The dates for the assassinations of MLK and RFK are reversed in this piece. MLK died in April and RFK in June. RFK gave an unforgettable calming speech to an audience of Black young people who learned of MLK's death from him. One comment I remember he said was, "A member of my family was killed like this too." I was drenched in tears.
12 paragraphs into part 1 and I'm blubbering. I gave SCOTUS profou
nd respect based on past deeds. I shed tears of pride over the brave and _right_ decisions made for our democracy. Then I blubbered about how far the Supreme Court has fallen and the lack of trust they've engendered in over half our citizens in such a short period of time. Thank you for your writings. I'll finish reading now.
Morgaan, I had a parallel timeline and sense of the heroic and tragic, illuminating and shrouded America that is also reflected now. Extraordinary really, almost as if the struggle between good and evil is a continuum...
Oh, I definitely thing it is. This is a FUNDAMENTAL CHOICE between control and freedom, narcissistic self-centeredness and a balance between care of self and community with others. It's a choice between radical exclusion/radical inclusion and a balance between the two. We live in interesting times, my friend. Interesting, and very, very dangerous because Trump is mad as a March hare -- and his followers appear to have a mass delusion complex, the result of a frustration and rage sourced in a loss of privilege. My son and I were having a discussion last night while I cooked dinner. At some point, I just went stock still standing in the kitchen, realizing that I was simply STUNNED and SHOCKED, sort of temporariliy paralyzed by the sheer specter of the potential loss we face. And not just us ... the world. If America goes down now, nasty little potentates like this vile, vile man will abuse every populace their can get their filthy paws on -- and Putin will go wild with pride and hubris and strike out on his every border. This doesn't mean that Europe will take it, but as China replaces, they won't be enough. And then the vicious shall inherit the earth.
Such great writing, my compliments. Even a cursory historical view of past potentates suggests that the finest way to deal with their deluded and destructive runs is any time before and up to the moment they attain unarguable institutional power. With the severity their threats invite.
Thank you so much for the compliment. [s] ... Once Hindenburg capitulated to the bad advice he got about making Hitler Chancellor--advise that Hitler could be controlled!!--it was over in a matter of months. And as you say, the time to nip it in its VERY fat bud is BEFORE they get hold of institutions. This is my fear about the Supreme Court. Trump has a strong, but still tenuous, hold on the Radical Right in Congress, but not enough to assure him a dictatorship. But if the Supreme Court, which he stacked with conservative Christians--so that it now totals 7 Catholics who appear to toe the Vatican's terrible views towards women and trans people. Simultaneously, it supports the bloated rich, whites, corporations, and religionists with predatory tendencies towards legislating everybody else's behavior--most particularly sexual and reproductive behaviors. Note that Thomas wants to illegalize birth control even for married couples. It's the Supremes I most fear. That are supposed to be our last, best hope. And they may take down the republic, stoked by religious fervor and a seething rage that Americans started calling out their graft. It is a tragedy and travesty that Justice Thomas, whose wife Ginni was sending emails stoking Trump's election to some of the highest ranking government officials in the United States, did not recuse himself from Trump's immunity case. What the hell is wrong with Roberts???
If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary called” Robert F.Kennedy for President”, I know you would enjoy the pictures of the history you wrote about so articulately.
The whole show brought terrible sadness and many tears. It also laid out the most important of happenings during my journey from high school through college and into my teaching and traveling years.
I fight back the urge to hate America. I hope I can change my depression into hope once again for this country.
But as many are, I am tired. I miss the feeling of being exhilarated by statesmanship and curiosity and perfection and a desire to be better than best.
I am impressed with your wide range of knowledge. Keep us looking forward with your thoughts and facts.
This is an excellent article and singles out many important, and in many ways almost lost, points of our country’s history, especially in the light of previous Supreme Court decisions, and the histories of the cases that have passed through that once upon a time most august of institutions.
Thank you, Morgaan. I have much to say about that subject and so many other things that I want to write about; but lately my life has been keeping me very busy and away from my keyboard.
Well, please write when you can. I love reading your stuff!
The dates for the assassinations of MLK and RFK are reversed in this piece. MLK died in April and RFK in June. RFK gave an unforgettable calming speech to an audience of Black young people who learned of MLK's death from him. One comment I remember he said was, "A member of my family was killed like this too." I was drenched in tears.
