I have been thinking that there is a tactic that would show the NC legislators who voted for HB2 up for the hypocrites they are. They should be sued to enforce the law in the legislative buildings as well as the executive mansion, which they are obviously not doing. They should be forced to post a guard at the door of each restroom; in order to use the restroom one would have to present a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, together with legally conclusive evidence that the birth certificate is truly theirs; only then, if they pass the test for use of said restroom, should they be permitted to enter and use the facilities. Neither legislators, the governor, nor staff members should be permitted to flout the law; what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I expect someone else has thought of it as well, but forwarded the idea to the NC NAACP in my capacity as an outside agitator. BTW, I think Rev. William Barber (current President of the NC NAACP) is a very fine fellow.
I am moved to write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper; today there were two pro-Bernie letters and no pro-HRC letter(s). My letter will take a bit of cogitation, though. And I need to repair the swimming pool chlorinator.
Recall reading somewhere that revolutions don't occur when things are at their worst; that they happen just after things begin to get better. Wonder what that means for the current situation? Given that the most recent worst had to be 2008. . . .
Haymarket--I attended a Peace Demonstration in DC in the early 70's with my then boyfriend, a friend of his, and his friend's 3 year old. It was huge, and peaceful. Late afternoon as we were leaving the grassy area below the capitol, several demonstrators ran in front of us, followed by DC police on scooters, guns drawn. Behind them we could hear gunshots. We turned and ran, like krezzy, still hearing the gunshots. As I ran, Haymarket was burning itself into my consciousness. . . . The friend was running with his kid on his shoulders, and I was running in sandals, which I vowed never to wear to another demonstration! One of those time stops situations--stops or stretches.
In the event, the "gunshots" we heard were firecrackers tossed in a trashcan, and the police never fired their guns at all. But for that five minutes, the reality was
Oh my, puddle--the Kent State shootings were in 1970. To this day I get the willies when Philadelphia, Mississippi is mentioned. And revolutions after things start getting better--oh, yes. Like people often dying in the Spring, after the worst weather is over. Well, here are a few gleanings from the inner tubes; have to get to work doing some electrical stuff.--Alan
I am of the opinion that the White House Correspondents' Dinner ought to be beneath the dignity of the President of the United States, but I gather Obama the Comedian didn't tweak Bernie Sanders.
How Hillary Could Win the Election--and Lose the Country [Click] "She'd be a status-quo president at a time when both left and right are desperate for change." I should say that the writer seems to be a conventional political journalist type who doesn't quite understand the current situation, but is being forced into a partial realization of what is going on. It's wort a read, though, to see what realization is dawning on such folk. One quotation jumped out at me for its significance: “Sanders is posting [impressive] numbers among young people,” says Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, “and those are people with no connection or loyalty to the Clintons whatsoever.” (Emphasis added.)
Made it there and back again. Grandson's baptism was the most beautiful and meaningful service I have ever witnessed a church community pull together for the sake of a member. Our family came together sweetly for it too. We are floating!
Whew! Got the pool chlorinator fixed--doing it myself saved about $500, but I was rather anxious, never having messed with anything like that before. On top of that, the new controller circuit board was not identical to the original one. Thank goodness the wires as well as the connections on the board were all color coded. When I finally powered it up, there were no short circuits and it all worked. Whew again! Some more notes: the last one is the most important.--Alan
P.S.: Car goes to the body shop tomorrow (Monday).
GOP Race Shifts California's Political Fault Lines [Click]"The upcoming primary has triggered a surge in new voter registrations and they are overwhelmingly young, Democratic and Latino, according to Paul Mitchell, who runs a political data firm in Sacramento. Some of those voters may be drawn by the promise of voting for Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, but some may be registering to vote against Trump in November."
From Wikipedia: "A contested convention can also refer to a convention that does result in a first-ballot victory for someone, but where the result was not pre-ordained going into the convention." [emphasis added]
"Adlai Stevenson (of the 1952 Democratic Party) and Dwight Eisenhower (of the 1952 Republican Party) were the most recent "brokered convention" presidential nominees, of their respective parties."
In popular culture[ Much of the plot of season 4, of the US series House of Cards, centers around an open convention run by the DNC for the 2016 vice presidential nominations.
Daughter surprised us by playing her Celtic harp at the start of the service! Then the choir surprised our Daughter with an anthem they'd prepared just for the occasion, to welcome the new little member of the community.
The anthem "I was there to hear your borning cry" made me cry! I made sure to thank choirmaster Tom afterward. (He beamed about it.)
I was there to hear your borning cry by John Ylvisaker, 1999
"I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell."
