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Re: “The root of the cause”
For me, Roots, the original was both an experience and an ordeal. It was like watching the life of my own ancestors played out on television night after night, and once was enough; although, I must say that I was also inspired. I felt no shame, I felt no sorrow or pity. It helped me to better appreciate and internalize their ordeal, but I'm not stuck there. I saw it as more than a slave narrative; it was inspiring; it gave me hope and courage, but for some it was an invitation to a continuing pity-party, and that's unfortunate. Such thinking does no justice to Alex Haley or his story. The remake is about economics---money, which is what slavery was all about in the first place, so why would we want to do that again.
Re: “Resolved but not resigned to a Trump presidency”
This is politics such as it is. We had a choice between two candidates neither of whom represented what was best for America, and so, once again, we were forced to choose between the lesser of two evils because once again, we found ourselves caught up in the embrace of the partisan political process as if it were out only hope for change. And so it is as long as we are foolish enough to surrender our potential power to one man. I have said this before, and I will say it again. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us much about using our power collectively to bring about real social change, and yet we have forgotten the lessons. King placed little faith in the partisan political process. Instead he showed people how they could work together to make the changes they wanted. It wasn't easy and it didn't happen overnight, but he showed that it was possible. Our hope does not lie with any single person. It does not lie in laws, elections, or ever Supreme Court decisions. It lies in our collective will to do what is necessary, and unless we are willing and take action ourselves, we will fall into the despair of the outcome of elections, and we will wait for another four years to pass so that we can expend all of our energy and squander our faith on the possible outcome of an election. Einstein said that insanity was doing the same thing repeatedly expecting a different outcome. And so here we are writing a tale told by idiots. The rest is silence.
Re: “Sick and tired”
Then let me help you understand what I meant about Dr. King's teachings. What Dr. King was trying to teach us was not to wait for the approval or cooperation of public officials, but to take charge of the situation ourselves. If we wait there will be no action. Dr. King was about self-empowerment not permission. But since we don't understand his methods, we are frustrated and afraid.
Re: “Sick and tired”
I fully understand your fears, Br. Easley. I will not deny that the reasons for them are real because they are. I was reading an article by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the other day. His Father and grandfather were both law enforcement officers---cops, and he took a balanced approach to this points out stats that show that more whites have been shot by cops than blacks. In any case, this is a very complex problem that I will not try to analyze in this space, but I will say that the solution lies in a concerted effort to address and resolve some very serious social issues. Interestingly, Martin Luther King, Jr. provided us with the formula for doing it, and though we celebrate his birthday with "parties and parades," as my friend Harry Belafonte referred to them, we don't seem to know anything about what Dr. King was trying to teach us. However, when we apply those lessons, I think the problems will be solved.
Re: “Not your traditional holiday love story”
What can I say. I think Donald Trump would place a wreath on Adolph Hitler's grave (if he could find it) just for the publicity. But I can honestly say, I never liked the guy. He does not share my values about marriage and family and religion and justice and decency and honesty and race . . . .
