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Oct 27, 2023·edited Oct 27, 2023Liked by The Kennedy Beacon, Max A Lockwood

I agree RFK, Jr on 90% of his positions on issues.

One thing he needs to clarify or modify is his community infrastructure and renovation plan. Many people think he is in favor of reparations because of this plan. I don't see it as pure reparations, but there appears to be an element of reparations in his plan.

He must modify this, or he'll lose much of the momentum and support he has gained the past year. No rational people support reparations. This idea is insane on multiple levels. The vast majority of people oppose reparations.

I'm all for upgrading and renovating urban areas. But NOT for any slavery or prior racism ratioanale. I oppose any hint of reparations in any way, shape or form.

I hope RFK, Jr thinks the same.

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The healing centers' concept is focused on helping to heal addicts, black or white or whatever. The country is suffering from a moral and ethical collapse and addiction is seen as an easy way to cope with it. Kennedy wants to build healing centers in rural areas to address this and offer people a healthy treatment and healing space.

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I'm good with this part of his urban plan.

I'm sure you heard how his overall plans to renovate communities have been falsely depicted as reparations by those who want to discredit him. In truth, he alludes to some sort of reparation concept. I support and like RFK, Jr, and even I wondered what he meant by a couple of his comments. Does he believe in reparations in any way, shape or form?

So he really should define more specifically what he intends. And if he doesn't believe in reparations per se, he should state that definitely and clearly.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Max A Lockwood, The Kennedy Beacon

Perhaps a Congressman, who is representing his constituents, should modify to match his support, but should a leader do this? Or could the leader present logical ideas that enhance unity?

On the topic, try watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4kI2h3iotA

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I support the Democratic Party paying reparations because it was at the center of the war for slavery and the nursing of the KKK and Jim Crow. I reject reparations coming from tax money. RFk should sue the Democratic Party. He is good at suing organizations with lots of money.

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That's an interesting idea.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by The Kennedy Beacon, Max A Lockwood

Mr Kennedy’s focus and vision using the 12 step program to heal the emotional wounds of society is well founded . My neighbor , now in her 80’s , was a regular attendee at AlAnon , it helped her survive her husbands alcoholism . She had three children and was unable to pay her bills or fill the refrigerator . The lessons she learned there have stayed with her and served her well. Recently widowed , her resilience and coping skills continue to be exceptional . When I remark about her ability to “ get on with it “ she says “ it’s because of Al Anon . These tenets should be part of every school’s curriculum , starting with elementary school . Kudos to RFK for his vision and courage and compassion 👍🙏💙

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Oct 27, 2023·edited Oct 27, 2023Author

Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Pat. You are spot on about the spiritual healing powers of a 12-step program for addiction and those dealing with addiction.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by The Kennedy Beacon, Max A Lockwood

Agree with RFK Jr on 90% of his agenda ... and for me that's close enough.. RFK Jr I pray will be our next President..

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Curt do you agree that the country needs to heal?

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Absolutely, from top to bottom.. Max. American society at large is in decay, thought, body, and mind.. ripe for Big Brothers pickin.. Moral, high Integrity, High Intelligence Leadership like RFK Jr's is required now to lift us up from our Nation-wide hospital bed back into the Sunlight of True Health ... He can do it but only if We Do Our part.. everyday.. Back to work to get him elected.. We can do it Brother! Unify and focus today!

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RFK, Jr. has great ideas, great plans, but it's quite painful to experience such an intelligent, well-prepared, and principled leader in our country completely avoid the glaring reality, right in front of our eyes, of the extermination of thousands of Palestinians--including children, most of whom are innocent of the terrible October 7th events.

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This fight over a piece of desert has been going on for a few thousand years.. each side willing to kill the other continuously for several thousand years.. over a Sacred site... atrocity after atrocity for thousands of years.. Not the Jews, not the Arabs, nor the Christians REALLY willing to Forgive.. REALLY interested in PEACE.. only in Vengeance and regaining control of a Sacred Site.. committing Violent Atrocities is their Reality... NOT in anyway related to the Sacred..

