Thank you for this. Incredible piece. When we met in Washington State (EGA), you told me to look out for Contraband Camp. It is all you said it would be and more. Keep up the great analysis. It is mission fuel for the work ahead.
As highly as I think of Senator Booker and his 25 hour appeal, beating a known racists record, where I will not mind if he usurps Schumer, I do not think this is a time for black people to lead.
We didn't put trump in and our protests, no matter how noble, should not lead the fight to eject him.
That's up to the 57% to lead this country out of the morass we find ourselves in.
That sounds interesting because I've considered the idea from my travels. I have admired African Americans who have done it. In fact, I'll be travelling to Italy in another week with an educational tour (high school kids). I'll be making notes anyway for my granddaughters but I'll keep this in mind. Probably contact you in another month. 😉
Me too. My five passions are on my blurb but one is traveling. I notice almost right away if there is any sort of discrimination. It can be refreshing when there isn't.
When you step back and see how unhealthy our relationship with the US is, you consider other options.
I've had and continue to have a great career- my next adventure starts Monday. The Canadians have requested my expertise, which is a mind stimulator - but with things looking hairy here, I'm not interested in a situation akin to the Hunger Games, which may come about considering the economic turn.
Thank you for this wonderful piece and introducing me to Edwin Garrison Walker, Jr. and Sr. I would never have learned about them in school for obvious reasons. I’m saving the link to Walker Sr’s piece because it is so important. I gives me solace to know someone was writing some of the same things I am thinking, 200+ yrs later. Because we, all Americans, are ignorant of the country’s true history, we must learn more to understand how we began. That our unresolved past has led us to this point. I appreciate Senator Booker’s 25 hour appeal. I understand why he did it and am glad he did. It will be on the record, provided it’s not whitewashed out of American history, for future generations. He stood up and did what no other senator would ever have done.
Yes, it was performative art at the highest level. I’ll never get past the Democrats history of capitulating. Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t explained her deception about Harris’ “Working Tirelessly to Secure a Ceasefire” to stop the genocide. And the Sanders “The Fighting Oligarchy Tour” is a scheme to control the masses for the weak-ass, un-principled Democratic Party. Booker has no right to talk about what is right especially after he votes to give $8.8 billion more in weapons to that maniac Netanyahu. They are the fucking oligarchs. They are not our saviors. We need to move to other means of political participation. The Team Red and Team Blue paradigm will kill us all.
What confuses me most is the disconnect between his speech and his votes to confirm Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Brooke Rollins, and John Ratcliffe. Has he addressed what changed between the time he cast those votes and the time he gave the speech? I would at least like an explanation if not an apology.
😀 And that is the stuff that most folks conveniently leave out of the excitement and hype. We are starving for another MLK, Jr. etc. These guys are bought and paid for by lobbies just like the other Congresspeople. At least you can say that there is equality in the Congress!
I wouldn't read too much into what AOC said about VP Harris other than mimicking what she herself said.
If you listen to Ta'Nehisi Coates on his book re: Palestine, his stance (simplistically) is that because we come from Jim Crow, Apartheid and genocide are wrong no matter who commits it.
I remember Joe Biden's response to a Palestinian reporters pictures and exclaiming disbelief at the veracity of the carnage. I also remember Jill Biden begging her husband to reconsider supporting Netanyahu.
If you take Coates point, then you believe the issue to be one of morality. I do see it that way. S. Africa determined what was happening to the Palestinians as genocide because it is. It is ethnic cleansing.
Further, no matter how you slice and dice VP Harris' relationship with President Biden, I do know who I am and who I could truly consider as my friend and confidante, given his actions in this conflict. I'm sure I'd have picked differently than VP Harris. And it wouldn't have been a hard choice.
Glorious where??? Why would I clap for a legislator elected to legislate who spent 25+ hours in the legislative building NOT legislating?
I would be less insulted if Booker had read David Walker's Appeal during this pressure value-releasing prequel to the launch of Cormala's White House run.
A protest without a single policy demand, no call to action, not even a Final Call or Watchtower passed out is a ridiculous stunt and a dang shame. Nearly 70 days into this administration doing exactly what it told us it would do, so how is this is the best his party could muster?
Such a great piece of writing and study of history! Thank you. I watched maybe 75% of Booker’s speech and what impressed me was the content related to Medicaid and poverty. In my 54 years I don’t remember hearing someone in DC discuss these topics the way he did. Even that he read letters to his office from constituents like a guild of nurse practitioners! My daughter gets mad at all the news I listen to so I sometimes mute and us closed captioning. A lot of his remarks were scripted and planned which , in itself was impressive to me. I wish I loved his votes as much but that doesn’t, in my eyes, take away from the event.
It seems like you have amassed a bunch of purists advocating for a faux reality and heavily vested in complaining about much, while eating popcorn from the Amen Corner. While I get it, and agree this is a time for White people to sacrifice for the patriotism they claim and flout, I have questions.
What Booker did required more than posting on a blog. Be it (and he) glorious or imperfect, it may be something that moves the needle (however slightly) from national resignation to collapse. I marvel at the mental amoebae that feel we will arise unscathed as the chickens come home to roost.
It's all very well and good to write clever critiques and pithy observations. I welcome and celebrate them. I hear the contextual upbringing we share about Pharaoh and his house (nation). That said, what Booker did mattered. You should have said so without prancing around it.
Thank you for this. Incredible piece. When we met in Washington State (EGA), you told me to look out for Contraband Camp. It is all you said it would be and more. Keep up the great analysis. It is mission fuel for the work ahead.
