Byates
@byates.bsky.social
Retired after a 40-year career in Health Care executive management. Vietnam veteran, US Army. Former Republican now a 15-year blue independent.
Pinned
The Songs of Resistance and Reform
Changing the Arc of History with Music and Song
open.substack.com
The Songs of Resistance and Reform
Music has always been a powerful force in shaping societies, giving a voice to the voiceless, and, most importantly, inspiring collective action.
Music has always been a powerful force in shaping societies, giving a voice to the voiceless, and, most importantly, inspiring collective action.
The Songs of Resistance and Reform
Music has always been a powerful force in shaping societies, giving a voice to the voiceless, and, most importantly, inspiring collective action.
Music has always been a powerful force in shaping societies, giving a voice to the voiceless, and, most importantly, inspiring collective action.
The Songs of Resistance and Reform
Changing the Arc of History with Music and Song
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The Songs of Resistance and Reform
Music has always been a powerful force in shaping societies, giving a voice to the voiceless, and, most importantly, inspiring collective action.
Music has always been a powerful force in shaping societies, giving a voice to the voiceless, and, most importantly, inspiring collective action.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Maria Corina Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
October 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Maria Corina Machado for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
A Bad Idea Then, A Bad idea Now
I wrote this a year ago but now seems like a good time for a reminder of what happens when the U S Military is used against U S citizens.
I wrote this a year ago but now seems like a good time for a reminder of what happens when the U S Military is used against U S citizens.
A Bad Idea Then, A Bad idea Now
When President Hoover Sent the Army to an American City
open.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
A Bad Idea Then, A Bad idea Now
I wrote this a year ago but now seems like a good time for a reminder of what happens when the U S Military is used against U S citizens.
I wrote this a year ago but now seems like a good time for a reminder of what happens when the U S Military is used against U S citizens.
Whoever brokered a cease fire in the "war-ravaged" City of Portland so 12,000 people could run in the Portland Marathon deserves to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
October 7, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Whoever brokered a cease fire in the "war-ravaged" City of Portland so 12,000 people could run in the Portland Marathon deserves to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Fear and Loathing
America's New National Sport
America's New National Sport
Fear and Loathing
The New American Sport
open.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Fear and Loathing
America's New National Sport
America's New National Sport
Some earn it, some disgrace it. The men and women I spoke to on this day earned that right in the jungles, rice paddies and hills of Vietnam. I've known many Troopers who, with blood, sweat and death, have earned that Trooper Stetson and you deserve no such honor. Take off that hat!
September 7, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Some earn it, some disgrace it. The men and women I spoke to on this day earned that right in the jungles, rice paddies and hills of Vietnam. I've known many Troopers who, with blood, sweat and death, have earned that Trooper Stetson and you deserve no such honor. Take off that hat!
The Authoritarian’s Secret Weapon: They Never, Ever Leave Voluntarily "What Nixon tried to do in secret with plumbers, burglars, and hush money, Trump is doing in the open, loudly, and with the full backing of the Republican Party and its billionaire benefactors." - Thom Hartman
The Authoritarian’s Secret Weapon: They Never, Ever Leave Voluntarily
Every gerrymander, purge, and press attack tightens the screw — until the system is locked and the tyrant holds the only key…
open.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Authoritarian’s Secret Weapon: They Never, Ever Leave Voluntarily "What Nixon tried to do in secret with plumbers, burglars, and hush money, Trump is doing in the open, loudly, and with the full backing of the Republican Party and its billionaire benefactors." - Thom Hartman
But my faith is hollow these days.
Not because God left me
but because those who claim to speak for Him
have poisoned His name
with their power-lust,
their racism,
their cowardly silence,
their monstrous disguise. - Lucinda Lambert, 2025
www.facebook.com/share/p/16sJ...
Not because God left me
but because those who claim to speak for Him
have poisoned His name
with their power-lust,
their racism,
their cowardly silence,
their monstrous disguise. - Lucinda Lambert, 2025
www.facebook.com/share/p/16sJ...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
But my faith is hollow these days.
Not because God left me
but because those who claim to speak for Him
have poisoned His name
with their power-lust,
their racism,
their cowardly silence,
their monstrous disguise. - Lucinda Lambert, 2025
www.facebook.com/share/p/16sJ...
Not because God left me
but because those who claim to speak for Him
have poisoned His name
with their power-lust,
their racism,
their cowardly silence,
their monstrous disguise. - Lucinda Lambert, 2025
www.facebook.com/share/p/16sJ...
Reposted by Byates
Monday night Defenders of Democracy SP! I added a few folks I haven’t seen in my feed since n awhile!! Let’s go! Like comment RP!! Vetted!
@oneveteransoath.substack.com
@fireeyebooks.bsky.social
@gigialexander123.bsky.social
@free2beme.bsky.social
@markymark757.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/Eo8vudr
@oneveteransoath.substack.com
@fireeyebooks.bsky.social
@gigialexander123.bsky.social
@free2beme.bsky.social
@markymark757.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/Eo8vudr
July 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Monday night Defenders of Democracy SP! I added a few folks I haven’t seen in my feed since n awhile!! Let’s go! Like comment RP!! Vetted!
@oneveteransoath.substack.com
@fireeyebooks.bsky.social
@gigialexander123.bsky.social
@free2beme.bsky.social
@markymark757.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/Eo8vudr
@oneveteransoath.substack.com
@fireeyebooks.bsky.social
@gigialexander123.bsky.social
@free2beme.bsky.social
@markymark757.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/Eo8vudr
“There are only so many lies you can take, the President “should get his ass of the White House-today.” Senator Barry Goldwater, August 1974.
