David Vienna's Blog, page 162

These chuckleheads went to bed last night as 7-year-olds and...

These chuckleheads went to bed last night as 7-year-olds and woke up this morning as 8-year-olds. Happy birthday, Boone and Wyatt. Thanks for being the raddest kids ever.

Just a reminder as we all barrel headlong into the holiday...

Just a reminder as we all barrel headlong into the holiday shopping season that my book is, like, a totally awesome gift for new parents.

It also makes a handy coaster for non-parents.

mammalingo:2016 turned out to be a great year to be a therapist, liquor store owner or someone...

mammalingo:

2016 turned out to be a great year to be a therapist, liquor store owner or someone whose job it is to roll people back over in their graves.

Bad news: We’re moving again… tomorrow. Good news:...

Bad news: We’re moving again… tomorrow. Good news: We’ll finally have our own pool. (Perfect for our 93° November days. Thanks, global warming!)

"Do something kind tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Shine your light for all to see."

“Do something kind tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Shine your light for all to see.”

- @tacosaysroar

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What “President Trump” Means For My Family

Let’s try an exercise. Read this quotation.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Now replace the proper nouns in that quotation with ones you might be more aware of: Muslims, Gays, Women, Immigrants, Disabled.

The quote was taken from lectures by Pastor Martin Niemöller in the wake of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. He admitted his own antisemitism led to apathy as the dictator began collecting up his neighbors and countrymen.

I’ll say that again. His neighbors and countrymen.

All of the groups I listed have been targeted in speeches and proposed policies by president-elect Donald Trump and vice president-elect Mike Pence. All of the groups I listed are your neighbors and countrymen.

When my boys woke to discover Trump had won the election, they asked what will happen. I said, “We make our voices heard at the highest levels of government. We work hard to protect the people we care about and the rights of Americans and those who seek to become Americans.” Our neighbors and countrymen.

So I will show my boys that we must engage with leaders who disagree that all citizens should have equal rights. We must show them that we all deserve safety and respect. And if those leaders will not listen, we must shame and ridicule them. And if they feel no shame, we must fight them. Because they very ideals that make America a beacon of hope and promise are in very real danger of crumbling, not just within my boys’ lifetime, but within their childhood. 

So whether you voted for Trump or not, when his promises begin to materialize and they come for your neighbors and countrymen, I will join you as you stand against them. Because history shows us that after our neighbors and countrymen are gone, the tyrants come for us, for our children.

And who then will speak out for you?

Welcome to the Idiocracy.

Welcome to the Idiocracy.

If you need something to keep your mind off of the election I've got a few MSW papers due this week that you could write...

Sure.

Wait. What does MSW stand for? Masters of Social Work or Monkeys Shitting Wildly? Because if it’s the former, I’m game. If it’s the latter… meh, still game, I guess.

I've been feeling really down but your blog cheered me up, so I just wanted to say thanks ❤️

Hey, I don’t know how long this has been in my inbox because Tumblr’s message notification thingy is kinda fickle.

Anyway, yay! You are very welcome…

Unless this message is so old you no longer feel this way.