"When you heard the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on; You were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong. If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one, I'll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk 'till rising sun." In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I'll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I've begun. When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes, I'll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise."
"I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold."
How's this for a letter to the editor? --Alan ======================= The US middle class did not happen by accident; it was created by the New Deal. I am, like my parents before me, basically a New Deal Democrat. I have been waiting 32 years for a New Deal Democrat to run for President again, and this year we finally have one: Bernie Sanders.
Sanders' opponent for the Democratic nomination has been forced, kicking and screaming all the way, to the same basic position as the Republicans back in the days of my youth: in favor of the same things as her opponent, but not so much and not so fast. This after a lifetime as a "New Democrat," to the right of Eisenhower by a good bit, and arguably involved in the destruction of everything the New Deal stood for. Do I believe her protestations that now she shares Sanders' positions to some degree? I remember thinking back in 1972 that maybe the leopard could change its spots, and voting for Richard Nixon. I was wrong, and that experience soured me on the whole idea.
Now that most people of my age are dead, the pendulum is finally beginning to swing back again, thanks in no small part to "millenials," too young to remember how things were before, but intelligent enough to know there has to be a better way than just more of what we have endured so long. And they are choosing the same route to improving things that the people of my parents' generation chose when they voted for FDR--conventional political activism. This is just the start. Please join us in helping it along.
Remember the Haymarket Square Martyrs!
ReplyDeleteSanders Calls for 50-State Strategy to 'Revitalize American Democracy' [Click] I seem to have heard that somewhere before…
I have been thinking that there is a tactic that would show the NC legislators who voted for HB2 up for the hypocrites they are. They should be sued to enforce the law in the legislative buildings as well as the executive mansion, which they are obviously not doing. They should be forced to post a guard at the door of each restroom; in order to use the restroom one would have to present a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, together with legally conclusive evidence that the birth certificate is truly theirs; only then, if they pass the test for use of said restroom, should they be permitted to enter and use the facilities. Neither legislators, the governor, nor staff members should be permitted to flout the law; what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I expect someone else has thought of it as well, but forwarded the idea to the NC NAACP in my capacity as an outside agitator. BTW, I think Rev. William Barber (current President of the NC NAACP) is a very fine fellow.
--Alan
Haymarket Martyrs Memorial [Click] Photo
ReplyDelete--Alan
I am moved to write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper; today there were two pro-Bernie letters and no pro-HRC letter(s). My letter will take a bit of cogitation, though. And I need to repair the swimming pool chlorinator.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Recall reading somewhere that revolutions don't occur when things are at their worst; that they happen just after things begin to get better. Wonder what that means for the current situation? Given that the most recent worst had to be 2008. . . .
ReplyDeleteHaymarket--I attended a Peace Demonstration in DC in the early 70's with my then boyfriend, a friend of his, and his friend's 3 year old. It was huge, and peaceful. Late afternoon as we were leaving the grassy area below the capitol, several demonstrators ran in front of us, followed by DC police on scooters, guns drawn. Behind them we could hear gunshots. We turned and ran, like krezzy, still hearing the gunshots. As I ran, Haymarket was burning itself into my consciousness. . . . The friend was running with his kid on his shoulders, and I was running in sandals, which I vowed never to wear to another demonstration! One of those time stops situations--stops or stretches.
ReplyDeleteIn the event, the "gunshots" we heard were firecrackers tossed in a trashcan, and the police never fired their guns at all. But for that five minutes, the reality was
Oh my, puddle--the Kent State shootings were in 1970. To this day I get the willies when Philadelphia, Mississippi is mentioned. And revolutions after things start getting better--oh, yes. Like people often dying in the Spring, after the worst weather is over. Well, here are a few gleanings from the inner tubes; have to get to work doing some electrical stuff.--Alan
ReplyDeleteThe Little-Known Farmworkers Who Sparked the Biggest Labor Movement in U.S. History [Click] This is well worth a read, but doesn't mention the earlier massacres of Filipino farmworkers in California by white terrorists.
Lucy Parsons: The Anarchist and Intersectional Feminist Who Inspired May Day [Click] “Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.”
I am of the opinion that the White House Correspondents' Dinner ought to be beneath the dignity of the President of the United States, but I gather Obama the Comedian didn't tweak Bernie Sanders.
