Happy Soul Food Friday!
This week:
“Trials, temptations, disappointments — all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly.
They not only test the fiber of a character, but strengthen it.
Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy.
Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before”
— James Buckham
Apologies: You Have Reached the End of Your Free-Trial Period of America!
Want rule of law? That’s premium.
Apologies: You Have Reached the End of Your Free-Trial Period of America! – The Atlantic
Shutdown of Corp. for Public Broadcasting, recipient of Governors Award, elicits boos at Emmys:
CPB was conceived “as a means for the federal government to wield the power of television for the enrichment of all Americans.”
This corporation has come under fire many times, facing its first existential threat a mere two years after its inception in 1969,” “And yet, it survived with its full funding with a great intercessor who appealed directly to Congress — an appeal predicated on endowing the nation’s children with what he called a meaningful expression of care. That great intercessor was none other than Fred Rogers. A man, as you well know, of impeccable character and the spiritual embodiment of the Public Broadcasting Service. Where have you gone, Fred Rogers, when we needed you most?
Corp. for Public Broadcasting, Emmys Governors Award recipient, is recognized – Los Angeles Times
The Implications of Public Universities Under Siege:
Dear UC community, I know that many of you are closely following the federal administration’s actions against UCLA — including the suspension of critical research funding this summer and a demand that the university pay the federal government over $1 billion. Today, the LA Times published a story summarizing some of the administration’s demands. As we consider the unprecedented action against UCLA, it is important to keep in mind that the federal government is also pursuing investigations and actions in various stages against all 10 UC campuses. So, while we are first focused on the direct-action involving UCLA, we must also consider the implications of expanded federal action. This represents one of the gravest threats to the University of California in our 157-year history. Losses of significant research and other federal funding would devastate UC and inflict real, long-term harm on our students, our faculty and staff, our patients, and all Californians. It would also end life-saving research from which all Americans benefit. Let me provide a little more context about what’s at stake. The University of California receives more than $17 billion each year in federal support. That includes $9.9 billion in Medicare and Medicaid funding, $5.7 billion for research and program support, and $1.7 billion in student financial aid. The funds at risk support the doctors and nurses who care for millions of Californians each year, the researchers working to find new cures and make important technological discoveries, and the financial aid that keeps UC accessible for students of all backgrounds. A substantial loss of this federal funding would be devastating for our mission and for the people who depend on us most. It will mean fewer classes and student services, reduced access to health care, tens of thousands of lost jobs across the state, and an exodus of world-class faculty and researchers to other states or countries. Many of our campuses have already experienced layoffs and other negative impacts in recent months because of cuts to federal research funding and other financial pressures. But this is minor in comparison to the threat that looms. As the state’s second-largest employer, with a presence in every county in California, these reductions would have a detrimental ripple effect across the entire state economy. The work happening across UC saves lives, drives economic growth and creates opportunity for families in every community. Far too many people depend on us for the University to retreat from its mission. We must do all we can to avoid the harmful possibilities I’ve outlined. That’s why we are working with elected officials in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to evaluate every option to resolve this conflict to continue serving communities across the state. The University of California has weathered many challenges since its founding. We will do so again — but it will undoubtedly be a difficult process for our community. The fact is that we are in uncharted waters. Our top priority now is protecting this institution — its resources, its mission and its values — for the sake of everyone we serve. I ask all of you to come together as a community — in support of our students, our patients and one another — as we navigate what lies ahead. It will take all of us working together to protect UC, the greatest public university in the nation. With deep gratitude, James B. MillikenTrump administration to end funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, affecting many California colleges:
In California, there are 167 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, which have received more than $600 million in HSI grants over the past 30 years.
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
–Elie Wiesel
A Blueprint for Military Takeovers:
How the president could normalize military presence in American cities
A Blueprint for Military Takeovers – The Atlantic
Trump claims Chicago is ‘world’s most dangerous city’. The four most violent ones are all in red states:
Jackson, Birmingham, St Louis and Memphis had the highest murder rates in 2024 – all are Republican-led states
‘Ring the bells (ring the bells) that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That’s how the light gets in”—Leonard Cohen
On a more positive note…
Stephen Colbert Challenges Americans to Lead with Love:
Stephen Colbert’s Emmys speech delivers a poignant message America needed
What we need right now are examples of people who understand the strength in empathy, and the power of fair and even-keeled discussion.
Stephen Colbert’s Emmys speech reminded us what America is missing right now
If you are local-
An invitation to the Saturday, September 27th “Healing the Grieving Heart Workshop” for Grieving Dad’s:
Dear Family, Friends, Neighbors, Community Members and Colleagues,
I’ll be giving a “Healing the Grieving Heart Workshop” for bereaved Dads who have experienced the loss of a son or daughter on
Saturday, September 27th in Del Mar, California.
If you, or a dad you care about, might benefit from a day like this, the flier attached to this e mail explains the program and how to register.
I join the dads who have registered in thanking you for helping us get the word out to others,
Ken
Ken Druck, Ph.D.
(858) 863-7825 office
Be the Change you want to see in this world and please practice power with principles!
Love,
Neville
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillebillimoria
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria
“Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible.
But in the end, they always fall.
Always.”
-Gandhi
Happy Soul Food Friday! 