Minnesotans are grieving. The Hortmans, the children of Annunciation school, and now Renee and Alex.  Nightmare upon nightmare with no end in sight.  And to make matters so much worse, our elected Republican officials are blaming the victims, implying that if we all just stayed home while masked, heavily-armed agents with no identification sweep-up our neighbors and their children, legally here or not, citizens or not, things would be so much better.  This is the cold, callous attitude that comes when a group of people have been successfully othered and dehumanized.  Libtards, Magats, Illegals, etc., etc. Propaganda videos such as Minneapolis Burning and Nick Shirley’s made-up report on fraudulent Somali-run daycares further the othering, never mind that a quick fact check debunks their claims.  But who fact checks anymore?  Fact-checking doesn’t provide the same dopamine rush and thrill that comes from believing “those” people are not our people.  While I sure don’t have a clue where any of this horror show will end, I do know there will be more grieving as long as the othering feels so damn good. 
Cathy Bogolub
Ely and St. Paul