Thank you Bradley for reminding us of LBJ and the Civil Rights Law of 1964, which was at the center of today's Letter.
Here we are a day before, July 4th, 2022, the day known as Independence Day. It will be the country’s 246 birthday. Today’s Letter reminds us of the Summer 1964, known as ‘Freedom Summer’.
Thank you Bradley for reminding us of LBJ and the Civil Rights Law of 1964, which was at the center of today's Letter.
Here we are a day before, July 4th, 2022, the day known as Independence Day. It will be the country’s 246 birthday. Today’s Letter reminds us of the Summer 1964, known as ‘Freedom Summer’.
‘Americans, Black and white, southern, and northern, eager to defend the right of all Americans to vote, planned to register Black people for the upcoming election. Because only 6.7% of Black Mississippians were registered, Mississippi became a focal point.’ (Letter)
‘Freedom Summer” that was 58 years ago. ‘The House of Representatives had been considering a civil rights bill since June 1963 …’ ‘The House passed the bill on February 10 and sent it on to the Senate, where everyone knew the southern segregationists would not give up easily.’
‘The head of the southern bloc, Richard Russell (D-GA), said: “We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our states.” (Letter) What’s easy…certainly not passing a civil right bill in the United States America. BUT, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law on July 2. THAT WAS 58 YEARS AGO!
‘…a landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex,[a] and national origin. It prohibits unequal application of voter registration requirements, racial segregation in schools and public accommodations, and employment discrimination. The act "remains one of the most significant legislative achievements in American history". (Wikipedia)
'Here we are a day before, July 4th, 2022, the day known as Independence Day.
‘This year, state lawmakers, who spent 2021 passing laws that made it harder to vote, have focused more intently on election interference, passing nine laws that could lead to tampering with how elections are run and how results are determined.’
‘Election interference laws do two primary things. They open the door to partisan interference in elections, or they threaten the people and processes that make elections work. In many cases, these efforts are being justified as measures to combat baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and a stolen 2020 election.’
‘Between January 1 and May 4, six state legislatures — Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma — have passed nine election interference laws. As of May 4, at least 17 such bills introduced this year are still moving through five state legislatures. Moving bills are those that have passed at least one chamber of the state legislature or have had some sort of committee action (e.g., a hearing since the beginning of 2022, an amendment, or a committee vote). In total, lawmakers in 27 states have proposed at least 148 election interference bills.’ (BrennanCenterforJustice) See link below.
Today’s Letter has put our country’s Independence Day, in perspective. Hotdogs and American flags will not be foremost on the minds of many Americans. These are the words of President Johnson in celebration of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“The purpose of the law is simple. It does not restrict the freedom of any American, so long as he respects the rights of others. It does not give special treatment to any citizen…. It does say that…those who are equal before God shall now also be equal in the polling booths, in the classrooms, in the factories, and in hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, and other places that provide service to the public.”
I'm proud to say that in an hour I will join a two-year faithful BLM vigil which I do almost every Sunday. It's interesting that it is located beside (and sponsored by)an Episcopal church which is so white, but has a Black woman Bishop. One small step for humankind...most all passing cars honk and wish us well, but of course there are the occasional middle fingers.
And as if like the Movie “ Back To The Future “ Women of all races and Black Americans are being Discriminated against in plain site.Our new name will be “ America The Republican Kingdom “.Now I know why they spent so much time hanging out with Dictators.
'The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting. '
Thank you, Mim. I believed that HCR's historical references to 'Freedom Summer', LBJ's determination to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the powerful intransigence toward civil rights legislation by the Southern states pointed to comparing then with now. I would suggest that a comparison of presidential leadership than and now may also be noted. It will take a great deal more activism on the part of citizens to promote our rights to privacy, equality, protection of fair and free elections, the regulation of business and of the environment as well as knowledge of who the conservative, right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court are serving if we are to stop the USA's descent to autocracy.
Problem is, Fern, too many citizens couldn't give a hoot about being politically active. They are too self-involved to care about others and what the effect policies and rulings have on all of us. Many, I've heard, are so disinterested they haven't even been watching or reading about the Jan. 6 hearings. Ostriches with their heads in the sand, they're more concerned about inflation and the price of gasoline.
Mim, Your response indicates the true 'elephant' in the room. It's the American people, but I would not settle on that. Perhaps, it is a 'lazy' way out. Let's not rest on that premise.