July 19, 2025 at 2:45 PM
“There are only so many lies you can take, the President “should get his ass of the White House-today.” Senator Barry Goldwater, August 1974.
If you want to know what we are, read a political commentator. If you want to know who we are read a poet. Lucinda Lambert, a former English teacher, now writer uses words to describe “us.” You can find more of her beautiful lyrics here www.facebook.com/share/p/15T8...
Robert (@byates2820)
Only a poet can describe who we are. This is a beautiful lyrical refection by Lucinda Lambert everyone can understand.
substack.com
July 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
If you want to know what we are, read a political commentator. If you want to know who we are read a poet. Lucinda Lambert, a former English teacher, now writer uses words to describe “us.” You can find more of her beautiful lyrics here www.facebook.com/share/p/15T8...
Eighty years ago, today at 5:29:45 a.m., the first atom bomb was successfully tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Every person alive that day and everyone born after that day has lived under the threat of that mushroom cloud. “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” - Robert Oppenheimer
July 16, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Eighty years ago, today at 5:29:45 a.m., the first atom bomb was successfully tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Every person alive that day and everyone born after that day has lived under the threat of that mushroom cloud. “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” - Robert Oppenheimer
Obituary-The Republican Party, 180, passed away without a whimper July 3, 2025. Predeceased by Abaraham Lincoln and John McCain and survived by Jeff Flake and Bob Corker who tried to mend the fractured family but eventually gave up and went home. Cause of death has been ruled a suicide.
July 4, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Obituary-The Republican Party, 180, passed away without a whimper July 3, 2025. Predeceased by Abaraham Lincoln and John McCain and survived by Jeff Flake and Bob Corker who tried to mend the fractured family but eventually gave up and went home. Cause of death has been ruled a suicide.
For decades Clyde Butcher and his camera have captured the beautiful landscape of the fragile Florida Everglades. Today his words capture a fragile society where human dignity is in danger of being lost. www.facebook.com/share/p/1HK4...
July 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
For decades Clyde Butcher and his camera have captured the beautiful landscape of the fragile Florida Everglades. Today his words capture a fragile society where human dignity is in danger of being lost. www.facebook.com/share/p/1HK4...
On Sunday, during an interview Trump said that he loves farmers and taking away people that have been working our fields would destroy farmers. Yet the raids continue. Question, does Trump want to stop raiding and rounding up farm workers, and if so, has ICE gone rouge?
July 1, 2025 at 3:21 PM
On Sunday, during an interview Trump said that he loves farmers and taking away people that have been working our fields would destroy farmers. Yet the raids continue. Question, does Trump want to stop raiding and rounding up farm workers, and if so, has ICE gone rouge?
This will be the best three minutes of your day today.
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
June 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This will be the best three minutes of your day today.
So are we back to the only deporting criminals again? I can’t keep up with the chaos.
June 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
So are we back to the only deporting criminals again? I can’t keep up with the chaos.
"We have seen it coming for weeks. Naturally, we sensed what it all meant, these threats and staged riot... the whole shabby performance designed to provide an excuse for intervention." - Friedrich Reck, 1938, Describing the German intent to invade Austria.
June 12, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"We have seen it coming for weeks. Naturally, we sensed what it all meant, these threats and staged riot... the whole shabby performance designed to provide an excuse for intervention." - Friedrich Reck, 1938, Describing the German intent to invade Austria.
Bring the ultimate symbol of freedom to your protest and demonstrations.
Don't Step on Your Own Message
Stay on Brand
open.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Bring the ultimate symbol of freedom to your protest and demonstrations.
Chancellor Merz planned his visit to the Oval on this particular day to play Trump in front of entire country. Well played Chancellor Merz, well played.
June 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Chancellor Merz planned his visit to the Oval on this particular day to play Trump in front of entire country. Well played Chancellor Merz, well played.
I have people that have been studying his birth certificate and cannot believe what they’re finding. If he wasn’t born on June 14th, then he is pulling one of the great cons in the history of parades. No birthday parade until he releases his long form birth certificate to prove when he was born.
May 29, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I have people that have been studying his birth certificate and cannot believe what they’re finding. If he wasn’t born on June 14th, then he is pulling one of the great cons in the history of parades. No birthday parade until he releases his long form birth certificate to prove when he was born.
According to Travel and Tour World, “bookings from Europe to the U.S. for the May through July travel window have dropped sharply, industry analysts projecting a year-over-year decline of 10 percent, resulting in $8.5 billion reduction in U.S. tourism revenue from international visitors in 2025.”
May 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
According to Travel and Tour World, “bookings from Europe to the U.S. for the May through July travel window have dropped sharply, industry analysts projecting a year-over-year decline of 10 percent, resulting in $8.5 billion reduction in U.S. tourism revenue from international visitors in 2025.”
The Quote of the Day, “The cutting-edge research in this country is done with an accent.” – Congressman Jake Auchincloss. Fact: In science and medicine, foreign-born researchers at American universities are disproportionately represented as Nobel Prize winners.
May 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The Quote of the Day, “The cutting-edge research in this country is done with an accent.” – Congressman Jake Auchincloss. Fact: In science and medicine, foreign-born researchers at American universities are disproportionately represented as Nobel Prize winners.
Well played President Ramaphosa , well played.
May 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Well played President Ramaphosa , well played.