Amanda for TN

Gotta get those black-eyed peas and greens in on New Year's Day! Might as well be in vegetable soup with cornbread muffins 😋 From the Collins house to yours, may 2024 be as healthy, fulfilling, and comforting as this tasty bowl of soup, with just the right amount of spice. 🙏

CREDITS:
Image: Amanda Collins.
Soup: Dan Collins.
1 January 2024.

Don't let the gun lobby (or their paid-off minions) gaslight you. Owning a gun does not make a woman safer or less likely to be a victim of gun violence herself.

THIS IS GOVERNMENT OVERREACH: No judge wants to stand between an actual mother in the middle of a medical crisis and the healthcare she needs, based on consultation with her doctor. But the Texas GOP--just like the Tennessee GOP--have put judges in that position. These judges are saying that...
1. The lower court made a technical error that they must overturn,
2. None of that should stand between Ms Cox and the healthcare she needs, and
3. No court ordered permission for necessary healthcare is needed when a medical professional makes that recommendation.

They did NOT say that any player in this tragedy with one woman's uterus and unborn child is protected from prosecution.

THIS is government overreach. THIS RIGHT HERE.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/us/texas-abortion-kate-cox.html

THE LEAST WORST OPTION OUT OF ONLY AWFUL OPTIONS: Kate Cox is a 31yo mother of two young children. She and her husband want more children. Unfortunately, they learned after Thanksgiving that the now 21-week-old fetus she is carrying has been diagnosed with a FATAL condition that means it can not survive outside of the womb. Continuing to carry this baby also poses significant risk to her health and the Cox family's future reproductive plans.

Given those risks PLUS the risks that come if the baby dies in utero, Ms Cox has decided--as a parent--that the best choice for HER health and safety, HER unborn baby, HER living children, and HER family, AND in consultation with medical professionals, that an abortion is the least worst option out of only awful options.

Yes, other people in sorta similar situations have made different choices, that they decided were the least worst options...for THEM.

But for Ms Cox, HER CHOICE (that affects no one but herself and her immediate family) is being limited and controlled by legislatures and lawyers who are NOT medical experts, who are not related to her or her unborn child, who will not suffer any consequences in this medical nightmare, who will mot grieve this lost family member, and who have NO BUSINESS restricting women's healthcare options. Texas is trying to put themselves on her medical team and make criminals out of Ms Cox and the educated professionals who support this mother's informed decision about her and her child's health.

🙏 Sending prayers from Tennessee to Ms Cox, Mr Cox, the Cox kiddos, her medical team, her legal team, and her support village. To Kate: I am so sorry for your loss. We are never not fighting for our children, but I hope that you take space to grieve and rest while your body changes yet again. I am so sorry that you are in all of these positions you never imagined or asked for. I hope your holiday season wraps you and your family in peace and light. "All is calm, all is quiet."

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/us/pregnant-texas-woman-at-the-center-of-a-legal-battle-leaves-the-state-to-obtain-an-abortion-attorneys-say

Tonight was our church's annual children/youth Christmas pageant (35th year!), and it was a personal favorite: "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Our 12th grader was the Director for their last(!) production; our 7th grader played Alice; and our 4th grader played Ollie Herdman (who our senior *also* played many years ago). It was a special night with some unexpected sadness as we reflected on our little nest naturally starting to break up a bit in 2024.

And while we are grateful for this night every year, we were especially mindful tonight that many of our neighbors in Middle Tennessee are heartbreakingly picking up pieces of destroyed lives, homes, businesses, families, and dreams--missing their own special holiday traditions that were violently ripped away last night.

🙏 To those neighbors: May you to have the strength needed to face this mountain of recovery, support to lift you up, and peace whenever poossible this season. We are watching for the right opportunities to help and will amplify what we can.

CREDIT: L - Richard Collins, R - Amanda Collins

This week, launched a plan of action for users not interested in validating what Twitter (X) has become, but who also aren't ready or able to abandon the platform entirely: the X-LAST approach. Check it out to see if you and/or your organization can commit to the pledge and to find resources to support your transition to X-LAST.
*ANNOUNCEMENT:
https://indivisible.actionkit.com/mailings/view/96163
*INFO:
https://www.xlast.org/
*GUIDE:
https://indivisible.org/x-last-guide

To my Jewish friends who celebrate, may you and your loved ones have a warm and joyous Festival of Lights and season of peace. 🙏

➡️ “A vote for Donald Trump may mean the last election that you ever get to vote in," [Cheney] warned. "A vote for Donald Trump is a vote against the Constitution. One of the things that we see happening today is a sort of a sleepwalking into dictatorship in the United States."
^^^ This is not anti-Republican, anti-capitalism, anti-Evangelicalism. This IS pro-democracy, pro-Constitution, pro-USA. Any vote in 2024 that is NOT for the Democratic nominee--thus any non-Trump Republican or third party candidate--is a de facto vote for Trump.
REMINDER: Trump hates the working class, women, BIPOC, legal immigrants, foreigners, people without money, Christians, the church, charity, men he perceives as unattractive or weak, democracy, Walmart shoppers, people who recycle or go camping, single mothers, people with addictions, people with disabilities, students in public schools, anyone with health issues, everyone who works for a living, anyone not named "Donald J Trump"...

Liz Cheney warns Trump will never leave office if he's elected president again Cheney said she would “do whatever it takes to make sure that Donald Trump is defeated in 2024" including potentially voting for Biden.

🎯 "Tacit support." That's the rub, right there. Plus another Casey Newton quote from the article: "If you wouldn’t join Gab, or Parler, or Truth Social, there’s no reason you should be on X."

