From tear gas near a Chicago school to live bombs at a presidential “celebration,” today’s headlines show a pattern—fear over facts, cruelty over compassion. We can do better, and we must.
Author: Vicki Andrada
A Little About Me I was born on February 25, 1972, in Flint, Michigan, at McLaren Hospital. I lived in Michigan until I was almost 40, then moved to Tampa, Florida, where I stayed for seven years. After that, I relocated to Arizona, living with friends in Glendale and then in Phoenix for about eight months. I spent two years total in Arizona before returning to Florida for a little over a year. Eventually, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my parents for six months.
In May of 2022, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where I’ve been ever since—and I absolutely love it. I never expected to return to Michigan, but I’m so glad I did.
I was born blind and see only light and shadows. My fiancé, Josh, is also blind. We both use guide dogs to navigate independently and safely. My current Leader Dog is Vicki Jo , a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix. She’s my fourth guide dog—my first two were Yellow Labs, and my last two have been Golden/Lab crosses. Josh’s guide dog, Lou, came from the same organization where I got my previous dog—now known as Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs.
Josh and I live together here in Traverse City, and we both sing in the choir at Mission Hill Church , which was previously known as First Congregational Church. A lot of people still know it by that name. We both really enjoy being part of the choir—it’s something that brings us a lot of joy.
I also love to read, write, and listen to music—especially 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Josh and I enjoy listening to music together and watching movies, especially when descriptive video is available. We also like working out at the YMCA a couple of times a week, which has been great for both our physical and mental health.
I’m a big fan of Major League Baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. In the NFL, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers—and I still have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, especially now that they’ve started turning things around.
I’m passionate about politics and history. I consider myself a progressive thinker, though I also try to take a balanced, middle-of-the-road approach. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and a strong believer in respecting people of all faiths. I love learning about different religions, cultures, and belief systems.
Writing is one of my biggest passions. I haven’t published anything yet, but I’ve written several books that are still in progress. Writing helps me express myself, explore new ideas, and connect with others through storytelling.
Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a little about me.
Today in Politics: Power Grabs, Paychecks, and Priorities
A day’s worth of political whiplash: Trump’s third-term talk, DHS’s 287(g) incentive push, unpaid federal workers, a flashy new ballroom in a shutdown—and how local pantries like Kandu Island help when SNAP is threatened.
The Truth About Columbus We Were Never Taught
We grew up hearing about Columbus as a hero. What we weren’t told was the reality: enslavement, mass violence, and atrocities so brutal they nearly wiped out an entire people. It’s long past time to tell the truth.
If the Government’s Shut Down, Why Is Congress on “Vacation” and Still Getting Paid?
Congress is on “vacation” while workers go unpaid, airports run partisan videos, and health care hangs in the balance. It’s time to fix the rules.
When loyalty becomes a cult.
I’m not calling every Republican a cult member. I’m talking about the die-hard MAGA crowd that excuses anything Trump says or does. From “locker-room talk” to election denial and the Georgia call, I’ve watched standards shift to protect one man over truth and basic principles.
Let People Live: Faith, Freedom, and LGBTQ+ Neighbors
A personal reflection on faith, LGBTQ+ rights, and living together in a free society. From Bible verses to bathrooms, sports, conversion therapy, and kids, this post looks at what it really means to love your neighbor and let adults live their lives.
From a Moonlit Beach to Quantico: Why Gutting the Rules of War (Project 2025, Trump) Endangers Us
A scene from a WWII film about captured U.S. Army nurses shaped how I think about the rules of war. As Trump and Project 2025 push a harder-edged military agenda—including using American cities as “training grounds”—we need to remember why the Geneva Conventions exist and what happens when nations abandon them.
Raids, History, and the Lines We Refuse to Cross
I’m just getting this down. After reading Heather Delaney Reese—and seeing reporting on the Chicago raid—I’m thinking hard about how cruelty gets normalized: raids that humiliate families, detention buildouts, and civil-rights rollbacks. We’re not Weimar, but the warning lights are on. Here’s why, what research says, and where my line is.
Project 2025, Faith, and Power: A Plain-English Christian Take
Project 2025 isn’t just another policy plan. It’s a blueprint to centralize power, sideline opponents, and impose one faction’s will on the entire country. As a Christian and a citizen, I find this vision both politically dangerous and theologically wrong. Democracy depends on people naming what’s happening and speaking up.
Stop Blaming Immigrants for America’s Health Care Crisis
Trump’s shutdown spin blames immigrants for America’s health care crisis. The law says otherwise—and the real fight is about protecting Americans’ coverage.
Notes from the edge of the system 