Category Archives: Golden Rule

Insist on masks

As Ohio begins to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been dismayed with the arrogance, willful ignorance, and just plain lack of common decency of many I see not wearing face masks in businesses and public spaces.

And those who wear masks that are loose or leave the nose exposed might as well not be wearing one at all.

Perhaps it is because they do not understand the concept of asymptomatic transmission: People who show no symptoms of sickness can transmit the disease exponentially. One person can infect hundreds and each of them can transmit the virus and so on.

Perhaps they do not understand that the people with whom they come into contact may have underlying health issues related to cancer, other diseases, weak immune systems or to aging.

Perhaps they are making a political statement; yet viruses dont have political affiliations.

Wearing a mask can literally protect others from sickness and death. Numerous studies have been released demonstrating that universal face mask use may be the single most effective act to stop the pandemic.

I call on Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Assembly to pass legislation to make the wearing of face masks in public areas mandatory. I also call on businesses to deny entry of anyone not wearing one or not wearing one correctly.

If people wont live by the Golden Rule by doing a simple thing like wearing a face mask during a pandemic, then they must be called out. Lives depend on it.

Greg Brozeit, Fairlawn

Apology seems sincere

This is regarding the June 10 article Woman fired from job apologizes for texts, which is about (I assume) a Caucasian young lady who at the age of 14 or 15 sent out some racist text messages and was fired from her job. My husband and I are proud African American parents who reared three wonderful African American children into adulthood. Thank God they grew up to be fine, God-fearing, contributing young people. When they were young teens, they did a lot of stupid, immature things that they are not proud of and neither are their parents.

I was impressed with this young ladys sincerity. I think she has matured and realized that her actions were hurtful, immature and childish. She can maybe be able to influence the views of some of her friends, relatives and acquaintances concerning the existence of racism in Americans.

Young people deserve another chance when they try to do the right thing. We all make mistakes, but it takes a mature person to admit it and apologize. I pray that her employer offers her job back and gives her another chance. She deserves it.

Helen V. Sanders, Akron

Honor Sojourner Truth

Yes, Akrons rubber history is important. But the next statue unveiled here will be yet another man. Formerly enslaved, itinerant preacher, abolitionist and womens rights activist Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) gave her most famous speech in Akron on May 29, 1851 nearly 170 years ago. Yes, there are Native American images, but none of named African Americans or women in Akron. The Aint I A Woman! crocheted mural, a temporary installation unveiled in 2018, was removed from Lock 3 last year.

Woodrow Nashs unfinished Sojourner Truth sculpture, commissioned in 2000 by the late Faye Hersh Dambrot, remains unfunded a symbol of our unfinished commitment to eradicating racism.

Nancy Rose Foye-Cox, Akron

See the original post here:

Voice of the People, June 17, 2020: Wearing a mask should be mandatory in Ohio; apology for racist text shows maturity; Akron needs Sojourner Truth...

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

This quote from Jesus Christ is also called, The Golden Rule. Its a foundational pillar of the Christian faith.

Underlying this simple command is empathy. By treating others the way I would like to be treated, I place myself in their shoes. I treat, respect and love them, the way I want to be treated, respected and loved. There is mutuality. We are connected.

I feel we are in a Divine Pause and God wants our collective, connected attention.

The world has been brought to a screeching halt. No gridlock. No school. No sports. No usual distractions. God is asking us to place ourselves in the shoes of those impacted by the trauma of racism and police violence.

We are in a moment in this countrys history where we can define who we are moving forward. The Declaration of Independence states, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal

Because of our countrys original sin, slavery, and its progeny Jim Crow, we have not lived up to the Christian ideal that all men [and women] are created equal. Consequently, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness have been an elusive ideal for too many for too long.

As a country and as people, we are supposed to be connected, but far too often we are disconnected. Disconnected consistently and intentionally, since before the nation was founded by ethnicity (race).

We can choose to unbind the ties of racism that separate us and embrace being a beloved community of Gods children.

We must listen to those impacted by racism.

We must commit to be and do better.

We must commit to a life of empathy and love because our lives are connected and inter-connected.

We can only be who God is fully calling us to be, when those around us are allowed to be whom God has called them to be.

Its time to connect with empathy, end racism and be the beloved community God has called us to be.

