Finding Light in Very Dark Times

The Archangels Talk About Higher Purpose

I write this with a profound sense of sadness I’m trying to overcome after the latest death of a protester in Minnesota over the weekend.  This is not going to be anti-ICE, anti-Trump, anti-Republican, or anti-anyone.  I wasn’t there when this tragic event happened, and I doubt anyone has all the facts at this point, and the goal attached to this article is not political.  In fact and in truth, the goal of this article is to offer comfort and promote unity.

The first goal of any government should be to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.  There’s an argument which I’m not going to delve into today about how the crackdown on illegal immigration is aimed at doing exactly that, capturing and deporting “the worst of the worst.”  Here’s the thing, though … after the actions that have taken place and continue take place in every city that has been targeted by ICE so far, it’s no longer about immigration reform any more than Jimmy Kimmel being temporarily axed was about whether or not you were a fan of his.  It’s about protecting the constitutional rights and the very safety and lives of innocent Americans who want to demonstrate against what they believe to be wrong doing by the government.  There’s room for debate about whether or not immigration policies need to change and how to deal with the current situation, but there should be no room to debate whether or not people have the right to protest peacefully and be protected while doing so.

Let me be clear.  I’m not talking about people who assault federal officers.  That is not peaceful protest.  I’m not talking about throwing dangerous objects at agents or tackling them to the ground or running them down or blocking them with cars.  I’m talking about the countless videos being posted of ICE and Border Patrol officers tackling people to the ground or damaging their property (cars, phones, and more), because they’re filming them on their cameras, or because of people yelling obscenities at officers present, verbally challenging the legality of what is being carried out, and blowing whistles as officers are being followed and criticized.

 Granted, all of those things would be aggravating, demoralizing, and insulting, without a doubt.  However, none of those things are violent or pose a physical threat to the agents present, and they should not be addressed in the ways they have been. 

I’m talking about arresting American citizens, because they’ve shouted obscenities at the officers on the scene, then being forced into cars and taken away for hours or longer, then being released without charges being pressed, because they didn’t break any laws.  Again, while those things can be disconcerting, maybe even unreasonable and certainly disrespectful, they are not violent, and they are not illegal.  In this country, you’re not supposed to be able to be arrested, just because you piss off an officer of the law.

High ranking government officials, including the President, have responded to these attacks by blaming the victims and labeling them as domestic terrorists, without offering any proof to support those statements.  State officials have been blocked from participating in the investigations, and I have to wonder why, if they were interested in serving and protecting the people and finding out the truth and preventing such occurrences from taking place in the future.

Protesting and disagreeing with the government is not illegal in this country, and participating in these things does not make you a terrorist.  I can’t help but draw similarities between what’s happening here and what has happened in Iran.  Thank God our government has not escalated to that extent, but if they are allowed to go unchallenged in what they’re doing now, it worries me that we’re heading in that direction. 

The focus on the latest killing from the government’s side is that the protestor was armed, therefor it was his fault that he was shot and killed.  There were accusations that he’d brandished his weapon and planned on killing federal agents at the protest, but video evidence and first hand accounts show that not only did he never pull his weapon, which he was legally entitled to carry, but he was disarmed before he was killed.  Again, I wasn’t there, and the news is not always reliable, but there is no proof being offered that supports these accusations against the man who was killed, and I doubt it exists.  You can argue that the man’s judgment in bringing a gun to a protest was faulty, but you cannot say it was illegal, and there has been nothing to prove or even suggest that he was a threat to the officers who killed him.  He was restrained on the ground by multiple officers when he was shot several times! 

That’s what happens when you tell your people they should act with impunity.  No, I wasn’t there, but every eye witness and video of the scene refutes what the government reps have said, without exception.  At the very least, it’s irresponsible to make those statements without all the facts and minus any proof to back them.

I spoke to a dear friend this morning and shared my overwhelming sadness with her, and she repeated what her husband had explained to her, which he’d learned when he took a class about managing change effectively.  He shared that change doesn’t usually happen until there is a breakdown of some kind which demonstrates that change is needed.  When the breakdown happens, those in charge can either actively engage to manage it in a way that minimizes impact or react to the breakdown as it unfolds.  No one at the federal level has stepped up to manage the breakdown or minimize its effects.  Rather, they have simply reacted, and in my opinion, the focus has been on “cover your ass and point the blame elsewhere.”  That has not been effective, obviously, and I find it very irresponsible, not to mention juvenile and unprofessional, on the part of those who are in charge of the agencies involved.

With all this heaviness and chaos, it’s difficult to remain hopeful, and I often go to the Archangels for support and comfort at times like this.  I did so this morning, and I’d like to share their response.

Question:  [to Archangel Michael] I’m very upset and sad about the latest death in Minnesota.  I’ve managed to overcome the anger for the most part, but the sadness hangs on.  I know you said tragedy will lead to unity, but the cost is great.  How do we cope with these times and find the hope that is promised as we find a way forward?

Answer:

My friend, I know and am sorry that you and so many others are struggling.  These are upsetting, sad times, especially for those like you who have kind hearts, not to mention those who have suffered abuse directly, along with their loved ones. 

Despite the darkness, there are pockets of light to be found, as well.  Unity is building.  We know it is and will continue to be hard won at the cost of others, and we also are saddened by this.  We wish to clearly state that although these things that are happening are to be expected, and they are necessary for change and will eventually lead to a better world, that does not mean they are acceptable or should in any way be permitted.  We only point out that there is indeed a higher purpose.  We do not rejoice in these things leading up to change any more than you do, including the violence and abuse of power and the damage and harm done to others, but we say again that these terrible things will lead to positive changes.  They will serve a higher purpose.

