I wrote this over two weeks ago, to be posted here today, and in that time a lot has happened, including the death in Minnesota of a nurse, Alex Pretti, who was filming the protests in Minneapolis, and moved – camera out – to help a woman assaulted by ICE officers. Shot ten times in the back after being pepper sprayed and surrounded by 4 officers. What the fuck is happening? The current administration is occupying an American city, is what. I am sick at heart, and furious.
“Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their greatest strength and fatal flaw.” Jean Watson, American nurse theorist and nursing professor
Contrary to what literally hundreds of idiot males – and a few females – have accused me of on line, the only news I watch is the PBS Newshour (“You are a biased libtard CNN/MSNBC/??? viewer, it’s clear!”). I do this because it simplifies my life; it is also good to limit exposure to current events, which tend to be presented in a rather – imo – hyperbolic manner, emphasizing conflict and outrage. I also do it because no commercials (how glorious is that? very) and most of all I do it because PBS sticks, still, to the Fairness Doctrine* abolished decades ago by the corrupt, vile duo of Reagan (Ronny), and Roberts (Johnny), one of Ronnie’s premiere White House attorneys, now (unfortunately) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
“A nurse is not what you do. It is what you are…. I am a nurse. It’s not what I do, it’s what I am.” – Unknown
I gathered quotes about nurses for this post because the administration has slashed aspiring nurses access – and experienced nurses looking to get more advanced degrees required for teaching others to be nurses – to low interest/low-cost federal funds. I am not built to be a nurse (ugh, are you kidding me – never!) but I sure do admire and respect anyone who is a nurse, including Alex Pretti, for doing what they do. I have friends and family who are nurses, and I recognize the work they do is the very 100,000% essential work of healthcare.
“Save one life, you’re a hero. Save 100 lives, you’re a nurse.” – Unknown
Alex Pretti is dead because when you hire bozos, giving them minimal training and fully-loaded weapons, this is what happens. Alex Pretti is dead because our Orange POS POTUS is convinced that he ‘won’ Minnesota in the past 3 presidential elections; thus his losses there are the result of wide-spread voter fraud and corruption, corruption that must be violently and otherwise rooted out (he is suing the governor, district attorney and Mayors of MInneapolis/St. Paul for that reasons).
Alex Pretti is dead because a slim but significant majority of the voters in this country just could not pull the lever for a Black woman. Alex Pretti is dead because ignorant, arrogant influencers like Joe Rogan didn’t think it would ‘get this bad’. Alex Pretti is dead because Stephen MIller and Kristi Noem and Pete Hegseth and Tom Homan and a host of others are racists who simply do no give a flying fuck about the consequences of their filthy policy decisions.
“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” – Val Saintsbury
After Renee Good was shot a doctor present at the scene was refused access in order assess and provide care in the minutes after she was shot 3 times in the head. Federal officials are denying that anything other than appropriate actions were taken in all instances of violence against protesters, and detainees alike. It’s sickening. Calling protestors – a right guaranteed by our 1st amendment – domestic terrorists should infuriate and chill the blood of us all.
“Nurses are there when the last breath is taken, and nurses are there when the first breath is taken. Although it is more enjoyable to celebrate the birth, it is just as important to comfort in death.” – Christine Belle
Alex Pretti was a 37 year-old nurse, freely exercising his right to walk in his adopted city, filming federal agents who have occupied that same city. He was given no comfort in death, and that alone should break hearts, and maybe even a few minds, open.
It’s time – it’s past time – to get into some good trouble. Deep breaths.
*if you’re interested in the Fairness Doctrine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_doctrine