Rev. Elliott Robinson, JD, MDiv is the Pastor of Nimno AME Church, in Nicholson. He is an Ecumenical Partner with the Georgia Justice Projects campaign, Second Chance for Georgia. He is also a Teaching Assistant at the Candler School of Theology (Emory University) and Candler School of Theologys Certificate in Theological Studies Program at Arrendale Prison for Women.

Continued here:

WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS: Time to connect with empathy - Main Street Newspapers

(Credit: Thinkstock)

Whenever there is a shake-up in the market, there are stories shared and lessons learned. Market downturns are the place where a client discovers, for better or worse, if the financial advice they got from their advisor was the right advice.

When things are going well, and the bulls are running, bad advice gets obscured amid the excitement. Sometimes even the most incompetent and untrustworthy planners look good as long the moon is waxing.

An oft-quoted adage says, A rising tide lifts all ships. But the real test of whether the advice they are getting is sound or not is what happens to their money when the market goes off track.

(Related:Finke, Blanchett: Retirement Advice for Clients in a Crisis)

Because the human brain hates uncertainty, risk, and bad news, we have a kind of collective amnesia when it comes to the carnage of the last recession. The longest bull market in history has caused many people to forget how much they lost and how badly it hurt.

Once the bruises of 2008 healed, a punishing environment for savers had some advisors nudging even their retired clients back toward Wall Street to chase returns and take on risk.

While there were indeed indications that we may have been ready to enter a bust cycle before COVID-19, the pandemic certainly has hastened the end of the bubble in dramatic ways.

It also created a golden opportunity to help clients re-evaluate their risk tolerance levels. Having been in a bull market for so long, most people dont even know what their tolerance level is or where it should be. They havent had to worry about it, until now.

Many of my clients remember 2008 very well. But some of them have gotten so used to getting significant market returns that theyve forgotten how it feels to be on the losing end of things.

As I think about the best way to help navigate my clients through these post-virus uncertainties, my golden rule about money comes to mind. Lyle, what are you doing with your money?

Having lost my life savings in the market in the early 90s, I learned very quickly how foolish taking too much risk can be.

I like to remind my clients that I lost almost everything I had, late in the game. I was lucky that I recovered by implementing the safe money habits I now encourage them to adopt. Unfortunately, most older people wont be that fortunate. They really cant afford to lose a single penny in retirement.

If you genuinely want to stand out among other advisors, particularly as the pandemic winds down, then you need to take a stronger stance when it comes to protecting retirees from risk.

You could begin by surveying current clients and prospects, asking them relevant questions regarding their attitudes toward risk.

For example:

Understanding exactly how much risk your client or prospect is willing to tolerate is critical to helping them design a retirement that is comfortable and secure.

I believe that just after a market downturn is the very best time to discover these answers. You will prove to your clients your devotion to protecting and preserving their savings. Show that you are listening to their concerns, and can provide solutions like a no-fee hybrid fixed indexed annuities that will address those critical risk concerns.

Connect with ThinkAdvisor Life/Health onFacebook,LinkedInandTwitter.

Lyle Boss has taught estate planning and asset preservation for more than 20 years, at the University of Utah and other places. He has also taught more than 200 senior retirement consumer education workshops in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

Original post:

Maybe It's Time to Gut Check Your Risk Tolerance - ThinkAdvisor

LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The book, Swords of The Vatican, Reflections Of A Witness To Evil, by Holocaust survivor, Severyn Ashkenazy reveals shocking research on the history of mass murder, persecution and dominance by use of force. To maintain power and dominance for more than sixteen centuries force was used by the Vatican against whole groups of people who were deemed a threat to its power. Any group that deviated from the Roman Catholic Church were slated for persecution and elimination. These innocent lives did not matter, especially the Jews.

Flash forward to 2020. Cries for justice following the horrific death of George Floyd by a white police officer created a global multicultural movement to fight racism and injustice.

Swords of The Vatican, Reflections Of A Witness To Evil provides a chilling look at how brutality and injustice began at the birth of Christianity and still exists today.

Born in 1936, Poland, Severyn Ashkenazy with his parents and brother, survived Nazis after being hidden for two years in a dark, damp cellar. This made him ask why? Why is there so much hate for the Jews? As a child he was taught that life was about kindness to others. Jews educate their children and ask them to follow the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Why then was that not what happened to his family? He spent the rest of his life researching history, religion and the origin of hate. The prologue quotes a Jewish biblical dictum, "He who saves a single life saves an entire world." Shouldn't this be the goal for humanity? Anyone who cares about truth and justice needs to read SWORDS OF THE VATICAN today. Available at Amazon and local bookstores by request.