Eyes need to be opened. Rights are being being stripped, free and fair elections are in serious jeopardy...Earth is Endangered: 'There are now 41,415 species on the IUCN Red List, and 16,306 of them are endangered species threatened with extinction. This is up from 16,118 last year. This includes both endangered animals and endangered plants. The species endangered include one in four mammals, one in eight birds, one third of all amphibians and 70% of the world’s assessed plants on the 2007 IUCN Red List are in jeopardy of extinction'.
All Americans, whether they care about the survival of earth, plants, animals, the air, the water, each other, Democracy … are in terrible trouble. Eyes, minds and hearts need to be opened.
Fern, as a supporter of environmental organizations for many, many decades, I know the peril species are in, but just this week Biden has broached the possibility of offshore drilling again, which would endanger species, including our own, because the world is doing nowhere near enough to get a handle on climate control. We should have had "sapiens" taken out of our binomial name a long time ago.
You mean if Biden chooses not to run in '24? I'd love it to be Stacey Abrams. We just got one very smart black woman elevated to SCOTUS. Why can't we have another as POTUS?
Please, please think positive! If you or your friends can, contribute to or volunteer to help her campaign.
Same with Warnock. It is sickening to think that his race against Walker is so close. Of course, polls are not to be entirely trusted, but still...Walker has agreed to at least one debate in the fall. That should be interesting.
Mim, I'm hardnose strategic. I do contribute and think Warnock may win his. I don't dream in politics as I do while sleeping. Check out Chair of the Democratic Governors Assoc. Roy Cooper (gov. of NC). Politico covers him.
I don't suppose it has anything to do with the oligarchy sqeezing blood out of us ex-middle class turnips? When one has to consentrate so much of ones energy one finding the next meal, politics loses priority.
That's a good part of the problem, Susan, but it's also disinterest and apathy, which is nothing new, sadly, but overcoming that is more important now than it has ever been. I just don't know if the Democrats have the tools to do it. Controlling the narrative would be key, but they cannot get their talking points together so that everyone speaks to media in the same voice, as the Republicans do with great skill.
Thank you Bradley for reminding us of LBJ and the Civil Rights Law of 1964, which was at the center of today's Letter.
Here we are a day before, July 4th, 2022, the day known as Independence Day. It will be the country’s 246 birthday. Today’s Letter reminds us of the Summer 1964, known as ‘Freedom Summer’.
‘Americans, Black and white, southern, and northern, eager to defend the right of all Americans to vote, planned to register Black people for the upcoming election. Because only 6.7% of Black Mississippians were registered, Mississippi became a focal point.’ (Letter)
‘Freedom Summer” that was 58 years ago. ‘The House of Representatives had been considering a civil rights bill since June 1963 …’ ‘The House passed the bill on February 10 and sent it on to the Senate, where everyone knew the southern segregationists would not give up easily.’
‘The head of the southern bloc, Richard Russell (D-GA), said: “We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our states.” (Letter) What’s easy…certainly not passing a civil right bill in the United States America. BUT, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law on July 2. THAT WAS 58 YEARS AGO!
‘…a landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex,[a] and national origin. It prohibits unequal application of voter registration requirements, racial segregation in schools and public accommodations, and employment discrimination. The act "remains one of the most significant legislative achievements in American history". (Wikipedia)
'Here we are a day before, July 4th, 2022, the day known as Independence Day.
‘This year, state lawmakers, who spent 2021 passing laws that made it harder to vote, have focused more intently on election interference, passing nine laws that could lead to tampering with how elections are run and how results are determined.’
‘Election interference laws do two primary things. They open the door to partisan interference in elections, or they threaten the people and processes that make elections work. In many cases, these efforts are being justified as measures to combat baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and a stolen 2020 election.’
‘Between January 1 and May 4, six state legislatures — Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma — have passed nine election interference laws. As of May 4, at least 17 such bills introduced this year are still moving through five state legislatures. Moving bills are those that have passed at least one chamber of the state legislature or have had some sort of committee action (e.g., a hearing since the beginning of 2022, an amendment, or a committee vote). In total, lawmakers in 27 states have proposed at least 148 election interference bills.’ (BrennanCenterforJustice) See link below.
