I don't believe we should write off the civil rights era as a bust. It was an era when ordinary people found courage and inspiration to face down a vicious racist system that had been in place for hundreds of years. Every generation has its own challenges. This is another moment when we must all stand together against another vicious ene…
I don't believe we should write off the civil rights era as a bust. It was an era when ordinary people found courage and inspiration to face down a vicious racist system that had been in place for hundreds of years. Every generation has its own challenges. This is another moment when we must all stand together against another vicious enemy that has vowed to erase the dream of American. This must be another freedom summer!
Yes , we did believe that and I thought our struggles with racism would end in a generation, how wrong I was. We may even see a state’s rights agenda that may try to reestablish some form of segregation. Unbelievable , yet now possible. Lots of folks never got over school desegregation in 1954 and later the civil rights legislation.
Joseph, A Paul Krugman opinion in the NYT connects with your comment.
Paul Krugman, opinion NYT about Republican Party and extremism
“And because G.O.P. extremism is fed by resentment against the very things that, as I see it, truly make America great — our diversity, our tolerance for difference — it cannot be appeased or compromised with. It can only be defeated.”
Same here, “the very things that make America great,” are on the chopping block. Now thanks to the MAGAts who have made a joke of What has made America great.
The heart or the politics? The heart works with a little play, but yes, isn’t the political broken, but maybe repairable? I’m trying to have hope. Trying.
Krugman wonders why the G.O.P. has become an extremist, anti-democratic party. He looks to history for precedents, and he settles on the KKK of the 1920s (as explained in Linda Gordon's 2017 book, "The Second Coming of the KKK: The Klu Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition") as being most similar in genesis: "a "politics of resentment" driven by the backlash of white, rural and small-town Americans against a changing nation. The K.K.K. hated immigrants and “urban elites”; it was characterized by “suspicion of science” and “a larger anti-intellectualism.”
Thanks Irene. We cannot allow our country to stay in reverse gear. Unpacking SCOTUS is not only desirable , but essential. We need a Democratic Party majority but not with those such as Manchin and Sinema. Meanwhile , we are waiting and waiting for DOJ to do what needs to be done. Where are the indictments of the White House ring of traitors?
We need a government that works for ordinary American in the 21st century. People buy a house in their preferred location, then they remodel it to meet how a family lives today. Our government could use some remodeling. 13-15 judges on the Supreme Court would be better than 9. Nine is a small number whose majority has been manipulated to be the best court money can buy. Anyone who thinks the current group has not been bought is foolish and naive.
Yes. I sometimes think our Republican friends have become successful by believing that how they win is of lesser and lesser importance. Method success protects the achieved evil that comes to be believed good as so many of US say it is so with convincing rhetoric. A cautionary fable perchance for those of us fighting for the lost cause, the perfect, and the idea locked up in the soundproof room where our ideology is applauded.
Agree. But did you watch HCR’s video of 6/30? She estimates we have only two years to effect meaningful legislative change. With Congress as it is, and, worse, as it may become after the midterms, I can’t feel optimistic. I’m writing frequently to my senators and representative, but that’s sort of preaching to the choir since they’re all Democrats. I send money every month to Fair Fight and to candidates that I think/hope may have a chance in the midterms, but my contributions are nothing compared with what the GOP is able to rake in from its mega donors. In short, I feel hopeless, but still determined to do what I can. BTW, I lived in the segregated South, but when I moved to Chicago in 1979, I immediately discovered that it was even more segregated and racist than Chapel Hill, NC.
I think what you can afford should be spread around. It didn’t state who or where the donations went to. The FL guy, not TFG has bragged that his Campaign alone has taken in over a Million.Yrs ago I read back in the 1950’s there were about 200 Lobbyist. Today, 10k -15 K maybe more since my last search of them. We have lots of Millionaires now. 750 there abouts Billionaires and Trillionairs. How much Democracy can all of us afford ?
Friends from Chicago spoke of their surprise at the number of mixed couples we have here in France, saying you'd never see that in their city...
We in turn are surprised by many apparent obsessions in American society with ideas that have gotten lodged in people's heads; fixed ideas about things like features and skin color ("race") or "gender"... or "rugged individualism" -- commonly expressed as thoroughgoing conformism. Ideas that solidify into tumors. All accompanied by blind collective belief, typically in things that are radically incompatible.
Ha! Good ol' Apple Chill. ;) I attended graduate school there, many decades ago. I remember when Jesse Helms suggested building a fence around Chapel Hill.
It's not preaching to the choir, Joanna, it's giving your legislators the stats they need to prove this is an issue their constituents care about. You also provide fresh language for them to articulate the case for legislation. My personal goal is to eradicate 'at the end of the day' or 'the American people want' (that one is Mitch's). Fresh language, original perspectives on issues, wake people up.