Paperback - Second Edition ISBN 978057868444-4 https://bit.ly/2LZlAmB https://amzn.to/2A3R1tw

http://swordsofthevatican.info/about-author/

Media Contact: Roz Wolf818-522-7948[emailprotected]

SOURCE Swords Of The Vatican

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Systemic Hate and The Use of Force Started with Vatican Dominance, Says Author Severyn Ashkenazy - PRNewswire

The La Jolla Light asked readers for their thoughts on race relations and issues such as police brutality in light of the nationwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd during an arrest by Minneapolis police May 25. Here are the responses as of June 15:

My 12-year-old daughter was so empowered to participate in the recent protest march in La Jolla and made a rainbow of positive and supportive signs to hang in front of our house on the highly visible corner of Draper and Nautilus.

In the late afternoon after the march, I was sitting in the front yard reading the paper when I heard a ripping sound and an angry voice cursing. A very irate white man spewing invective was tearing my daughters signs from the bushes where we had attached them.

I tried to stop him, ask him to leave my property alone, but he cursed at me and shouted, I dont need to see this crap! and left, carrying all our signs under his arm. I was glad my daughter was not home to see such rage.

We live so protected from that kind of violence protected by our skin color and this beautiful place where we live. As I told my daughter when I told her about what had happened, it was just a tiny taste of what so many people face every day feeling powerless in the face of hate for who they are and what they stand for.

Sonia Teder-Moore

It is our job to acknowledge and take the time to learn about the history of systemic racism and how the recent events fit into a pattern of inequality for black people.

Black people only make up 1 percent of La Jollas population, one of the wealthiest ZIP codes in San Diego, largely due to the racism embedded in wealth, income, housing, education, banks, employment and health care.

I urge the La Jolla Light to share resources to help readers educate themselves on our history of oppression and to become actively anti-racist. It is our responsibility to listen to black voices, learn and take action.

There are many books, podcasts, movies and more that shed light on the black experience and dive into important conversations about racial equality and justice. We need solutions to affirm the prosperity of black lives.

We also need to acknowledge police brutality against black people and demand accountability. It is moving to see so many San Diegans come together in support of black lives and against police brutality.

I do believe this movement will lead to lasting change, but it is up to us to make the commitment. Black lives matter, today, tomorrow and every day after that.

Thanks for giving readers a voice.

Sarah Schug

I am writing this as a half-white and half-Filipino La Jollan who has not faced the discrimination that black Americans have faced for hundreds of years. I have never felt the fear that they feel. I have never gone through the pain that they have gone through. To have others harass you because of your race is an experience that I have never had.

So if you are like me and have not gone through what black Americans have gone through, remember to listen to them and their stories.

Throughout history, listening has helped make great change. Americans listened to the experiences of women and fought for the 19th Amendment in the 1920s.

Americans fought for the 40-hour work week after they listened to the experiences of laborers in the 1940s.

Listening can create a better world, and thats what we need to do now. In 2020, we need to listen to black Americans.

If people listened to black Americans, people would hear that black Americans want to end police brutality. They do not want to fear for their lives when doing daily activities like jogging and walking on the street. They want police to protect and serve everyone rather than only protecting certain races.

They want to end the memorialization of Confederate leaders who fought for slavery and the suffering of black Americans.

They want justice for all people that police murdered.

If people listened to the black Americans, people would hear black Americans saying that there will be no peace until murderers are brought to justice. People will hear black Americans saying that the current unfair system that hurts black people needs to be fixed.

People would hear that black Americans want change.

Listen to what black Americans have to say. It is long overdue. When they tell their stories and share their experiences, you can learn the problems that the black community faces and join them in their fight for justice and equality.

I, among many others in La Jolla, have never had the experiences black Americans have had, so I am always ready to hear what they have to say. Listening is learning, and learning can create change.

Nathaniel Watson

The current racial crisis brought back the pain of the 60s, when the country went up in flames over civil rights.

My late husband and I were actively involved in the movement in our hometown of Omaha, Neb., and suffered retribution and death threats, distancing from friends and a bank calling a note on my husbands business, which was destructive.

There were some legislative changes, but discrimination continued. Real change wont occur without elected officials, corporation executives, law enforcement agencies, education institutions and religious institutions becoming really dedicated to weed out the rules, laws, behaviors, culture of discrimination and hate in their respective venues.

