Defunding Police and Missionary Work

             I wish I had taken the time to record my thoughts and try to transcribe them instead of the pathetic attempt to post the following: 

          Jenna has an assignment due today.  She asked if I could bounce around some ideas in order to help her.  The topic is “Defunding the Police – Why or Why Not?” Her thoughts mirrored my own when the subject started making its way around facebook.

          “Why would we defund the police?  That is so wrong.  It’s their job to serve and protect us.  Why would we want to take that away?”

          I obviously had not understood why so many seemed to support it until I saw this political cartoon 

this was shared on facebook.  Unfortunately I am
 unable to cite its orginal source but would like to know

Defunding the police is not the same as abolishing. 

          Have you ever watched “Little House on the Prairie” or westerns in which there is only one doctor in town.  A jack of all trades one might say.  His job was to cure whatever ailed the citizens whether it be a common cold, the fever, skin rashes, bullet wounds, delivering babies . . . a doctor was expected to know it all and cater to all regardless of age.  And though many doctors may have known a little about so much of what was required or expected the doctor did not everything. 

          Today we have gynecologists, pediatricians, Ophthalmologists, podiatrists, Dermatologists, cardiologists . . . the list goes on and on.  Each doctor specializes in a certain field.  I think it is better to have multiple doctors that cater to something specific than just one who tries to do it all. I think it is the same with the police.  Many signed up with a specific goal in mind without having been trained for every aspect one might associate with police work.  We need to spread the funds each to whatever specialty is required.

          We have opinions on why we should defund the police or why we should not defund the police. I was most curious about how the police themselves felt about it. I do have friends in the law enforcement and would like to support them. I watched this video chat with Lee Adams from Vice (here) in which he addresses eight different law enforcement officers from across the nation. 

Even among those that are in law enforcement there are still conflicting ideas about why or why not reallocate the taxpayers money. Though they agree on some things there are still other items in which their opinions vary.

         I had been asked to attend a missionary training meeting in Roseburg last night. I attended the meeting virtually.  As the meeting progressed my mind reflected upon how to best utilize each member of the community. I made a silent comparison with Jenna’s assignment and the leadership training that was being suggested – discussions I had already had as a missionary and a ward mission leader. 

Two videos were shown – both which I had seen before.  The focus is on ward involvement.  The story unfolds as a man (I think his name is Juan) loses his job and doesn’t know how he will tell his wife.  On the same day he meets with the missionaries.  They start teaching him and his life is changed.  He introduces the gospel to his wife, Julia.  We are asked how we as a ward will be able to include them into our fold.

          Juan is computer savvy and is introduced to someone in the church who is not.  The missionaries ask Juan to utilize his talents to assist ward members – an act of service.  How can we, in return, help Juan. Introduce him to someone who can relate.  Same with the Relief Society and Julia (Juan’s wife).  When we are in ward correlation or missionary meetings how can we involve each organization?  Who would be a good fit?  I get that.  I understood that as a missionary. 

             I was happy about my decision to attend virtually rather than in person as Roland (who hasn’t felt well) would have had to drive me as I cannot see at night. I can’t say that I learned anything new. I was disappointed that today’s situation had not been addressed as we now have to reach out to others in more creative ways than handshakes and personal introductions.  We have to respect one another’s boundaries by wearing masks and keeping our distance – which for me does not give off good vibes of welcoming. I know I can contact others over the phone or through social media if I have that information – which I don’t.

             It’s almost as though we are dehumanized with the mask and staying six feet apart – although I support the outline given.  I just find it hard to reach out when I don’t feel a foundation of the initial start.  I miss connecting with members – let alone those who are not.  Hopefully they can feel the Spirit through the meetings themselves and may understand that human contact will come – we just don’t know when.

What a Difference

           When the stay-at-home order was given in March, there was a great number of people who did stay home but there were many who had the attitude that “I still have freedom . . . nobody tells me what to do . . .” and have contributed to American stupidity ever since.

