Split Screen:

Earth Now and a Bit of Paradise Later

First the hard stuff: Some of our friends are afraid to go out, at least many who have accents, or darker skins, or culturally Muslim clothing, or gender stuff, or . . .

I live in Minneapolis, ten or fifteen minutes from the two murder scenes. Because I’m fully shielded by white privilege and only wear hijab for prayer, I have none of their worries.

Though I’m ethnically mixed and have identified as multiracial since 1966, I’m far less liable to be arrested, beaten, or killed than these friends, all U.S. born or here legally, by the way. But of course no one is safe right now. A sampling of people I know who have concerns:

· A Latin-American lady from Minneapolis whose home care job involves driving between clients

· An African American performance artist who drives out to teach others

· A family of house cleaners who’ve notified clients that they won’t be coming soon

· Some sisters and brothers from local mosques whose religious clothing paints a target on their backs

· Clients of a Hmong business owner, who says her formerly busy street has become quiet and international friends’ stores and restaurants (and her own) may go broke soon because employees are afraid to come to work

· A brilliantly gifted American college student descended from African parents, now afraid to go to class

· A writer and spiritual guide who changed genders a lifetime ago and suddenly can’t travel internationally

· At least two Bosnian friends who’ve survived one civil war and aren’t thrilled to be in the middle of another.

· The Somali man who tossed my horribly messy job application and gave me a new one, getting me on the most delightful work team ever. We decided he was my little brother (being younger), and my husband and I attended his sister’s wedding. Can’t reach him now.

The two sides (good and evil, not simplistic “reds” and “blues”) have never been clearer, and this week, I read one definitive statement from each, shown below. In the first, the second paragraph is to me the most shocking.

“News from the Republican Gestapo - (posted to Facebook by a friend on 1.28)

Tom Homan today: ‘We’re going to create a database where those people that are arrested for interference, impeding and assault, we’re going to make them famous. We’re going to put their face on TV. We’re going to let their employers, in their neighborhoods, in their schools, know who these people are.’

An hour after Homan’s threat, CNN revealed Alex Pretti’s name and information had been entered into a Palantir database ICE/DHS use one week prior to his murder.

It’s happening folks. The regime is building a list and their agents have threatened family members at their homes. The regime is planning to exterminate anyone who stands in their way. Take necessary precautions now for a prolonged civil collapse. Find the people you can trust, know who you can’t and stick to your close group.”

And this, Posted by White Rose Resistance to Facebook on or about 1.27

“Kraser vowed to hunt down ‘wannabe Nazi’ Ice agents. Philadelphia DA vows to hunt down ‘Nazi’ ICE officers amid new law to limit agents.

‘If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities. We will find you. We will achieve justice, and we will do so under the Constitution and the laws of the United States,” Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner said.’

There could not be a clearer contrast. Know your side, and make a stand wherever you want and however you can.

And I’ll be posting a second column later today, inshallah, because Monday is Laylat al-Barat, “the Night of Forgiveness and Mercy” in Islam, and perhaps a night of healing for all hearts who cling to the good as best they can. Coming soon to a dimension near you . . .