As highly as I think of Senator Booker and his 25 hour appeal, beating a known racists record, where I will not mind if he usurps Schumer, I do not think this is a time for black people to lead.
We didn't put trump in and our protests, no matter how noble, should not lead the fight to eject him.
That's up to the 57% to lead this country out of the morass we find ourselves in.
Great minds think alike 😁 https://jtolbertjr.substack.com/p/no-more-kumbaya
Ya. Great article.
We should collabo (you can take the by line) on the history of those who chose to take up residence in Europe and other places.
We are both vets. There are pros and cons to staying and fighting for the only country we have ever known, but has really never rated us on a merit.
I see the whole if you are a woman and/or a minority and "If you have a job, you are DEI" as how it's always been. Now people can say it openly.
That sounds interesting because I've considered the idea from my travels. I have admired African Americans who have done it. In fact, I'll be travelling to Italy in another week with an educational tour (high school kids). I'll be making notes anyway for my granddaughters but I'll keep this in mind. Probably contact you in another month. 😉
Me too. My five passions are on my blurb but one is traveling. I notice almost right away if there is any sort of discrimination. It can be refreshing when there isn't.
When you step back and see how unhealthy our relationship with the US is, you consider other options.
I've had and continue to have a great career- my next adventure starts Monday. The Canadians have requested my expertise, which is a mind stimulator - but with things looking hairy here, I'm not interested in a situation akin to the Hunger Games, which may come about considering the economic turn.
Enjoy. Ruminate. Hit me back at your convenience.
Thank you for this wonderful piece and introducing me to Edwin Garrison Walker, Jr. and Sr. I would never have learned about them in school for obvious reasons. I’m saving the link to Walker Sr’s piece because it is so important. I gives me solace to know someone was writing some of the same things I am thinking, 200+ yrs later. Because we, all Americans, are ignorant of the country’s true history, we must learn more to understand how we began. That our unresolved past has led us to this point. I appreciate Senator Booker’s 25 hour appeal. I understand why he did it and am glad he did. It will be on the record, provided it’s not whitewashed out of American history, for future generations. He stood up and did what no other senator would ever have done.
Yes, it was performative art at the highest level. I’ll never get past the Democrats history of capitulating. Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t explained her deception about Harris’ “Working Tirelessly to Secure a Ceasefire” to stop the genocide. And the Sanders “The Fighting Oligarchy Tour” is a scheme to control the masses for the weak-ass, un-principled Democratic Party. Booker has no right to talk about what is right especially after he votes to give $8.8 billion more in weapons to that maniac Netanyahu. They are the fucking oligarchs. They are not our saviors. We need to move to other means of political participation. The Team Red and Team Blue paradigm will kill us all.
What confuses me most is the disconnect between his speech and his votes to confirm Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Brooke Rollins, and John Ratcliffe. Has he addressed what changed between the time he cast those votes and the time he gave the speech? I would at least like an explanation if not an apology.
😀 And that is the stuff that most folks conveniently leave out of the excitement and hype. We are starving for another MLK, Jr. etc. These guys are bought and paid for by lobbies just like the other Congresspeople. At least you can say that there is equality in the Congress!
I wouldn't read too much into what AOC said about VP Harris other than mimicking what she herself said.
If you listen to Ta'Nehisi Coates on his book re: Palestine, his stance (simplistically) is that because we come from Jim Crow, Apartheid and genocide are wrong no matter who commits it.
I remember Joe Biden's response to a Palestinian reporters pictures and exclaiming disbelief at the veracity of the carnage. I also remember Jill Biden begging her husband to reconsider supporting Netanyahu.
If you take Coates point, then you believe the issue to be one of morality. I do see it that way. S. Africa determined what was happening to the Palestinians as genocide because it is. It is ethnic cleansing.
Further, no matter how you slice and dice VP Harris' relationship with President Biden, I do know who I am and who I could truly consider as my friend and confidante, given his actions in this conflict. I'm sure I'd have picked differently than VP Harris. And it wouldn't have been a hard choice.
I love your writing so much. Thank you. On a hard day, thank you.
Glorious where??? Why would I clap for a legislator elected to legislate who spent 25+ hours in the legislative building NOT legislating?
I would be less insulted if Booker had read David Walker's Appeal during this pressure value-releasing prequel to the launch of Cormala's White House run.
A protest without a single policy demand, no call to action, not even a Final Call or Watchtower passed out is a ridiculous stunt and a dang shame. Nearly 70 days into this administration doing exactly what it told us it would do, so how is this is the best his party could muster?
Such a great piece of writing and study of history! Thank you. I watched maybe 75% of Booker’s speech and what impressed me was the content related to Medicaid and poverty. In my 54 years I don’t remember hearing someone in DC discuss these topics the way he did. Even that he read letters to his office from constituents like a guild of nurse practitioners! My daughter gets mad at all the news I listen to so I sometimes mute and us closed captioning. A lot of his remarks were scripted and planned which , in itself was impressive to me. I wish I loved his votes as much but that doesn’t, in my eyes, take away from the event.
It seems like you have amassed a bunch of purists advocating for a faux reality and heavily vested in complaining about much, while eating popcorn from the Amen Corner. While I get it, and agree this is a time for White people to sacrifice for the patriotism they claim and flout, I have questions.
What Booker did required more than posting on a blog. Be it (and he) glorious or imperfect, it may be something that moves the needle (however slightly) from national resignation to collapse. I marvel at the mental amoebae that feel we will arise unscathed as the chickens come home to roost.
It's all very well and good to write clever critiques and pithy observations. I welcome and celebrate them. I hear the contextual upbringing we share about Pharaoh and his house (nation). That said, what Booker did mattered. You should have said so without prancing around it.