Crowd Boos Bill Clinton Ahead Of Campaign Stop In West Virginia [Click] Oops…
How Hillary Could Win the Election--and Lose the Country [Click] "She'd be a status-quo president at a time when both left and right are desperate for change." I should say that the writer seems to be a conventional political journalist type who doesn't quite understand the current situation, but is being forced into a partial realization of what is going on. It's wort a read, though, to see what realization is dawning on such folk. One quotation jumped out at me for its significance:
“Sanders is posting [impressive] numbers among young people,” says Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, “and those are people with no connection or loyalty to the Clintons whatsoever.” (Emphasis added.)
Made it there and back again. Grandson's baptism was the most beautiful and meaningful service I have ever witnessed a church community pull together for the sake of a member. Our family came together sweetly for it too. We are floating!
ReplyDeleteWhew! Got the pool chlorinator fixed--doing it myself saved about $500, but I was rather anxious, never having messed with anything like that before. On top of that, the new controller circuit board was not identical to the original one. Thank goodness the wires as well as the connections on the board were all color coded. When I finally powered it up, there were no short circuits and it all worked. Whew again! Some more notes: the last one is the most important.--Alan
ReplyDeleteP.S.: Car goes to the body shop tomorrow (Monday).
GOP Race Shifts California's Political Fault Lines [Click]"The upcoming primary has triggered a surge in new voter registrations and they are overwhelmingly young, Democratic and Latino, according to Paul Mitchell, who runs a political data firm in Sacramento. Some of those voters may be drawn by the promise of voting for Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, but some may be registering to vote against Trump in November."
Sanders Predicts That There Will Be A Contested Convention [Click] If it were to happen, that would be quite a sporting event--and TWO contested conventions would be the first in a very long time.
From Wikipedia:
"A contested convention can also refer to a convention that does result in a first-ballot victory for someone, but where the result was not pre-ordained going into the convention." [emphasis added]
"Adlai Stevenson (of the 1952 Democratic Party) and Dwight Eisenhower (of the 1952 Republican Party) were the most recent "brokered convention" presidential nominees, of their respective parties."
In popular culture[
Much of the plot of season 4, of the US series House of Cards, centers around an open convention run by the DNC for the 2016 vice presidential nominations.
Call for 'Revolution' Still Reverberating as Sanders, Clinton Head Neck and Neck Into Indiana [Click] "This is the beginning of the revolt against the establishment, not the end," political analyst says.
Thomas Frank on How Democrats Went From Being the ‘Party of the People’ to the Party of Rich Elites [Click] OH BOY--THIS. RINGS. TOTALLY. TRUE.
Daughter surprised us by playing her Celtic harp at the start of the service! Then the choir surprised our Daughter with an anthem they'd prepared just for the occasion, to welcome the new little member of the community.
ReplyDeleteThe anthem "I was there to hear your borning cry" made me cry! I made sure to thank choirmaster Tom afterward. (He beamed about it.)
I was there to hear your borning cry
by John Ylvisaker, 1999
"I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell."
"When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I'll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk 'till rising sun."
In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I'll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I've begun.
When the evening gently closes in,
and you shut your weary eyes,
I'll be there as I have always been
with just one more surprise."
"I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold."
Youtube video of a choir singing it, which sounds most like what we heard today!
http://ingeb.org/spiritua/iwasther.html
Youtube video with the composer singing it, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJI3NFT5T_c
Wait! This is the link to the choir singing the song!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca7EVzLzdTE
Very nice, listener. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteAlan
How's this for a letter to the editor? --Alan
ReplyDelete=======================
The US middle class did not happen by accident; it was created by the New Deal. I am, like my parents before me, basically a New Deal Democrat. I have been waiting 32 years for a New Deal Democrat to run for President again, and this year we finally have one: Bernie Sanders.
Sanders' opponent for the Democratic nomination has been forced, kicking and screaming all the way, to the same basic position as the Republicans back in the days of my youth: in favor of the same things as her opponent, but not so much and not so fast. This after a lifetime as a "New Democrat," to the right of Eisenhower by a good bit, and arguably involved in the destruction of everything the New Deal stood for. Do I believe her protestations that now she shares Sanders' positions to some degree? I remember thinking back in 1972 that maybe the leopard could change its spots, and voting for Richard Nixon. I was wrong, and that experience soured me on the whole idea.
Now that most people of my age are dead, the pendulum is finally beginning to swing back again, thanks in no small part to "millenials," too young to remember how things were before, but intelligent enough to know there has to be a better way than just more of what we have endured so long. And they are choosing the same route to improving things that the people of my parents' generation chose when they voted for FDR--conventional political activism. This is just the start. Please join us in helping it along.
Too long--268 words, maximum is 200 words. Not far off.
Delete-Alan
Did you shorten it? How did it turn out?
Delete