Category: Hate Crime

Posted in Embroidery machine, Fiber, Hate Crime, Judiasm, Sewing

Terror

Posted on by debthumanblog

So much has happened this week, and it’s only Wednesday.

Monday was our 52nd anniversary. I had hoped to do something special on our 50th anniversary, but we were having a pandemic and deranged passengers thought it was fun to have a brawl in mid-flight. Not the kind of excitement I was looking for. Brady is learning fast and doing well, but she’s not fully trained yet. I cannot fly with her until she’s fully trained. And so a special cruise is not going to happen for a while.

Today, I get fitted for a boot that will allow me to get around without further damaging my achilles tendon giving the tendon a chance to heal. Also today, we will celebrate our anniversary by going to a restaurant for lunch. Brady will be with us. When we take her with us to a restaurant, we make sure we arrive at an off time. I need a table that’s out of the way and large enough that she can fit under the table. A table in a corner is preferable.

While my tendon heals, I’ve been having to use a walker to get around. I decided to make a bag for my walker. I used a Kwik Sew pattern and the pattern had a few mistakes. I had to redraft the pattern to make the bag 3 inches longer and 1 inch wider. I also needed to adjust the length of the straps that attach the bag to the walker. The strap length of the original pattern was too short.

This was the bag I made with the original pattern.

The new and improved bag. I made it from some upholstery fabric I found for $4.99 a yard at JoAnn’s.

I did an embroidery design on the inside of the flap. No reason why I shouldn’t have something cute to look at when I open the bag. I used proofs of my Spoonflower designs for the lining.

And the back of the bag. I didn’t realize the Star of David didn’t point straight up so I didn’t change the orientation.

My rabbi sent an email to the congregation yesterday. A credible threat had been made to our temple and our congregation. Local police and FBI are investigating. There will be security during services, but a couple rent-a-cops aren’t much of a defense against a terrorist. I’ll be attending services via zoom. I’m so tired of being afraid. I’m so tired of university presidents granting legitimacy to pro-hamas terrorists. I’m so tired of people not taking anti-Semitism seriously. I’m tried of researching military-grade body armor capable of stopping a round from an assault rifle. Unfortunately, the strongest armor is the one class that isn’t made to protect a woman’s body. I’m tired of leaving Brady home because I’m worried that I won’t be able to protect her. When my great-great-grandparents along with my 10-month-0ld great-grandmother left East Prussia, they were disguised as German Lutherans. Now I understand why they hid. I’m torn between wanting to stand up to terrorists and refuse to be bullied into hiding and not wanting to get killed.

I’m linking with Nina Marie here: https://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

My online store, Deb Thuman Art is here: http://www.DebThumanArt.com

My Spoonflower shop is here: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/deb_thuman

Posted in Antisemitism, Hate Crime

I’ve Done All Of It

Posted on by debthumanblog

The hate criminal’s action has infected every aspect of my life. I have severe depression. I have a lack of interest in doing anything. I’m not eating well. I’m not sleeping well. I’ve tried to work out what’s inside of me through art, but it’s not helping.

I reported the hate crime to both the Office of Institutional Equity and the New Mexico State University campus police. I’ve filed reports with: FBI, ADL, Jewish on Campus. I’ve asked at my temple and I’ve asked the Chabad rabbi in Las Cruces; there is no Chabad or Hillel at NMSU. I made a safety plan and discussed the details of my plan with the campus police. I’ve incorporated the suggestion made by campus police into my safety plan. I’m armed at all times when I’m on campus. There has been no arrest and I don’t expect there ever will be an arrest.

I’ve done all the stuff one is supposed to do if one is the recipient of a hate crime. I am not a victim of a hate crime, I’m the recipient of a hate crime. This vile individual does not get to turn me into a victim. I’m alone. I’m afraid. I’m severely depressed. How long does this crap last? When does the emotional impact end? I’ve been a criminal defense attorney for 29 years and I’m utterly unprepared to be the recipient of a hate crime. I’m aware there are victim assistance programs run by local police and the district attorney’s office. They will accompany me to court….except there has been no arrest. They will help me file for a domestic order of protection, except there is no domestic violence and this hate crime did not include violence. They will refer me to the local sexual assault crisis center, except there has been no sexual assault. There is no antisemitism crisis center although there should be.

And so I double up on my antidepressant dose. I cry. I feel frozen. I make weird art.

I don’t know what I will do with the designs I’ve been working on. Print them on fabric? Figure out how to translate them into a painting? Figure out how to turn the designs into stencils?

All I know is I don’t know how to make it stop hurting.

My online shop, Deb Thuman Art, is here: http://WWW.DebThumanArt.com

My Spoonflower shop is here: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/deb_thuman