Todd Packer

The Power of Fear

In his inauguration speech, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. He followed this with gratitude, that the fears that were plaguing the nation at the time was not a disease, but financial constraint and that we as a nation could overcome if we worked together.  

Fear, is not all bad. In moments of danger, fear can kick start your reflexes allowing us a greater advantage and even in non-immediate danger fear can bring about clarity and a different way of thinking. But fear can also be blinding, and when left unchecked it can grow until it becomes all-consuming. It is important when dealing with one’s fear that you truly think about what you are fearing and where that fear comes from—choosing only to work with the fear of an actual threat.

Franklin D. Roosevelt explained in his speech that the fear people were feeling could paralyze them and make things worse if they let it, in these current times it is important to understand how these small fears can grow and manipulate and take over. There are the fears of many Americans are based in the unknown, fears of potential violence and financial loss. But those who are coming to this country have true fear, fear that powers them through hundreds of miles of desert, and starvation. Fear of starvation and violence, death and disease. They show how fear can produce action over insurmountable odds.

What we also must remember is again how this fear can grow and how it can be stopped. The United States entered World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but by then, fear of the unknown and fear of an uncertain future had killed hundreds, thousands and millions throughout the world due to famine, panic and genocide. While we all have our fears, we must also think about how we can act when that fear is small, easier to conquer and what it may mean for others who are living in more present danger than ourselves.  

 My family and I are alive today thanks to the countries that rose above their fear of the unknown to help those who were running for their lives, and the members of my family who were able to use that fear of death and persecution to empower them to walk at least 2,000 miles to start to a sanctuary, Tehran. We must not let our fear blind us to our potential and the true victims of hate and violence and the unknown.

The Pillowman

After the older stories by the Grimm Brothers, A Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Lottery in high school--finding the newly written “The Pillowman” was like a breath of fresh air. Another story that twisted your world upside down and had an element of supernatural while also being so accurate about the aspects and attitudes of human nature, just made me feel so at peace. 

The Pillowman is fascinating to me as overall it’s a short story, quick read but has so much depth. There is very little filler, you find out what you need and that’s that. Also, there is great complexity and skill to someone who can make you sympathize with someone who should be seen as evil--whether or not they truly are evil or that sympathy is warranted

Books, Books, Book

All-in-all, reading has a lot of benefits and by limiting the diversity of books, you are taking away some of these benefits and taking them entirely from someone who might have started reading if they had just read *that book*. Earlier today the Washington Post listed other reasons to not fall into the paranoia of banning or challenging books from the superficial: a lot of classic books were at one time banned; many books are based on issues with unique diversity and representation that are unique in a society becoming more accepting (in most places), and when you find a book has been banned or challenged, that may start a conversation.  

Best Camera Looks

1. Season Two Episode Nineteen: Michael’s Birthday

Ryan’s look to the camera’s after being in the kitchen while Angela and Dwight fight over who should take care of Michael’s Ice Cream Birthday cake and whether or not Dwight will get any ‘cookie’ later.

2. Season Three, Episode Twelve: Traveling Salesman

Angela’s glare from behind the pillar as Andy explains how he got rid of Dwight.

3. Season Two, Episode Seven: The Client

Jan looking between Michael and Louis sucking ribs at Chili’s

4. Season Five, Episode Eighteen: Blood Drive

When Jim and Pam look into the camera while Bob Vance feeds Phyliss after they catch them having sex in the bathroom during their Valentine’s lunch date

5. Season Five, Episode Nine: The Surplus

Jim’s involuntary shake in the conference room/interview after Pam tells him “I’m not threatening you. I love you. But you should know you’re on very dangerous ground” and gives him the smallest of pecks.

6. Season Five, Episode Nineteen: Golden Ticket

Darryl’s look at the camera crew after Michael asks him “What is a pallet?”

7. Season Four, Episode Thirteen: Job Fair

When Pam flashes the camera the sheet of paper Michael had her go back to the office to get for the Job Fair after

Not letting her bring more than one paper

Insisting they only can use Dunder Mifflin Paper

Having her go back because someone wrote their name on the paper which he wanted to have left blank but didn’t tell anyone

8. Season Two, Episode Seventeen: Dwight’s Speech

Pam’s sarcastic look to the camera after Angela ‘non-chalantly’ wishes Dwight luck on his speech from across the office

9. Season Two, Episode Seven: The Client

Dwight’s look to the camera when he realizes Jan stayed the night

10. Season Nine, Episode Nineteen: Stairmageddon

Clark’s look to the camera after Stanley stabs himself with the bull tranquilizer

Alastor Moody

Alastor Moody is, of course, a difficult character to think back on because most of our experiences with him--weren’t actually him

Regardless, he was still an important character, one of the few characters who was in the Order of the Phoenix during both Wizarding Wars. A brave and skilled wizard he was also a good judge of character (Igor Karkaroff), giving (Tonks was his protégé) and he didn’t care too much about what others thought of him—only considering the opinion of those he deemed worthy.

What I think most about him, is he gives us a glimpse into some mental illness, disillusion and how Ron would be in his later years with PTSD. Even as a high-ranking Auror, people mostly avoided him as he had become a bit paranoid

Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you

after all his years serving as an Auror and all those he had put away. He had limited friends he felt he could trust and had shown to have many scars showing all he had been thru. In the brief moments with him, he showed to be sentimental and trying to form human connections where he could and appreciating them: giving Harry the original Order of the Phoenix photo and his relationship with Tonks

PS Very glad Harry worked to get his eye back 

Books for ourselves

It is important to remember that books are not always about just telling a story. Books can show us how others live--whether they be Stormtroopers, drug addicts, slaves or someone that has another different story from all the ones that are different from us. 