You cant change a persons mind about their distorted beliefs without education and the refusal of government and others to tolerate hate and destruction of the lives of others different than them.

I hope I live long enough to see real change happen.

Diana Hahn

I think that as a society we need to redouble our efforts to provide health and education to all the disadvantaged members of our society from birth to grave.

It is important to give maternal health and care before one is born, accompanied by coaching and education on nutrition of the body and the soul (mind) from birth to maturity. This means life skills in the 21st century.

Parents need to have jobs and health insurance and life skills in how to budget, prepare healthy meals on a budget, and bring up healthy and educated offspring with healthy living practices, learning skills and civic education.

This advice refers to all members of society, with a special emphasis on minorities, immigrants and economically disadvantaged members of our society.

Eduardo Feller

I spent my early years in a non-affluent area of Queens, N.Y. I went to public school, was in the Army and worked with people of many backgrounds, without any problems.

I then bought a business and a gun to work in Newark, N.J. Three break-ins, three hold-ups and one murder.

Based on my limited experience, people are people. Given a decent education and a chance at a decent life, no one with half a brain would choose a life of crime and being locked up for most of his life. There isnt enough money in it.

I would like to see if any newspaper would dare print the rap sheet of some that people tried to turn into heroes.

Stanley Back

Prejudice, racism, sexism and discrimination these are all issues that have plagued mankind throughout history. Our progress in resolving these issues has evolved slowly.

We try to resolve these psychological and human-nature issues with a legal approach. The legal process is essential for society, yet not sufficient for psychological and human-nature issues. Of course, we need to enact laws that now require reform to prevent people from acting badly, but it cannot legislate how people feel and think, especially by how some of us have been raised and/or become set in our ways.

Law cannot necessarily force people to respect each other and be friends, as interpersonal relationships are a psychological function, not a legal one. Psychology is supposed to be scientific, about understanding reality and figuring out how things work for making changes.

The best way to overcome racial bigotry and promote racial understanding and harmony is to start practicing the Golden Rule: Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.

Racism is a catalyst for violence, and anger is a legitimate response to oppression and discrimination. Racism is not just the result of peoples distrust in one another but more to do with economic disparity and class distinction. Simply, if you dont feel like youre getting a fair shake, naturally you feel resentful.

This is why its important we treat each other the way we want to be treated. We need to educate the youth of our nation about the inherent bias and dangers of racism becoming saturated into our world. The solution lies in reformed education of our youth, by speaking openly and being honest about our countrys history of bigotry, sexism and stereotypes.

Our history prepares our youth to challenge these issues. For example, a child who knows the racial history of the Confederate flag is less likely to brandish that symbol out of ignorance, as well as being taught the history of the hateful lynchings in the South through the 1960s and the names that were hateful terms and carried the brunt of hundreds of years of painful history.

By teaching our youth that racism is a system of oppression, and that while white people can be prejudiced against, they will learn they have never in American history experienced the long and aching pain of racism.

Ultimately, teach our youth that forgiveness and acceptance are powerful tools, but only after recognizing the ignorance and bigotry of the people they need to forgive and accept.

As residents of our community, whether you are a parent, business owner, neighbor, friend, teacher, etc., we are teachers of our youth and our actions speak louder than words.

This starts with providing the opportunity and making the time, patience and desire to help our youth grow into adults who value and honor diversity. By doing this, someday they will be able to practice what they learned and be better people for it, and at the same time, be accountable and responsible for their actions.

In my view, it will be the youth of our nation who will lead us toward racial understanding and harmony to find justice. It is up to all of us to set an example of practicing the Golden Rule and showing respect to all in order to help achieve justice.

Today, we can reflect back to when then-President Obama spoke at a service in Boston in 2013 about an 8-year-old boy who was the youngest of three people killed in the Boston Marathon bombings, who had previously made a homemade poster at school in which he wrote: No more hurting people. Peace.

At a young age, this boy understood what it could mean to believe in the Golden Rule and so did this Being: From one man, He made every nation of men.Acts 17:26.

Mary Ann Goodbary

I pray that nothing bad happens to me or my family for telling this story, but I feel now I am in good company with so many good people who have had similar experiences with bad police.

I was attacked by the police right here in La Jolla in my home by Windansea Beach. It was in 1995 or 96 and I had a party for my son and his friends. We had music and food and I was well aware that there was a loud-music warning and was told that if there was a complaint the police would come and give me a warning to turn down the music, and if I did not they would come back and make me turn it down. That never happened.

