the disease to others. They recommend a variety of outreach ideas, from providing a sample blog post to suggesting asking a governor or local official to declare June as PTSD Awareness Month.

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5 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT PTSD

1. PTSD is widespread

While 3.5% of adult Americans struggling with PTSD may seem like a small percentage, that’s actually 8 million people.

2. It affects women more than men

10% of women and only 4% of men are likely to develop PTSD, which makes it over twice as likely for women to develop the illness.

3. PTSD is widespread in veterans

Of those who served in the Vietnam War, an estimated 30% have had PTSD in their lifetimes. 12% of Gulf War Veterans have PTSD, and between 11-20% of veterans of the Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD.

4. Children can get PTSD

It appears that children can develop PTSD symptoms, albeit differently to adults. Research is very new and there is much more to be known about the subject.

5. PTSD in literature

Some of our earliest PTSD knowledge comes from literature, including Shakespeare and Dickens. They wrote about traumatic experiences, and the symptoms they described aligned with what we now call PTSD.

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WHY NATIONAL PTSD AWARENESS DAY IS IMPORTANT

A. It’s a widespread illness

8 million Americans is no small amount. Especially because military service in this country can often lead to development of PTSD symptoms, it’s important to understand what our fellow citizens go through. With knowledge of the disorder, we can make the lives of these individuals less stressful, and better support them in their recovery.

B. It helps those with PTSD find and receive treatment

Awareness not only helps raise funds for organizations that support those with PTSD, it also can share resources. A social media post acknowledging the disease and listing a few supporting organizations, paths for treatment, and ways to manage it daily may make all the difference to someone silently struggling with PTSD.

C. It helps people heal

Though sharing resources can be helpful, simply letting those with PTSD know you are there is impactful. A large part of the treatment of PTSD involves social support and opening up to others. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the webpage:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-ptsd-awareness-day

And so, I made one-time donations to Military with PTSD via Charity Navigator (and I included a donation to Charity Navigator like I usually do, because they are a charity too), as well as to Wounded Warrior Project, since it turned out that Military OneSource is actually "an official Defense Department website." Plus, I made a donation to the USO (United Service Organizations) due to the fact that they were the organization that first made me aware that June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day and that June is PTSD Awareness Month!

Please see a brief introduction to the article below, which is dated June 24th, 2013, from the USO webpage titled, "PTSD Resources: Where to Turn When You Need Help."

"PTSD Resources: Where to Turn When You Need Help" from the USO

Monday, Jun 24, 2013

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean troops and families trying to cope with the anguish of war memories or even mental and emotional trauma from traumatic brain injuries will be forgotten.

Here is a list of resources for both troops and families dealing with PTSD.

And as always, if you or someone you know needs to talk to someone immediately, call the Military Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or contact them online at militarycrisisline.net. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.uso.org/stories/1300-ptsd-resources-where-to-turn-when-you

–Paul Whiting (written June 27th, 2023, revised June 28th, 2023, revised July 28th, 2023, revised July 30th, 2023, revised August 7th, 2023, revised August 9th, 2023, revised August 28th, 2023, revised September 27th, 2023, revised June 9th, 2024 and revised August 7th, 2024)

P.S.: For my complete charitable donation updates—that include some of my current "Online Activism," as well as most all of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs.

Please see the hyperlinks below for the posts:

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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June 27th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today, June 27th, 2023, with the subject line, "We are shaping the present and future we want and can live in. Will you join us?", which stated the following:

STUDENTS DEMAND ACTION
For Gun Sense In America

Paul–

In my five years since joining Students Demand Action, I have found a community. A community of young people who are incredibly kind and passionate about gun violence prevention. We're on a mission to create the future we deserve—a future free from gun violence.

Gun violence is the number one killer of children, teens, and college-aged youth in America. This is not the present or future I or anyone I know sees for ourselves—and we are determined to change it. Forward this email to a student in your life and show them why they should join our movement.

Students Demand Action volunteers in Las Vegas wearing red SDA shirts in front of display that says "While the gun industry parties, kids die."

JOIN STUDENTS DEMAND ACTION***

We are leading the fight to end gun violence, and there's room for everyone in this movement. Whether you're a student or not, add your name to become a volunteer with Students Demand Action, Moms Demand Action, and Everytown today.

This year, we've been busy.

We kicked things off on a high note in January when a group of my peers traveled to Las Vegas to call out the gun industry at their annual trade show. Collectively we made sure the industry couldn't hide from the truth: They created a killer business we're paying for with our lives. We're demanding they stop their marketing to kids, they stop making DIY kits that allow anyone to build untraceable weapons, and so much more—because these actions will save lives.

Our work continued when we launched #KillerBusiness, a campaign asking our colleges and universities to put our safety above their revenues. We've demanded they divest from any stocks, bonds, or investment funds that help fund the gun industry. To date, we have 44 active divestment campaigns in colleges and universities across the country with even more to come in the fall.

And just this past month, over 6,000 students helped us in calling out Ruger, a massive gun company, for failing to conduct a simple human rights impact assessment of their products.

We've grown up with lockdown drills and safety seminars. We have experienced the impact of gun violence, both as survivors and as young people afraid of experiencing an act of gun violence ourselves. And we have the power to exact the systemic change we need.

That's why this movement is so important to me, and why I am so proud of the work I've done with Students Demand Action. Will you join me? Share this email with any student in your life and let them know their voice is welcomed in our movement. Join us in creating a future free from gun violence.

Thank you for being in this movement,

[Name redacted]
She/Her
[Chapter redacted]
Students Demand Action

Join Us In Creating A Future Free From Gun Violence

Whether you are a student, an alumni, a mom, or community member, we need your voice in our movement. Join us in creating a future free from gun violence: Sign up to continue getting local and national updates from us and learn how you can help take action.

So far this year, Students Demand Action has:

[✓] Led divest campaigns at 44 colleges and universities.
[✓] Demanded action from the gun industry to hold it accountable for the harm it has caused in our communities.
[✓] Had nearly 200 students testified in state legislatures across the country.
[✓] And so much more!

Our achievements are impossible without your work and dedication. Whether you are a student or not, we would love for you to be a part of our movement.

Complete the form to sign up:

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
Email address: [redacted]
ZIP Code: [redacted]
Mobile phone: [redacted]

ARE YOU A STUDENT? No

JOIN US

And so, I joined them! Plus, I made a one-time donation to Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (via the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund) in order to "join [Students Demand Action] in creating a future free from gun violence." –Paul Whiting (written June 27th, 2023, revised August 3rd, 2023 and revised October 26th, 2023)

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June 28th, 2023 Update: I received a text message today, June 28th, 2023, from the DGA (Democratic Governors Association), which stated the following:

Alert for [phone number redacted]:
We've asked at least 4 times. Pls [Please] tell us: Are you still a Democrat?

[✓] Yes: [web address redacted]***
[ ] No: [web address redacted]

-DGA

Democratic Strategy Focus Group | Immediate Response Requested

Thank you for updating your record.

Will you please take a moment to complete this brief survey.

Deadline: 11:59 PM on June 28, 2023

Are you a Democrat?

[✓] Yes — I'm a Democrat!

[  ] I'm an independent, but I vote for Democrats!

[  ] No — I'm a Republican.

[  ] Other

GOP governors have pushed countless pieces of dangerous radical legislation. Of those listed below, which is the most concerning to you and your family?

[✓] Near-total abortion bans and restrictions on reproductive health care

[  ] Dangerous efforts to undermine the right to vote

[  ] Cruel legislation attacking and further marginalizing LGBTQ+ communities

[  ] Draconian laws that ban or severely limit discussion of important topics on our country's history in classrooms

[  ] More "criminal carry" laws, removing permit requirements for concealed carry weapons and making our communities less safe

(By the way, I could have easily selected "all of the above" for this question! However, since there was only one answer allowed for "the most concerning to you and your family," out of the available answers, I opted for "near-total abortion bans and restrictions on reproductive health care." You see, I think that Republicans are 100% in support of forced impregnation—including through rape and incest. And it makes you wonder if the real reason that extremist conservatives are beating the proverbial "abortion is murder" drum so loudly is because they support forced impregnation as the only way that is feasible for them to procreate, since they are too dysfunctional to have consensual adult relationships—and that is why they are enthusiastic proponents of forced impregnation through rape and/or incest! Thus, that is why I chose "near-total abortion bans and restrictions on reproductive health care" as "the most concerning to [me]" as a single gay male.)

Last year, the January 6 Committee issued their criminal referrals against Trump to the Department of Justice!

Now, Donald Trump has been indicted TWICE, making history as the first President to EVER be indicted at the federal level.

Knowing that, do you believe Donald Trump is fit to hold public office?

[  ] Yes

[✓] No

Donald Trump knows he needs allies in the states, so he continues to back MAGA candidates across the country. How concerned are you about the possibility of more Trump Republicans winning in 2023 and 2024?

[✓] Extremely concerned

[  ] Very concerned

[  ] Somewhat concerned

[  ] Not at all concerned

Democratic governors are our last line of defense in the fight to protect voting rights, safeguard abortion access, and protect our democracy.

Do you think it's important to get Democrats the resources they need to win in 2023?

[✓] Yes — we need to make sure Democrats have the resources they need to defeat Republicans.

[  ] No — we should let Republicans win.

We can’t let up our fight now. We must have strong Democratic support in the months ahead to weather GOP challenges to our election victories! Will you invest $100 to help us elect Democratic governors and defeat the GOP’s radical right-wing agenda once and for all?

[  ] Yes, I will give 100!

[✓] No, I can't give that much.

We understand that giving at that level might be tough right now. But the DGA is working tirelessly to elect Democrats across the country and defend our democracy. And during this critical turning point for our country, we can’t afford to miss any fundraising goals.

As far-right megadonors funnel millions into GOP campaigns and MAGA extremists spread election conspiracies, Democrats like Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom are counting on grassroots activists to have their backs. But we just pulled your supporter record, and here’s what we found:

Given to DGA today? Pending
Suggested donation: $30.17

Electing Democrats across the country is so critical that a group of generous donors is DOUBLING every gift up to $25,000 until 11:59 p.m. tonight. Will you give $30.17 – or whatever you can – so that we can elect Democrats and fight back against the GOP’s dangerous agenda?

[✓] Yes, I'll give $3. [I actually gave more than $3.00, but this was the option that was the closest match to my chosen response.]

[  ] Yes, I will give $30.17! (This is what most Democrats are giving)

[  ] Yes, and I'll give more!

And so, after I took the survey above, I made a one-time donation to the DGA in order show my support for the survey as a way for me to provide my opinions with regard to current issues and upcoming elections, as well as to say loud and proud that "Yes — I'm a Democrat!"

By the way, I already make monthly "recurring donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations of $3.00 on the 17th of each month," which includes the DGA!

And I extolled the virtues of these monthly recurring donations to Democratic political organizations in my 'April 17th, 2023 Update—Continued,' which can be found above, as follows:

"...April 17th, 2023 is the anniversary of the first year that I have made recurring monthly donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations! Plus, this past year is the first time that I have donated to Democratic political organizations when it isn't an election year; however, I decided to change the way that I am donating to Democrats, so that I am helping their fundraising and coordinating operations throughout the year and not just during election years.

And I have just gotta say how incredibly nice it is to be able to make recurring monthly donations to Democratic political organizations—because the payments process automatically each month—and I don't have to do one extra thing in order to help fund the operations of the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating political organizations throughout the year!"

–Paul Whiting (written June 28th, 2023 and revised July 6th, 2023)

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YEAR 2023 UPDATES FOR JULY

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July 2nd, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, July 2nd, 2023, when I noticed two Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The first Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "The Supreme Court Just Made Same-Sex Marriage More Vulnerable to a Challenge." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Supreme Court Just Made Same-Sex Marriage More Vulnerable to a Challenge" from Time Magazine

By Philip Elliott | June 30, 2023

On the surface, the details of the case seemed plenty narrow: a Colorado web designer who is cool making wedding websites for “Mike and Mary” but not “Mike and Mark” thinks Colorado’s anti-discrimination law could force her to someday do coding that runs counter to her Evangelical Christian faith. She isn’t yet in the business of making such pages, no confirmed couples had approached her, and the plaintiff here was a civil rights panel. It was a sketchy case built on a dodgy—and maybe fabricated—premise, but it still wound up on the docket. Yet in the designer’s view, Colorado and the 29 other states with similar protections for LGBTQ individuals impede her First Amendment rights to preemptively advertise that she wants none of their nuptials’ joy.

But, look beyond the sepia-toned pages asking a distant cousin the age-old question of beef, fish, or vegetarian entree? Nothing less than the rights of every LGBTQ American to marry their same-sex partner hangs in the balance of a case nominally about hyperscript, links to registries, and social-media links. After all, these things often start narrow and then snowball.

The Supreme Court on Friday decided Lorie Smith’s fears were grounded in some version of a paranoid reality. In a 70-page ruling that is a blow for LGBTQ rights—and perhaps a harbinger of even more chipping away to come—the justices decided the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution had primacy over any state-level non-discrimination laws. The case, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, was named for Smith’s firm and the chair of the state civil rights panel, Aubrey Elenis.

“The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands,” the 6-3 majority wrote in a ruling that was as expected as it was foreboding.

Put plainly: states can try to pass local anti-bigotry laws, but national religious liberties still supercede them. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6291641/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-vulnerable

The second Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "The Intersex Community Is Fighting for Every Body." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The Intersex Community Is Fighting for Every Body" from Time Magazine

By Alicia Roth Weigel | June 30, 2023

When I first moved to Texas in 2016, I never expected it’d be here that I’d come out as intersex. I certainly never thought that would’ve happened in a Senate hearing, divulging details about my body and medical history most of my family didn’t even know to a bunch of conservative legislators. I told them that I was born with physical traits—external sex anatomy, internal reproductive organs, hormones, and chromosomes—that didn’t fit neatly into the binary “male” or “female” options on a birth certificate. And I shared that very personal fact with a government chamber full of total strangers because the “bathroom bill” they were pushing not only discriminated against the trans community, but also completely ignored the existence of intersex folks like me.

The day that bill died in June 2017, something new was born within me: The confidence to share my truth with the world and the conviction that the whole world needed to hear my story—our story. Since then, I haven’t stopped showing up (at the State Capitol and on stages across the globe) to raise awareness of the inequity we face. Similarly to what the trans community has experienced, though, increased visibility can be a double-edged sword. At first, only the wrong people listened to me—or the right ones listened, those tasked with serving their constituents, but they intentionally received and parroted the wrong message.

As I shouted about the involuntary surgery that sterilized me, an operation to remove the internal testes that didn’t “match” my external “female” genitalia, Gov. Greg Abbott and the former Texas Attorney General heard me loud and clear. They then translated the alarm bell I was sounding for intersex kids into a battle cry against trans youth; they used arguments of forced sterilizations and the neglect of gender-nonconforming children not to help me and others like me, but rather to hurt people I also care about. Despite hearing my desperate calls for a life raft—one of affirmative consent, so that all human beings might decide for themselves the form their body might take—they instead unleashed a deluge of misinformation that has since swept the nation.

The same bills that seek to block gender affirming care for transgender Americans, cropping up in state legislatures across the country, contain loopholes that allow the same surgeries and hormones to be forced onto intersex children without our having any say in the matter. As journalist Carter Sherman wrote in their piece for VICE, “Republicans have compared gender-affirming health care to child abuse and Nazi war crimes. But they’re more than happy to let doctors perform surgeries on intersex children.”

This all proves that the authors of these bills seek not to shield children from harm but rather to eradicate those that don’t fit their cis-heteropatriarchal paradigm. Texas Republicans took my plea for protection and warped it into propaganda—and it’s time to set the record straight. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6291609/intersex-community-every-body-essay

And I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written July 2nd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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July 4th, 2023 Update, Written On July 3rd, 2023: Happy Independence Day, everyone!

I revised my official Independence Day (or, "4th of July") poem, as I often do with my writing! And I changed how my "An Independence Day Poem" was written today, July 3rd, 2023, after I sent it to someone in an email who said to me, "Have a Happy 4th of July," and I said back to them, "Happy 4th of July to you too!" Thus, after my signature, I said, "P.S.: Here is an Independence Day poem that I wrote a few years ago!"

Then, after I sent the above-mentioned email, I actually reread how my "Between All Of Us" poem used to be written—that I originally wrote for the 234th Birthday of the United States of America, which was on July 4th, 2010—and decided to I revise it, as follows:

Between All Of Us
(Or, "An Independence Day Poem")

All of God's creation is joyfully,
gloriously, and so abundantly,
standing between all of us.

The love of God for this great
country of ours is proudly
blooming between all of us.

America's amber waves of grain,
and her fruited plains, are forever
unfolding between all of us.

The Constitution is a binding
testament to the liberty that
lives between all of us.

Our Founding Fathers' balanced,
hard, and proud, accomplishments
breath freely between all of us.

The Liberty Bell silently peels
truly, faithfully, and incredibly
deeply between all of us.

The Statue of Liberty keeps
her flame of freedom burning
brightly between all of us.

The Washington Monument
rises above the fear of change for
some of those between all of us.

The Lincoln Memorial speaks
quietly of the peaceful patriotism
that exists between all of us.

Old Glory herself is waving loud
and proud for the love of America
that thrives between all of us.

And only our great love for this
wonderful country of ours could
ever come between all of us.

So, let us all pledge our allegiance
to the one nation under God
that stands between all of us.