Today’s Letter has put our country’s Independence Day, in perspective. Hotdogs and American flags will not be foremost on the minds of many Americans. These are the words of President Johnson in celebration of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“The purpose of the law is simple. It does not restrict the freedom of any American, so long as he respects the rights of others. It does not give special treatment to any citizen…. It does say that…those who are equal before God shall now also be equal in the polling booths, in the classrooms, in the factories, and in hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, and other places that provide service to the public.”
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-march-2021
I'm proud to say that in an hour I will join a two-year faithful BLM vigil which I do almost every Sunday. It's interesting that it is located beside (and sponsored by)an Episcopal church which is so white, but has a Black woman Bishop. One small step for humankind...most all passing cars honk and wish us well, but of course there are the occasional middle fingers.
And as if like the Movie “ Back To The Future “ Women of all races and Black Americans are being Discriminated against in plain site.Our new name will be “ America The Republican Kingdom “.Now I know why they spent so much time hanging out with Dictators.
'The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting. '
Charles Bukowski
Thanks, Fern. So many of our freedoms are unraveling now.
And thanks for the link to the Brennan Center for Justice, which reminded me I haven't made a contribution yet this year.
Thank you, Mim. I believed that HCR's historical references to 'Freedom Summer', LBJ's determination to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the powerful intransigence toward civil rights legislation by the Southern states pointed to comparing then with now. I would suggest that a comparison of presidential leadership than and now may also be noted. It will take a great deal more activism on the part of citizens to promote our rights to privacy, equality, protection of fair and free elections, the regulation of business and of the environment as well as knowledge of who the conservative, right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court are serving if we are to stop the USA's descent to autocracy.
Problem is, Fern, too many citizens couldn't give a hoot about being politically active. They are too self-involved to care about others and what the effect policies and rulings have on all of us. Many, I've heard, are so disinterested they haven't even been watching or reading about the Jan. 6 hearings. Ostriches with their heads in the sand, they're more concerned about inflation and the price of gasoline.
Mim, Your response indicates the true 'elephant' in the room. It's the American people, but I would not settle on that. Perhaps, it is a 'lazy' way out. Let's not rest on that premise.
Eyes need to be opened. Rights are being being stripped, free and fair elections are in serious jeopardy...Earth is Endangered: 'There are now 41,415 species on the IUCN Red List, and 16,306 of them are endangered species threatened with extinction. This is up from 16,118 last year. This includes both endangered animals and endangered plants. The species endangered include one in four mammals, one in eight birds, one third of all amphibians and 70% of the world’s assessed plants on the 2007 IUCN Red List are in jeopardy of extinction'.
All Americans, whether they care about the survival of earth, plants, animals, the air, the water, each other, Democracy … are in terrible trouble. Eyes, minds and hearts need to be opened.
Fern, as a supporter of environmental organizations for many, many decades, I know the peril species are in, but just this week Biden has broached the possibility of offshore drilling again, which would endanger species, including our own, because the world is doing nowhere near enough to get a handle on climate control. We should have had "sapiens" taken out of our binomial name a long time ago.
Mim, who can be the presidential candidate... another potentially lethal weakness?
You mean if Biden chooses not to run in '24? I'd love it to be Stacey Abrams. We just got one very smart black woman elevated to SCOTUS. Why can't we have another as POTUS?
My slate is still blank. I don't think she'll win the election against Kemp.
Please, please think positive! If you or your friends can, contribute to or volunteer to help her campaign.
Same with Warnock. It is sickening to think that his race against Walker is so close. Of course, polls are not to be entirely trusted, but still...Walker has agreed to at least one debate in the fall. That should be interesting.
Mim, I'm hardnose strategic. I do contribute and think Warnock may win his. I don't dream in politics as I do while sleeping. Check out Chair of the Democratic Governors Assoc. Roy Cooper (gov. of NC). Politico covers him.
I don't suppose it has anything to do with the oligarchy sqeezing blood out of us ex-middle class turnips? When one has to consentrate so much of ones energy one finding the next meal, politics loses priority.
That's a good part of the problem, Susan, but it's also disinterest and apathy, which is nothing new, sadly, but overcoming that is more important now than it has ever been. I just don't know if the Democrats have the tools to do it. Controlling the narrative would be key, but they cannot get their talking points together so that everyone speaks to media in the same voice, as the Republicans do with great skill.
...and a rise in population from 2 billion to 8 billion + - since the birth control pill was invented...