Yes, there were great stirrings in the Sixties and Seventies. A generation later, I had an idealistic friend who'd wax lyrical about "The New Paradigm"... He couldn't see that he was waving a red rag before the Minotaur...
'The Minotaur, Ancient Greek Mythology, is a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, a being "part man and part bull". 'The Minotaur was eventually killed by the Athenian hero Theseus.'
"Minotaur" was originally a proper noun in reference to this mythical figure. That is, there was only the one Minotaur. In contrast, the use of "minotaur" as a common noun to refer to members of a generic "species" of bull-headed creatures developed much later, in 20th-century fantasy genre fiction.' It is not difficult to guess the 'species' Peter was referring to in his comment. I don't see a 'Theseus' hanging around to knock our 'minotaur' off.
'A scientific interpretation also exists. Citing early descriptions of the minotaur by Callimachus as being entirely focused on the "cruel bellowing" it made from its underground labyrinth and the extensive tectonic activity in the region, Science journalist Matt Kaplan has theorised that the myth may well stem from geology. He points out that carbon dating of marine fossils attached to boulders that were ejected from the ocean by ancient tsunamis indicates the region was tectonically very active during the years when the minotaur myth first appeared.' (Wikipedia)
As usual, Peter, you're on something, but I for one will not return to Greek Mythology for more insight concerning America's problems. It would not have occurred to me to spend a few minutes on the minotaur but for you. Am I glad I did? I'll take the 5th.
Look at what I regard as Picasso's masterpiece, the big Minotauromachy etching from 1935 -- go to the MOMA site. (Sorry, can't help you directly, my computer's down...)
This says more than half-dead terms like "Reaction" or "the Patriarchy" when it comes to speaking of the Beast of our times...
I found Picasso's Minotauromachy etching right away. You were on to something! I am happy to a followed your lead. This etching must be seen face to face. It is a multilayered work appearing to move from the inside. Thank you, Peter.
I don't believe we should write off the civil rights era as a bust. It was an era when ordinary people found courage and inspiration to face down a vicious racist system that had been in place for hundreds of years. Every generation has its own challenges. This is another moment when we must all stand together against another vicious enemy that has vowed to erase the dream of American. This must be another freedom summer!
Now, that was the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, if I remember rightly. We thought we'd changed the world forever.
Yes , we did believe that and I thought our struggles with racism would end in a generation, how wrong I was. We may even see a state’s rights agenda that may try to reestablish some form of segregation. Unbelievable , yet now possible. Lots of folks never got over school desegregation in 1954 and later the civil rights legislation.
Joseph, A Paul Krugman opinion in the NYT connects with your comment.
Paul Krugman, opinion NYT about Republican Party and extremism
“And because G.O.P. extremism is fed by resentment against the very things that, as I see it, truly make America great — our diversity, our tolerance for difference — it cannot be appeased or compromised with. It can only be defeated.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/27/opinion/republicans-extreme-abortion.html?referringSource=articleShare
I agree! but the heart icon would not take my 'vote', so I'm typing my support
Same here, “the very things that make America great,” are on the chopping block. Now thanks to the MAGAts who have made a joke of What has made America great.
❤️
It does seem to be broken. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
The heart or the politics? The heart works with a little play, but yes, isn’t the political broken, but maybe repairable? I’m trying to have hope. Trying.
The heart, and it worked for yours! Hope floats!
♥️
Krugman wonders why the G.O.P. has become an extremist, anti-democratic party. He looks to history for precedents, and he settles on the KKK of the 1920s (as explained in Linda Gordon's 2017 book, "The Second Coming of the KKK: The Klu Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition") as being most similar in genesis: "a "politics of resentment" driven by the backlash of white, rural and small-town Americans against a changing nation. The K.K.K. hated immigrants and “urban elites”; it was characterized by “suspicion of science” and “a larger anti-intellectualism.”
Thanks Irene. We cannot allow our country to stay in reverse gear. Unpacking SCOTUS is not only desirable , but essential. We need a Democratic Party majority but not with those such as Manchin and Sinema. Meanwhile , we are waiting and waiting for DOJ to do what needs to be done. Where are the indictments of the White House ring of traitors?
We need a government that works for ordinary American in the 21st century. People buy a house in their preferred location, then they remodel it to meet how a family lives today. Our government could use some remodeling. 13-15 judges on the Supreme Court would be better than 9. Nine is a small number whose majority has been manipulated to be the best court money can buy. Anyone who thinks the current group has not been bought is foolish and naive.
We are all asking those questions. “When?” And more worrisome “how and IF?”
The same ugliness keeps raising its head. Evil NEVER goes away, it just slinks out of sight for a while.
Yes. I sometimes think our Republican friends have become successful by believing that how they win is of lesser and lesser importance. Method success protects the achieved evil that comes to be believed good as so many of US say it is so with convincing rhetoric. A cautionary fable perchance for those of us fighting for the lost cause, the perfect, and the idea locked up in the soundproof room where our ideology is applauded.