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Beware of the Military Industrial Complex

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Max A Lockwood, The Kennedy Beacon

I don't see how you can say he's avoiding it. He hasn't been elected yet, so he has the same power "to do something" as you or I have...

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Max A Lockwood, The Kennedy Beacon

RFK is a U.S. presidential candidate, and I can assure you, after having experienced living in and visiting war-ravaged countries, such as Iraq, that much of the world is keen to know what opinions U.S. presidential candidates have on this issue. These people discuss these kinds of burning matters all the time.

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"much of the world" can't vote for him...

And he has stated what he would do, as much as he can state. A good negotiator doesn't give away too much in public, so there is something to negotiate with. And there are lots of treaties and former agreements to consider before promising anything. Also, there are a lot of influential people who support one side or the other, so a savvy candidate needs to careful.

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He has the power and obligation to discuss it as a presidential candidate. So far his belligerent reaction to the Israeli Palestine conflict is the number one issue that might have me voting for someone else. A person can’t campaign against the military industrial complex and endless wars while simultaneously supporting sending billions to the Israeli government to wage wanton destruction of an imprisoned population. Well they can, but not without being an egregious hypocrite.

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Hi Jeffery this is a very good point. I think we are all waiting to hear what Mr. Kennedy has to say about this horrific conflict. If he is truly on the side of the oppressed and underdog he will have to make a statement that speaks to what is happening, why it is happening, and what the solution is. So far it seems that the entire world power structure is allowing a horrific event to take place while knowing full well that it is leading to the deaths of innocent civilians. When we assess leaders in the US of humanity the great ones rise to the occasion to not only embrace conflict but use their commitment to humanity to help solve it.

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Oct 28, 2023Liked by Max A Lockwood

Good luck finding a candidate that will say exactly what you want on that one issue.

Politicians spend the taxpayer money as they see fit and hardly ever for things that we prefer.

Israel has been atrocious for years, but only now it has come to the world's attention and you demand that all candidates have an immediate fix for a thousand year old problem?

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There are libertarian candidates that are saying pretty much what I wrote. Even Biden(!) has shown more recognition of innocent Palestinians than Rfk has. Rfk has a celebrity orthodox Rabbi, Shmuley Boteach, at his hip telling him to treat the Israeli government like it is holy. It seems rfk thinks he got stuck in the mud with all the stupid references to the holocaust and Ann frank and Ashkenazi targeted ethno viruses and needs to sacrifice a donkey on the altar of Yahweh now to redeem his sins.

Rfk says a lot things I want on other issues, he can say what I want on this one if he is at all genuine with those other things—such as political corruption and the military industrial complex and the neglect of American interests. The US ‘s current relationship with Israel is a cause and symptom of all those things. If he doesn’t declare “independence” from the Israeli government he demonstrates everything else he says is hollow.

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I agree that he needs to come out with an intelligent and well-thought-out position here. If he is indeed for the underdog then he must speak truth to power, even if he likes the concept of Israel and supports a Jewish state.

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He has expressed his spiritual distress over the harm of children (women and men). His appearance in Kentucky for example. He has worked his entire life for the benefit of children and families health and well being. As someone who has devoted my own life to injured and sick children, I see his heart. I trust him to be thoughtful, especially on an issue that requires an individual to have peace within (themselves) to delegate.

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Why is Kuchinich gone?

Because he considered Palestinians being human beings with human rights?

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I agree that RFK's concern about children is impressive. But why stop at the borders of the United States, especially given the crisis we are hearing about and watching today in Gaza, where the U.S. is deeply involved. I just copied an article in Global Research about an Al-Jazeera reporter from Gaza whose wife and children were killed in a recent bombing there. Previously Secretary of State Blinken had asked that his reporting be "toned down."