By the way, if you wish to know how this official Independence Day poem used to be written, you can see its original version in my 'July 4th, 2022 Update,' which can be found above. –Paul Whiting (written July 3rd, 2023 and revised July 5th, 2023)

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July 5th, 2023 Update: I received an email from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today, July 5th, 2023, with the subject line, "READ: 'One Year After the Highland Park Massacre, Why Haven't More States Banned Assault Rifles?'," which stated the following:

Paul–

This weekend should have been filled with block parties, barbeques, and joyful gatherings of all kinds. But once again, the Fourth of July was marked by devastation and heartbreak. Even as we honored the victims and survivors of one mass shooting, more deadly tragedies unfolded in communities across the country.

Until we take action, these killings will continue. For every family member who has had their life shattered by gun violence, we can and must do more.

Read my new op-ed with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as we chart our movement's path forward. Our lawmakers must ban assault weapons immediately and do everything in their power to stop this crisis.

READ IT NOW [Please see an extended introduction to the article below.]

Yesterday, we honored the victims and survivors of the mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois on the one-year mark of the tragedy. Seven people were shot and killed, and 48 others were shot and wounded.

And as we saw this weekend, tragic shootings continue to happen over and over again.

In Baltimore, at least two people were shot and killed and 28 others were shot and wounded at a block party.

In Wichita, Kansas, a shooting at a nightclub left nine people shot and wounded and two others injured from being trampled as people fled.

In Shreveport, Louisiana, at least three people were shot and killed and seven others wounded at a Fourth of July block party.

In Washington, D.C., at least nine people were shot and wounded, including a 9-year-old and a 17-year-old, as they were celebrating the Fourth of July.

In Philadelphia, five people were shot and killed and two children—ages two and 13—were shot and wounded in a mass shooting.

And in Chicago, at least three people were shot and killed and 27 others were shot and wounded in acts of gun violence throughout the weekend.

The communities and people impacted by this weekend's tragedies will never be the same.

But this reality is not inevitable—we are not helpless in the fight against gun violence. Our lawmakers can and must pass gun safety laws that are proven to save lives. After the deadly shooting in Highland Park, Governor Pritzker set an example of how to respond to these tragedies: He signed a law that banned the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and machine gun conversion devices in Illinois. And we've seen similar life-saving action on gun safety in states across the country this year, from Minnesota to Maryland, among many others.

Our lawmakers on the local, state, and federal levels can and must continue to fight for common-sense gun safety policies that will save lives.

As we honor the victims and survivors of the shooting in Highland Park, and of every shooting that happened this Fourth of July weekend, join me in demanding action. Read my new op-ed with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in Teen Vogue about what we must do to help end this crisis.

Thank you for being a part of this movement.

[Name redacted]
She/Her/Hers
[Title redacted]
Moms Demand Action

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced TeenVogue.com article, an extended introduction to which can be found below:

"One Year After the Highland Park Massacre, Why Haven't More States Banned Assault Rifles?" from Teen Vogue

Illinois governor JB Pritzker and Moms Demand Action's executive director argue an assault weapons ban can "rid ourselves of this preventable plague once and for all."

By Governor JB Pritzker And Angela Ferrell-Zabala | July 3, 2023

Last year, on the Fourth of July, a gunman opened fire on a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, using a Smith & Wesson M&P15 semiautomatic rifle. The location of the massacre may seem shocking to some — parents, grandparents, and children were gathered to watch a parade in the same neighborhood where Molly Ringwald played Samantha Baker celebrating her birthday in Sixteen Candles and where Ferris Bueller took a day off. Easy access to a rapid-fire, military-caliber weapon allowed one hateful person to kill seven people and injure 48 more in less than one minute. What most surprises people about Highland Park is that it was just one of nearly 650 mass shootings last year alone — and those comprise only a small percent of the daily gun violence in this country.

Mass shootings are what we hear about most often in the news, but every day more than 120 Americans are shot and killed and hundreds more are shot and wounded. Guns surpassed cars to become the leading cause of death in the US for kids and teens. And yet, shootings like the one in Highland Park continue over and over in America’s smallest towns, biggest cities, and everywhere in between.

Created for lethal combat, assault weapons equipped with large-capacity magazines are responsible for some of the deadliest mass shootings in modern history. Victims at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, were all slaughtered by a shooter wielding these killing machines in a manner so violent that some of the school children in Uvalde could only be identified by their shoes.

Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are often chosen by perpetrators of the violence that has gripped our nation. These exceptionally deadly firearms are weapons of war designed to deliver maximum destruction. Its bullets fly more than 3,000 feet per second and inflict much more serious wounds to their victims than a typical handgun. Law enforcement has decried their easy availability as police officers are rendered helpless against gunmen wielding high-powered, battle-grade weapons on the same streets where everyday citizens are going about their daily lives.

This way of life is uniquely American, where we attempt to coexist with weapons of war in our grocery stores, churches, theaters, and schools. It has led to countless premature burials and preventable instances of violence, more than in any other civilized nation.

Have we grown numb to the suffering behind these stories and these numbers? Has the constant barrage of breaking news about tragic shootings finally made us content to wave the white flag in our battle to save our children from an early grave?

We are not helpless in the fight against gun violence. States can take action to reduce fatalities and injuries by limiting access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. After the deadly shooting in Highland Park, the Illinois General Assembly banned the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and machine gun conversion devices in Illinois.

These kinds of laws save lives. How do we know? Because Congress banned assault weapons for a decade beginning in 1994, and shootings and deaths from firearms decreased. Unfortunately, gun lobby-backed politicians have refused to reinstate the ban despite its proven effectiveness. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/one-year-after-highland-park-massacre-ban-assault-rifles

And, after I read the article above, I made a one-time donation to Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (via the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund) in order to do my part to "chart our movement's path forward," because "our lawmakers must ban assault weapons immediately and do everything in their power to stop this crisis," since, "once again, the Fourth of July was marked by devastation and heartbreak." –Paul Whiting (written July 5th, 2023 and revised September 7th, 2023)

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July 6th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon (ACLU of Oregon) today, July 6th, 2023, with the subject line, "Thank you & 2023 Legislative Report!", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking an active part in our democracy this legislative session through our calls to action and letting our legislators know what is important to you! Last week our 2023 Legislative report (https://www.aclu-or.org/en/campaigns/2023-legislative-session-hub#SB%20413%20and%20SB%20817%20%E2%80%94%20In%20Defense%20of%20Humanity) landed in your inbox- reflecting your hard work and the incredible work of our Policy team to move change forward this session.

To achieve a democracy of, by, and for all the people, we strive to center solutions that will create long-term, system wide change, but also recognize when there is significant or pervasive harm, we must engage in harm reduction too.

Republican senators held Oregonians and the legislative session hostage by refusing to show up to do their elected jobs. They obstructed the legislative process for seven weeks. Despite their interference, we are celebrating priority bill victories: check out SB 337 and HB 2467 In Defense of Humanity and HB 2002 Reproductive Health and Access to Care in our summary report!

Support this and all of our ongoing work with a donation today!***

We'd love to connect to hear what issue areas feel most relevant to you or if you have questions about this past session! Please reach out to [name redacted] to discuss further, [email redacted]!

Warmly,
The ACLU of Oregon Team

2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HUB

Sine Die (or, "proceedings that have been adjourned") was announced on June 25, 2023. To learn more about how the session played out, please read our 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT [PDF]:

https://www.aclu-or.org/sites/default/files/external_legislative_session_report_2.pdf

So, I downloaded, and read, the PDF file titled, "2023 Legislative Session Report." And on page 11 of said report, it stated the following:

WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?

STAY TUNED

The 2024 legislative session will be here before we know it. We will start setting priorities this fall.

YOU CAN HELP —

Please complete this survey and let us know what Oregon issues are most important to you so that we can incorporate community input in our policy planning. Your voice matters!

And, after I read the "WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?" section above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced survey under "YOU CAN HELP," which can be found below:

ACLU OREGON POLICY ISSUE AREAS SURVEY

Please take a moment to share with us which issue areas are most important to you.

CONTACT INFORMATION

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Pronouns: He, him, his
E-mail: [redacted]
Address Line: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State/Province: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]

SURVEY:

What issue areas are most important to you? (Select your Top 3 issues.)

[  ] Criminal Justice
[  ] Free Speech
[  ] Immigrants' Rights
[  ] LGBTQ+ Rights
[  ] Police Practices
[  ] Prisoners' Rights
[  ] Privacy & Technology
[  ] Racial Justice
[  ] Religious Liberty
[✓] Reproductive Justice
[✓] Voting Rights
[✓] Women's Rights + Gender Equity
[  ] Youth & Student Rights
[  ] Qualified Immunity
[  ] Public Defense
[  ] Houselessness
[  ] Environmental Justice
[  ] Indigenous Justice
[  ] Mental Health Response

[✓] Sign up for ACLU emails to keep informed and know when to act.

SUBMIT

By the way, I could have easily selected "all of the above" for this survey! However, since there was only three top answers allowed for "what issue areas are most important to you?", out of the available answers, I opted for "Reproductive Justice," "Voting Rights" as well as "Women's Rights + Gender Equity." You see, I think that today's most important issues—out of the many important issues of the day—include 'Reproductive Justice' and 'Women's Rights + Gender Equity!' Because, without a parent's right to choose if, and when, to have a family, all of the other rights pale in comparison, since ALL MOTHERS AND FATHERS SHOULD CONSENT TO BEING PARENTS! If couples are not choosing of their own free will to be parents—who can raise their loved children in a loving environment—then all of the other social issues will surely be made that much worse by all of the parents who had children against their will! And what kind of parents would they be anyway? Would they end up raising children who are going to be some kind of a threat to society—in a multitude of ways—because those children's parents were forced against their will to be parents? In addition to that, I think that today's most important issues—out of the many important issues of the day—include 'Voting Rights!' Because voting is how we select our leaders in a democracy. Period. And just like couples choosing to be parents of their own free will, VOTERS SHOULD CHOOSE THEIR ELECTED LEADERS OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL!

And, after I took the survey above, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU of Oregon in order to show my support for the "2023 Legislative Session Report!" –Paul Whiting (written July 6th, 2023, revised July 13th, 2023 and revised August 22nd, 2023)

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July 8th, 2023 Update, Written On July 13th, 2023: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Action Fund a few days ago on July 8th, 2023, with the subject line, "INSIDE: Our endorsement for president", which stated the following:

Planned Parenthood Action Fund Update

Action Fund Update is the monthly newsletter for members of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. As an associate member of the Action Fund, you'll receive timely, insider information on our legislative, advocacy, and electoral work.

Member News

Paul, there’s one word that comes to mind when I think about our country a year after the Dobbs decision took away our constitutional right to an abortion: Crisis.

A crisis of access to safe, legal health care. A crisis of freedom. A human rights crisis.

We cannot risk a national abortion ban — and we need leaders who won’t let that happen.

That’s why Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse President Joe Biden for re-election.

The Biden-Harris administration has been committed to fighting back against the onslaught of attacks against our reproductive freedom. We are grateful for the steps the administration has taken to support patients and providers during this crisis, like:

[✓] Signing a Presidential Memorandum to ensure safe access to medication abortion and three executive orders to use a whole of government approach to protect and secure access to reproductive care
[✓] Announcing new actions to maintain patient privacy, including an HHS proposal of additional guardrails under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect reproductive health data
[✓] Making some abortion care available through the Department of Veterans Affairs
[✓] Fighting back in our courts to protect access to medication abortion
[✓] Launching ReproductiveRights.gov to make accurate health care information available.

We can’t reimagine a path forward for abortion access nationwide if we don’t have leaders willing to work with us on advancing sexual and reproductive health.

To continue that work, have a seat at the table to influence the policy priorities of the campaign, and to ensure the voices of Planned Parenthood Action Fund supporters are heard, we must re-elect Joe Biden as president of the United States.

Let’s get to work.

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

P.S. Based on our records, it looks like your Associate Membership is going to expire soon. Don't miss out on timely, insider information on Planned Parenthood Action Fund's advocacy, legislative work, and electoral endorsements, as well as volunteer opportunities in your area. Click here to renew your membership.*

Take Action

Vote for Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Planned Parenthood Action Fund has been selected as one of CREDO Mobile's July grant recipients. The size of the grant we receive is based on how many votes Planned Parenthood Action Fund gets — so we’re hoping we can count on you.

Will you take two minutes to cast your vote in CREDO’s grant competition to support Planned Parenthood Action Fund? ( https://www.credodonations.com/organizations/planned-parenthood-action-fund/?utm_source=org&utm_medium=planned-parenthood-action-fund%2f&utm_campaign=202307_%2f_promo) Every vote helps us secure additional funds.

Vote now >>
https://www.credodonations.com/organizations/planned-parenthood-action-fund/?utm_source=org&utm_medium=planned-parenthood-action-fund%2f&utm_campaign=202307_%2f_promo

[By the way, CREDO Mobile is my cell phone company! And I usually vote for all three of the progressive organizations that are offered grant funds each month by CREDO. Therefore, on July 1st, 2023, I voted for Planned Parenthood Action Fund along with the two other progressive organizations that CREDO is supporting this July. However, anyone can vote for how CREDO's monthly grant funds are distributed, even if you are not a CREDO Mobile customer!]

State Spotlight: Maine

Just days after the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, the Maine Senate passed a bill to expand access to abortion later in pregnancy.

Gov. Janet Mills is expected to sign it into law, ensuring that Mainers have the freedom to make pregnancy decisions without political interference.

Read more >>

https://apnews.com/article/maine-legislature-abortion-bill-debate-senate-2715b40bd8ec2a5344f198f37177a65c

Around the Web

The Atlantic: Abortion Could Matter Even More in 2024

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/06/abortion-rights-issue-2024-election/674504/

Teen Vogue: VP Harris Says Young Voters Have the Power to Fight “Extremist” Abortion Bans

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/vp-harris-says-young-voters-have-the-power-to-fight-extremist-abortion-bans

AP News: Newly all-male South Carolina Supreme Court scrutinizes abortion ban months after tossing one out

https://apnews.com/article/abortion-south-carolina-court-465924ec93cb174967656e2bafd94fbb

The Guardian: The fight over US abortion rights in the year without Roe – photo essay

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2023/jun/24/abortion-rights-roe-v-wade-photo-essay

Visit plannedparenthoodaction.org

*And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, regarding renewing my Associate Membership for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which can be found below:

Become a Planned Parenthood Action Fund Associate Member.

By submitting this form, I affirm that I want to become an associate member of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

First Name: Paul
Last Name: Whiting
Postal Code: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Mobile Phone (Optional): [redacted]

SUBMIT

And, after submitting the form above, I received a confirmation email today, July 13th, 2023, from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund with the subject line, "Thank you for your Associate Membership!", which stated the following:

Dear Paul,

Thank you for standing with us as an Associate Member of Planned Parenthood Action Fund!

Membership is free and allows you full access to timely Action Fund updates, including information about our grassroots organizing, legislative and regulatory advocacy, electoral endorsements, and volunteer opportunities in your area — and gives you an opportunity to vote for a member of the Action Fund Board of Directors.

You can also follow Planned Parenthood Action Fund on Facebook and Twitter.

We are so glad to have you with us!

Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Plus, after I renewed my Associate Membership for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Action Fund to show my support for the Action Fund Update monthly newsletter, as well as to express my gratitude that "Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse President Joe Biden for re-election." –Paul Whiting (written July 13th, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised December 3rd, 2023)

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July 11th, 2023 Update, Written On July 13th, 2023, Which Also Discusses July 13th, 2023: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) a couple of days ago on July 11th, 2023, with the subject line, "What to know about the latest Supreme Court term.", which stated the following:

Paul –

In the wake of the latest Supreme Court term, we wanted to provide you with a quick rundown of what happened and bring into focus the fight ahead of us to protect ALL our rights now.

While we know there were several devastating losses for racial justice, LGBTQ rights, educational equity, and more – it's just as critical to note the substantial victories this term that will set us up to advance civil rights in our work ahead. So here are the key cases from SCOTUS this term and what you can do in the fight moving forward:

Affirmative and Educational Equity ➔

Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC: The Supreme Court struck down Harvard and UNC's affirmative action programs, restricting the schools' ability to fully address systemic racial inequalities that persist in higher education.

Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown: The Supreme Court also struck down the Biden administration's student debt relief plan, impacting an estimated 43 million eligible borrowers. This ruling, along with the decision to restrict affirmative action programs, represent a huge blow to educational opportunity for all.

TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT EQUITABLE EDUCATION***

Racial Justice and Indigenous Rights ➔

Brackeen v. Haaland: SCOTUS issued a landmark victory for tribal sovereignty this term by rejecting all the constitutional challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) – requiring state courts to make active efforts to protect Native children and keep Native families together.

TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT NATIVE FAMILIES***

Voting Rights ➔

Allen v. Milligan (formerly Merrill v. Milligan): SCOTUS upheld the power of the Voting Rights Act and protected the rights of Black voters in Alabama in a case won by the ACLU and our partners at the ACLU of Alabama and the Legal Defense Fund.

Moore v. Harper: The Court rejected a radical legal theory that threatened our democracy – upholding that state legislatures do not have the power to ignore their own state constitutions while making rules for federal elections.

TAKE ACTION FOR VOTING RIGHTS***

LGBTQ+ Rights ➔

303 Creative v. Elenis: SCOTUS ruled in this case that certain businesses have a right to discriminate when selling customized, expressive services – opening the door to any business that claims to provide customized services to discriminate against historically-marginalized groups. The decision is fundamentally misguided.

TAKE ACTION TO FIGHT FOR LGBTQ+ RIGHTS***

Paul, the impact of these decisions will reverberate for generations. But the ACLU is here now and always to continue in the fight for all our rights.