While the party was going on, a fight broke out on the street between two boys, and a policeman threw a girl to the ground, and as people took his picture he called into his phone, Cop down. I was inside my property and had no idea what was going on.

We were having a great time, and at the time, my front yard alone was the size of a city lot. We had a barbecue and music. The next thing I know, police are rushing in in riot gear, helmets, shields. They were grabbing kids, clubbing, spraying pepper spray; it was insane.

Twelve police cars were on the street and a police helicopter was over my house, I took out my camera and took a photo of two police offers throwing a kid to the ground.

The next thing I know, they are running toward me, they push me to the ground on the stairs to my house and start smashing my camera, pull back my head and spray me with pepper spray. My son comes out and says, What are you doing to my mom? and they pepper spray him inside our house and take me to our local prison. I was put in an orange jump suit and one of the inmates asked me why I was there and I said because I had a party in my yard, and she did not understand till I told her the part about taking photos of the police, and then she said, Girlfriend, that is what you are doing in here, not the party.

There is something wrong with the police in this country. The whole time I was going through this experience, I kept reading Protect and Serve everywhere. I was not being protected or served, nor were those people in D.C. and other places where people were attacked by police for wanting to be heard.

I was so scared of the police for years. Every time I saw a police car I would have a small panic, knowing they could do whatever they wanted to me.

I am sure it is nothing like being black in this country, but fear was definitely instilled in me. I have black friends who know they could lose their lives by just driving their cars.

This has to change. This country need to change, police need to change what they are allowed to do and get on with protecting and serving.

I believe we have come to a time when we need to defund the police.

My son and I sued the police and won, as do thousands of people every day in this country. Billions in taxpayer money is going to pay for bad officers. We need to create a National Police Misconduct Register and get these hateful people off the streets.

We need to understand why the good ones will not tell on the bad ones and stop it.

These people have been given a badge by us to let them work out their hate issues, and it is being seen loud and clear by all of us. The whole world is watching!

The time has come to unite this country.

Melinda Merryweather

Letters published in the La Jolla Light express views from readers about community matters. Submissions of related photos also are welcome. Letters reflect the writers opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or publisher. Letters are subject to editing for brevity, clarity and accuracy. To share your thoughts in this public forum, email them with your name and city or neighborhood of residence to robert.vardon@lajollalight.com.

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Our Readers Write: Race relations and the path forward - La Jolla Light

By Suffolk Sheriff E.C. Harris

The senseless killing of George Floyd, the agonizing cries of a man created equal by God but treated much differently by four men, was the result of the brutal combination of an indifference to life and the signs of racism that our minority, and especially African American, communities have endured and continue to endure in this country at the hands of evil and misguided individuals.

Police departments, sheriffs officers, and all aspects of government are not immune from having those same racist and misguided individuals find their way into these governmental organizations, create pain and havoc, and spoil the good efforts and character of the many hardworking, caring and forthright individuals within them. Finding a solution to this problem is not easy, but finding the starting place is. Put simply, there is no place in our world for racism and injustice and no place for racism and injustice among those that call themselves law enforcement.

Law enforcement officials, from police to prosecutors, wield enormous power that is on a daily basis used against our fellow citizens in a manner that we hope is right action. But that action is not always right. We know that. We have seen that. We saw that for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Our own city is not removed from the history of racial injustice in the country, nor is it immune to the actions of our citizens, law enforcement and other government actors who fall short of the golden rule, which is to treat people the way you wish to be treated.

The principle of treating others the way you would want to be treated has been the rule and guide of my 38 years in law enforcement. If someone is breaking the law, I stop them. Thats my job. But I stop them while preserving their life and dignity as a human being and afford that person the due process owed as a citizen of the United States. That is what I would want afforded me. That is how I would want to be treated. But I know that our African American communities across the country are not always afforded this type of treatment, equality or respect by law enforcement. I am angered and frustrated by that fact.

So how do we respond? We have responded as Americans who, as a nation, have had a rich tradition of peaceful protest and social discourse to find solutions to our problems, and we should welcome the opportunity to find ways to allow liberty to flourish for all our communities, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

How do I respond as the sheriff of Suffolk? With the continued community engagement that has been the cornerstone of my office and built the relationships with our fellow citizens that we still enjoy today. That includes continued training and my continued requirement that my deputies are and will be the quality and compassionate human beings Suffolk deserves.

