On this date in 1862, the tall ship USS Cumberland was sunk by the ironclad CSS Virginia during the battle of Hampton Roads. My great great grandfather was a gunner on that ship. He happened to be on the far side of the ship when it was strafed, and was able to swim to shore. Otherwise, I would not have existed. A third of the crew perished. The captain boldly refused to lower the flag, which became a rallying event for the Union. I'm gratified to know that my family has always been on the best side of politics. ~ listener USS Cumberland sinking on March 8, 1862 during Battle of Hampton Roads,
by Max Lonzanida
Breaking News!! 😃👍 Word just reached me at this late hour from my 16 year old granddaughter (Shiloh's younger daughter) that her high school theater troupe, which had competed against all the other high schools in Maine this week, WON REGIONALS!!! It is especially gratifying because the play they chose to do was a very difficult topic...the story of Sophie Scholl, who was part of the White Rose Society, anti-Nazi, anti-fascists Resistance in WWII Germany. And they happened to be performing the play last weekend, as the fascist-inspired war with Iran began! In the course of the play "Antigone in Munich," Sophie is interrogated a number of times. And always the interrogation scenes include a very bright light over the table where she is being interrogated. And, brilliantly, the light deliberately shines annoyingly into the audience. So we feel that we are being interrogated with Sophie. We *are* Sophie. I'm so proud of her because she had the difficult job of Stage Manager!
ReplyDeleteBe sure to read Heather Cox Richardson's newly posted daily letter!
ReplyDeleteJust some of what's in HCR's daily letter:
DeleteIn Need to Know, David Rothkopf today called out the madness of the fact world trade and global security is being shattered by a single man. “Not since Adolf Hitler blew his brains out in a bunker beneath the garden of the German Reich Chancellery on April 30, 1945, have the lives of so many people around the world been so buffeted by the psychosis of a single man.”
Why has Trump launched a war against Iran on a whim, attacked other countries, and upended world trade, Rothkopf asked. “Because he’s insane. Because he’s venal. Because he’s a malignant narcissist. Because he’s a sociopath. Because he has a fragile ego. Because those around him exacerbate and play to those traits to advance their own interests. Because CEOs and investors do likewise to fill their coffers. Because to some people, whether he is insane or malevolent or repugnant or not matters less than whether his actions will feather their nests, increase their power.
“Because they, the billionaires…play their games and the consequences for the little people down below, the consequences for us, hardly matter a whit.”
On Thursday, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) called attention to another factor in play. In a speech to the Senate, Whitehouse noted that throughout his second term, Trump has advanced policies that help Russia, pausing weapons shipments to Ukraine, easing sanctions on Russia, and pushing a peace deal favorable to Russia. Last summer, he welcomed Putin to American soil, and administration officials have parroted Russian propaganda. Russian state media gloated when Trump “installed Russia apologist Tulsi Gabbard as his director of national intelligence,” and Attorney General Pam Bondi upon taking office stopped the anti-kleptocracy work that had targeted Russian oligarchs.
Trump’s new national security policy threw traditional U.S. allies overboard and favored policies that Russian government officials praised as “largely consistent” with their own.
“If Trump were purposefully doing Russia’s bidding,” Whitehouse said, “it is hard to see what he would be doing differently. The United States is the most powerful nation in the world. Russia is a weak, corrupt regime. My old friend Senator John McCain used to say that Russia is a gas station, run by gangsters, with an army. It doesn’t make sense that the President of the United States, who insists—insists—on being dominant in essentially every relationship, is so submissive to one person and that one person is Russia’s dictator, Vladimir Putin.”
Whitehouse suggested that the answer “could…have something to do with Trump’s close friendship with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.” He noted that the Epstein files, riddled as they are with references to Trump, are also riddled with references to Russian girls and women, Russian operatives, and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Whitehouse spoke about how many of Epstein’s victims believed he was recording them, and how there were hidden cameras installed throughout his homes. He quoted Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, who wrote: “He explicitly talked about using me and what I’d been forced to do with certain men as a form of blackmail, so these men would owe him favors.”
On that note ...
DeleteRussia is providing Iran intelligence to target U.S. forces, officials say
Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack American forces in the Middle East, the first indication that another major U.S. adversary is participating – even indirectly – in the war, according to three officials familiar with the intelligence.
The assistance, which has not been previously reported, signals that the rapidly expanding conflict now features one of America’s chief nuclear-armed competitors with exquisite intelligence capabilities.
Since the war began Saturday, Russia has passed Iran the locations of U.S. military assets, including warships and aircraft, said the three officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity. (WAPo) -- nordy
Russia is one of the few countries that has openly stood with Iran at the UN from the beginning of this illegal war. Makes sense that they would pass on intel. Every move the U.S. makes in this mess is illegal, unconstitutional and immoral. And now Britain is being tainted as well, as Starmer allows more RAF bases to be used. This is a dirty business. I feel sullied. We're all complicit, whether we voted for Trump or not. Whether we approve of the war or not. He has besmirched America itself, not just his name. We're being called a rogue nation, a terrorist nation. We all carry that, not only Trump and the MAGAs.
DeleteIran war highlights local news decline and necessity
ReplyDeleteBrier Dudley
Seattle Times
The last time America went to war in the Middle East, it was covered by scores of journalists from news organizations around the United States.
Even some local newspapers had foreign correspondents and overseas bureaus in the early 2000s. They could quickly cover wars, embed with troops and provide regional perspective and understanding to their readers.
They are mostly gone, victims of cutbacks and consolidation that eliminated 75% of newspaper jobs and a third of America’s local newspapers since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars started.
We’re not in the dark. The handful of national news outlets, wire services and broadcasters we mostly depend on to cover foreign news are doing phenomenal work.
But if the Iran war drags on, I fear the diminished capacity of the country’s overall press system and its increased reliance on social media will make the struggle even worse at home.
More than half of U.S. counties now have few if any local news outlets. If they still have a local newspaper, chances are good it’s not carrying much news from afar. -- nordy
Please send prayers, good vibes, whatever your thing may be.
ReplyDeleteThis morning, Dad had blood in the urine. He's been having trouble with bleeding and dizziness recently. He went to Urgent Care, who told him to go to the ER.
Chris and John left with him about a quarter to four. The folks at the ER took him almost at once, so apparently they got the word from Urgent Care. He's been going through the system, but no word yet on whether they're going to admit him.
Ohhh, Cat! Its so hard to wait when its something scary. Dad is in my heart and prayers...as are you and Sis! 🙏 Please keep us posted as you are able. ❤️
DeleteHope this goes through! My wifi is unreliable tonight.
DeleteDad called about 9:00 to say they're keeping him overnight. At this point in the evening, that's a good thing. Please keep him in your prayers.
Thanks for the update, Catreona. Good to know he's being taken care of. May Dad get some rest tonight and be feeling better. And may you also be able to get some rest, which can only help tomorrow.
DeleteAmericans and Canadians gather at border library for joint protest
ReplyDeleteKeeping your dad, and you, in my thoughts. Susan
ReplyDelete