Together, we can and will show up to not just restore and protect our civil liberties – but to cement and expand them in this country for good.

Thank you for being with us in this work and more soon,

– The ACLU Team

[1.] DEFEND EVERY STUDENT'S RIGHT TO LEARN

In classrooms and educational spaces across our country, a coordinated attack on our students’ right to learn is underway. Join our pledge now and we'll send you our Right to Learn toolkit to take action and fight back against censorship in your schools and communities.

Since last year, 10 states have passed classroom censorship bills that restrict discussions about race, gender, and sexual orientation in schools. In 2022 so far, state legislatures have introduced 71 new bills across 22 states, many of which explicitly target K-12 schools.

If schools are found in violation of classroom censorship bills or restrictions, many may risk losing funding. In some cases, teachers could face formal admonishment or lose teaching licenses if they don’t comply with curriculum restrictions.

At the same time, politicians and school boards are making moves to ban books from public schools and libraries. As a result, schools can't make certain books – predominantly those by Black and LGBTQ authors discussing issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation – available to students to learn from and explore, even voluntarily and on their own time.

All of it leads to a chilling effect on academic freedom in our country.

We’ll be clear: Every young person has a First Amendment right to read and learn about the history and viewpoints of all communities – including their own identity – in and outside of the classroom. This wave of censorship legislation is attempting to erase the legacy of discrimination and lived experiences of Black and Brown people, women and girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals. And it’s refusing to let students think for themselves.

That’s why the ACLU is already hard at work to fight back against these damaging censorship bills and book bans through lawsuits and fierce advocacy. But while our teams push exhaustively in the courts and the statehouses – public support is also going to make a huge difference in the fight.

That’s why we’re asking you to join our pledge today. By adding your name, you are telling lawmakers nationwide that you oppose any efforts that would criminalize or censor books and education about race, gender, or sexual orientation – and that you support students, educators, and everyone's fundamental right to learn.

Join us in this critical fight for free speech and equitable education. Take our pledge today and when you do, we'll send you our Right to Learn toolkit directly to your inbox.

TAKE THE PLEDGE

In the face of continued and coordinated attempts to ban books and censor education on race and gender in our public classrooms – I support our students, our educators, and everyone’s First Amendment right to learn.

First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Zip: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

---------------------------------------------

[2.] PROTECT NATIVE FAMILIES

The Supreme Court today [June 15th, 2023] issued a landmark victory for tribal sovereignty by rejecting all the constitutional challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Throughout history, federal and state governments have sought to undermine and threaten the existence of tribes through the forced separation and assimilation of Native children. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), passed by Congress in 1978, established basic requirements to protect Native American children from removal from their homes and communities by the government.

The Court’s decision recognizes the centuries-long history of Native child removal by the U.S. government and the overwhelming evidence that being removed from homes and disconnected from their culture, tradition, and identity is deeply harmful to Native children. But, the work is far from over. States still continue to remove Native children from their families and tribes at alarmingly high rates. Fourteen states already have ICWA laws on the books – but there are still many states to go. Please, join the ACLU in this fight to protect Native families: Send a message to your state legislature today and tell them to use their power to pass a state ICWA law.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Protect Native Families

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was passed in 1978 to address the devastating and widespread practice of removing Native children from their homes, families, and tribes. I’m encouraged by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold ICWA and am calling on you as your constituent to urge you to act swiftly to implement ICWA in our state. We have seen several other states enact ICWA laws with success in protecting Native families. Please take action today.

You have the power to ensure that our state will be one that recognizes tribal sovereignty and the importance of preserving a Native child’s access to their unique culture and community. And our state will not be alone.

In fact, 11 other states have had ICWA laws on the books for years, and three more states joined this group by passing ICWA laws this year. These state ICWA laws safeguard the spirit of ICWA, which has been affirmed at the federal level.

ICWA’s protections are essential given the centuries long attempts to destroy Native communities through genocide, forced assimilation, and legalized kidnapping through the boarding school era. Please, use your legislative power to ensure our state carries ICWA’s protections forward. If you have already taken this important action, you have my utmost thanks.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

---------------------------------------------

[3.] CONGRESS: PROTECT OUR VOTING RIGHTS

Voters of color continue to be impacted by discriminatory election practices intended to diminish their voting power. In 2021 alone, in the wake of record levels of turnout for the presidential election, a wave of anti-voter measures were introduced across the states – many of which will disproportionately disenfranchise Black and Brown voters. These measures include making it a crime to provide food or water to voters waiting in line, strict limits on drop boxes for absentee ballots, racially gerrymandered district maps, and more. As midterm elections approach this year [2022], we expect these blatant suppression tactics to continue.

The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act includes crucial provisions to restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act that will begin to root out voting barriers that discriminate against voters of color. There's no time to wait: We must urge the Senate to pass this crucial law now.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act

As your constituent, I urge you to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Passing this bill will protect our fundamental right to vote and defend us against discrimination.

The removal of critical protections from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 catalyzed a race to stop people of color from voting. Since then, states have been able to engage in voter suppression with impunity. In 2021 alone, 34 anti-voter laws passed in 19 states, often purposefully targeting people of color through tactics including restraints on voter registration and absentee voting, racially gerrymandered district maps, and more. And given the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, which unduly narrows the Voting Rights Act – it is clearly up to Congress to do what is necessary to protect the rights of all voters in this country.

The price of inaction is high, and history shows it. With midterm elections [behind us], I’m asking you to act now to cement the legacy of the Voting Rights Act and guard the rights of all Americans [for the upcoming presidential elections in 2024].

It's long past due for Congress to renew vital voting protections. Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act now.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

[By the way, I sent letters to my U.S. House Representative and Senators in Congress urging them to pass the "John R. Lewis Act" on August 5th, 2022. (Please see my 'August 5th, 2022 Update,' which can be found above.) However, because it has been about one year since I last sent the aforementioned letter, I decided to send it again this year, 2023, with modifications to the message text, in brackets, where appropriate!]

---------------------------------------------

[4.] PROTECT TRANS CARE NOW

UPDATE 7/13/2023: Politicians in Congress are attempting to include anti-abortion, anti-trans, and other alarming provisions in the nation's annual defense bill. Take action today.

The attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families are continuing and gaining steam in Congress. One-third of the country has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care and extreme members of Congress are jumping on the bandwagon to attack the basic rights and freedoms of LGBTQ people who serve in our military and their family members.

We just learned that leaders of the House have scheduled votes on amendments to the annual national defense policy bill that will block members of the military and their families from having access to life-saving gender-affirming care. This is in addition to amendments that will undermine service members' access to abortion and other civil rights in our military. Send your message today loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans care now – including voting against all amendments to the defense bill that deny access to life-saving care for trans people in the military.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Protect Trans People from Discrimination

It is unconscionable that certain members of Congress are attacking access to life-saving gender-affirming care for transgender people, including using the National Defense Authorization Act to block lifesaving access for people who serve in the military while also attempting to undermine access to abortion for service members.

I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people, including VOTING NO on all amendments to the defense policy bill that limit access to gender-affirming care and abortion.

Will you vote no?

I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice. Publicly show up in support with the transgender community. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for transgender youth and adults alike.

I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to ban this health care.

Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual health care decisions, not politicians. As a Member of Congress, you must fight against this.

Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the health care we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.

Thank you. I look forward to your response.

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

[By the way, I already sent letters to "tell [my] Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination" on June 1st, 2023. (Please see my 'June 1st, 2023 Update,' which can be found above.) However, the letter above has been updated to reflect "that certain members of Congress are attacking access to life-saving gender-affirming care for transgender people, including using the National Defense Authorization Act to block lifesaving access for people who serve in the military while also attempting to undermine access to abortion for service members." Thus, I sent this letter again.]

---------------------------------------------

And speaking of protecting trans people from discrimination, I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, July 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "The House votes TOMORROW. Please take action with us.", which stated the following:

The House will vote on anti-abortion, anti-trans, and anti-civil liberties provisions in the annual defense bill TOMORROW.

Take action now.***

Paul –

The ACLU is fighting back against the ongoing attacks on trans people's rights, abortion rights, and all our civil liberties – and right now, this fight is turning urgently toward Capitol Hill.

Here's the situation: Congress is back in session and working to pass the annual defense policy bill (the NDAA). But extremist politicians in the House are attempting to use this moment to slip in amendments that undermine critical civil rights and liberties, including for uniformed service members and families of service members.

In fact, two amendments would effectively block service members and their families from having access to life-saving, gender-affirming health care – as well as undermine service members' access to abortion and reproductive health care.

These anti-trans and anti-abortion amendments are two of the many discriminatory provisions that the House will vote on TOMORROW – and there is no time to lose on this. We at the ACLU are strongly against this and have already been urging all members of Congress to vote against these amendments.

But we need as many community members as possible reaching out to Congress alongside us. Paul, please, we need your activism in this moment:

TELL CONGRESS: PROTECT TRANS RIGHTS AND ALL RIGHTS***

Paul, we promise this will only take a few quick moments to complete and it will make a big difference in this fight. The more constituents Congress hears from right now, the more they will know we are paying attention to how they vote.

This is how we will show up for all of our rights now and always. Thank you for being with us in this urgent work.

Onward,

The ACLU Team

[1.] Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to defend students' right to learn.

Here is your Right to Learn toolkit to help you fight against censorship in your local schools and communities:

aclu.org/right-to-learn-kit

Whether you're a student or just someone who cares about the freedoms of our educational spaces, this toolkit has all you need to take action in your immediate region – from how school governance rules work to tactics for organizing in your community. Dive into this comprehensive resource today and be sure to share along to your friends and family to help build our power, too.

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

---------------------------------------------

[2.] Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect Native families.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/brackeen

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), passed by Congress in 1978, established basic requirements to protect Native American children from removal from their homes and communities by the government.

The Supreme Court recently issued a landmark decision that rejected all constitutional challenges to ICWA in a victory for tribal sovereignty. But the work is far from over as states still continue to remove Native children from their families and tribes at alarmingly high rates.

Please, join me and the ACLU in this fight to protect Native families: Send a message to your state legislature today and tell them to use their power to pass a state ICWA law.

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-native-families

Thanks.

---------------------------------------------

[3.] Hi Paul,

Thanks for urging Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.

It's up to all of us to defend our right to vote. Share this link or forward the email below to your friends: https://www.aclu.org/defendvotingrights