There is no divine orchestration of negative events.  We never add to the chaos, even though we can see how it will, in the end, change your world for the better.  These things are natural occurrences and reactions to the kinds of abuses of power from which the people continue to suffer, and they will escalate as long as the abuse continues, until people unite and demand better.  Humanity will not continue to attack and destroy each other.  There are too many people who are against that now.  You only need time and the inclination to create the unity required to demand a stop to the abuse and to create a better way of life.  Most people want this, but it will require setting aside your differences and focusing on the big picture.

We are struggling and fighting with you as you continue along this path.  We cannot interfere in terms of striking down oppression or stopping corruption as it happens, and it is important to consider that all the people involved, indeed all who live on the planet at this time, serve a purpose.  You must unite and create change for yourselves.  However, we can guide, direct, comfort, and strengthen you as you go along.  We are always on your side.  We are against no person, but we clearly see, as many of you do, which people are in error and are adding to the problems you face and which things must change.  There are better people who will be ready to replace them when they have the support from the masses that they need to succeed in making the changes that are so badly needed.  In the meantime, call on us at any time to ease and lead you as you move forward. 

Final Thoughts

For the first time in my life, I googled the numbers of the two federal senators that represent my state and left recorded messages asking them to please not support the funding for DHS that comes up for a vote later this week.  I didn’t ask them for accountability or transparency.  I just asked that some safety measures be put into place in order to protect the people before funding is approved.  I wasn’t insulting, didn’t blame anyone for the state of the nation, didn’t call anyone names or offer any insults.  It’s a small thing, and it may not make a bit of difference, but it can’t hurt.  I didn’t threaten to vote them out of office, and I didn’t suggest that ICE be disbanded.  I didn’t ask them to change anything in terms of the law.  All I asked was that they guard the laws and support the constitutional rights of the people that are already in place.  I got the idea from a podcaster who said that if enough people leave such messages, we’ll get their attention at the very least. 

There’s a difference between following the law and submitting to unlawful control.  Most of the folks in Minnesota aren’t after breaking the laws, at least as far as I can tell, but neither are they willing to lay down and do whatever they’re told to do, especially if it is an infringement of their rights as citizens or if abuses of power are being carried out.  Everyone should be safe to take to the streets in protest, including citizens in the presence of federal agents.  ICE agents should also be safe to do their jobs, as long as they are acting within the law.  I’m sure there are good ICE agents out there, and they don’t deserve the blame that belongs to those in their profession who abuse the law and the people.  Of course, the good guys are not likely to be featured on the news any more than the peaceful protestors who are not breaking any laws.  The number of unlawful incidents being recorded as well as the number of cases being dismissed against citizens by judges representing and appointed by both parties paint a very clear picture of what is going on, and it’s a direct reflection of the failure and disregard for the law by the agencies and leadership involved.

Amidst all the mayhem are hints of hope, however.  A lady from Substack, Teri Leigh from Minnesota, described all the things the communities were doing to support the people, including providing places where people can warm up, be treated for injuries, and find safety, cleaning up the empty canisters of tear gas and such that ICE is leaving behind in traumatized neighborhoods, so the people who were hurt don’t have to, tow companies who are towing cars of people who were taken away by ICE and had to leave their cars running (at no charge), and many other things.  These actions are examples of hope and the unity the Angels have predicted.

I’ve lived on the US/Mexico border for over sixty years.  Although there have been some issues associated with illegal immigration in the area, I never remember a time that I feared immigrants a fraction of how much I fear the current actions being practiced by our own government and its agents against American citizens.  None of the cities who have suffered from recent violence on the part of government agencies and agents had these kinds of problems to this extent before the government came in and took over. 

Again, it’s not about politics, political parties, or policies.  It’s about safety, the law, and transparency.  It’s about decency, and it’s about freedom.  We are all guaranteed those things as US citizens.  It’s up to our politicians to safeguard those things, and up to this point, I don’t see much effort on the parts of politicians of either party to do so.  We need them to work harder to get things back on track.  That’s their job.  In the meantime, it’s important to be for the people and freedom, rather than against ICE.  It would appear they’ve been given free reign to do as they please in many cases, and the leadership that should be safeguarding the law and our constitutional rights and protecting the people is not there.  That’s unacceptable.  Meeting violence with more violence is never the answer.  That only escalates to more violence. 

We need unity.  We need to build bridges, rather than tear them down.  We may disagree on a lot of things, but there are some things we can surely all agree on.  No law enforcement agency should be given impunity and not held accountable for their actions.  When someone dies, there needs to be transparency in the investigation and accountability for actions taken.  It’s entirely possible that some agents are acting reasonably and within the law, but they should have to prove that they acted legally and there was just cause for their actions, just like everyone else. 

That doesn’t mean ICE agents shouldn’t be safe or that assaulting them should be allowed, but they shouldn’t be able to assault others people and break the law, either, regardless of how mad they may get that people are protesting them.  As law enforcement agents, they are aware of the law, and they should follow it and be held accountable for all actions taken on the job. 

People should be allowed to practice their constitutional rights whether we’re talking about free speech, the right to protest peacefully, or be protected against unlawful search and seizure at all times.  Surely, we can agree on all of these fundamental freedoms we are guaranteed as US citizens.  When we begin to excuse or cover up abuses of these rights and allow the government or any of its agents to ignore these freedoms, we are on a slippery slope that will lead to disaster.  The end does not justify the means when laws are broken and rights are disregarded.  Our politicians are supposed to protect the people and their rights.  That is not happening.  It’s about time we put a stop to that, even if we just call and complain to our politicians or send out loving energy to wherever it’s needed.  Let’s all act peacefully and protect and support each other.

Blessings, all.