I have to say I love all of your Sunday pieces. You are one of the few (possibly the only) public observer of politics and culture who provides fresh insight, perspective and literary insights in addition to being an outstanding writer. While I don't always agree with your political opinions, I keep my subscription because you truly add …
I have to say I love all of your Sunday pieces. You are one of the few (possibly the only) public observer of politics and culture who provides fresh insight, perspective and literary insights in addition to being an outstanding writer. While I don't always agree with your political opinions, I keep my subscription because you truly add value in a media landscape rife with copies and pastes.
Which leads to my second comment. My feeling about DOJ handling of all matters Trump was first and foremost I trusted Joe Biden and his pick Merrick Garland. Biden grasps that white terrorism poses the greatest threat to democracy and that Trump and the Republican Party are white terrorists. He of course cannot say that in so many words. But he chose a man with historic experience with white terrorism whose prosecution of McVeigh resulted in conviction. I am probably one of the few "liberals" who was not concerned about DOJ "not" indicting Trump for 2 reasons. First, I'm not a legal expert and I've spent too much energy already giving energy to opinions on social media about other things I can't control or really understand. (Example - I didn't like the way Tim Ryan conducted his Senate campaign but I didn't say anything at the time because well he was the candidate, it was his energy, etc. Now I'm more vocal about it in public but my opinion is not helpful). I'm still working on discerning "is expressing my opinion really helpful" but sometimes I just can't help myself (this applies to media criticism). Second, while Donald Trump is a horrible man who has (allegedly per the law) committed horrible crimes and who deserves to stand trial and who I hope is found guilty. At the same time I don't believe he is the "cause" of our malaise, which began when the slaves were brought here in 1619. He did not commit his alleged crimes in a vacuum. We can't just say, "Whew" and wipe our brows if and when he is convicted. Our bigger task is to challenge the energies that allowed him to succeed.
I like the way you think. Kathleen. Our problems came over on the Mayflower and every ship thereafter and no one wanted to deal with issues that, let’s be honest, were not problems then. The Enlightenment(we got “woke”)gave us our founding documents and our Republic(if we can keep it). Our history is littered with screw-ups and side trips but the best of us keep trying to do better. That’s why I’m sticking with the good guys and gals in our currently elected government and pray they prevail. 🤞🤞🤞
Thanks, Kathleen, for the kind words and the insightful comment. Alas, it is in our nation's DNA to turn the page and never learn from our mistakes. I hope this proves he exception. If we don't go back and redress the original sins, we will continue on the road to perdition.
Amen! Our denial about racism reminds me of The Fall Of The House Of Usher. My American Lit professor Father Ayo (Holy Cross father who also happened to be a poet from New Jersey!) explained to us that the male character was denying his own feminine side when he locked his sister up and it was that denial that caused the fall. That concept was new to me and I was so excited by his insight! This was 1970 at a Catholic university in Portland, Oregon to provide context for his comment. I thought you'd appreciate a literary "take" on denial. Poe was a genius.
I have to say I love all of your Sunday pieces. You are one of the few (possibly the only) public observer of politics and culture who provides fresh insight, perspective and literary insights in addition to being an outstanding writer. While I don't always agree with your political opinions, I keep my subscription because you truly add value in a media landscape rife with copies and pastes.
Which leads to my second comment. My feeling about DOJ handling of all matters Trump was first and foremost I trusted Joe Biden and his pick Merrick Garland. Biden grasps that white terrorism poses the greatest threat to democracy and that Trump and the Republican Party are white terrorists. He of course cannot say that in so many words. But he chose a man with historic experience with white terrorism whose prosecution of McVeigh resulted in conviction. I am probably one of the few "liberals" who was not concerned about DOJ "not" indicting Trump for 2 reasons. First, I'm not a legal expert and I've spent too much energy already giving energy to opinions on social media about other things I can't control or really understand. (Example - I didn't like the way Tim Ryan conducted his Senate campaign but I didn't say anything at the time because well he was the candidate, it was his energy, etc. Now I'm more vocal about it in public but my opinion is not helpful). I'm still working on discerning "is expressing my opinion really helpful" but sometimes I just can't help myself (this applies to media criticism). Second, while Donald Trump is a horrible man who has (allegedly per the law) committed horrible crimes and who deserves to stand trial and who I hope is found guilty. At the same time I don't believe he is the "cause" of our malaise, which began when the slaves were brought here in 1619. He did not commit his alleged crimes in a vacuum. We can't just say, "Whew" and wipe our brows if and when he is convicted. Our bigger task is to challenge the energies that allowed him to succeed.
I like the way you think. Kathleen. Our problems came over on the Mayflower and every ship thereafter and no one wanted to deal with issues that, let’s be honest, were not problems then. The Enlightenment(we got “woke”)gave us our founding documents and our Republic(if we can keep it). Our history is littered with screw-ups and side trips but the best of us keep trying to do better. That’s why I’m sticking with the good guys and gals in our currently elected government and pray they prevail. 🤞🤞🤞
Thank you. Beautifully stated.
Thank you.
Amen!!!
Until we acknowledge and appreciate the value of diversity in these states, United we will never be.
Manifest Destiny
Thanks, Kathleen, for the kind words and the insightful comment. Alas, it is in our nation's DNA to turn the page and never learn from our mistakes. I hope this proves he exception. If we don't go back and redress the original sins, we will continue on the road to perdition.
Amen! Our denial about racism reminds me of The Fall Of The House Of Usher. My American Lit professor Father Ayo (Holy Cross father who also happened to be a poet from New Jersey!) explained to us that the male character was denying his own feminine side when he locked his sister up and it was that denial that caused the fall. That concept was new to me and I was so excited by his insight! This was 1970 at a Catholic university in Portland, Oregon to provide context for his comment. I thought you'd appreciate a literary "take" on denial. Poe was a genius.