Thank you,

The ACLU team

~~~~~

Hi friend,

Our right to vote is under attack.

In 2021, we witnessed even more attempts to disenfranchise Black and Brown voters through attacks on vote by mail, voter purges, racially gerrymandered district maps, and more.

But we can fight back by telling Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.

Join me and send a message to Congress now:

https://www.aclu.org/defendvotingrights

Thanks.

---------------------------------------------

[4.] Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect trans people.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/transcare

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

Recently, we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress to criminalize and strip transgender people of their right to safety, dignity, and autonomy.

In fact, extreme members of Congress are trying to use the National Defense Authorization Act to block lifesaving access for people who serve in the military – in addition to attempting to undermine access to abortion and other civil liberties for service members, too.

We must fight back. Any national attack on gender-affirming care would be devastating.

We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. That's why I just joined the ACLU in sending a message to Congress urging them to protect trans people now, including by voting against all anti-civil liberties amendments in the defense bill.

Will you join me?

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-trans-care-now

Thanks.

And so, after I took the right-to-learn pledge, and after I sent a message to my Oregon state legislature telling them to pass a state ICWA law, and after I urged the Senate to pass the crucial John R. Lewis Act law, and after I told my Members of Congress to protect trans care — including voting against all amendments to the defense bill that deny access to life-saving care for trans people in the military — I made a one-time donation to the ACLU in order to do my part to "take action to protect equitable education," to "take action to protect native families," to "take action for voting rights," and to "take action to fight for LGBTQ+ rights." –Paul Whiting (written July 13th, 2023, revised July 14th, 2023 and revised September 30th, 2023)

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July 12th, 2023 Update, Written From July 14th, 2023 To July 15th, 2023: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google a few days ago on July 12th, 2023, when I noticed two different articles on various news websites, including CNN.com and USAToday.com!

Now, I usually try to publish these news-related 'updates' the day that I actually read the news articles referenced in the 'update'; however, my smartphone wasn't working at the time that I first read these two articles!

You see, I have had my current smartphone for almost exactly two years this July. And it suddenly stopped working on July 7th, 2023. (I couldn't even turn it on!) Then, late at night on July 12th, 2023—or early in the morning on July 13th, 2023—my smartphone started working again!

Therefore, I originally read these two articles on my second phone, which is a basic phone. (That is the phone with which I make all of my phone calls—and it's a flip phone, so it has limited internet access.) Thus, once my smartphone started working again, I decided to write this update regarding the above-mentioned articles, since I had them bookmarked on my basic phone!

So without further ado, the CNN article that I read on July 12th, 2023 is titled, "The US economy is defying expectations, says Biden’s top economic adviser." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"The US economy is defying expectations, says Biden’s top economic adviser" from CNN

By Nicole Goodkind, CNN | Published July 12, 2023

New York (CNN) — The resiliency of the US economy is defying expectations — and the odds of a “soft landing” are improving, said Lael Brainard, President Joe Biden’s top economic adviser, on Wednesday afternoon.

New data from the Labor Department released earlier in the day showed that inflation rose last month by 3%, its slowest pace since March 2021. The news pushed markets higher, and Biden touted it as “Bidenomics in action.”

“The US is defying expectations that inflation wouldn’t fall absent significant job destruction,” said Brainard, head of the National Economic Council, in a speech at the Economic Club of New York. “Just today, we saw new and encouraging evidence that the US economy is on the path to moderate inflation accompanied by a resilient job market.”

The strength of the US job market has been “a surprise to so many forecasters who really didn’t see that [there would be a] rebound in participation,” she said.

The latest jobs report showed that 209,000 jobs were added in June, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.6%, a historic low.

“We’ve seen these repeated predictions that recession is right around the corner — and the data have instead delivered continued resilience in the economy,” said Brainard, formerly No. 2 at the Federal Reserve. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/12/economy/brainard-economic-club-bidenomics/index.html

And the USA Today article that I read on July 12th, 2023 is titled, "Inflation cools again in June as gains in grocery prices slow, CPI report shows." (By the way, I am a subscriber to USA Today.) An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Inflation cools again in June as gains in grocery prices slow, CPI report shows" from USA Today

Paul Davidson, Medora Lee and Charisse Jones USA TODAY | July 12, 2023

A year after U.S. inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1%, it has fallen by about two-thirds. But bringing down annual consumer price increases the rest of the way -- to the more normal 2% level sought by federal policymakers -- is expected to be a tougher slog.

Inflation cooled for a 12th straight month in June as flat grocery prices partly offset a rebound in gasoline costs and still-hefty rent hikes. Core inflation, which the Federal Reserve watches more closely, eased more than expected.

Consumer prices overall increased 3% from a year earlier, down from 4% in May, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index. That’s the smallest yearly increase since March 2021. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.2% following a 0.1% increase in May. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2023/07/12/june-cpi-report-live-updates/70399319007/

And I decided to highlight these articles from CNN and USA Today for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written July 15th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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July 13th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the Biden for President campaign today, July 13th, 2023, with the subject line, "I am proud to have you in my corner.", which stated the following:

Biden-Harris 2024

Paul -- I know this message is long, but I hope you’ll take a moment to read it and be reminded of all the things we have been able to accomplish because of our victory in 2020.

When Kamala and I were sworn in over two years ago, the economy was on its back. Schools and businesses were closed. People were hurting. And far too many were mourning the loss of a loved one to COVID.

Kamala and I agreed that we couldn’t just rebuild the economy as it was before: we needed to build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down. So we got right to work and passed the American Rescue Plan.

Today, our economy has recovered faster and stronger than any other developed country in the world, we’ve created more jobs in two years than any president in a four-year term, and the unemployment rate is near record lows.

And we didn’t stop there: we kept working to make progress on the issues that matter.

We passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, kicking off a decade of rebuilding our country’s roads, bridges, highways, ports, internet, and railroads.

We passed the most significant gun safety legislation in over three decades.

We took on Big Pharma and won, capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors -- now, the biggest insulin manufacturers are lowering the cost for everyone.

We passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which is bringing down costs for working people and is the largest investment to combat climate change in U.S. history -- because I believe building a clean energy future starts in America.

When I look back at all the things we’ve accomplished together, I feel proud -- and I’m reminded that there’s so much more work for us to get done.

I know I don’t need to remind you what’s at stake in this election: the MAGA Republicans in this race want to drag us backward.

When they look at America, all they can see is carnage, darkness, and despair. They spread fear and lies for profit and power. When Kamala and I look at America, we see possibility.

If you’re with Kamala and me in this fight, can you pitch in a donation of $25 right now? Grassroots contributions from supporters like you are laying the strong foundation we’ll need to win in 2024.

If the last two years show you anything, it’s that there’s not a single thing beyond our capacity if we do it together. I am proud to have you in my corner.

Thank you,

Joe

Joe Biden

DONATE***

"Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours." -- Joe Biden

Dear Paul,

It is CRITICAL to our ability to take back the House from the Kevin McCarthy-led MAGA House Republicans that you quickly confirm you are a registered Democratic voter residing in Portland. Please mark and return the attached 2023 DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE PRECINCT AND MEMBER CONFIRMATION CARD no later than July 15th.

Dedicated supporters like you helped us achieve the best midterm results by a president's party in two decades. Going into 2024, we're just five seats away from taking back the House. We have identified 33 Districts in Play — Republican-held or open seats that we're going on the offense on to flip from red to blue. 18 of those are districts that President Biden won in 2020, and others are represented by MAGA extremists like Lauren Boebert and George Santos.

Republicans' chaos agenda is clear: ban abortion nationwide, force a debt ceiling crisis to weaken the economy, make major cuts to Social Security and Medicare, spread conspiracy theories, launch bogus investigations of the Biden Administration, and do all they can to clear the way for twice-impeached — and now indicted — Donald Trump to return to power.

We must hold House Republicans accountable by voting them out of office. And for the sake of our democracy, we must flip the house from red to blue. That work is already underway.

So please, mark and return the attached 2023 DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE PRECINCT AND MEMBER CONFIRMATION CARD no later than July 15th and renew your 2023 DCCC membership with a generous contribution of $80, $120, $160, or even more if you can today. Gifts will be matched 5:1, up to $250,000.

Help us hold House Republicans accountable and take back our Democratic House Majority so we can once again deliver for the American people. Thank you.

---------------------------------------------

2023 DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE PRECINCT AND MEMBER CONFIRMATION CARD

DCCC — 430 South Capitol Street SE — Washington, DC 20003 — www.dccc.org

MARK IF CORRECT

[✓] LEGAL NAME: PAUL [MIDDLE INITIAL] WHITING

[✓] PARTY AFFILIATION: DEMOCRATIC

[  ] MEMBERSHIP STATUS: LAPSED

[✓] U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: [REDACTED]

What do you believe should be House Democrats' top priority going into the 2024 election? (check all that apply)

[✓] Opposing a nationwide abortion ban and protecting abortion access

[✓] Stopping Republican schemes to slash spending on Social Security and Medicare

[✓] Fighting against Republican efforts to suppress votes and steal elections

[✓] Calling out Republicans' bogus witch hunts on the Biden Administration

Do you believe that United States is better off when there is a Democratic House Majority to work with a Democratic President and Senate or is it better when Republicans control the House?

[✓] Better with Democratic control
[  ] Better with Republican control
[  ] Unsure

I'm rushing a special contribution to the DCCC to help defend our House Majority:

[  ] $80 becomes $480
[  ] $120 becomes $720
[  ] $160 becomes $960
[✓] Other $10.00

↑ GIFTS WILL BE MATCHED 5:1 [FIVE TO ONE], INCREASING YOUR IMPACT BY 6X [SIX TIMES], BY A GROUP OF GENEROUS DEMOCRATS UP TO $250,000!

To put your gift to work immediately, go to www.dccc.org/2023house or call our contribution hotline at 1-877-4-DEM-FUTURE (1-877-433-6388).

---------------------------------------------

And, after I read the letter above, I typed the web address to the referenced webpage in my browser, the relevant text of which can be found below:

     DONATE TO
    DEFEND OUR
HOUSE MAJORITY.
       ↓       ↓       ↓

Flip the House!

Chip in now to flip the House and defend President Biden’s legacy!

Republicans are blocking President Biden’s agenda at every turn — and he’s counting on this grassroots team to stop them.

So, quickly: Will you renew your DCCC membership to elect a wave of Democrats and flip the House?

Donate immediately:

Your contribution will benefit the DCCC.

[  ] Donate $25 →

[  ] Donate $50 →

[  ] Donate $75 →

[  ] Donate $100 →

[  ] Donate $250 →

[  ] Donate $500 →

[  ] Donate $1,000 →

[✓] Other amount: $10.00

[✓] [Leave a tip for ActBlue]: $1.00

So, I completed the 2023 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Precinct And Member Confirmation Card, which I am planning to mail tomorrow, July 15th, 2023. And I also made a one-time donation to the DCCC (with a tip to ActBlue) in order to do my part to "hold House Republicans accountable by voting them out of office," because "Republicans' chaos agenda is clear: ban abortion nationwide, force a debt ceiling crisis to weaken the economy, make major cuts to Social Security and Medicare, spread conspiracy theories, launch bogus investigations of the Biden Administration, and do all they can to clear the way for twice-impeached — and now indicted — Donald Trump to return to power." So, "for the sake of our democracy, we must flip the house from red to blue." –Paul Whiting (written July 14th, 2023 and revised July 15th, 2023)

---------------------------------------------

July 14th, 2023 Update—Continued: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google today, July 14th, 2023, when I noticed an article on MSNBC.com titled, "Inflation is cooling. That’s bad news for the GOP." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Inflation is cooling. That’s bad news for the GOP." from MSNBC

A year straight of falling inflation has made Republican arguments against 'Bidenomics' way less convincing.

By Hayes Brown, MSNBC Opinion Writer/Editor | July 13, 2023

Twelve months ago, it seemed like the economy might wind up being President Joe Biden’s biggest weakness. While hiring was supercharged and unemployment was near an all-time low, inflation was busy making a major dent in Americans’ wallets. Gas prices in particular were causing pain at the pump, and Republicans expected to ride the discomfort to solid political gains.

What a difference a year makes. Not only did Republicans largely underperform in last fall’s midterms, but the latest inflation figures show that efforts to hit the brakes are also working. Consumer price growth — the change in how much Americans pay for things including food and energy from year to year — has fallen every month since June 2022. It’s now sitting at about 3%, just about a point higher than the Federal Reserve’s goal. A major factor in that drop has been collapsing gas prices, even as the summer vacation season continues.

It’s no surprise, then, that Biden has started touting the benefits of “Bidenomics” ahead of next year’s election. And dropping inflation has deprived Republicans of one of the most surefire ways to attack a Democratic president. Republicans who were once morbidly gleeful at the idea that the economy might take a nosedive are now silent, at least when they aren’t busy taking credit for investments that Democrats passed over their objections.

It’s kind of hard to blame them for their reticence, when neither Republicans in Congress nor those statehouses can take any real credit for inflation falling. The data shows that inflation began trending downward long before the GOP narrowly recaptured the House. And Republican policies at the state level haven’t exactly been outperforming the national average. In fact, the highest inflation in the country is in Florida, home to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

House Republicans also can’t link falling inflation to their promises to curb federal spending. For one, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — a Donald Trump appointee, no less — has said repeatedly that, after an initial spending surge to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, government outlays are no longer a major driver of inflation. Powell instead “says rapid price growth is primarily being driven by factors like snarled supply chains, an oil shock following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a shift among American consumers from spending money on services like travel and dining out to goods like furniture,” The New York Times reported in March.

Until last month, the Fed had been steadily raising interest rates to try to curb inflation, pausing in June after 10 straight hikes. Its efforts appear to have tamped down price rises without the expected surge in unemployment accompanying it. Even the modest hiring slowdown in June still saw solid growth in the labor market. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/rcna93880

And I decided to highlight this article from MSNBC for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written July 14th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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July 15th, 2023 Update: I received a mailer from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) today, July 15th, 2023, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read, "Membership Notice: Dated Materials Enclosed," which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter):

Dear Mr. Whiting,

I believe you're someone who cares deeply about the future of this nation, just like me.

By supporting the DNC, strong donors like you are investing in a vision of lasting progress for America. You helped to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2020, giving Democratic leaders the power to pass historic legislation. It's clear you share our vision of building a thriving democracy for the next generation.

But our shared vision is in danger. That progress is under attack by an increasingly extremist Republican Party that seeks to undermine our rights and weaken our democracy. And because I believe you're someone who will always step up and fight to protect our future, I'm reaching out with one of the most important actions you can take right now:

Renew your annual membership to the Democratic National Committee with a generous contribution of $20, $30, or even $40 today. Your renewed support will help keep Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House — and expand Democratic leadership up and down the ballot — so we can defend and grow our progress across the nation.

When you renew your support for the DNC, you invest in the only committee that works to elect Democrats at every level of government, from the school board to the White House.

To defend our future from the extreme MAGA Republican agenda, we need to organize and win elections in every ZIP code across the country. That's the only way to [stand up to] the attacks on our democratic institutions and the most vulnerable among us. Your renewed support can make a difference in every single one of those races.

We absolutely need Democratic leaders and voices in every room — because you know what happens when MAGA Republicans control the agenda.

It means putting Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block.

It means rigging the economy for the wealthy and big corporations at the expense of middle class families.

It means unconstitutional attacks on voting rights that silence voters of color.

It means that gun ownership is valued over our lives.

It means anti-abortion laws that deny lifesaving medical care, putting millions of people in harm's way.

And it means silencing our children's teachers and banning books.

I won't stand for that, and I know you won't either. By renewing you support for the DNC today, you can [stand up to] the GOP's ugly attacks on our future and keep progress at the top of the agenda.

The DNC is the beating heart of our Party's work to elect Democrats across the nation, and we've got the expertise, the reach, and the strategy to keep winning. Grassroots donors like you turn our campaigns into historic victories, bringing diverse new voices into Congress, advancing bold new legislation to set our nation on the right track, and guaranteeing equality for all. And you have such an important part to play in protecting our future.

By renewing your support for the DNC right now, you'll play a key roll in:

[✓] Building robust tech infrastructure and messaging plans so we can reach swing voters with our bold vision of the future.

[✓] Protecting voting rights from Republican attacks through voter education, registration, and more to ensure every eligible vote is counted.

[✓] Making critical investments to mobilize voters across the country so we can reelect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and elect Democrats to office up and down the ballot.

This is the urgent and necessary work to win our races, and those wins will translate to legislative progress and policy success from state Houses to the White House.

And you know when Democrats control the agenda, we do what it takes to create best possible America for everyone. We'll protect voting rights and abortion rights, take on the gun violence epidemic, bring bold and effective solutions to the climate crisis, and make our democracy stronger than ever.

That's what the future deserves. I proudly carry my DNC member card and I hope you'll renew your support for the DNC so we can keep up the fight side by side.

Thank you,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

P.S. Renewing your support for the DNC is one of the best ways to be a grassroots leader in the Democratic Party. Let's reelect Joe and Kamala and keep achieving historic victories for Democrats up and down the ticket. Renew your commitment to the fight for our future today!

Go to www.democrats.org/Renew23July to put your gift to work immediately.

And, after I read the letter above, I typed the web address to the referenced webpage in my browser, the relevant text of which can be found below:

Support the Democratic National Committee

Donate to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot nationwide!

Renew your membership today to fight for the Biden-Harris agenda, hold the GOP accountable, and help elect more Democrats. Donate to the DNC now and invest in the resources our candidates are relying on to compete and win year after year.

Donate immediately:

Your contribution will benefit Democratic National Committee (DNC) - Direct Marketing.

[  ] Donate $35 →

[  ] Donate $50 →

[  ] Donate $75 →

[  ] Donate $100 →

[  ] Donate $200 →

[  ] Donate $250 →

[✓] Other amount: $10.00

[✓] [Leave a tip for ActBlue]: $1.00

So, I made a one-time donation to the DNC (with a tip to ActBlue) in order to "renew [my] annual membership to the Democratic National Committee," because "to defend our future from the extreme MAGA Republican agenda, we need to organize and win elections in every ZIP code across the country", since "that's the only way to [stand up to] the attacks on our democratic institutions and the most vulnerable among us." Not only that, "[I] know when Democrats control the agenda, we do what it takes to create best possible America for everyone, because "we'll protect voting rights and abortion rights, take on the gun violence epidemic, bring bold and effective solutions to the climate crisis, and make our democracy stronger than ever." –Paul Whiting (written July 15th, 2023 and revised July 31st, 2023)