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This is a great point Betsey and one that the current administration is clearly not able to grasp at the moment. Rather than heal and promote peace we are encouraging war and violence. This makes little sense and does not speak well of the United States. Creating peace or conflict resolution centers in the United States and all around is a great idea.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Max A Lockwood

Healing our country, requires healing ourselves. There is no peace, prosperity, or compassion until we have it within ourselves. RFK, Jr knows this because he has healed more trauma than most souls on this planet. His emotional/ spiritual intelligence (wisdom) is equal if not beyond his mental intelligence, integrity and compassion. He is truly self-actualized (Maslow) from what I’ve seen, and illustrates Joseph Campbell’s Wounded Warrior archetype, healing himself to return and heal the masses. He’s not special, we’re all special, and he inspires others to find their own sacred purpose.

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Hi Yvonne this is a very good point. Kennedy, as a recovering addict, knows and understands his limitations as a human being. He understands trauma and the addiction to power and how this corrupts the human soul. He is human, he does not have all of the answers. He does, however have the capacity to learn, to be inquisitive, and have an open mind that is geared towards peaceful and more humane solutions to conflict.

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Before being implemented, Kennedy's model should be tested in a randomized sampling of prospective beneficiaries rather than being implemented without being tested.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Max A Lockwood

I have seen many similar models implemented for US Veterans and it is extremely successful.

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Yvonne thank you for your comment. If you would be willing to share some examples that would be fantastic.

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Very good point Terry!

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I was a substitute teacher after I retired from a social work career and spent the bulk of 16 yrs in middle school - I believe indubitably that children would benefit from the precepts taught in the AA and Anon Programs -most teachers would as well . I also think that educators should be cross trained in psych./ counseling . I heard many say -“ I’m a teacher not a counselor “ . Well I was a counselor and not a trained classroom teacher and my SW and counseling / communication skills were invaluable and very effective in relating to students - not always the case with some teachers who quite simply are not skillful in communication outside of their curriculum area .

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Your belief should, however be tested before being implemented. This is a requirement of the scientific method of investigation.

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What I've found most valuable, since I haven't been involved in this issue up until now, is to listen to some excellent commentators who have a brooder and deeper perspective on this issue. Here's one:

https://consortiumnews.com/2023/10/23/watch-ilan-pappe-dehistoricizing-oct-7/

Here is the former British Ambassador Alastair Crooke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IKCo3MVW1o

Again, RFK's silence on this issue, as a U.S. presidential candidate, must be deafening in world opinion.

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While there is not a plan for Mid East Peace, RFK, Jr. loses credibility for "keeping the peace," which was his uncle's main condition for a successful presidency. JFK resisted the push for a military buildup and worked with long term adversaries for reducing the nuclear threat and finding ways to heal divisions and unfairness in our world. I am still waiting for a Mid East Peace Plan without the fear of being called an anti-Semite. https://flybynews.wordpress.com/2023/08/02/rfk-jr-s-flaw-regarding-israel-vs-palestine/

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RFK Jr is adamantly opposed to the military-industrial complex. The military industry stands to profit a great deal from war and the manufacturing and sale of weapons.

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The #Kennedy24 Campaign is re-setting away from Primary mode to Campaign for POTUS mode.

Campaign Manage Amaryllis Fox is staring this conversation on Twitter -https://twitter.com/amaryllisfox

Peace from a Military Parent.

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Here is a reasonable proposal to avoid war over Israel: https://ctexaminer.com/2023/10/26/protectorate-on-west-bank/

The two state idea has been rejected multiple times by the Palestinians and the Israelis will never agree to a single state because Jews would. No longer be the majority. Why not the protectorate idea? Might be the best we could do.

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There's a really serious problem with one of your data points. The data on 50% of Americans 12 or older who've used illicit drugs at least once is because of cannabis use. I'm not saying that kids 12 years old should be using cannabis. But, your headline is misleading, because cannabis is legal for adults in most of the United States now and referring to it as an illicit drug makes it seem like you are talking about heroin. According to the data that you cited, the number of people over the age of 12 who have used cannabis in the past month is only 17.9% of Americans, including all adults. And certainly nobody is overdosing from cannabis.

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Correction. It is 17.9% of Americans over the age of 12 who have used cannabis at least once in the past year. The number that have used it at least once in the past month is under 12%.

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