Posted • Days after Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic post on X, his hate-drenched platform, there is mounting pressure for others to take additional action against the unhinged businessman. Here are six questions about the calamity besieging X.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/21/media/elon-musk-six-questions-behavior/index.html

Selling out your neighbor's kids for six figures of out-of-state Koch and Walton money? Sounds about TNGOP.

🔗https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/revealed/revealed-confidential-documents-describe-secret-effort-to-elect-lawmakers-for-school-privatization

This would also affect k-12 teachers of foreign languages, geography, history, and politics, plus special events, student celebrations, and guest speakers--showing you just how ignorant and sheltered the Tennessee GOP supermajority wants Tennesseans to be. Thank you to fpr raising the alarm!
🔗 See for yourself: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1605&GA=113

Posted • A new bill has been filed for the 2024 session that would have the effect of restricting Pride, Black Lives Matter, and other flags at public schools. https://www.tnep.org/blog

🙋‍♀️ Suggestions needed! Where y'all posting these days? What's the TEXT-BASED platform with most-recent posts first, to stay up-to-date and connected?


stoptoxictwitter.com

"When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we're in a crisis."




Christianity is in 'crisis' if people think quotes from Jesus are 'liberal talking points'
https://www.insider.com/church-official-warns-christianity-in-crisis-jesus-liberal-talking-points-2023-8

MATTHEW 6:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."

Farragut, are you watching? 👀

November 14th update on possible Knox Schools Board of Education candidates for 2024. Districts 2 (Owen), 3 (Watson), 5 (Horn), and 8 (McMillan) are up for reelection. More info at knoxvotes.org.

🇺🇸 Thank you to all veterans today, with a special shout-out to my father-in-law! And a special thank you to the families of all who have and do serve; military life is rewarding but certainly has unique challenges for all involved. Thank you all for the sacrifices you made to protect democracy.

Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one?
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7/365 and serves Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care. Three ways to reach out:
☎️ Call 988 then press 1
📲 Text 838255
💬 Visit veteranscrisisline.net for chat

Ohio, we did it! 🎉 Doubters said suburban women wouldn't show up, but we proved them wrong, again! We voted to protect reproductive healthcare and keep politicians OUT of personal medical decisions. When our rights are on the line, we SHOW UP.

Posted • Remember when you vote, we are no longer voting on issues like we used to. We’re voting on democracy vs authoritarianism. If authoritarianism wins it will be our last vote. Hard to believe an ignorant former game show host could put a country like the United States in such peril so quickly, but here we are. Vote for democracy—we’ll figure out the other issues when we are back on solid ground. Please don’t minimize the MAGA threat or dismiss it as hyperbole—they have spelled out exactly what they will do if they win. Don’t let that happen.

Only cruelty would drive someone to leak these pages. Those involved in the leak gave zero thoughts (OR prayers) for the families of the victims or those who were hunted, threatened, and terrorized by a fast-kill weapon and what it did to their school. Hopefully ALL involved will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and held accountable for compromising an active criminal investigation. But that won't erase the trauma and devastation of this targeted harassment of victims, survivors, and the .
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/conservative-radio-host-releases-documents-related-to-covenant-we-are-working-to-verify

Today's (Nov 3rd) update on possible Knox Schools Board of Education candidates for 2024. Districts 2 (Owen), 3 (Watson), 5 (Horn), and 8 (McMillan) are up for reelection. More info at knoxvotes.org.

“Villainy wears many masks...none so dangerous as the mask of virtue.”
-- Ichabod Crane, Sleepy Hollow (1999)

It's time for an immediate pause on Israel's attacks and siege on Gaza, to allow for humanitarian aid and hostage negotiations.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Hamas was wrong.
So do right, Israel.
Care more for Palestinians and their welfare, than Hamas does.



Anguish of Gaza residents as phones return to life with news of those lost
via
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/29/anguish-of-gaza-residents-as-phones-return-to-life-with-news-of-those-lost

Happy Saturday! Remember, the Speaker of the House is second in line for succeeding . Our current is a Christian nationalist MAGA extremist who helped orchestrate the January 6 insurrection and blames school shootings on "evolution" and "abortion" (so basically women). K bye!

A few scenes from the cheap seats at 2023. Such a powerful evening, celebrating our ongoing Democratic successes in Tennessee 💙

🙏 While you're lifting up families and communities of the Lewiston victims, please don't forget the suspect's loved ones. They are shocked, scared, ashamed, heartbroken, confused, hurting, and devastated, too. Their lives have also been changed forever.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/10/26/us/lewiston-maine-shootings-thursday/index.html

Sandy Hook Promise Statement on Mass Shooting in Lewiston, Maine 18 people were killed and at least 13 injured in Lewiston, Maine - the 565th mass shooting this year. Read more from Sandy Hook Promise.

Our collective hearts as a country are breaking deeply today with the horrific news from Maine. Another mass casualty, caused by a single individual with firearm(s). We know this investigation is actively underway and many details are still being confirmed as fact. But we also know Maine lacks many key firearm safety laws like temporary transfer laws and background checks for all firearm transactions.

To prevent mass tragedies like this, we must strengthen firearm safety laws. We must protect the innocent people in our communities. We urge you - please speak up in Tennessee and beyond to promote stronger firearm safety laws.

🧵 Seeing too many posts in my feed today blaming Dems for all current ills for not opposing GOP in every race.

What these posts miss are the extreme safety concerns and ridiculous financial expectations for running for office in the 2020s. Deciding to run for office is NOT a solo decision. It commits your loved ones and affects your employment.

I've had convos just this week with amazing potential Democratic candidates whose families have BEGGED them not to run. Who would "just say yes" in that situation?

Instead of blaming Dems, let's focus on
1. supporting and protecting Democratic candidates and their families
2. standing up to GOP bullying--from keyboard warriors to campaigns
3. finding solutions to the (immorally) prohibitive financial aspects of running