BKWikner

Cultivating a Cross Cultural Community. Pursuing dignity, equity, and inclusion for a better, more just, and hospitable world. Soli Deo Gloria!

[CALL TO ACTIVISM @CalltoActivism]

Here is Robert De Niro’s full statement about how Donald Trump should NEVER be president again:

“I’ve spent a lot of time studying bad men.  I’ve examined their characteristics, their mannerisms, the utter banality of their cruelty.

Yet there’s something different about Donald Trump. When I look at him, I don’t see a bad man. Truly.

I see an evil one.

Over the years, I’ve met gangsters here and there. This guy tries to be one, but he can’t quite pull it off. There’s such a thing as “honor among thieves.” Yes, even criminals usually have a sense of right and wrong. 

Whether they do the right thing or not is a different story — but — they have a moral code, however warped.

Donald Trump does not. He’s a wannabe tough guy with no morals or ethics. No sense of right or wrong. No regard for anyone but himself — not the people he was supposed to lead and protect, not the people he does business with, not the people who follow him, blindly and loyally, not even the people who consider themselves his “friends.” He has contempt for all of them.

We New Yorkers got to know him over the years that he poisoned the atmosphere and littered our city with monuments to his ego.  We knew first hand that this was someone who should never be considered for leadership.  We tried to warn the world in 2016.

The repercussions of his turbulent presidency divided America and rattled New York City beyond imagination.  Remember how we were jolted by crisis in early 2020, as a virus swept the world.

We lived with Donald Trump’s bombastic behavior every day on the national stage, and we suffered as we saw our neighbors piling up in body bags.

The man who was supposed to protect this country put it in peril, because of his recklessness and impulsiveness. It was like an abusive father ruling the family by fear and violent behavior.  That was the consequence of New York’s warning getting ignored. Next time, we know it will be worse.

Make no mistake: the twice-impeached, 4-time indicted Donald Trump is still a fool. But we can’t let our fellow Americans write him off like one. Evil thrives in the shadow of dismissive mockery, which is why we must take the danger of Donald Trump very seriously.

So today we issue another warning. From this place where Abraham Lincoln spoke — right here in the beating heart of New York — to the rest of America:
This is our last chance.

Democracy won’t survive the return of a wannabe dictator.

And it won’t overcome evil if we are divided.

So what do we do about it?  I know I’m preaching to the choir here.  What we’re doing today is valuable, but we have to take today into tomorrow – take it outside these walls.   We have to reach out to the half of our country who have ignored the hazards of Trump and, for whatever reason, support elevating him back into the White House. 

They’re not stupid, and we must not condemn them for making a stupid choice.  Our future doesn’t just depend on us. It depends on them.

Let’s reach out to Trump’s followers with respect.  Let’s not talk about “democracy.”  “Democracy” may be our holy grail, but to others it is just a word, a concept, and in their embrace of Trump, they’ve already turned their backs on it. 

Let’s talk about right and wrong.  Let’s talk about humanity. 

Let’s talk about kindness.  Security for our world. 

Safety for our families. 

Decency. 

Let’s welcome them back. 

We won’t get them all, but we can get enough to end the nightmare of Trump, and fulfill the mission of this “Stop Trump Summit.”

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

I want to create a safe space for them to listen in, share their experience, with the goal of moving towards healing and wholeness, and even willingness to re-engage with faith and church. Those interested can register for the initial meeting here https://t.co/O3cjKuWGdC

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

I have had many conversations with people who are confused, exhausted, hurt, and lost – and this because of their church experience.

[Gaithersburg Giants @Gburg_Giants]

Congrats to our all stars: Eli Meredith, Josh Wilson, Mateus Conaway, Garrett Runyan. Not pictured Nick Karls and Will Wikner. @gowhitman @WiknerWill @karls_nick

[Gaithersburg Giants @Gburg_Giants]

AND THERES A DEEP DRIVE INTO RIGHT FIELD GONNNNNEEEEE. WILL WIKNER WITH A 368 foot homerun to give the Giants a 2 run lead. @WiknerWill

[Gaithersburg Giants @Gburg_Giants]

Giants fans incase you didn’t know Will Wikner has the best arm in the Cal Ripken league as he throws out another runner at home and keeps the Grays off the board @WiknerWill

M3: Grays 2-1

Due up
Ryan Williamson
Bryce Demory
Matthew Williams

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

Early child brain development isnt a question about nature vs nurture, but that nature must be nurtured - @DrDanaSuskind

[Cut4 @Cut4]

The Korean call of Ji Hwan Bae's #walkoff is ELECTRIC!

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

Bucs made history last night

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

@dukekwondc @dukekwondc as person committed to DEI and racial justice, I dont think we are doing the movement favors by defending Reese on this. Her conduct after the game to Clark was petty, childish, and unsportsmanlike, and should be called out regardless of color and gender.

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

2022 Read List considerably shorter than past years. The awards go to:
Most Riveting - Under the Banner of Heaven @JonKrakauer1
Would Not Recommend - Letter to the American Church @ericmetaxas
Book of the Year/The Must Read - Jesus and John Wayne @kkdumez

[Laurie-Anne Sayles @SaylesforUS]

I want to thank all of you, the incumbent @MoCoCouncilMD At-Large members, for your statement supporting a fair election process. In the heat of a contested election, I appreciate your courtesy, leadership, and professionalism. #Vote

[Ben Wikner @benforcouncil]

So thankful for great teachers like Angie Thorpe at @SouthLakeES. They are literally shaping the future of the community. Let’s do all we can to support them, the staff, and the students in our schools.
#AAPIheritagemonth #EducationExcellence #TeacherAppreciation

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

Thank you @mymcmedia for highlighting the VITA work that gives free tax preparation services to low-income earners. https://t.co/A5tkWRrY9l

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

Did you know #FREE tax help is available for qualified #taxpayers through #VITA sites? Use this #VITA locator tool to find a provider near you. 🗺 https://t.co/iPyIyZqUz1 #EITCAwarenessDay

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

Some impactful reading in 2021. Heavy on social enterprise and economics (who would have thunk?) Most Impactful? Winners Take All by @AnandWrites and close second to Principles by @RayDalio

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

The best revolutions do not start at the bottom; they are the work of the upper-middle class.

https://t.co/DE2Pj5KZF6

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

...to game the system. We should be fighting for opportunities for other people’s children as if the future of our own children depended on it. It probably does.

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

We need to understand that access to the means of sustaining good health, the opportunity to learn from the wisdom accumulated in our culture, and the expectation that one may do so in a decent home and neighborhood are not privileges to be reserved for the few who have learned..

[BKWikner @BKWikner]

The problem with plutocratic-inspired charity is that it benefits itself first. It feeds the systems of inequity, which explains why it fails to make substantive change in society in the fight against poverty.