I don’t like Walmart for many reasons but Roland just so happens to have a Walmart card and Roseburg has a Walmart and so we have been there numerous times – though I have not accompanied him as often as Jenna who wanted to go to Roseburg last and I wanted to stay home with Bonnie (the dog) but Roland had me go and Jenna stay.

Because there was no iodized salt offered at Costco, Roland wanted to stop by Walmart first to get some.  The last time we had gone to Walmart there was a line of people waiting for consumers to exit the store and were allowed so many at a time (depending on the amount leaving) maintaining a social distancing.  Everybody required to wear masks.

Now it’s every man for himself, masks are optional.  And evidently a client can clean a shelf off of product and it doesn’t seem to matter how much is being hordered.  (We purchased 24 cans of salt which pretty much wiped out the inventory on the floor).  Wal-Mart caters to Pharisees.

We then went to Costco to purchase other bulk items such as toilet paper and paper towels.  Everyone was social distancing.  Everyone was wearing masks.  That’s how it should be.  We should still be on a stay-at-home order because our moving to phases one and two were not gradual enough.  At least I am in Oregon and not in Florida right now.  There’s a state with many problems.  Is their governor good friends with Donald Trump?   Is he trying to outshine his criminal mind?  It’s as though the leadership (or lack thereof) in the state is experiencing PMS.

We had wanted to purchase three large packages of toilet paper but were allowed only one.  Costco knows that there is still a pandemic.  I like Costco.  Don’t like Walmart.  Chewed Roland out this morning and said I don’t ever want him going to Walmart again.  Not during the pandemic.  He has made the decision not to attend church and I guarantee you that the Church is being so much more careful than Walmart and we have a lot more room than we did on the airplaine going to New York (which was a careless thing on our part – I don’t ever want to fly again even when the pandemic is over.  I do not like being squashed! 

Thank you Costco for sticking by your guns. 

Read the Directions Several Times

          As a student, for me personally, it was always easier to receive verbal directions than written ones.  I would do the research for whatever class I had online and discover the assignment was very different from my interpretation of what I thought I had read.  So often I would have to change my sense of direction – sometimes resulting in starting from scratch.  I’m finding the same is true with some of the students who are used to being in public school but are online currently due to the pandemic.

          On of my daughter’s friends asked if she could come and film herself performing CPR on Jenna.  That is NOT social distancing.  Jenna does not have that same assignment as she is not currently taking the required health class that her friend has on her schedule.  Her friend seemed certain that she would have to practice on another person – which for me sounded irresponsible.  Why would an instructor ask that of a student at this time?  The entire reason we are not in public schooling right now is because there is no such thing as social distancing among students. 

          The directions say to perform the CPR – if necessary student may demonstrate on something like a stuffed animal or doll.  The LAST comment in tiny letters is demonstrate on an actual person without really doing it.  So I am thinking 1) why would she turn in a project in which she has obviously broken the rule of social distancing 2) why not perform on a stuffed animal or pillow even – then you will be able to press as hard as actually required because the pillow won’t be hurt no matter how much pressure is applied.

          It seems like an unrealistic requirement for all students as not all students do have access to making the video or transferring the information correctly.  I could be wrong.  Many of Jenna’s friend do have cell phones.  They upload videos all the time on Tik Tok – but still – we live in a poor area and not everybody has access to electronics – though I think under the circumstances perhaps schools have issued chrome books for students to “borrow”.  I know my sisters kids have borrowed chrome books from their school.

          Written directions should be read several times.  They need to be read out loud.  They need to communicate to the mind what needs to take place in order to express that the directions were followed.  I hope Jenna’s friend realizes that our not allowing her to come into direct contact with our daughter is nothing against her personally.  We love this friend.  Under normal circumstances I would take her under my wing and have her stay with us.  But it’s out of my control.  It isn’t my place.