That's a quote from a song by John Prine. The song is on his last CD and it has stuck in my mind ever since his death. The more popular cut ("when i get to heaven") is the final song on that CD. But inside MY head, this is the song that resonates. There is just too much going on sometimes. I have even begun to respond to Mike Pence when he appears on my tv. In many ways, he is worse than POTUS. They are both smarmy but anyone who calls his wife "mother" is a step worse. They are both liars except one of them is in charge. It is no longer humorous to hope that Moe shows up to take charge. Please understand that the one lie about the curve flattening actually harms people and sometimes kills them. Moving on.
--I am a child of the South. I have mentioned before that my schools were segregated for my entire public school experience. I have mentioned before the white lines on the bus which separated the "Negroes" from us. I have mentioned before the sight of 4 bathrooms in public places: one for white men, one for "colored" men, one for white women, and one for "colored" women. That is part of my history; a history that I was reminded of these past few weeks. I am glad the Confederate flag has been lowered in Mississippi.
But, that does not change history nor does it change the fact that the south is different--and not in a good way; not kind of quaint or charming. Just because you have virtually all African American football athletes at your two big universities does not mean things have changed--it just means you want to win.
--Then there is Atlanta. Like Miami, we are supposed to think of it as not really southern city. But it too has a history despite having Mayors who are African American. But go look up at Stone Mountain and tell me who is carved on its cliffs.
--John Bolton is not a hero. He is a slime ball who gutlessly refused to testify in front of Congress and preferred writing a book. That does not mean what he wrote is a lie--it just means he does not deserve all these accolades shortly after these same media outlets were castigating him for his hawkishness. And I wish to hell he got rid of his yellow pad.
--And Dr. Brix should ditch her scarves unelss she can tell me how I can get my hair cut from a 6 foot safe distance.
--When and if I ever have to dial 911,I do not want to find out that the service has been defunded. I'm not sure what needs to happen but I do know it requires a massive culture change. When I was hired to run a state hospital, the person I replaced smilingly informed me how hard it was to turn the Queen Mary around.
Culture change is not easy or quick.
--Anyone seen Jared or Rudy lately?
--So sweet that both POTUS and Roger Goodell want Kapernick to play now. Thats their committment to equity--now that he is probably too old to lace them up.
--Just because I can get and wear a Morehouse tee doe not mean I am such a great person--it just means I can afford it.
--Seen any tv ads lately? Seems as if corporate america (actually the corporate world) has decided that some customers are actually people of color. They get no credit in my book for coming to the party way too late.
--Carl Reiner passed away. He and Mel Broks were hysterical. On an episode of "Comedians in Cars...", they had dinner together every night and ate on those old fashioned tv tables some of us used to have. Watched tv together and yakked.
--I will leave you with this quote from a 7 minute video by Arthur Jafa:
"What wold America be like if we loved black people as much as we liked black culture".
Shalom
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
HE GOT HIS FENCE!!
Whoops!! No, not that fence down there on the US/Mexico border. The one separating the citizens of this country from the White House. You know: the White House where the President of the United States lives and the House that is visible from Pennsylvania Avenue. Not so much now. You can only see the top of the house because we now have a fence all around the grounds. We have it because Mr.Scaredy Cat ordered a fence built after he got scared shitless during a demonstration. Baron and the Missus went down there with him for the "inspection". I wonder if Baron's therapist joined them.
--This same POTUS then took a walk to a church for a photo op. Apparently, he was no longer scared because the protesters had been dispersed by police/national guard. The demonstration was a peaceful one.
But they were forcibly removed so we could see POTUS raising an upside down bible. The Episcopal leadership in DC were not informed of this visit. The police and Guard had covered up their name tags. It was the 60's all over again. Then the General, in full combat fatigues, decided to survey the scene as if he was on a battlefield.
--I acknowledge his apology. But I am sick and tired of people yakking out loud and then, the next day, walking back all the impulsive shit they said.
--I am also sick and tired of hearing we need more training for the police. We need fewer macho men who are living out some perverted dream of being in control--and they are usually white guys putting knees on the necks of black men. You do know that officer in Minnesota had 18 complaints in his personnel folder, right?