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July 16th, 2023 Update: I was scrolling through YouTube Recommendations, when I noticed a video titled, "Yuval Noah Harari on the threat to democracy in Israel."

You see, I discover a lot of news through YouTube Recommendations that I don't normally learn about when I am doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google—in order to stay a more informed voter, as well as a more informed citizen.

So, I watched the above-mentioned video about what's happening in Israel regarding the proposed judicial reforms, which is the basis of Israel's recent government protests. Here is the description from that video, which stated, in part, the following (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Yuval Noah Harari on the threat to democracy in Israel

The historian says that in Israel, which has no constitution, the only check on governmental abuses of power is the Supreme Court, which is now under attack by forces that want to impose a de facto dictatorship. If they succeed, says Yuval Noah Harari, there is no other mechanism in place that could limit the government's power.

https://youtu.be/4qq8FYjjRe8

Then, after I watched the CBS News video, I did a search for 'Israel News,' where I found a corresponding CBS News article titled, "Historian Yuval Noah Harari warns of dictatorship in Israel." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"Historian Yuval Noah Harari warns of dictatorship in Israel" from CBS News

By Yuval Noah Harari | July 16, 2023

After another week of anti-government protests in Israel, our commentary comes from noted author and historian Yuval Noah Harari, who explains why he thinks Israel is at a tipping point – and why that's a concern for us all:

As a proud citizen of Israel, I am deeply concerned that my government is trying to establish a dictatorship.

Many dictatorships in history were established not by tanks firing in the streets, but by signing papers behind closed doors. By the time people understood what was happening, it was too late to resist.

To understand what is happening in Israel, you need to ask just one question: What limits the power of the government?

In the U.S.A., there is an entire system of checks and balances. In Israel, we have no constitution, no Senate, no federal structure, and no other check on the power of the central government, except one: the Supreme Court.

Now the government is trying to gain control of the Supreme Court. If it succeeds, there will be no mechanism that limits its power. Coalition members have already proposed numerous laws and regulations that discriminate against Muslims, Christians, women, LGBTQ people and secular people. They are only waiting to take control of the Supreme Court, and then they could unleash this dictatorial flood. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/historian-yuval-noah-harari-warns-of-dictatorship-in-israel/

And, in addition to highlighting the above-mentioned YouTube video for you, my readers, to consider watching, I decided to highlight this article from CBS News for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written July 16th, 2023, revised July 17th, 2023, revised September 23rd, 2023 and revised October 21st, 2023)

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July 17th, 2023 Update: [The following 'update' is spoken with my best Midwestern accent...]

Well, let me just begin this par-tic-ular 'update' by sayin' the following:

I STAND WITH THE STRIKING WRITERS OF THE WGA (Writers Guild of America)!

I STAND WITH THE STRIKING ACTORS OF THE SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)!

That bein' said, I hear tell them highfalutin studio types ain't considerin' that refusing to meet all of the contractual needs of those fine -n- dandy writers and actors of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA is affectin' the enthusiasm of audience members, like myself, to go see movies and watch television—or to watch that newfangled streamin' technology—like they do all the way up there in the big city!

Now, I don't mean to get up on this here soapbox in order to tell them studio executive types how to do their jobs ('cause truth be told, I'm afraid of heights!), but the problem is that the motion picture and movie industries have both drastically changed in the last few years, what with the revolutionary technology of computers and the internet, as well as them streamin' services, not to mention that highly intellectual AI!

Now, for all you folks at home, 'AI' means "Artificial Intelligence," such as those so-phis-ti-cated large language models (or, LLMs) that are pretty much goin' to be taking over all of the worker's jobs in a dystopian future that them highfalutin studio execs are tryin' as much as they can to sell to the rest of us like it's the Second Comin' Of Christ!

So, that's why those fine -n- dandy writers and actors of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are striking way over there in places like Hollywood, Cal-i-forn-i-a, or as some folks around these here parts like to call it, "Movie City"...

...And that spells trouble, my friend!

Right there in Movie City!

And that's a capital 'M,' which rhymes with "them," and 'them actors' need more money!

That's right, ya got trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

'Cause them writers and actors cannot pay their bills, 'honey'...

...And that's a sure sign of trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

Those writers and actors aren't in it for the thrills...

...Well, that spells trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

And audience members, like me, are real "chilled!"

'Cause we know that there is trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

Ya see, we're "chilled" about seein' movies...

...And watchin' TV...

...Plus, watchin' shows on them streamin' services that have actors just a beggin'!

Since those actors are in trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

Because the industry has changed a lot from the days of Ronald Reagan and Charlton Heston!

And that's a sure sign of trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

Now, we all done heard that on June 23rd the Directors Guild of America (DGA) ratified their new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)!

So, the directors are now outta trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

And if the DGA can ratify their new contract with the studios, why can't the WGA and SAG-AFTRA ratify their contracts too?

That's why they shouldn't be in trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

Since it ain't just directors who deserve a contract that's renewed!

That's why we don't want more trouble!

Right there in Movie City!

You see, I just enjoyed watchin' one of the best productions of The Music Man in recent memory!

Now, I ain't talkin' about that classic The Music Man (1962) starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. No folks, this here production stars Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth, which "was originally broadcast on ABC on February 16, 2003, as the eleventh episode of the forty-seventh season of The Wonderful World of Disney," as explained on Wikipedia:

"The Music Man (2003 film)" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable one-time donation if they are requesting donations when I am on their website):

The Music Man is a 2003 American made-for-television musical film directed by Jeff Bleckner with a teleplay by Sally Robinson. It is based on the 1957 musical of the same name by Meredith Willson, which in turn was based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The film stars Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth and features David Aaron Baker, Debra Monk, Victor Garber, and Molly Shannon. It was originally broadcast on ABC on February 16, 2003, as the eleventh episode of the forty-seventh season of The Wonderful World of Disney. ...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Music_Man_(2003_film)

However—to back up a little bit—the reason that I found out about this 2003 made-for-television production of The Music Man in the first place is because of a fun video that I watched on YouTube titled, "The Music Man — Trouble with Matthew Broderick," which is by Musical Theatre Mash!

You see, quite a while ago (I don't recall when), I was doin' a search online for The Music Man, when I came across this comedic video—which is stunningly funny—providing a musical critique of The Music Man (2003)! Here is the description from that video, which stated, in part, the following (with a hyperlink to the video below):

The Music Man — Trouble with Matthew Broderick

Nothing says trouble like Matthew Broderick's made-for-tv version of the "The Music Man."

https://youtu.be/PkMsuULPIso

So, after I watched Musical Theatre Mash's highly-entertaining critique of Matthew Broderick's role as Professor Harold Hill, I did a YouTube search and found the 2003 full movie! And I had The Music Man (2003) saved to my YouTube 'Watch Later' Playlist for quite sometime; but, I eventually removed it from 'Watch Later' when I thought that I wasn't goin' to get around to watching it...

...However, I realized today, June 17th, 2023, that I had a bit of extra cellular data available on my cell phone's data plan, since my smartphone wasn't working for about seven days...

...You see, I have had my current smartphone for almost exactly two years this July! And it suddenly stopped working on July 7th, 2023. (I couldn't even turn it on...) Then, late at night on July 12th, 2023—or early in the morning on July 13th, 2023—my smartphone started working again!

Therefore, since I only used my second phone for that seven day period, which is a basic phone, I had quite a bit of extra cellular data. (By the way, that basic phone is the phone with which I make all of my phone calls—and it's a flip phone, so it has limited internet access.) Thus, I decided to watch The Music Man (2003) today!

And that's how I watched the way that the good townsfolk of River City, Iowa were (almost) taken by Professor Harold Hill with his scheme to sell them boy band uniforms—and how Professor Harold Hill was (almost) taken by the good townsfolk of River City! Here is the description from that video, which stated, in part, the following (with a hyperlink to the video below):

Meredith Willson The Music Man (FULL) 2003

The Music Man

-Confidence man Harold Hill arrives at staid River City intending to cheat the community with his standard scam of offering to equip and train a boy's marching band, then skip town with the money since he has no music skill anyway. Things go awry when he falls for a librarian he tries to divert from exposing him while he inadvertently enriches the town with a love of music.

https://youtu.be/rroZXCYbqmc

And I decided to write this 'update' to promote this wonderful, quirky production of The Music Man (which only plays at 360 pixels, so it's a little fuzzy), because it was fun to see that classic musical reinvented with Matthew Broderick as Professor Harold Hill!

Also, I wanted to call attention to the 2023 workers strike by the writers of WGA and the actors of SAG-AFTRA, whose livelihoods depend on the labor contracts they sign with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) for how much those writers and actors are compensated for the truly indispensable work they do in motion pictures, television and radio!

Finally, thank you for taking the time to read this here folksy 'update,' and for considering doing your part as audience members to support the creative work of directors, writers and actors, as well as other production workers, by enjoying motion pictures, television (TV), and radio productions on the silver screen, on your TV or through your streaming service, and over your radio, at the same time that you are standing in support of the striking SAG-AFTRA and WGA workers.

Solidarity forever!

–Paul Whiting (written July 17th, 2023, revised July 18th, 2023, revised September 14th, 2023, revised October 7th, 2023, revised October 21st, 2023, revised December 6th, 2023 and revised August 31st, 2025)

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July 20th, 2023 Update, Written On July 21st, 2023 [My Writing About Finally Being Back In My Studio Apartment After It Was Repaired For Flood Damage]: As of yesterday, July 20th, 2023, I am finally back in my studio apartment!

You see, I was out of my apartment for a while, since it was being repaired for water damage due to a flood, which ironically happened on Christmas Eve 2022 at about 5:30 AM—and that is why I watched "It's A Wonderful Life" that night! (I actually purchased "It's A Wonderful Life" on YouTube, quite a few years ago, so that I can watch it at Christmastime whenever I wish, which I do every few years.)

Therefore, it has been five months and seventeen days since I temporarily moved to another studio apartment—which is located fairly close to the low income apartment building that I live in—while the flood remediation was being completed. (I moved on February 3rd, 2023, so as of July 3rd, 2023, that's five months; then, if my calculations are correct, July 20th is 17 days in addition to that.) Thus, it's been quite a long time since I have been in my studio apartment.

And the really nice thing is that my apartment now has new floors throughout that look just like real wood, which are made of something called "luxury vinyl." In fact, the new floors look so much like genuine wood floors that if you didn't know they were made of vinyl, you seriously couldn't tell the difference, which is why I wrote the following two advertising slogans:

Slogan No. 1: "Luxury vinyl has the look and feel of genuine wood flooring without the expense and upkeep of real wood."

Slogan No. 2: "Luxury vinyl has the breathtaking beauty of real wood without the breathtaking price and maintenance."

Anyway, it's good to be back home again!

–Paul Whiting (written July 21st, 2023, revised July 22nd, 2023 and revised July 23rd, 2023)

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For my "July 21st, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

July 21st, 2023 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, July 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "Troops braving the summer heat to keep us safe need to hear from YOU, Paul", which stated the following:

Paul, at this very moment, service members are working in sweltering tanks on scorching sand dunes and in triple-digit temperatures in battleship boiler rooms. They're sleeping on the ground in tents with no fans or air conditioning. They don't know the next time they'll get to speak to their families, let alone take a relaxing beach vacation.

As they endure unimaginably harsh conditions to keep us safe and free, it is our patriotic duty to make sure our troops know how much folks back home appreciate everything they do for us. That's why we're asking 50,000 dedicated military supporters via email and text message to sign our card for troops by midnight tomorrow — including you, Paul: Please, will you sign now to show your gratitude?

★ ★ ★

To our brave heroes, thank you for everything you do for us — this summer and always!

ADD YOUR NAME***

The last thing in the world we want is for troops to feel forgotten by the very people they are sacrificing so much to protect, especially as they're facing extreme temperatures, dangerous storms and other challenges this summer. As one of our most committed military supporters, we know you don't want that either.

But 85% of military families surveyed feel the public doesn’t understand their sacrifices. It's our mission to change this sobering statistic, but we can't do it without your help. The best way to help is by signing the card to personally show our troops how much you care — and it only takes a second:

Add your name to our thank-you card now to thank our heroes for all the sacrifices they're making to keep us safe and free.

SIGN NOW***

Thank you,

The USO

***[I used to include hyperlinks contained within the email messages, or the text messages, to which I am referring in these "Activism Updates"; however, I could not figure out how to include the aforementioned hyperlinks, regarding some relevant action that I had taken—such as signing a petition, sending a letter or message to my representative(s) in Congress, signing a USO 'Thank You' card, and/or making a donation—without including my personal information.]

Plus, after I signed the card, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website to say to our service members across the globe: "Thank you for everything you do to protect our country. We greatly appreciate your service and sacrifice and promise to stand with you no matter what."

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "July 21st, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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July 21st, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, July 21st, 2023, with the subject line, "What Texas is doing threatens peoples' lives, Paul", which stated the following:

Paul –

We wanted to make sure you had heard the latest horrific news out of Texas – because there is action you can take.

According to recent reports, Texas state troopers working under Gov. Greg Abbott's multi-billion-dollar anti-immigrant initiative – called Operation Lone Star – have been instructed to push young children and nursing mothers back into the Rio Grande. These tactics are designed to prevent people from reaching the U.S. and asking to be screened by federal officers for humanitarian protections.

Texas officials are also placing razor wire in and around the river, despite the injuries they know these traps have caused over the last several weeks. This includes a woman who miscarried while caught in the wire and a young child who was injured by the wire. The state's cruelty is unconscionable.

And while Operation Lone Star may be a Texas program, its execution has too often relied on collusion with federal immigration authorities under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Enough is enough. DHS must end ALL collusion with Texas immediately, do everything in its power to ensure removal of Gov. Abbott's deadly traps, and instead work to provide safe, humanitarian pathways for people seeking asylum.

Please join us in our demands right now by sending a message to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging action now.

TAKE ACTION***

Paul, these reports of Texas' brutality shock our conscience. Since Operation Lone Star started in 2021, it has been rife with abuse – from racial profiling of border residents to deadly vehicle chases to mass arrests that violate due process. Meanwhile, despite the DHS claiming it has nothing to do with this initiative, federal border patrol agents under its command have often helped to facilitate Texas' abusive actions.

Unfortunately, what is happening now is consistent with how Gov. Abbott has treated our border communities for a long time – sacrificing our homes and public spaces, while trading basic humanity for his own political aggrandizement. The harm caused and division sowed is on purpose.

We at the ACLU will never stop fighting back. Cruelty against people seeking safety and protection is not an acceptable policy solution.

Thank you for being with us in this critical fight for immigrant rights,

[Name redacted]
Pronouns: She, her, hers
[Title redacted], ACLU

JUSTICE FOR PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM: STOP LIFE-THREATENING TACTICS NOW

According to recent reports, Texas state troopers working under Gov. Greg Abbott's multi-billion-dollar anti-immigrant initiative – called Operation Lone Star – have been instructed to push young children and nursing mothers back into the Rio Grande. This river is also where Texas officials have been placing razor wire, despite the injuries they know these traps have already caused. These horrific actions are a shock to our conscience: Cruelty to people seeking asylum is not a policy solution.

Texas should immediately stop intentionally endangering the lives of people seeking protection at the border, and the Department of Homeland Security must act: Send a message to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas today and tell him to decisively end its collusion with Operation Lone Star and do everything in its powers to remove Gov. Abbott's dangerous barriers in the Rio Grande.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: End Collusion with Operation Lone Star

I'm reaching out in response to the alarming reports that Texas state troopers working under Gov. Greg Abbott's multi-billion-dollar anti-immigrant initiative - Operation Lone Star - have been instructed to push young children and nursing mothers back into the Rio Grande. Please, I'm urging you to decisively end any collusion with Operation Lone Star, which has facilitated and encouraged Texas's expansion of a proven human and civil rights disaster, and to do everything in your power to remove Gov. Abbott's dangerous barriers in the Rio Grande River.

Gov. Abbott's approach doesn't just prevent people from seeking protection in the U.S. - it also places their lives in clear jeopardy by setting razor wire traps and other obstructions as dangerous traps in and around the river.

Texas officials are continuing to use these extremely harmful tactics despite the injuries they know these traps have caused over the last several weeks, including a woman who miscarried while caught in the wire and young children who were injured by the wire. The United States government cannot stand by idly as it witnesses to such inhumanity.

I urge you to end any collaboration your offices have with Operation Lone Star immediately and work to remove Gov. Abbott's dangerous barriers in the Rio Grande.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, July 21st, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect people seeking asylum at the southern border.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/txmigrants

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

According to recent reports, Texas state troopers working under Gov. Greg Abbott's multi-billion-dollar anti-immigrant initiative - called Operation Lone Star - have been instructed to push young children and nursing mothers back into the Rio Grande.

These horrific actions are a shock to our conscience: Cruelty to people seeking asylum is not a policy solution.

Our government can act in this moment. That's why I just sent a message to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to tell him to decisively end its collusion with this initiative.

Will you join me?

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/justice-people-seeking-asylum-stop-life-threatening-tactics-now

Thanks.

Then, after I sent the letter above to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU to do my part in order to help raise the alarm that "Texas state troopers working under Gov. Greg Abbott's multi-billion-dollar anti-immigrant initiative - Operation Lone Star - have been instructed to push young children and nursing mothers back into the Rio Grande." And that is why I urged DHS "to decisively end any collusion with Operation Lone Star, which has facilitated and encouraged Texas's expansion of a proven human and civil rights disaster, and to do everything in [their] power to remove Gov. Abbott's dangerous barriers in the Rio Grande River."–Paul Whiting (written July 21st, 2023, revised July 22nd, 2023 and revised June 15th, 2024)

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July 22nd, 2023 Update: I was doing my usual reading of Time Magazine articles from one of their daily emails that I received today, July 22nd, 2023, when I noticed two Time.com articles! (By the way, I am a subscriber to Time INSIDER Digital Magazine.)

The first Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "'They Are Doing Bad Things to Good People': Fran Drescher on Why SAG-AFTRA Is Striking." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"'They Are Doing Bad Things to Good People': Fran Drescher on Why SAG-AFTRA Is Striking" from Time Magazine

By Judy Berman | July 20, 2023

SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents some 160,000 performers, went on strike on July 13, joining the WGA in the organizations’ first concurrent work stoppage since 1960 and effectively bringing Hollywood to a standstill. The most prominent—and also the most unmistakable—voice in this fight belongs to Fran Drescher. Elected SAG-AFTRA president in 2021, The Nanny’s flashy girl from Flushing proved her union-organizer chutzpah in a press conference announcing the strike. “We are being victimized by a very greedy entity,” Drescher said. “They plead poverty, that they’re losing money left and right when giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them.” It was time, she proclaimed, to tell the studio bosses: “You people are crazy!” At one point, she even invoked the storming of the gates of Versailles.

Her performance lit up the internet, going viral in real time. Memes circulated. Fans swooned. And Drescher suddenly became the poster girl for a Hot Labor Summer already in progress. (Along with the writers, whose strike is now deep into its third month, California hotel workers picketed over the long Fourth of July weekend and 340,000 Teamsters employed by UPS could walk off the job as soon as Aug. 1.) It’s a role she’s happy to fill—not out of vanity, but because she knows workers across industries will benefit from the exposure. “We get the press,” Drescher tells TIME. “So, OK—let me be the face and the voice of this awakening.”

Not that Drescher’s professional responsibilities end when the cameras stop rolling. It’s all she can do to make sure someone walks her dog while she’s running around from the picket line to the bargaining table to events for her nonprofit, Cancer Schmancer. (She’s a survivor of uterine cancer.) “This is my life now—I’m pulled from every direction,” she says. “And it’s forcing me, as a Buddhist, to stay in the moment and be present now, not get ahead of myself.”

Union work takes precedence, of course, over everything besides Drescher’s elderly parents, who are proudly tuning in to watch her represent her fellow actors on shows like Morning Joe. In fact, it occurs to Drescher as we’re chatting that she should make sure her assistant sends them a pair of SAG-AFTRA T-shirts—size XXXL, “because then my mom will wear it like a little house dress and my dad, he’ll wear it like a little nightshirt.” (She promises to post photos.) It’s a fitting way to thank the systems-analyst father she credits for instilling in her the ability to see what’s broken about the Hollywood ecosystem. “I have his skill set, even though I don’t apply it to a career like he did,” Drescher says. But now she’s putting it to work in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). “They didn’t think that Morty Drescher’s daughter was gonna crack the code on what’s wrong with the old contract!”

Over the phone from Los Angeles, Drescher discussed the strike, how the entertainment industry’s embrace of streaming and A.I. have hurt actors, and why she’s thrilled to see vintage Nanny stills making the rounds on social media. Here are edited excerpts of that conversation. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6295968/fran-drescher-interview-sag-aftra-strike

The second Time Magazine article that I read today is titled, "UPS Is Failing Part-Time Workers Like Me." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"UPS Is Failing Part-Time Workers Like Me" from Time Magazine

By Cesar Castro | July 21, 2023

Castro is a Teamsters Local 396 shop steward and part-time UPS pre-loader

Like many working-class people of color living in Los Angeles County, I work to support myself and my family. This includes my four younger siblings and single mother.

I work hard at UPS part time and just completed my degree in labor studies at California State University, Dominguez Hills. I’m a proud member of Teamsters Local 396, which represents transportation and sanitation workers in Southern California. As a shop steward, I apply my knowledge to help my co-workers at UPS advocate for themselves.

Every worker should be able to sit directly across from their employer to negotiate the working conditions they deserve. I’m honored to do that, serving on the UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee as we bargain our new five-year union contract covering more than 340,000 workers at UPS. We have had enough and we are ready for the contract we deserve at UPS.

Unfortunately, when we got to the part of negotiations where we bargain over wages, we hit a big roadblock. UPS walked away from the table on July 5, refusing to give the Teamsters a last, best, and final offer. It was disheartening to hear that from the employer I work so hard for, an employer that made a record-setting $100 billion last year. Part-time employees work extremely hard to make this company its profits, and we deserve to share in that success.

As thousands of UPS Teamsters practice picketed, rallied, and mobilized across the country, UPS bowed to the pressure, and on July 19, reached out to the union to resume negotiations next week. UPS needs to deliver a fair contract with the wages we deserve. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://time.com/6296702/ups-part-time-workers-essay

And I decided to highlight these articles from Time Magazine for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written July 22nd, 2023, revised August 12th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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July 24th, 2023 Update: I received an email from CREDO Mobile (which is my cell phone company) today, July 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "Sign the petition: Stand against corporate donations to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians", which stated the following:

Dear Fellow Progressive,

The LGTBQ+ community is under attack. A recent Supreme Court decision allows businesses to refuse to serve LGTBQ+ customers. Don’t say “gay” laws. Attacks on gender affirming care. According to Human Rights Campaign, over 520 anti-LGTBQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures already in 2023.[1] And, every June, big corporations slap rainbows on their logos and talk about supporting the LGTBQ+ community. Then, many of these corporations turn around and donate to politicians who actively work against LGTBQ+ rights.

We need your help today.

Sign this petition to tell corporations to stop funding LGTBQ+ hate.

It is the height of cynical hypocrisy to make a few dollars off the LGTBQ+ community in June, and then donate to the very politicians working to oppress that community the rest of the year. AT&T, UPS, Comcast and Home Depot are just a few of the companies who donate to politicians hostile to the LGTBQ+ community. It's time for these corporations to put their money where their mouths are and truly support the LGBTQ+ community.

Click here to sign the petition to tell corporations to stop donating to anti-LGTBQ+ politicians.

Sign the Petition***

Thank you for speaking out. Please share with like-minded friends.

-The team at CREDO Mobile

P.S. CREDO Mobile supports the LGTBQ+ community all year round. Since 1985, CREDO has donated more than $15 million to progressive nonprofits fighting for equality and civil rights – groups like the Transgender Law Center, SAGE, Family Equality and the National LGTBQ Task Force. Learn more here.

https://blog.credo.com/2023/06/01/we-dont-change-our-logo-for-pride-month-because-we-dont-need-to

Footnotes:
1. Cullen Peele, "Roundup of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation Advancing In States Across the Country," Human Rights Campaign, May 23, 2023.

Sign the petition: Stand against corporate donations to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians

[Petition Text:]

Everyone, irrespective of one's sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves an equal chance to thrive. This year, Republican extremist state legislatures have passed a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislations. These actions represent a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community, and it's time we stood up. We cannot support elected officials who directly attack our right to exist.

AT&T, UPS, Comcast, Home Depot, and General Electric have now joined the ranks of the many corporations that donate millions to politicians who actively work against LGBTQ+ rights. Although we have made significant strides towards acceptance and equality, such progress is threatened when corporations fund politicians who seek to roll back these hard-won rights.

The LGBTQ+ community has a purchasing power of $3.7 trillion, and allies are 82% more likely to purchase goods and services from companies that openly support LGBTQ+ equality. These corporations need to understand that funding anti-LGBTQ+ politicians alienates a significant portion of their customer base.

We must hold these corporations accountable. They cannot wave the rainbow flag during Pride month and then fund politicians who actively work against the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. It's time for these corporations to put their money where their mouth is and truly support the LGBTQ+ community.

Sign the petition: Funding anti-LGBTQ+ politicians is unacceptable. We must demand that corporations stop funding hate and start investing in love and acceptance.

Participating Organizations:

✓ Blue Amp Action
✓ Daily Kos Liberation League
✓ Futures PAC
✓ OD Action
✓ Able Dems
✓ Cedar Key Progress
✓ CREDO Mobile
✓ Democracy for America Advocacy Fund
✓ Democratic Values
✓ Forward Blue
✓ HollywoodDemocrats.com
✓ National Campaign for Justice
✓ TakeItBack.org

ADD YOUR NAME:

First Name: Whiting
Last Name: Paul
Email: [redacted]
Zip/Postal Code: [redacted]

Thus, I signed the petition to corporations in order to ask that they "stop donating to anti-LGTBQ+ politicians." –Paul Whiting (July 24th, 2023)

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July 24th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) today, July 24th, 2023, with the subject line, "Urgent Action Alert: Tell Congress to protect trans care and all LGBTQ rights this week", which stated the following:

Paul –

Opponents of LGBTQ equality in Congress have been pushing extremely concerning provisions in critical government funding bills over the past few weeks against peoples' civil liberties – particularly when it comes to the safety and rights of trans people.

These attacks are only continuing and have now expanded to target everyone in our LGBTQ community.

Here's what to know and what action to take immediately:

What's going on?

[✓] Several government funding bills are moving in the House that come after federal funding for gender-affirming health care for trans people, Pride Flags, marriage equality, and more. BUT members of the House of Representatives are also expected to vote on amendments that would remove these damaging and discriminatory provisions from these bills.

What action can you take?

[✓] Paul, these anti-LGBTQ provisions are a dangerous assault. Defunding transgender people's health care especially will pose an immediate risk to their lives and well-being.

[✓] We can and must let our leaders in Congress know that we, the people, do NOT support these hateful efforts: Send a message to your representative today.

TAKE ACTION***

Paul, make no mistake: This is a dangerous effort to hijack the federal budget in order to deny health care that many trans people need to live, while stripping away several other protections for all our communities.

We at the ACLU will not allow this unconscionable attack against our LGBTQ community to go down without a fight.

Please join us in action at this urgent time. And know whatever attacks they may throw at us, we at the ACLU are here now and always to protect peoples' rights. Count on it.

Thank you for your activism,

The ACLU Team

PROTECT TRANS CARE NOW

The attacks on the freedom and dignity of trans people and their families continue to escalate, with one-third of the country that has passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care. The next stage of the fight for basic LGBTQ freedoms is here, and it affects everyone — even in states that haven’t seen any anti-trans attacks.

Legislation has already been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress, led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, that would criminalize the health care trans people need. While such a law is beyond the pale, it won’t be the last. Any national ban on gender-affirming care would be devastating. You and your elected Members of Congress are our last line of defense against this national threat.

We must stop any effort to criminalize trans people and the families and communities who love us. Send your message loud and clear: Tell your Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination.

YOUR MESSAGE

Subject: Protect Trans People from Discrimination

Recently we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress, to criminalize and strip transgender people of their right to safety, dignity, and autonomy. I am writing – during a genuine moment of crisis – to urge you to publicly commit to doing everything within your power to protect the health and dignity of transgender people. Will you do so?

I want to be very clear: Gender-affirming care, including for transgender youth, is evidence-based, medically necessary, and life-saving. This is why every leading medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose efforts to criminalize and deny this care to transgender people.

Patients and their doctors should be the ones making individual healthcare decisions, not cynical politicians looking to score political points through fear-mongering and ignorance. As a Member of Congress, you must fight against this.

Transgender people deserve the same chance to thrive and live fulfilling lives as everyone else. Having the freedom to control our bodies and seek the healthcare we need, including gender-affirming care, is an essential right for all people.

I urge you to not remain silent in this moment. Use your voice to publicly show support for the transgender community. Most importantly, use your power to protect life-saving healthcare for trans youth and adults alike.

Thank you. I look forward to your response.

[First Name] [Last Name]

YOUR INFORMATION

Salutation (required by some officials): Mr.
First name: Paul
Last name: Whiting
E-mail address: [redacted]
Address: [redacted]
Address Line 2: [redacted]
City: [redacted]
State: [redacted]
Zip Code: [redacted]
Phone: [redacted]

[By the way, I already sent letters to "tell [my] Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination" on June 1st, 2023. (Please see my 'June 1st, 2023 Update,' which can be found above.) And I sent letters again on July 13th, 2023 to reflect "that certain members of Congress are attacking access to life-saving gender-affirming care for transgender people, including using the National Defense Authorization Act to block lifesaving access for people who serve in the military while also attempting to undermine access to abortion for service members." (Please see my 'July 11th, 2023 Update, Written On July 13th, 2023, Which Also Discusses July 13th, 2023,' which can be found above.) However, the letter above has been updated to reflect that "several government funding bills are moving in the House that come after federal funding for gender-affirming health care for trans people, Pride Flags, marriage equality, and more. BUT members of the House of Representatives are also expected to vote on amendments that would remove these damaging and discriminatory provisions from these bills." Thus, I sent this letter again.]

And, after I sent the letter above, I received a confirmation email today, July 24th, 2023, from the ACLU with the subject line, "One more thing - can you spread the word?", which stated the following:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking action to protect trans people.

Help us build our power: Share the action by forwarding the email below to your friends, or by sharing this link: aclu.org/transcare

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

----

Hi friend,

Recently, we have seen wave after wave of extreme measures in the states and in Congress to criminalize and strip transgender people of their right to safety, dignity, and autonomy.

In fact, legislation has already been introduced by the most extreme anti-LGBTQ Members of Congress that would criminalize the health care trans people need.

We must fight back and stop any effort to criminalize trans people and their families and communities. That's why I just joined the ACLU in sending a message to Congress urging them to protect trans people now, including by voting against all anti-civil liberties amendments in the defense bill.

Will you join me?

https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-trans-care-now

Thanks.

Then, after I sent the letter above to Congress, via the ACLU website, I made a one-time donation to the ACLU due to the fact that "several government funding bills are moving in the House that come after federal funding for gender-affirming health care for trans people, Pride Flags, marriage equality, and more. BUT members of the House of Representatives are also expected to vote on amendments that would remove these damaging and discriminatory provisions from these bills." And that is why I wrote to "tell [my] Members of Congress to protect trans people from discrimination." –Paul Whiting (written July 24th, 2023 and revised March 4th, 2024)

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July 25th, 2023 Update: I received an email from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum today, July 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "The Undeniable Truth", which stated the following:

Paul,

From 1939 to 1945, I was nobody.

When the Nazis invaded my home in Warsaw, Poland, they targeted me and my Jewish community’s very existence. I had no rights, no home; I was stateless.

There are still people who say that the Holocaust never happened. As a survivor, I stand up to their hurtful efforts to erase history by sharing my experiences—and sharing what it feels like to be erased.

As antisemitism and misinformation continue to grow, we need to share the undeniable truth of the Holocaust today more than ever before. Will you speak up, Paul, by making a gift to the Museum to support this urgent work?

After I was liberated from the Majdanek concentration camp, I made my way to a displaced persons camp in Germany. There, authorities issued me an I.D. card that allowed me to reclaim my identity, and with it, a piece of my humanity.

TEACH THE UNDELIABLE TRUTH OF THE HOLOCAUST: DONATE NOW

After the Holocaust, I became a teacher and dedicated my life to enriching the lives of young people. This is why it is so rewarding for me to be a volunteer for the Museum, which works tirelessly to educate about the dangers of unchecked hatred. The Museum reaches youth not only in classrooms, but also online and on social media, where they are most likely to encounter antisemitism or Holocaust denial.

I shared my story as part of the Museum’s Undeniable Truth campaign, which gives survivors an online platform to counter Holocaust denial. To date, the Undeniable Truth videos featuring me and other survivors have been seen over 15 million times. This gives me hope that future generations will carry on my voice and memory—and those of my loved ones.

Please take action to help us ensure we are reaching the people most vulnerable to hate-fueled messages and teaching them the undeniable truth of Holocaust history. Please support the Museum’s work today.

Sincerely,
[Name redacted]
Holocaust survivor and Museum volunteer

So, I made a one-time donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to support "the Museum’s Undeniable Truth campaign, which gives survivors an online platform to counter Holocaust denial" in order to "help [USHMM] ensure we are reaching the people most vulnerable to hate-fueled messages and teaching them the undeniable truth of Holocaust history" due to the fact that "as antisemitism and misinformation continue to grow, we need to share the undeniable truth of the Holocaust today more than ever before." –Paul Whiting (written July 25th, 2023 and revised July 26th, 2023)

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July 25th, 2023 Update—Continued: I received an email from Everytown for Gun Safety today, July 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "See where Oregon stacks up against the rest on gun violence and gun safety", which stated the following:

Paul–

We've already won some huge victories in statehouses this year—but gun extremists want to undo our progress. We won't let that happen.

Make sure you know what's at stake, what we're demanding, and what we need to defend: See how Oregon stacks up against the rest on gun violence and gun safety.

CHECK MY STATE:

https://everytownresearch.org/rankings

From making it easier to carry guns in public spaces to gutting laws that disarm domestic abusers, industry actors and activist judges are making us less safe. They've made some dangerous and misguided decisions in the last year that threaten to put our lives at risk.

Yet despite these extreme court rulings, the door has not closed on gun safety. We've consistently proven that to be the case.

In statehouse sessions just this year, we've passed 75 new gun safety policies and defeated 182 of the gun lobby's bad bills. These victories include passing four new laws to hold the gun industry accountable for its role in this crisis, and securing $400 million in new funding for violence intervention programs and offices.

And our work in the courts is paying off. In several recent cases, the courts have sided with public safety and denied extreme attempts to gut our gun laws. We have not slowed down.

We're not just committed to defending our hard-won progress; we're here as long as it takes to end gun violence in every community.

We can create a future free from this crisis, but only if we know what's at stake: Check our Gun Law Rankings to see where Oregon stacks up on gun safety and gun violence.

Together, we can stop the "guns everywhere" agenda in its tracks.

Thank you for being a part of this movement.

Everytown for Gun Safety

And, after I read the email above, I clicked on the hyperlink to the referenced webpage, the text of which can be found below:

Gun Safety Policies Save Lives

Which states have the ideal laws to prevent gun violence?

We compared gun policy across the country, scoring every state on the strength of its gun laws and comparing it with its rate of gun violence. In states where elected officials have taken action to pass gun safety laws, fewer people die by gun violence. Choose a state to see how it stacks up on 50 key policies, or explore a policy to see how much of the country has adopted it.

State & Rank
(Sorting by gun law strength)

Gun Law Strength
(Composite score)

Gun Violence Rate
(Gun deaths per 100,000 residents)

"NATIONAL LEADERS"

#1 California
Gun Law Strength: 86.5
Gun Violence Rate: 9

#2 New York
Gun Law Strength: 81.5
Gun Violence Rate: 5.4

#3 Hawaii
Gun Law Strength: 79.5
Gun Violence Rate: 4.8

#4 New Jersey
Gun Law Strength: 79
Gun Violence Rate: 5.2

#5 Connecticut
Gun Law Strength: 78.5
Gun Violence Rate: 6.7

#6 Massachusetts
Gun Law Strength: 78
Gun Violence Rate: 3.4

#7 Illinois
Gun Law Strength: 77
Gun Violence Rate: 16.1

#8 Maryland
Gun Law Strength: 72.5
Gun Violence Rate: 15.2

"MAKING PROGRESS"

#9 Oregon
Gun Law Strength: 66.5
Gun Violence Rate: 14.9

#10 Washington
Gun Law Strength: 62.5
Gun Violence Rate: 11.2

#11 Delaware
Gun Law Strength: 60
Gun Violence Rate: 16.6

#12 Colorado
Gun Law Strength: 58.5
Gun Violence Rate: 17.8

#13 Rhode Island
Gun Law Strength: 57.5
Gun Violence Rate: 5.6

#14 Virginia
Gun Law Strength: 49
Gun Violence Rate: 14.3

#15 Pennsylvania
Gun Law Strength: 40
Gun Violence Rate: 14.8

#16 New Mexico
Gun Law Strength: 39.5
Gun Violence Rate: 27.8

#17 Minnesota
Gun Law Strength: 38.5
Gun Violence Rate: 10

#18 Nevada
Gun Law Strength: 35
Gun Violence Rate: 19.8

"MISSING KEY LAWS"

#19 Florida
Gun Law Strength: 33.5
Gun Violence Rate: 14.1

#20 Vermont
Gun Law Strength: 32.5
Gun Violence Rate: 11.9

#21 North Carolina
Gun Law Strength: 31
Gun Violence Rate: 17.3

#22 Nebraska
Gun Law Strength: 31
Gun Violence Rate: 10.3

#23 Wisconsin
Gun Law Strength: 28
Gun Violence Rate: 13.5

#24 Michigan
Gun Law Strength: 25.5
Gun Violence Rate: 15.4

#25 Maine
Gun Law Strength: 20.5
Gun Violence Rate: 12.6

#26 Louisiana
Gun Law Strength: 20.5
Gun Violence Rate: 29.1

#27 West Virginia
Gun Law Strength: 20
Gun Violence Rate: 17.3

"WEAK SYSTEMS"

#28 South Carolina