How does the broader law enforcement community respond? By showing what good police officers are, sharpening their hiring and training processes, and by rooting out those officers that would damage the institution and cause the type of pain George Floyds family is experiencing.

I dont have all the answers. I dont pretend to. But I realize if things were going right in our country, so many people wouldnt feel so wronged. So, as I listen to the experiences and stories of our minority community, their pain, their hope, their desires for change, what they are happy with and what has to improve, I am encouraged by their resolve, desire their trust, and realize that we as law enforcement still have a good way to go to strengthen that fragile and all-important trust that exists between the police and the community it is policing.

I encourage the citizens of Suffolk to never forget the injustices we have seen and heard, to have the hard conversations that need to be had and have them with a heart filled with compassion and understanding, and above all else to care for one another.

E.C. Harris is sheriff of the city of Suffolk. Contact him at eharris@suffolkva.us.

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Sheriff speaks from his heart - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald

Before I begin, let me state one important fact: I am a white woman in my late 20s. I do not presume to be an expert on matters of race, and I do not want to center myself in the midst of a conversation where black voices should be the loudest. That said, I recognize that Im a member of the white folks of Sudbury group, and that membership grants me certain access, like reaching an audience of other white folks in Sudbury. So white folks of Sudbury, please if you would, read some of my thoughts:

On June 2, my friend Brian and I attended the Black Lives Matter protest at Haskell Field. Brian and I met at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School when we were 14, and we have been best friends ever since. Over the past 13 years, Brian and I have engaged in conversations about our experiences at L-S and in Sudbury. We have shared what we have learned about our own identities and privilege, as well as how we participated in the myriad ways that L-S and Sudbury embody the systems of white supremacy in our country. (For those of you who just got really uncomfortable reading white supremacy, please keep reading.)

At the protest, we were heartened to see so much of our community (specifically, the white folks in our community), coming together to support the Black Lives Matter movement, and consequently, many of the families that live here. Sudbury is a much more diverse community than it was when Brian and I called it home, and we believed that this act of solidarity showed that our community has started to make necessary changes in this fight.

The next day, someone posted a discouraging post on the One Sudbury Facebook group about the Black Lives Matter messages on Tippling Rock. On the post, I saw members of our community express frustration about the graffiti, compare the graffiti to looting at protests and take focus away from the issue at hand. Given the uproar it caused, the post was taken down the next day in an effort to keep the conversation civil.

I understood the sentiment. In civil conversations, people are nice.

Niceness doesnt solve racism.

This request to stay civil is one of the many guidelines that groups set to maintain white comfort. Robin DiAngelo, the author of White Fragility, explains that these kinds of guidelines or rules presume a lack of differential power in the space. This space can manifest as a classroom, the dinner table or a comment box on Facebook.

We (white folks) come to conversations about race saying (and most often, believing) that we are all equal, that we all deserve a voice and that we would not silence or devalue anothers voice, especially because their skin is another color. We are just trying to abide by the golden rule in our conversations, keeping things polite because thats how we want to be treated. But, DiAngelo continues, power relations are always at play, and people are in different power positions in that room. So the very things that might make a white person feel comfortable may be exactly what says to a person of color, Do not be authentic; do not be yourself. Do not show your emotions. Do not get upset. Do not be angry.

Whether intentional or not, in asking others (specifically, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) to numb their opinions, emotions or experiences, we (white folks) are able to maintain the belief that we have done nothing wrong; we are not racist; we are innocent.

Instead of asking for civility, I ask the students in my ninth grade English classroom to experience discomfort whenever we have conversations about race or identity in the classroom. This norm is not meant for my students of color; this norm is meant for my white students. These conversations are going to be uncomfortable. To quote therapist Yolanda Renteria, Racism is uncomfortable. Rather than tell people how they should and should not converse to make it more palatable for us, we must listen.

To take this concept of white comfort a step further: as white folks, we cannot say that graffiti is the wrong way to protest. Renteria explains, It is not your choice to determine how an oppressed group protests. When as a white person you say violence is not the answer, you are saying peaceful protests and negotiation are the answer. You are denying the fact that marginalized groups often arent heard. Implying there are other ways minimizes the frustration and provides no answers, or solutions. It just points, with privilege, to do things a different way that doesnt disturb your comfort.