Agree. But did you watch HCR’s video of 6/30? She estimates we have only two years to effect meaningful legislative change. With Congress as it is, and, worse, as it may become after the midterms, I can’t feel optimistic. I’m writing frequently to my senators and representative, but that’s sort of preaching to the choir since they’re all Democrats. I send money every month to Fair Fight and to candidates that I think/hope may have a chance in the midterms, but my contributions are nothing compared with what the GOP is able to rake in from its mega donors. In short, I feel hopeless, but still determined to do what I can. BTW, I lived in the segregated South, but when I moved to Chicago in 1979, I immediately discovered that it was even more segregated and racist than Chapel Hill, NC.
I read the day after R-V-W the DNC was donated 80 mil. Don’t despair.
I hope they use it for effective messaging. God knows, republicans have given them enough ammunition
79K women had Abortions in FL last yr. They couldn’t have all been Dem’s.And I know they are not all Black Americans
MarciaRockvegas -- "79K women had Abortions in FL last yr."
https://www.abort73.com/abortion_facts/states/florida/
I prefer to donate to individual candidates and Fair Fight. Sometimes to Democratic Attorneys General. What do you think?
I think what you can afford should be spread around. It didn’t state who or where the donations went to. The FL guy, not TFG has bragged that his Campaign alone has taken in over a Million.Yrs ago I read back in the 1950’s there were about 200 Lobbyist. Today, 10k -15 K maybe more since my last search of them. We have lots of Millionaires now. 750 there abouts Billionaires and Trillionairs. How much Democracy can all of us afford ?
R-V-W?
Roe Versus Wade
Ah. Thanks.
Friends from Chicago spoke of their surprise at the number of mixed couples we have here in France, saying you'd never see that in their city...
We in turn are surprised by many apparent obsessions in American society with ideas that have gotten lodged in people's heads; fixed ideas about things like features and skin color ("race") or "gender"... or "rugged individualism" -- commonly expressed as thoroughgoing conformism. Ideas that solidify into tumors. All accompanied by blind collective belief, typically in things that are radically incompatible.
Chapel Hill has been a bastion of enlightenment, relatively speaking.
Ha! Good ol' Apple Chill. ;) I attended graduate school there, many decades ago. I remember when Jesse Helms suggested building a fence around Chapel Hill.
OMG, Jesse Helms—I’d forgotten about the fence, but he and his ilk certainly thought the place was full of communists.
Agree! Took them an awfully long time to get rid of Silent Sam (confederate soldier statue) though.
It's not preaching to the choir, Joanna, it's giving your legislators the stats they need to prove this is an issue their constituents care about. You also provide fresh language for them to articulate the case for legislation. My personal goal is to eradicate 'at the end of the day' or 'the American people want' (that one is Mitch's). Fresh language, original perspectives on issues, wake people up.
Thank you—I need courage and hope, and this helps.
Yes! Yes! Yes! We Can Do This!!! 💪🏽❤️🇺🇸
Yes, there were great stirrings in the Sixties and Seventies. A generation later, I had an idealistic friend who'd wax lyrical about "The New Paradigm"... He couldn't see that he was waving a red rag before the Minotaur...
'The Minotaur, Ancient Greek Mythology, is a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, a being "part man and part bull". 'The Minotaur was eventually killed by the Athenian hero Theseus.'
"Minotaur" was originally a proper noun in reference to this mythical figure. That is, there was only the one Minotaur. In contrast, the use of "minotaur" as a common noun to refer to members of a generic "species" of bull-headed creatures developed much later, in 20th-century fantasy genre fiction.' It is not difficult to guess the 'species' Peter was referring to in his comment. I don't see a 'Theseus' hanging around to knock our 'minotaur' off.
'A scientific interpretation also exists. Citing early descriptions of the minotaur by Callimachus as being entirely focused on the "cruel bellowing" it made from its underground labyrinth and the extensive tectonic activity in the region, Science journalist Matt Kaplan has theorised that the myth may well stem from geology. He points out that carbon dating of marine fossils attached to boulders that were ejected from the ocean by ancient tsunamis indicates the region was tectonically very active during the years when the minotaur myth first appeared.' (Wikipedia)
As usual, Peter, you're on something, but I for one will not return to Greek Mythology for more insight concerning America's problems. It would not have occurred to me to spend a few minutes on the minotaur but for you. Am I glad I did? I'll take the 5th.
Look at what I regard as Picasso's masterpiece, the big Minotauromachy etching from 1935 -- go to the MOMA site. (Sorry, can't help you directly, my computer's down...)
This says more than half-dead terms like "Reaction" or "the Patriarchy" when it comes to speaking of the Beast of our times...
I found Picasso's Minotauromachy etching right away. You were on to something! I am happy to a followed your lead. This etching must be seen face to face. It is a multilayered work appearing to move from the inside. Thank you, Peter.
Going out to register voters next week in fact.