Gun Law Strength: 18
Gun Violence Rate: 22.4

#29 Tennessee
Gun Law Strength: 16.5
Gun Violence Rate: 22.8

#30 Indiana
Gun Law Strength: 16.5
Gun Violence Rate: 18.4

#31 Iowa
Gun Law Strength: 15.5
Gun Violence Rate: 11.2

#32 Texas
Gun Law Strength: 13.5
Gun Violence Rate: 15.6

#33 Ohio
Gun Law Strength: 13
Gun Violence Rate: 16.5

#34 Alabama
Gun Law Strength: 12.5
Gun Violence Rate: 26.4

#35 North Dakota
Gun Law Strength: 11.5
Gun Violence Rate: 16.8

#36 Utah
Gun Law Strength: 11
Gun Violence Rate: 13.9

"NATIONAL FAILURES"

#37 Kansas
Gun Law Strength: 9.5
Gun Violence Rate: 17.3

#38 Missouri
Gun Law Strength: 9
Gun Violence Rate: 23.2

#39 New Hampshire
Gun Law Strength: 9
Gun Violence Rate: 8.3

#40 Kentucky
Gun Law Strength: 9
Gun Violence Rate: 21.1

#41 Alaska
Gun Law Strength: 9
Gun Violence Rate: 25.2

#42 Arizona
Gun Law Strength: 8.5
Gun Violence Rate: 18.3

#43 Oklahoma
Gun Law Strength: 7.5
Gun Violence Rate: 21.2

#44 Wyoming
Gun Law Strength: 6.5
Gun Violence Rate: 26.1

#45 South Dakota
Gun Law Strength: 5.5
Gun Violence Rate: 14.3

#46 Montana
Gun Law Strength: 5
Gun Violence Rate: 25.1

#47 Georgia
Gun Law Strength: 5
Gun Violence Rate: 20.3

#48 Idaho
Gun Law Strength: 5
Gun Violence Rate: 16.3

#49 Arkansas
Gun Law Strength: 4.5
Gun Violence Rate: 23.3

#50 Mississippi
Gun Law Strength: 3
Gun Violence Rate: 33.9

"Gun laws work"

When we compare the states head-to-head on the top 50 gun safety policies, a clear pattern emerges. States with strong laws see less gun violence. Indeed, the 14 states that have failed to put basic protections into place—”national failures” on our scale—have nearly triple the rate of gun deaths as the eight national gun safety leaders.

"Strong Gun Laws, Fewer Deaths"

The correlation is especially clear when looking at average data by tier. The tiers range from an average of 8.2 gun deaths per 100,000 residents for the National Leaders to 21.0 gun deaths per 100,000 residents for the National Failures.

"National Leaders"

Gun Law Strength: 79
Gun Violence Rate: 8.2

"Making Progress"

Gun Law Strength: 52.4
Gun Violence Rate: 14.7

"Missing Key Laws"

Gun Law Strength: 27.8
Gun Violence Rate: 15.5

"Weak Systems"

Gun Law Strength: 14.2
Gun Violence Rate: 18.2

"National Failures"

Gun Law Strength: 6.8
Gun Violence Rate: 20.9

The top 50 laws we focus on represent a wide range of interventions. Some block gun access by people who pose a threat with a firearm while others focus on limiting gun violence in public. Some seek to increase police accountability and protect civil rights, while another set targets bad actors in the gun industry.

All states should start with a core group of five foundational laws—passing background checks and/or purchase permitting, along with Extreme Risk laws and secure gun storage requirements; and rejecting Shoot First (also known as Stand Your Ground) and permitless carry laws. While each of the top 14 states in the gun law rankings has all five of these policies in place, only one of the bottom 14 states has even one of these critical protections.

The national gun safety landscape has seen states move in opposite directions in recent years. While all nine states in our “making progress” tier have made significant additions to their firearm laws in recent years—with each adding several points to its gun law score—a whopping 24 states at the other end of the scale have made the dangerous decision to repeal their concealed carry permit requirements.

Our gun law rankings are a roadmap for how to build the ideal state system. They will walk you through the most important policies and help you compare these protections across the country.

"Even the strongest system can’t protect a state from its neighbors’ weak laws"

The rankings clearly show that gun laws save lives. But no state is an island (except Hawaii), and any state may be vulnerable if its neighbors fail to protect public safety. That’s how northeastern states with strong laws ended up victims of the infamous “iron pipeline,” the route traffickers use to bring guns up from southeastern states with weak laws. The evidence tells a simple story about porous borders: Out of all guns showing up at crime scenes after crossing state lines, four out of five come from states that lack good background check laws.

Notable strong law states like Illinois and Maryland remain plagued with high gun violence in their biggest cities—in large part because they’re targeted by traffickers. Indeed an outsized share of likely trafficked crime guns recovered in Illinois begin their journey in states with weak laws. And Virginia, which had weak gun purchase laws until 2020, has long been the top supplier of crime guns into Maryland. At the other end of the scale, states like New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island have unusually low gun death rates compared with their somewhat weaker policies, in part because they are buffered by robust laws among other states in the region.

"High gun ownership rates also play a role in strong states where deaths are higher"

Access to a firearm drastically increases the likelihood of suicide and a gun in the home is associated with more gun homicide. Again, a state like Rhode Island has low gun violence relative to the strength of its laws—likely due in part to its very low gun ownership rate (it’s fourth-lowest in the nation). On the other hand, states like Nevada and New Mexico have higher rates of gun violence than their laws might suggest—perhaps in part as a result of above-average gun ownership.

"It takes time for new laws to have an impact"

Several states have had recent success passing strong policy—for example, Nevada added half of its gun law score and New Mexico added over 40% of its score in the past several years. Both states enacted Extreme Risk, background check, and domestic violence laws, with New Mexico also limiting qualified immunity and Nevada tackling secure storage and ghost guns. Those states can hope to see newfound protection in the coming years—and more lives saved.

At the other end of the scale, Iowa repealed both its background check and carry permit laws in 2021, losing over 40% of its gun law score in one year. This new, radical change in its score provides a partial and likely temporary explanation for its relatively low gun death rate. Iowans should be concerned about a future spike in violence.

"Federal laws help prevent gun violence nationwide"

All 50 states can rely on a backbone of federal laws to help keep guns out of the wrong hands. Yet the federal system is far too weak overall—for example, failing to require background checks on all gun sales and giving special legal immunity to the gun industry. State policymakers should protect their residents by filling the many gaps in federal law, and must also take action where state power is at its strongest, such as requiring a process for domestic abusers to turn in guns when they become prohibited from having them.

"There’s work to do beyond strong state laws"

By comparing state gun laws with gun violence outcomes, we see how critical it is to enact strong policy. But a caveat is required: There is necessary non-legislative gun safety work this site doesn’t show—including community-based violence intervention programs; regulatory efforts, funding campaigns, and on-the-ground implementation; local executive action and city and town ordinances; and responsible cultural norms around gun safety.

"Where do we go from here?"

A safer future is possible. Our gun law rankings show which states are ahead and which are behind, and provide a checklist for how to get there.

https://everytownresearch.org/rankings

Plus, I made a one-time donation to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, which is "the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety," in order to show my support for this very informative "Gun Safety Policies Save Lives" article, as well as to do my part in order to help "stop the 'guns everywhere' agenda in its tracks." –Paul Whiting (July 25th, 2023 Update)

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July 25th, 2023 Update—Continued Further: I received an email from Planned Parenthood Federation of America today, July 25th, 2023, with the subject line, "It’s time to talk about gender-affirming care", which stated the following:

Paul,

Have you noticed a similarity in how anti-abortion and anti-trans politicians and activists justify their dangerous policies? They love to cite "health" and "safety" as the motivation behind their bans. But I promise you, health and safety have nothing to do with it.

It's hot health care summer, and we’re bringing you the facts about gender-affirming care and why it matters right now.

What is gender-affirming care?

The short answer is: It's different for everyone! Gender-affirming care can include anything from hormone treatment to voice therapy, surgery to social support. And not all transgender and nonbinary people need or want the same care.

Why is gender-affirming care essential health care?

Gender-affirming care literally saves lives. Studies have shown that transgender and nonbinary people who have access to gender-affirming care experience significantly lower rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

What barriers to care are trans and nonbinary people facing?

Many states and organizations are actively working to prevent transgender and nonbinary people from getting the gender-affirming care they need. While some states are still working to increase access to gender-affirming care, it's not enough to meet the needs of transgender and nonbinary people right now.

In 2023 alone, politicians in 36 states have introduced anti-transgender health care legislation.

What is Planned Parenthood doing to support transgender and nonbinary people?

All Planned Parenthood health centers proudly serve people of all genders and gender expressions. They also provide STD testing and treatment, birth control, wellness exams, and other sexual and reproductive health services. Nearly 70% of health centers also offer gender-affirming hormone treatment. To learn more about the services available in your area, contact your nearest Planned Parenthood health center.

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center

Paul, trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people deserve access to safe, inclusive health care always. Your support for Planned Parenthood helps make gender-affirming care happen. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted], [Title redacted]
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

DONATE NOW »

And so, I made a one-time donation to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, because "Planned Parenthood health centers proudly serve people of all genders and gender expressions. They also provide STD testing and treatment, birth control, wellness exams, and other sexual and reproductive health services. Nearly 70% of health centers also offer gender-affirming hormone treatment." –Paul Whiting (written July 25th, 2023 and revised July 26th, 2023)

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July 25th, 2023 Update—Continued Further Some More, Written On July 26th, 2023: I received a mailer from United Farm Workers yesterday, July 25th, 2023, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read, "H-2A...the Temporary Agriculture Slavery Program.", which stated the following:

[By the way, I usually hand-type the text of a letter from these types of mailers on my smartphone; however, this particular letter was four pages total: so, instead, I decided to scan and copy the letter using Google Lens! Then, I edited the copy of said letter to include all of the italicizing, bolding and underscoring where applicable.]

UNITED FARM WORKERS
National Headquarters: La Paz ▪ [Address redacted] ▪ [City, State and ZIP Code redacted]

Summer 2023

Dear Friend of Farm Workers,

Don't let the cutesy name, Operation Blooming Onion, fool you.

A joint investigation by the Department of Labor, Homeland Security, the State Department, the FBI and other federal agencies has uncovered what they called "modern-day slavery" in several southern U.S. states.

I want you to know about this because I hope you will help us end this terrible abuse.

The federal investigation began looking into abuses in the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa Program, which should maybe be renamed the Temporary Agricultural Slavery Program.

The H-2A guest visa program is meant to help businesses hire foreign guest workers. When employers import workers, they must pay travel expenses in both directions, provide decent housing, have workers compensation coverage, and pay prevailing wages so that the guest workers don't depress the wages of U.S. workers.

But too often, the H1-2A program has been used to exploit workers. Sometimes horrendously.

The investigation's press release said:

"The conspirators required the workers to pay unlawful fees for transportation, food, and housing while illegally withholding their travel and identification documents, and subjected the workers to perform physically demanding work for little or no pay, housing them in crowded, unsanitary, and degrading living conditions, and by threatening them with deportation and violence.'

"Exploitation of the workers included being required to dig onions with their bare hands, paid 20 cents for each bucket harvested, and threatened with guns and violence to keep them in line. The workers were held in cramped, unsanitary quarters and fenced work camps with little or no food, limited plumbing and without safe water. The conspirators are accused of raping, kidnapping and threatening or attempting to kill some of the workers or their families, and in many cases sold or traded the workers to other conspirators. At least two of the workers died as a result of workplace conditions."

And what may be the craziest part of this whole story is that to farm workers and to those of us who help them, none of this sounds that unusual.

Since the United Farm Workers' founding in 1962 by the legendary Cesar Chavez, we've been fighting for the rights of people who harvest the foods that sustain us all. They're among America's most essential workers and deserve to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity.

But for some sixty years the UFW has had to fight long and hard to win protections for farm workers against the kind of abuse the federal H-2A investigation uncovered.

Sadly, this kind of extreme exploitation is not a new thing. And it's not rare.

That's why we're so grateful to people who help workers organize to form unions and negotiate fair contracts with their employers. You can be sure that people working under a UFW union contract will never be subjected to modern day slavery.

Not long after Operation Blooming Onion handed down indictments, the federal Department of Labor (DOL) fined a potato farmer 2.000 miles away in Idaho for violating H-2A visa rules and even threatening to fire guest workers if they didn't accept wages below the legal limit.

Besides underpaying the farm workers brought to the US through the H-2A program, the company failed to pay required salary rates to the US workers hired to work alongside them. The company also violated the law by providing H-2A workers with substandard living conditions and not paying their transportation costs.

According to the DOL, "By threatening and shortchanging some of the lowest paid workers in our nation, Jorgensen Management showed a willful disregard for the law. They created a toxic workplace and victimized these vulnerable workers."

Just weeks after that, USA Today reported on an H-2A worker from Mexico who was essentially worked to death in Georgia when he collapsed from heat stroke and supervisors delayed calling for help because they thought he was faking.

According to USA Today, his employer was fined $10,348.

Too often, employers count on workers being too intimidated to protest. They hire lawyers to delay any penalties. Or they count fines as a cost of benefitting from "modern-day slavery."

This is why it means so much when people support the UFW and stand with workers when they go up against the big money and high-priced lawyers of their employers.

As in the case of the young man worked to death in Georgia, the penalties companies face are often miniscule compared to the profits of underpaying or not paying workers.

The Operation Blooming Onion press release says, "The conspirators are alleged to have reaped more than $200 million from the illegal scheme, laundering the funds through cash purchases of land, homes, vehicles, and businesses; through cash purchases of cashier's checks: and by funneling millions of dollars through a casino."

I don't think the enslavers were worried about a $10.000 fine.

And sadly, workers too often feel trapped. They feel trapped because they need whatever money they can get - even if it's unfairly low. They are often trapped because employers illegally hold their paperwork.

And in a cruel twist, the rules of the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Slavery Program say that if you don't work for the employer who originally sponsored you, you can't work for any employer and have to return to your home country.

Imagine the power this gives employers. Work for me, or work for no one!

[Name redacted] picks strawberries as an H-2A worker. He is one of the ones who feels trapped by the H-2A program.

"We got up at 5:00 am to get ready for work and get to the ranch assigned to work by 6:30am, about 200 H2A workers, my first break is at 9:30am and for breakfast I have a banana and a bag of chips with a soda. At 12:00 is lunch time, they give us a little burrito. I do not eat it because the burrito is cold the flour is disengaging. We work about 8 hours a day. Dinner is until 7:00pm we get a small bowl of beans with soup.

"My coworkers and I live in a hotel, we get assign one room for 3 workers and there are 2 showers for 30 people and 4 bathrooms for 30 people. When we arrive from work, we have to mix our dirty clothes with our clean clothes, because there is no room for the dirty clothes. The room where my coworkers and I were assigned to had many bed bugs. We don't have a fridge, we don't have a microwave, there is no AC, we do not have a fire extinguisher in case there is a fire. Sometimes I have felt dizzy, I have lost around 11 pounds.

"El mayordomo [name redacted] has approached me and harassed me, by telling me that he wants me to put more effort to pick more boxes, pressuring me saying that we are useless, me and the whole crew. The mayordomo has commented that he is going to report it to the boss to have me fired and send me back to Mexico. He threatens us saying that next year, he is going to report us to the contractor so that he does not bring us back next season. Many coworkers and I included don't say anything out of fear they won't hire us again."

My heart goes out to people like [name redacted], because the hurt is deeper than just the economic injustice. Juan is an H1-2A worker for an agricultural packing company that overworks him and forces him to live in a dump - bedbugs and all.

"I feel like zero, like a dog. like a working tool. I come to work because I'm in need but this is not life. It is the opposite. I feel that this work is taking away my life."

Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. We've shown time and time again that when workers organize and negotiate with employers as equals, everyone wins.

Employers get happy, healthy, motivated workers. And workers get decent wages, reasonable benefits, and treatment with dignity. And this works for H-2A guest workers as well.

For example, at [business redacted], where workers have a UFW contract, resident workers and H-2A workers are paid well, and treated like human beings and not slaves.

They get rest periods, and vacation pay, and paid holidays. They get health insurance.

And somehow, their employer still makes money, and everyone does well together.

This is why helping workers organize to demand a fair contract is so important. And it's why I hope you will support America's farm workers today.

I believe you're someone who cares deeply about justice in America. I'm sure you're for safe working conditions for farm workers... a decent wage ... health insurance and a pension... paid holidays and time off for illness and injury... and dignity and respect in the fields.

So I'm asking you to do two things today.

First, help us demand reform of the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa program so that it no longer functions as a Temporary Agricultural Slavery Program.

Please call the White House Comments Line at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Biden to instruct the Department of Labor to conduct a thorough audit and investigation of the H-2A program and immediately implement policies to stop these abuses. You could tell them:

H-2A violations are rampant. In Georgia, "Operation Blooming Onion" has resulted in charges of forced labor trafficking, which included allegations of death, kidnapping and rape. Investigators called the crimes "modern-day slavery." The H-2A program is a flawed, exploitative program that harms both farm workers in the US and those being brought to the US through the H-2A program. We appreciate the work of the Biden Administration to uncover these violations, but more needs to be done to prevent them from happening. The Biden administration must conduct a thorough review of the H-2A program and immediately implement policies to stop these abuses.

You could also call or write your Congresspeople to urge them to support reform of H-2A.

And second, please stand with workers by making a generous gift today of $25, $36, $50, $100, or even $500 or more today to help us fight for reform of H-2A and support workers who are trying to win their rights.

There is so much we can do to help workers organize and win contracts that guarantee rights for resident workers as well as H-2A workers. Your gift will make a difference.

By calling for H-2A reform and sending a gift, you can help end the terrible conditions that the Justice Department called "modern-day slavery."

Our trailblazing union that Cesar Chavez once led is as important now as ever before in the fight for social justice. Joe Biden even began his presidency by prominently placing a bronze bust of Cesar next to his desk to inspire everyone who entered the Oval Office.

Please join us, and be as generous as you can. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]

P.S. We've been trying to raise the alarm about abuse of the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Slavery Program for decades. Now that this high-profile case has been highlighted by multiple federal agencies, it will be harder for the powers-that-be to ignore it. This is an excellent chance for us to make progress for all workers, including foreign guest workers.

If we let this chance pass, our leaders in Washington will forget about the modern-day slavery case and we'll lose an opportunity for progress. Please help by advocating for H-2A reform and sending a gift today to help us fight for workers. Thank you.

So yesterday, July 25th, 2023, I made a one-time donation to United Farm Workers in order to "stand with workers by making a generous gift today ... to help [United Farm Workers] fight for reform of H-2A and support workers who are trying to win their rights."

Then today, July 26th, 2023, I sent a letter to the White House (since I usually communicate in writing to my representatives in government, so that I have a written record of what I communicated), which can be found below:

WH.GOV Contact Us

MESSAGE TYPE: Contact the President

PREFIX: Mr.
FIRST NAME: Paul
MIDDLE NAME: [redacted]
LAST NAME: Whiting
SUFFIX: N/A
PRONOUNS: he/him
EMAIL: [redacted]
PHONE: [redacted]
COUNTRY/STATE/REGION: United States
STREET: [redacted]
CITY: [redacted]
STATE: [redacted]
ZIP/POSTAL CODE: [redacted]

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY?

Dear President Biden,

My name is Paul Whiting and I am writing to you today at the request of United Farm Workers who, since their "founding in 1962 by the legendary Cesar Chavez, [have] been fighting for the rights of people who harvest the foods that sustain us all."

As you well know, Mr. President, "[farm workers are] among America's most essential workers and deserve to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity." And I know that you feel that way about farm workers because you "began [your] presidency by prominently placing a bronze bust of Cesar [Chavez] next to [your] desk to inspire everyone who entered the Oval Office."