To focus on the graffiti on Tippling Rock (or more broadly, the looting and property damage that have been linked to protests nationwide) takes away focus from the issue at hand. The issue that every day, black bodies are exploited by the systems designed to protect us.

Black Lives Matter is not a partisan issue. It is a human rights issue. And residents of Sudbury have influence: connections to elite businesses and universities, political sway and wealth. It is our responsibility to use this influence to dismantle the systems of oppression present in our country, but we cannot do so effectively until we take the time to listen and learn.

While participating in Facebook debates can occasionally change a heart and mind, it is more important that we, the white folks of Sudbury, do the necessary work to change our own. Here is a list of resources where we can to start: Black Lives Matter Educate Yourself, https://bit.ly/3e6td7p; Anti-Racism Resources for all ages Padlet, https://bit.ly/2B5YvMZ; and Anti-Racism Resources, https://bit.ly/2Y5KQhO.

Molly Roach graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in 2011, and is now an English teacher at Cambridge Rindge and Latin.

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LETTER TO THE EDITORDear white folks of Sudbury - News - Wicked Local Sudbury

Traders buy the dip and sell at the peak. The ultimate premise for profitability. Investors, however, need not apply the golden rule at all times. Different horizons and projections determine divergent optimum investment strategies, due to tax-related purposes. Cryptocurrencies are an interesting investment tool that all investors shall consider, due to its unique tax regime.

Let's sum up basic crypto tax fundamentals and taxable events:

One can infer that transactions and trades are taxable only if there is a realization of capital gains or losses. Depending on the classification of your transactions and trades there are other tax repercussions. Furthermore, diversifying in terms of holding period- that is allocating proportions of your portfolio to different time horizons- increases compliance of year-end profitability objectives. For the purpose of this article, we are not going to inquire about said topics as they can seem confusing; however, there are incredible services that can solve all of your crypto tax-related problems.

Rather, lets look at an example of incorporating crypto taxing analysis in your trading strategy: For instance, if Bitcoin was bought at times of a low Spent Output Profit Ratio (SOPR) coupled with upward pressure on the Glassnode Network Index (GNI), indicating solid on-chain and network fundamentals, as an investor you should consider materializing your profit in the long-term; since tax conditions are more favorable for investments held over a period of one year.

Visit Accointing.com for more information and a better understanding.

Lets consider a different scenario: as a diligent investor, you have established profit targets for the year-end, but due to COVID-19 and the economic deterioration, and an ongoing sideways trend, it seems that your profit targets are not in reach. If you decide to cut losses, avoiding further expenses and risk, and implement a prudent taxing strategy (that is, deciding to liquidate your crypto investments prior to the fiscal year-end) there will be less profit deterioration. Said losses shall be favorable for tax purposes given a decrease of your year-end taxable gains.

In the end, it is a matter of understanding short-term and long-term implications and the repercussions it has on your profit objectives. Maintaining a balance between your crypto assets' holding periods is the key to profitability. Depending on your local taxation policies, investment strategy, and time horizon, you may want to hold a greater proportion of your investment for a longer period or vice versa.

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Is It Possible To Profit From Crypto Trading Without Considering Tax Implications? - Yahoo! Voices

A black swan event, COVID-19, has shaken the entire world as no one was prepared for this pandemic. The shutdown of economies all across the globe has created financial uncertainty. The increased rate of unemployment paired with market fluctuations has left people perplexed. Recession is something that looks inevitable. People dont know how to react and what plan they should adopt to protect their familys future.

The pandemic has left the investors worried not only in India but all around the world. With markets being volatile, many of the financial instruments are generating negative returns. What adds to the worry is the uncertainty about how long this pandemic is going to last. The entire situation is going to have a negative impact on the wealth of investors. Therefore, having a robust strategy to manage ones wealth not only with the objective to secure the capital, but also to generate desired returns is the need of the hour.

Being an individual investor, you can follow these four smart tips to manage your wealth effectively, not only during the COVID-19 crisis but beyond.

Considering the current scenario, wealth creation seems to be a difficult objective to achieve. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has eroded the investments of numerous investors. In such a case, the first step that needs to be taken to manage your wealth is to evaluate, redefine and reassess your risk appetite, the style you adopt for making investments, and your level of comfort. A proper asset allocation mix of multiple asset classes that are not co-related is essential to diversify the risk. The other key requirement for appropriate management of your wealth is to invest for a long period. Doing so ensures that COVID-19 or any other crisis does not impact your portfolio.