Yes, we learn about people from their stories, but it doesn’t have to stop there. In understanding one’s life and one’s struggles--we can choose to act, we can choose to push forward, we can choose to help, we can choose to learn more. 

In 15 days it’s Halloween, in 16 days it’s a day of really cheap candy and chocolate, and in 21 days you have the power to vote and make the world how you think it should be. But I hope that’s not your one day of using your voice, your power and the power of listening to someone else’s story. You may not have the best or easiest life, everyone struggles but “a rising tide lifts all boats”--be that tide, raise the condition for everyone

That’s what i’m talking about

I still read

but I definitely read for different reasons now as there is less companionship that I need to fill in books or stories from far away

Relatable

Gutted, Gentrified and Gone

Libraries are great community spaces that should be free so local residents can learn, explore and expand their minds and creativity. But libraries like our schools, are generally paid for by the income of the local residents, therefore, poorer communities get less funding and therefore poorer quality libraries. Similar to the recent “Aunt Becky” college situation, this goes against the ideals behind libraries and in the US, our equality, and how knowledge, perseverance, education and will is supposed to allow us all to flourish.

A prime example of the differences in communities is nestled within San Francisco. Known for massive hills and hipsters, San Francisco’s Pacific Heights Presidio Branch Library is just six miles away from the Bayview Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library in Bayview-Hunters Point. There is nothing wrong with the Bayview Library; its open frequently, it’s clean and the local neighborhood seems to enjoy it but with comparison you can see a difference to the Presidio Branch Library. First, the Bayview Library is in an semi-industrial area and has classes geared to computer classes for Adults & Seniors including sales meetings and tax classes. The Presidio library is surrounded by open grass where you can comfortably read outside, has information available about it’s environmental LEED Green Report Card, highlights inter-library loan, foreign language staff and diverse classes of baby and toddler interaction, writing classes and Tai Chi. The Presidio Branch Library has the resources and access residents need to want to visit the library and develop new interests. This is not surprising as Pacific Heights is noted as a rich and thriving community (1) and Bayview has been graded one of the worst based on income and education opportunities (2) and has a history of gentrification and marginalization (3). Libraries don’t have to be pretty and I can understand how they’re not always the most updated but we cannot forget that “a rising tide lifts all boats” and that we are all equal.

(1)   https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-pacific-heights-san-francisco-billionaires-row-2014-3

(2)   https://www.roadsnacks.net/worst-neighborhoods-in-san-francisco-ca/

(3)   https://www.mccalman.co/portfolio/i-am-bayview/

Public Charge

“It’s hard not to feel like we are turning our backs’ on our own history

If these people are willing to risk their lives

to travel 3,000 miles

and apply for asylum at our borders, we owe it to them to at least look over their application

because at some point

someone

was willing to look at ours.”

That was Hasan Minhaj’s closing of his Netflix show “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” Sunday’s episode ”Immigration Enforcement”.  This past Thursday’s holiday of Thanksgiving Day is split by US citizens (natural-born and otherwise) as while it is important to be thankful, it’s also important to note how people came to be in the US and what they did once they arrived. Christopher Columbus’s arrival and the first Thanksgiving is not how it is portrayed to and by children, every year and many have grown to understand the importance for not pretending atrocities of generations past did not occur. Until next week, Tuesday, December 4th, you may make your thoughts, comments, appeals, data contributions and anything else about the amendments to public charge established in May 1999.  The two main parts of the changes are (1) that new immigrants (temporary or permanent) must prove that they will not become a public charge while residing in the US, and (2) any immigrants currently in the US who want or need to change their status or duration of stay will need to show similar proof in order to stay in the US.

My question is why, currently there are programs that immigrants may and may not use and regulations about when certain services may become available to them. Making them stricter or creating a fear as illustrated in the second part of the change doesn’t create a larger problem for current immigrants that already go without, but it will create a problem for the rest of the US population. Lessening the services of food stamps and healthcare access when they are already vulnerable will allow any small issue to become a greater threat. Health and wealth are compounding issues, primary care is preventive care and a few extra dollars to start up and get you settled after a traumatic escape, journey and experience can make all the difference for decades to come. Following the events of this weekend with the beginning of asylum seekers from Honduras, running from the gangs and violence this country stands against makes this even more important and defining. Please understand, they just want what we want. To live, for their children to live and have the best chance of a happy life.

Earlier this year, the Miami Herald spoke to a woman who resides in Florida but whose mother lives in Cuba. Her mother, a 70-year-old woman, doesn’t want to live in the US but uses the Visa to visit her daughter and grandchildren. As her Visa was set to expire she reapplied—but was denied, not only unable to get a new Visa but the six months she had to remain on her current Visa before it expired were then cancelled. There is no reason for this, people who speak, act, look, eat and just are different from you are not out to get you. I know it’s long and a lot to read, but please read thru what you can and share your opinion with our Department of Homeland Security (per a few specific instructions) about the changes overall or to amendments that you believe is what is best.

Public Charge Comment Section and Amendment Changes