Thus, I am writing to humbly ask that you instruct the Department of Labor to conduct a thorough audit and investigation of the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa program and immediately implement policies to stop H-2A violations that are rampant. A joint investigation by the Department of Labor, Homeland Security, the State Department, the FBI and other federal agencies has uncovered what they called "modern-day slavery" in several southern U.S. states.

In Georgia, for example, "Operation Blooming Onion" has resulted in charges of forced labor trafficking, which included allegations of death, kidnapping and rape. Investigators called the crimes "modern-day slavery." The H-2A program is a flawed, exploitative program that harms both farm workers in the US and those being brought to the US through the H-2A program.

I truly appreciate the work of the Biden Administration to uncover these violations, but more needs to be done to prevent them from happening. Therefore, I urge the Biden administration to please conduct a thorough review of the H-2A program and immediately implement policies to stop these abuses.

Thank you for taking the time from your undoubtedly busy schedule to consider this urgent request.

Yours very truly,

Paul Whiting

Therefore, I decided to send the letter above via the WhiteHouse.gov contact page—rather than calling the White House Comments Line, as was suggested in the mailer by the United Farm Workers—since I prefer to communicate in writing with my representatives in government. –Paul Whiting (written July 26th, 2023, revised July 27th, 2023, revised August 14th, 2023 and revised August 19th, 2023)

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July 27th, 2023 Update: I received an email from United Farm Workers (UFW) today, July 27th, 2023, with the subject line, "Important updates on UFW heat regulation campaign", which stated the following:

United Farm Workers
Si, Se Puede! UFW

7/27/2023

Dear Paul,

Thank you for being there for farm workers. It’s July and heat waves have been occurring all over the US. We’ve been sharing stories with you how farm workers are affected. I want to update you on some positive developments and share some sad news.

Tragically in 2023, three farm workers have been killed by heat – two of them just this month. On July 5, 29-year-old [name redacted] was killed in the searing sun of Homestead, FL and on July 20th, 26-year-old [name redacted] near Yuma, AZ. Two more senseless deaths and heart-broken families suffering this tragedy. Basta! Enough!

We are fighting back both in the fields – with water caravans and investments in technology to educate workers – and in Washington DC fighting for permanent federal regulations. Through persistence and hard work we've fought for and won heat regulations in CA [California], WA [Washington], OR [Oregon] & CO [Colorado], but there are 46 other states where farm workers and other outdoor workers are left unprotected.

We’ve been joined in this lifesaving fight by powerful people and organizations. On Tuesday, Rep. [name redacted] of Texas called attention to this issue by holding a day-long thirst strike on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. He was joined by other Congressmembers, labor and organizational leaders, and outdoor workers who spoke out calling for these regulations to become a reality. Then, on Wednesday, the Asunción Valdivia Heat Stress Injury, Illness, and Fatality Prevention Act was reintroduced in both the Senate and the House. This bill is named after a farm worker killed by heat in 2004. It would also mandate federal heat regulations.

We are being heard. Just today, President Biden announced actions his administration will take to try to protect workers. Biden has directed the Department of Labor to increase the enforcement of heat-safety violations and inspections in high-risk workplaces, such as construction and agriculture sites. This is good, but these steps should have happened a long time ago and they are only good as long as President Biden remains in office. The real answer is the national heat standards for workplace heat safety, which OSHA has been in the process of developing for several years.

We can’t let up, even for a minute. We need to see permanent federal regulations that reflect the desperate urgency felt by every worker exposed to extreme heat, acting as human shields against the violence of climate change. We look forward to a day when rules like these are not written in blood. With you beside us we will surely win.

Si Se Puede!
[Name redacted]
UFW [Title redacted]

PS: If you’d like to make a donation to help with the expenses of our heat campaign click here.***

Don’t let the heat turn deadly for farm workers

Weather conditions are getting more extreme all over the US -- which means farm worker heat risks are getting worse. The UFW has led the way in California, Oregon, and Washington to put in place policies that protect farm workers in extreme heat. But, we still have to be sure they're enforced. In addition there are 47 other states where no rules are in place. You can help.

In CA [California], where the UFW had fought for and won strong regulations, a recent study showed heat illness and injuries have gone down 30%.

We need to take this nationwide. The UFW is fighting to get the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to immediately issue emergency heat regulations to save farm worker lives this summer and then adopt permanent ones. Federal regulations are absolutely essential. Farm workers cross state lines regularly. These regs will give them consistent rules they can depend on to protect them in any place they are working.

In states where we've won heat protections, we are making farm workers aware of their rights we fought so hard to get. We reach farm workers through meetings, field visits, our texting program and through social media. As part of this fight we are doing heat caravans in various states to see that existing rules are enforced and to fight for future rules. UFW worker leaders and volunteers have been doing crisis outreach, distributing chilled drinks and information on the deadly risk of heat stroke. They make sure workers have vital protections and report any violations right away.

[Name redacted] is a worker who participated in WA heat caravans a couple weeks ago. She shares, "Climate change has been very drastic in recent years. What we did was very important because many times the workers in the fields don't know what the laws are. Workers need to know how to protect themselves, stay hydrated, and protect themselves from the sun."

Heat deaths are preventable tragedies. Stopping them isn't complicated. It just takes shade, cool water, paid rest breaks, education, and monitoring. You can help by making a donation today. Stand strong with the farm workers who toil day after exhausting day under a sizzling sun.

And so, I made a one-time donation to United Farm Workers in order to "help with the expenses of [UFW's] heat campaign," because "heat deaths are preventable tragedies," since "stopping them isn't complicated" due to the fact that "it just takes shade, cool water, paid rest breaks, education, and monitoring." Therefore, I made this donation in order to show that I "stand strong with the farm workers who toil day after exhausting day under a sizzling sun." –Paul Whiting (written July 27th, 2023 and revised November 17th, 2023)

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July 29th, 2023 Update, Written During The Period Of July 29th, 2023, July 30th, 2023 And July 31st, 2023: I received a mailer from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on July 29th, 2023, with a 'front teaser message' on the envelope that read, "Enclosed: Personal Correspondence," which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's letter—over July 29th, 2023, July 30th, 2023 and July 31st, 2023, as noted above—since I was also editing all of my ⋆USO⋆ donation 'updates' during that same time period):

Dear Mr. Whiting

Every generation of Americans has faced a moment when they have to defend democracy.

Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are — there is nothing more important. The work of my first term has been to fight for our democracy and to make sure that everyone in this country is treated equally and given a fair shot. Around the country, MAGA extremists are lining up to take on those bedrock freedoms.

This is our moment. It's about you, your loved ones, your neighbors, and your community. This is about the country we pass to future generations.

Kamala and I are ready to win the White House once again and finish the job we set out to do: to build an economy that works for everyone, to protect Social Security and Medicare, to defend reproductive freedom, to tackle the climate crisis, to support our nation's teachers, and to ban deadly assault weapons once and for all.

MAGA Republicans have their own agenda and it's dangerous. They want to cut hard-earned Social Security benefits, control women's bodies, ban books from our schools, and more. These plans go against our values as Americans, and we can't let them succeed.

We're better than this. We have to keep fighting for our rights and freedoms. But it's up to us to stop the GOP and keep our progress going.

That's why we need a fully funded Democratic National Committee. And you can play a leading roll in our critical work to elect Democrats at every level across the country.

Paul, I am personally asking you to make a generous contribution to the Democratic National Committee of $20, $30, or $40 to support their efforts today. The DNC is doing the work right now to hold MAGA Republicans accountable for their dangerous agenda and ensure we have the ongoing resources needed to protect our democracy and maintain the Democratic Party's infrastructure.

When you contribute to the DNC, you support the only organization that works to elect Democrats at every level of government, from the school board to the White House.

And in a moment like this, we absolutely need Democratic leaders and voices in every room, because you know what happens when MAGA Republicans are in power.

It means unconstitutional attacks on voting rights that silence Black voters. It means anti-abortion laws that deny lifesaving medical care, putting millions of people in harm's way. It means that members of the LGBTQ+ community live in fear. It means our communities remain threatened by gun violence.

I won't stand for that, and I know you won't either. By supporting the DNC today, you can [stand up to] the GOP's attacks on our future and keep progress at the top of the agenda.

The truth is, we've already proved that when we all invest in America, we can make the vision of progress a reality.

In 2022, Democrats defied the odds. A dedicated base of millions of grassroots supporters just like you came together to donate, volunteer, and vote in record numbers, and together, we protected our Senate majority and lost fewer seats in the House than in any Democratic president's first midterm elections in over 40 years.

And in just two years, we've helped create over 12 million new jobs and brought back American manufacturing, made historic investments in our nation's infrastructure, confirmed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, passed critical legislation to bring down costs like the price of prescription drugs for families, made the single biggest investment in climate in our nation's history, and so much more.

We've gotten more done than some presidential administrations accomplish in two terms — but we still have work to do.

I'm ready to finish the job, but I need you with me. Your support for the DNC will mark your place in history as someone who fought for America when the soul of our nation was on the line.

The DNC is the beating heart of our work to elect Democrats across the nation, with the expertise, the reach, and the proven strategy to keep winning. They're already hard at work organizing in every corner of our nation — but they need your help. That's why I'm asking for your support of our Party today.

It's time to stand up to the values that we share — honesty, respect, and dignity. We must show the world that America is a nation that embraces light over darkness, hope over fear, and unity over division.

We have a lot of work to do in the months and years ahead. But nothing's beyond our capacity if we work together.

Thank you so much for your support.

With gratitude,

Joe Biden
President of the United States

P.S. Democrats need to keep winning elections at every level so that we can [stand up to] Republicans' attacks on our future and keep making progress for every American. The DNC is leading the fight — and they're powered by support from committed Democrats like you. Please give today and let's finish the job together!

Go to www.democrats.org/July23 to put your contribution to work today.

And, after I read the letter above, I typed the web address to the referenced webpage in my browser, the relevant text of which can be found below:

Support the Democratic National Committee

Restricting voting rights. Banning abortions. Cutting Social Security and Medicare. This is the extremist agenda MAGA Republicans are pushing across the country.

The Democratic National Committee is fighting back by investing in every race – from the White House to the state house – but we need your help to win. Will you please rush a donation to keep Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House and elect Democrats nationwide?

Donate immediately:

Your contribution will benefit Democratic National Committee (DNC) - Direct Marketing.

[  ] Donate $35 →

[  ] Donate $50 →

[  ] Donate $75 →

[  ] Donate $100 →

[  ] Donate $200 →

[  ] Donate $250 →

[✓] Other amount: $10.00

[✓] [Leave a tip for ActBlue]: $1.00

So, I made a one-time donation to the DNC (with a tip to ActBlue) on July 31st, 2023 in order to "play a leading roll in [the DNC's] critical work to elect Democrats at every level across the country" by helping to achieve a "fully funded Democratic National Committee," since "the DNC is doing the work right now to hold MAGA Republicans accountable for their dangerous agenda and ensure [the DNC has] the ongoing resources needed to protect our democracy and maintain the Democratic Party's infrastructure," because "by supporting the DNC today, [I] can [stand up to] the GOP's attacks on our future and keep progress at the top of the agenda." –Paul Whiting (July 31st, 2023)

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July 30th, 2023 Update: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is yearly (annually) on July 30th worldwide. So, I donated today, July 30th, 2023, to organizations that are working toward ending modern slavery, or human trafficking as it is formally called. And I donated to both international and national anti-human trafficking organizations to symbolically recognize modern slavery, or human trafficking, as being an extremely serious issue worldwide, as well as in America. –Paul Whiting (July 30th, 2023)

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For my "July 31st, 2023 Update"—since this 'update' is a part of my ⋆USO⋆ donations—please see my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity," which can be found on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs. An introduction to the 'update' can be found below:

July 31st, 2023 Update: I received an email from the USO (United Service Organizations) today, July 31st, 2023, with the subject line, "Military Supporters Update: July 2023", with regard to the USO's newsletter "YOUR USO AT WORK," Issue 114 / July 2023, which stated, in part, the following:

With summer in full swing, it’s more important than ever to remember and honor our troops who are facing extreme temperatures, sacrificing this time with their families to protect us and our nation.

We thank you for helping our service members during times like these. Below, you’ll find updates on all the work your support helped make possible in the last few weeks. ...

And the following highlight from the USO's newsletter, which I selected to post, is regarding "150K...the number of patriotic military supporters who signed our troop thank-you card in honor of July Fourth":

BY THE NUMBERS

"150K"

That’s the number of patriotic military supporters who signed our troop thank-you card in honor of July Fourth. If you missed your chance (or just want to make sure the troops still know you have their backs), click here to say thank you for everything they do.

https://action.uso.org/2307_newsletter

...From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

And so, I made a one-time donation on the USO.org website in order to support the USO's following statement: "For more than 80 years, the USO has stood by America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country. But we're not a government agency, and rely on individual supporters like you to fund the programs that make the biggest difference for our service members." And I also donated to show my support for the USO's newsletter, as well as to show my support for the USO in supporting our men and women in uniform, as described in the highlight "VOICE OF THE USO," from the aforementioned newsletter:

VOICE OF THE USO

"When I was coming out of my National Training Center rotation in California, USO volunteers were there to give us goodie bags and coffee. It made us very happy because we hadn’t had real food in 30-plus days, so they were amazing."

— A 1st lieutenant in the Army and former USO employee on how she’s stayed connected to the USO while serving our country

In addition to that, I already make a recurring monthly donation to the USO in order to show my support for our U.S. Military Personnel! You see, I usually make one-time donations to the USO each month—as often as I can manage when they request a donation via email or text message. Therefore, I am planning to continue making one-time donations to the USO in the future, as often as I can manage to make donations, in addition to making the aforementioned recurring monthly donation. ...

Please see the hyperlinks below for the post, within which you can do a find-in-page search for the 'update' labeled, "July 31st, 2023 Update":

https://paulwhitingmath.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-point-of-view-on-charity.html

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com/2022/07/my-point-of-view-on-part-16-giving-to.html

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July 31st, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On August 1st, 2023: I was doing my oftentimes daily news searches on Google yesterday, July 31st, 2023, when I noticed an article on Politico.com titled, "What Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán Understand About Your Brain." An introduction to the article can be found below:

"What Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán Understand About Your Brain" from Politico

Why do some people who support Trump also wind up believing conspiracy theories? There’s a scientific explanation for that.

By Marcel Danesi | 07/30/2023

Marcel Danesi is a professor of semiotics and linguistic anthropology at the University of Toronto. He is the author of the recent book, Politics, Lies and Conspiracy Theories: A Cognitive Linguistic Perspective.

Why do people believe some politicians’ lies even when they have been proven false? And why do so many of the same people peddle conspiracy theories?

Lying and conspiratorial thinking might seem to be two different problems, but they turn out to be related. I study political rhetoric and have tried to understand how populist politicians use language to develop a cult-like following, divide nations, create culture wars and instill hatred. This pattern goes back to antiquity and is seen today in leaders including former President Donald Trump, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. These leaders are capable of using words and speeches to whip people into such an emotional tempest that they will do things like march on the seat of Congress or invade a neighboring country.

What makes this kind of speech worrying is that it is not just emotions like aggression they can manipulate; politicians can also use rhetoric to influence the public’s thoughts and beliefs, and spread lies and conspiracy theories. Those lies and conspiracy theories are stubbornly resistant to countervailing facts and can sow divisions that destabilize their own societies.

My research analyzes real speeches made by politicians past and present, including those of Trump, Orbán and Putin, using cognitive linguistics — a branch of linguistics that examines the relationship between language and the mind. What I have found is that throughout history, speeches by dictators and autocrats have one thing in common: they use dehumanizing metaphors to instill and propagate hatred of others.

It is well-documented that for example words like “reptiles” and “parasites” were used by the Nazi regime to compare outsiders and minorities to animals. Strongmen throughout history have referred to targeted social groups as “rats” or “pests” or “a plague.” And it’s effective regardless of whether the people who hear this language are predisposed to jump to extreme conclusions. Once someone is tuned into these metaphors, their brain actually changes in ways that make them more likely to believe bigger lies, even conspiracy theories.

These metaphors are part of a cognitive process that entraps some people in this kind of thinking while others are unaffected. Here’s how it works. ...

Please see the hyperlink below for the article:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/07/30/the-connection-between-political-lies-and-conspiracy-theories-00108378

And so, I decided to highlight this article from Politico for you, my readers, to consider reading too! –Paul Whiting (written August 1st, 2023, revised August 28th, 2023 and revised September 23rd, 2023)

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July 31st, 2023 Update—Continued Further, Written On August 1st, 2023: I was reading an article yesterday, July 31st, 2023, on Politico.com titled, "What Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán Understand About Your Brain," when I noticed a political advertisement for the Biden Victory Fund, which stated the following:

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN

BECOME A FOUNDING MONTHLY DONOR

PAID FOR BY BIDEN VICTORY FUND

And so, I decided to make a one-time donation to the Biden Victory Fund!

Now, I also decided to make this donation with my debit card, rather than with my credit card, which is not what I typically do for charitable and progressive donations, as well as political contributions. You see, I have myself really well-trained to only make charitable and progressive donations and political contributions with my credit card, so that I can easily track how much I spend each month on those types of expenditures; however, being the Creature Of Habit that I am, I accidentally donated with my credit card at first!

So, after realizing my error, I donated with my debit card—as I had originally intended. Again, that's not what I typically do, but I was trying to reach a specific total of expenditures for July 2023, within the category of "Budgeted Expenses." Then, after running the calculations on my monthly budget, I decided to spend what little I had left in my "Budgeted Expenses" category for July 2023. (I maintain handwritten monthly budgets on 100% recycled note paper, so that I know where every penny that I spend is going.)

Thus, I actually made three one-time donations to the Biden Victory Fund (one accidentally for $5.46 and two on purpose for $5.46 and $3.08, respectively, which totals $14.00); however, I felt like it was a really important political advertisement to respond to considering the importance of the Politico.com article I was reading (that I discussed in my 'July 31st, 2023 Update—Continued, Written On August 1st, 2023,' which can be found above) and considering the importance of President Joe Biden's re-election campaign! –Paul Whiting (written August 1st, 2023, revised August 28th, 2023 and revised October 30th, 2023)

Poet, Artist and Philosopher

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

[NOT PUBLISHED]

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