The equity markets in the current times are experiencing high volatility. This high volatility can result in equity investments generating negative returns. In such a case, it is advisable to buy dips and staggered investments for more than 6 months. Taking such measures will help investors build equity exposure in the portfolio of the investors for an investment horizon of more than 3 years.

As we know that the equity markets remain volatile in the current pandemic situation, having a fair share of fixed income investment instruments can be a profitable step towards wealth management. Even though interest rates are seen declining during the current times, there are a few opportunities like 7.75% interest paid on Government of India Savings Bonds with a lock-in period of 7 years that can help generate stable returns. Other fixed-income investments that can be explored include Banking and PSU Debt Funds, short-term debt funds, and Bank FDs that can help in optimizing portfolio returns.

Gold has been a preferred investment avenue for years. In the current situation, when the economy is heading towards recession, investors and individuals are hesitant about investing in gold. People are looking for suitable investment avenues that can be easily liquidated during the downturn. This is where the yellow metal comes to play. Gold has always been a safe investment asset with no counter-party risk and is expected to retain its value even in times of recession. In light of low global economic activity and a low rate of interest across the globe, gold is an asset class that is expected to perform well. You can consider buying Sovereign Gold Bonds that generate an interest income of 2.5% annually with gold prices-linked upside.

It is always advisable to invest in international investment avenues when diversifying your portfolio. Investing in international equity helps in diversifying country risk, credit risk, and currency risk. It also opens opportunities to invest in companies dealing in technology, healthcare, and other sectors that are not available for investments in India. For instance, you can prefer adding US equities and technology-oriented funds in your portfolio to generate higher returns with diversified risk.

In order to manage your wealth profitably and effectively during times like COVID-19, the first and foremost thing you need to keep in mind is to reassess your financial goals and objectives of investing. Before putting your hard-earned money in any asset class, it is always advisable to reassess your risk-taking capacity. The other golden rule of investing and managing your wealth portfolio is not to put all your eggs in one basket.

(By Yogesh Kalwani, Head Investment and Family Office, InCred Wealth)

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How to manage wealth effectively during the COVID-19 crisis - The Financial Express

BY Claudia FinkelsteinMichigan State University, The Conversation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released what it calls "general considerations" on safe actions for reopening houses of worship, but worship communities can accept or reject those considerations.

Religious worship allows tens of millions of Americans to demonstrate devotion to a higher power. It gives people an opportunity to commit - and recommit - to a set of values. In-person services foster a sense of community and belonging. Unfortunately for millions whose lives are enriched by communal worship, traditional services are ideal places for virus transmission: lots of people, close together.

As a physician specializing in internal medicine, I suggest, for now at least, that we reexamine how we worship. After all, what better way to embody the values of your faith than to take steps to protect one another?

Even with the uncertainty and variability of reopening plans, scientifically and medically sound information is available. For starters, you'll want to assess your individual risk, the prevalence of the virus in your area and the availability of testing.

The four pillars

You may consider guidelines suggested by Dr. Atul Gawande, noted surgeon and author. He proposes four essential pillars for safe reentry into communal spaces: hygiene, distancing, screening and mask use.

All four must operate together to minimize transmission. Will your place of worship be able to enact these pillars?

For example: Will you have easy access to hand-washing or sanitizing? Will communal surfaces and shared spaces be wiped down? Will attendance be limited to allow distancing, and will attendees be screened with temperature checks and self-screening questionnaires? Will your place of worship enforce mask use and distancing? Anything short of all four pillars increases transmission risk.

And even with all the precautions, people with infections can be asymptomatic - so despite the screening measures, you can't be sure who has the virus and whether you might become exposed.

Today's services: Short, outside - and cut the choir

Other factors influence viral spread. The dose you receive is higher when you're close to someone not wearing a face covering. Someone sneezing and coughing increases the number of virus particles near you. Singing or speaking forcefully releases more virus than speaking quietly. Outdoor rates of transmission are much lower than those indoors.

That's why it's best if services are short, outdoors and with no singing or physical contact. Only a limited number of attendees, spaced widely and wearing masks properly, would participate.

In dealing with the virus, we still have much to learn. But values common to all religions exist - compassion, kindness, respect for fellow humans and some variation of the Golden Rule. Until more is known about COVID-19, let's choose a path following one of the major tenets of my profession: First, do no harm.

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Be as safe as possible in your house of worship - Sumter Item