Not just another Monday
Today is the day we celebrate the birth of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is also the last Monday before Donald Trump will become President of the United States. Charges of racism, bigotry, sexism, homophobia and more have been leveled about the President-Elect. Making today an excellent opportunity to examine the accuracy of these labels.
First off, we can all agree that he is definitely a bully. He has called himself a "counter-puncher" but the fact is he will hit first when he feels it is appropriate.
Can we agree that someone who talks about grabbing women by the p***y is a sexist and/or misogynist? I think so.
Is he a homophobe? I don't know but the fact is he is not opposed to laws that would allow people to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and I think that is reprehensible.
Now let's get to the meat and potatoes of this discussion, given what day it is. Is Donald Trump a racist?
I don't see him ever joining the KKK or anything like that, but his record of discrimination in housing back in the 1970s speaks for itself. His failure to denounce the racist rhetoric among his supporters also speaks volumes. In the end, if you don't actively oppose racism, then you are part of the problem.
* * *
American Apparel, headquartered in Los Angeles and the largest garment maker in the U.S. has begun to lay off 2,400 workers. Their stores may close as well, as the purchaser of the company's assets currently has plans to operate those stores through April of this year. Their future is unknown.
Where is Donald Trump, savior of jobs this time? Is he less concerned about losing jobs in states that did not vote for him?
* * *
Kamiyah Mobley was kidnapped as a newborn and raised for 18 years by the woman who is accused of having stolen her. This part of the story has been big news since the truth about her origins was uncovered. The woman who is accused of taking her is in jail. The 18 year old is being reunited with her parents.
But there is another victim here. The man who raised her as his own daughter, Charles Manigo. For 18 years she called him dad. Even when he and the accused child-stealer broke up, he continued to be raise her.
Her biological parents, the man who raised her and this young woman are all victims. I hope they put the woman accused of taking her behind bars for a long, long time.
* * *
The B-Street Band is a Bruce Springsteen cover band that's been around since 1980. They were signed to play at the Garden State Inaugural Ball coming up as part of this year's inauguration back in 2013. Now they are backing out of the deal, even if it means taking a financial hit for breaching the contract.
It isn't their own politics driving this choice. But that doesn't stop me from admiring it.
* * *
In Roseville Michigan, a man refused to commit to a long-term relationship with a woman. As he slept, she stabbed him nine times before he could get out of the apartment they were in.
He's going to live but is currently hospitalized in serious condition. She's in jail.
I'm guessing the relationship is off.
* * *
As the confirmation hearings for Trump's cabinet picks get underway, of the 14 still needing to sit for those hearings, only five have turned in the required paperwork to the Office of Government Ethics.
Didn't we hear Reince Preibus talking about how transparent the Trump Administration would be? Right about the time he denied that Republicans ever questioned where President Obama was actually born.
* * *
A friend put the following on his Facebook page.
"Copy this and post as a status update. List 10 albums that made a lasting impression on you as a TEENAGER, but only one per band/artist. Don't take too long and don't think.
These are in no particular order. You whippersnappers keep in mind when you were teens and when I was a teen."
Here are my ten.
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Toto - Toto
Led Zeppelin - Untitled (known as Led Zeppelin IV)
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
Harry Chapin - Verities and Balderdash
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
First off, we can all agree that he is definitely a bully. He has called himself a "counter-puncher" but the fact is he will hit first when he feels it is appropriate.
Can we agree that someone who talks about grabbing women by the p***y is a sexist and/or misogynist? I think so.
Is he a homophobe? I don't know but the fact is he is not opposed to laws that would allow people to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and I think that is reprehensible.
Now let's get to the meat and potatoes of this discussion, given what day it is. Is Donald Trump a racist?
I don't see him ever joining the KKK or anything like that, but his record of discrimination in housing back in the 1970s speaks for itself. His failure to denounce the racist rhetoric among his supporters also speaks volumes. In the end, if you don't actively oppose racism, then you are part of the problem.
* * *
American Apparel, headquartered in Los Angeles and the largest garment maker in the U.S. has begun to lay off 2,400 workers. Their stores may close as well, as the purchaser of the company's assets currently has plans to operate those stores through April of this year. Their future is unknown.
Where is Donald Trump, savior of jobs this time? Is he less concerned about losing jobs in states that did not vote for him?
* * *
Kamiyah Mobley was kidnapped as a newborn and raised for 18 years by the woman who is accused of having stolen her. This part of the story has been big news since the truth about her origins was uncovered. The woman who is accused of taking her is in jail. The 18 year old is being reunited with her parents.
But there is another victim here. The man who raised her as his own daughter, Charles Manigo. For 18 years she called him dad. Even when he and the accused child-stealer broke up, he continued to be raise her.
Her biological parents, the man who raised her and this young woman are all victims. I hope they put the woman accused of taking her behind bars for a long, long time.
* * *
The B-Street Band is a Bruce Springsteen cover band that's been around since 1980. They were signed to play at the Garden State Inaugural Ball coming up as part of this year's inauguration back in 2013. Now they are backing out of the deal, even if it means taking a financial hit for breaching the contract.
It isn't their own politics driving this choice. But that doesn't stop me from admiring it.
* * *
In Roseville Michigan, a man refused to commit to a long-term relationship with a woman. As he slept, she stabbed him nine times before he could get out of the apartment they were in.
He's going to live but is currently hospitalized in serious condition. She's in jail.
I'm guessing the relationship is off.
* * *
As the confirmation hearings for Trump's cabinet picks get underway, of the 14 still needing to sit for those hearings, only five have turned in the required paperwork to the Office of Government Ethics.
Didn't we hear Reince Preibus talking about how transparent the Trump Administration would be? Right about the time he denied that Republicans ever questioned where President Obama was actually born.
* * *
A friend put the following on his Facebook page.
"Copy this and post as a status update. List 10 albums that made a lasting impression on you as a TEENAGER, but only one per band/artist. Don't take too long and don't think.
These are in no particular order. You whippersnappers keep in mind when you were teens and when I was a teen."
Here are my ten.
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Toto - Toto
Led Zeppelin - Untitled (known as Led Zeppelin IV)
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
Harry Chapin - Verities and Balderdash
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
It was very difficult to pick only ten.
posted by me at 8:22 PM
<< Home