--On the other hand every picture I see of a police officer taking a knee with a protester gives me some hope.
--Being only liberal, I am not in the mindset to defund the police. But I do wonder why they need armored personnel carriers and other military-like weaponry.
--My "free delivery" of prescriptions from CVS (and advertised on tv by Joe Willie Namath) is a big lie. Someone is getting billed for that service. Nothing is free tho I appreciate not having to go into the store in this day and age. My guess is that either Medicare pays or Medicare Advantage pays--but it is not free, it is just safer.
--He cancelled the G-7 blaming it on the virus but in truth Angela and Macron said no thanks and he was just trying to avoid embarassment. We are also withdrawing from the WHO because, well you know, we don't need them because we did such a great job with Covid.
--I am also clear about this: I have no sympathy for the franchise owners in professional sports. I'm supposed to care that they are now losing money? They are bazillionaires who are mainly overseeing leagues that virtually resemble the plantations of the olden days. Not too many owners are people of color but I have noticed the color of the skin of the majority of players.
--Check out Alex Beam in the Globe of 6/8. And Maureen Dowd in this past Sunday's Times interviewing Greg Popovich the NBA coach. Such good writers.
--In the midst of all this chaos, a neighborly opinion. I completely regret joining one of those neighborhood websites where you can ask your neighbors for this and that and offer all sorts of opinions on anything. So I now know about the albino squirrels and could see their pictures if I wish. I can also hear from all sorts of very privileged folks (a lot like me) about why their asparagus did not come up yet. Have tried to unsubscribe from this and have yet to succeed. EEK!!
--Not sure it is a trend but Gorsuch and Roberts came through in a big way yesterday.
Shalom
--This same POTUS then took a walk to a church for a photo op. Apparently, he was no longer scared because the protesters had been dispersed by police/national guard. The demonstration was a peaceful one.
But they were forcibly removed so we could see POTUS raising an upside down bible. The Episcopal leadership in DC were not informed of this visit. The police and Guard had covered up their name tags. It was the 60's all over again. Then the General, in full combat fatigues, decided to survey the scene as if he was on a battlefield.
--I acknowledge his apology. But I am sick and tired of people yakking out loud and then, the next day, walking back all the impulsive shit they said.
--I am also sick and tired of hearing we need more training for the police. We need fewer macho men who are living out some perverted dream of being in control--and they are usually white guys putting knees on the necks of black men. You do know that officer in Minnesota had 18 complaints in his personnel folder, right?
--On the other hand every picture I see of a police officer taking a knee with a protester gives me some hope.
--Being only liberal, I am not in the mindset to defund the police. But I do wonder why they need armored personnel carriers and other military-like weaponry.
--My "free delivery" of prescriptions from CVS (and advertised on tv by Joe Willie Namath) is a big lie. Someone is getting billed for that service. Nothing is free tho I appreciate not having to go into the store in this day and age. My guess is that either Medicare pays or Medicare Advantage pays--but it is not free, it is just safer.
--He cancelled the G-7 blaming it on the virus but in truth Angela and Macron said no thanks and he was just trying to avoid embarassment. We are also withdrawing from the WHO because, well you know, we don't need them because we did such a great job with Covid.
--I am also clear about this: I have no sympathy for the franchise owners in professional sports. I'm supposed to care that they are now losing money? They are bazillionaires who are mainly overseeing leagues that virtually resemble the plantations of the olden days. Not too many owners are people of color but I have noticed the color of the skin of the majority of players.
--Check out Alex Beam in the Globe of 6/8. And Maureen Dowd in this past Sunday's Times interviewing Greg Popovich the NBA coach. Such good writers.
--In the midst of all this chaos, a neighborly opinion. I completely regret joining one of those neighborhood websites where you can ask your neighbors for this and that and offer all sorts of opinions on anything. So I now know about the albino squirrels and could see their pictures if I wish. I can also hear from all sorts of very privileged folks (a lot like me) about why their asparagus did not come up yet. Have tried to unsubscribe from this and have yet to succeed. EEK!!
--Not sure it is a trend but Gorsuch and Roberts came through in a big way yesterday.
Shalom
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