OH, THANK YOU, MY FRIEND!!!!
12 paragraphs into part 1 and I'm blubbering. I gave SCOTUS profou
nd respect based on past deeds. I shed tears of pride over the brave and _right_ decisions made for our democracy. Then I blubbered about how far the Supreme Court has fallen and the lack of trust they've engendered in over half our citizens in such a short period of time. Thank you for your writings. I'll finish reading now.
Bravo! Can't wait for part II!
Morgaan, I had a parallel timeline and sense of the heroic and tragic, illuminating and shrouded America that is also reflected now. Extraordinary really, almost as if the struggle between good and evil is a continuum...
Oh, I definitely thing it is. This is a FUNDAMENTAL CHOICE between control and freedom, narcissistic self-centeredness and a balance between care of self and community with others. It's a choice between radical exclusion/radical inclusion and a balance between the two. We live in interesting times, my friend. Interesting, and very, very dangerous because Trump is mad as a March hare -- and his followers appear to have a mass delusion complex, the result of a frustration and rage sourced in a loss of privilege. My son and I were having a discussion last night while I cooked dinner. At some point, I just went stock still standing in the kitchen, realizing that I was simply STUNNED and SHOCKED, sort of temporariliy paralyzed by the sheer specter of the potential loss we face. And not just us ... the world. If America goes down now, nasty little potentates like this vile, vile man will abuse every populace their can get their filthy paws on -- and Putin will go wild with pride and hubris and strike out on his every border. This doesn't mean that Europe will take it, but as China replaces, they won't be enough. And then the vicious shall inherit the earth.
Such great writing, my compliments. Even a cursory historical view of past potentates suggests that the finest way to deal with their deluded and destructive runs is any time before and up to the moment they attain unarguable institutional power. With the severity their threats invite.
Thank you so much for the compliment. [s] ... Once Hindenburg capitulated to the bad advice he got about making Hitler Chancellor--advise that Hitler could be controlled!!--it was over in a matter of months. And as you say, the time to nip it in its VERY fat bud is BEFORE they get hold of institutions. This is my fear about the Supreme Court. Trump has a strong, but still tenuous, hold on the Radical Right in Congress, but not enough to assure him a dictatorship. But if the Supreme Court, which he stacked with conservative Christians--so that it now totals 7 Catholics who appear to toe the Vatican's terrible views towards women and trans people. Simultaneously, it supports the bloated rich, whites, corporations, and religionists with predatory tendencies towards legislating everybody else's behavior--most particularly sexual and reproductive behaviors. Note that Thomas wants to illegalize birth control even for married couples. It's the Supremes I most fear. That are supposed to be our last, best hope. And they may take down the republic, stoked by religious fervor and a seething rage that Americans started calling out their graft. It is a tragedy and travesty that Justice Thomas, whose wife Ginni was sending emails stoking Trump's election to some of the highest ranking government officials in the United States, did not recuse himself from Trump's immunity case. What the hell is wrong with Roberts???
To your last point. Everything, apparently.
Dr.Sinclair,
If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary called” Robert F.Kennedy for President”, I know you would enjoy the pictures of the history you wrote about so articulately.
The whole show brought terrible sadness and many tears. It also laid out the most important of happenings during my journey from high school through college and into my teaching and traveling years.
I fight back the urge to hate America. I hope I can change my depression into hope once again for this country.
But as many are, I am tired. I miss the feeling of being exhilarated by statesmanship and curiosity and perfection and a desire to be better than best.
I am impressed with your wide range of knowledge. Keep us looking forward with your thoughts and facts.
Be well!
This is an excellent article and singles out many important, and in many ways almost lost, points of our country’s history, especially in the light of previous Supreme Court decisions, and the histories of the cases that have passed through that once upon a time most august of institutions.
I very much enjoyed reading this piece.
Thank you, Robert. Yours this morning is spectacular!!!
Thank you, Morgaan. I have much to say about that subject and so many other things that I want to write about; but lately my life has been keeping me very busy and away from my keyboard.
Great article Morgaan, thank you.
Thank you, John ...
Very good article!! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Lynne.