Uncategorized

Pep Talks

If  Anti-MAGA

has a

new pep

in our step,

it’s due

to

a renewed

concept

of freedom.

A-list

speakers,

including

teachers—

studied

and social—

heroes

local,

political,

musical,

comical,

Legend,

and aspirational,

all inspirational,

including

Ohhhhhpraaaaah,

clad in purple.

Images

and sound

bites

from last night’s

DNC convention,

too many

to mention,

deserve attention.

I was left

with a great 

sensation

of love.

Amanda Gorman

blows me

away

every time

she finds

rhyme 

with profundity.

In her cape-like

dress

this supra-

shero

addressed

America

with her new

poem,

“This Sacred Scene”

reminding us 

to not just 

dream,

but to convene

with love:

“…We are one family regardless of religion, class, or color

for what defines a patriot is not just our love of liberty, but

our love for one another.

This is loud in our country’s call because while we all love

freedom, it is love that frees us all.

Empathy emancipates, making us greater than hate or

vanity. That is the American promise, powerful and pure.

Divided we cannot endure but united we can endeavor to

humanize our democracy and endear democracy to

humanity…

…Let us not just believe in the American dream. Let us be worthy of it.”

An exquisite

linguistic

ballet

to relay

the connection

between

freedom

and love.

It was so 

far above

what we’ve

been living

or dreaming.

So many

great speakers

in unique 

ways,

teachers,

leading up

to the VP

nominee.

Walz radiates

joy

and common

sense

without pretense

but with 

the essence

of decency:

being neighborly;

friendly

with competency.

And let me say,

he makes it all

FUN.

Overcome

with emotion,

Tim Walz’s

son

wept

when his dad

came to accept

the nomination.

Who couldn’t

love

the love

so prominent

and authentic?

That football

team

with guts

a plenty,

the COACH
chants,

and the chance

to feel

free,

makes the prospect

to elect

the Harris and Walz

team

seem like

a labor

of love.

Because love

was revealed

to be concealed

by fear

and anger.

Peppered

with love

and joy

and fun,

we can

keep the momentum;

keep Trump

on the run.

Rededicated,

reactivated,

resuscitated

are we

to actually 

do

and be

democracy. 

The Political is Personal

“The personal

is political”

was the critical

theory

of my youth

that guided me

as the truth

and a mandate

to activate

as a feminist,

humanist

first.

Identity

as strategy,

not tragedy,

suggests

and tests

structures

of power

and relations

often leading

to realizations

that individuals

are not alone.

The slogan

became

a way

to frame

individual

presentation

as illustration

of political

situation;

each person

a politcal

representation.

Fast forward

toward

this 2024

election,

and the selection

of speakers

at the DNC

convention

last night,

was notable

for the historical.

Two political

icons,

symbols

of aspiration,

determination,

competency,

and champions

of democracy-

particularly

around the world

and in opposition

to Trump-

gave a last

blast

before

the torch

is passed

forward

to the next

generation.

Hilary

and Joe

similarly

know

success

and political

heartbreak.

Their individual

stories,

different

trajectories,

still

filled

eyes 

with tears

for their

years and years

and years

of service,

and what 

could be lost

or gained.

So ingrained

with democratic

norms

their forms

of politics

seemed

typical.

But their

individual

contests

against

Trump

suggests

that the best

of humans

is an incredible

test

not as easy

or normal

as we assumed.

I can’t imagine

how hard

last night

must have

been

for Biden

and Hilary.

Their personal

emotional

lives

set aside

to raise

the tide

for Walz

and Harris

to defeat

the nefarious

and carry

us 

forward.

Last night,

the political

was personal

as was

also clear

from the victims

of Dobbs—

the decision

that robs

American

women.

The political

is personal,

whether

you are 

a victim

this time

or next.

Has Been

It has been 

a while

since 

a smile

was so 

contagious

it countered

the outrageous

ones

hell bent

on enraging

us.

Meeting 

the moment

to counter

the foment

has taken

nearly

a decade.

We’re not

done yet,

but there’s

a reset

that feels

like a

Hallelujah!

At first,

her laugh

felt 

like

a gaffe—

somehow 

wrong,

like

it didn’t

belong.

Some thought

she was

not ready

for prime

time.

And then

just when

all seemed

so bleak,

and fear

mixed

with grief,

she provided

relief

and a new 

belief

that she’s

grown

and shown

she could 

own him.

She 

has been

building

enthusiasm

while he

has been

in

emotional

spasm,

watching

the momentum

shift.

His grift

is his

gift

that keeps

on giving

him

desperation.

He needs

the election

stolen

for him,

in order

to win

freedom 

from the 

prospect

of prison.

She has

been

a prosecutor,

a state

AG,

a US senator,

and VP.

And somehow

he

has been 

a POTUS.

As she 

brings

intelligence

and joy,

he brings

belligerence

and loves

to annoy

and destroy—

a ploy

which 

has been

effective

with invective

and the incentive

of promises

from grievances.

Abuse

is his muse.

Denying/

lying

has been

his

chorus.

It’s beginning

to bore

us.

His playbook

to win

is rather

thin.

He’s a

has been

who belongs

in prison.

But 

has beens

remain

until forced

to go,

so

be unrelenting

in preventing

The Has Been

a future

free

of accountability.

Do more

than ever

to sever

what

has been

a forever

threat

that must 

be met

now and

in the

coming weeks

as 

The Has Been

seeks

a zombie

presidency,

keeping

him free

while ending

democracy.

Cat Fight

Bring it,

JD!

More 

Cat Lady

snark!

As if

your riff

had any

bark

or bite.

He might

not want

to double

down

and clown

around

when his

delivery-

so cringe

worthy-

brings 

new found

hope

for change.

This strange

yet now

exciting

race

has race

and gender

front

and center;

diversions

from 

the other

perversions

of the MAGA

agenda.

But Harris

I think 

is ready

with a steady

and smart

demeanor.

Meaner

and rough,

Vance

and Trump

will stump

with hate

to excite.

The fight

from the right

is joyless

and sour,

about boy-ness

and girl-ness

and executive

power.

As we await

Harris’

running mate

choice,

her voice

is strong

and up lifting.

She’s got

quite 

a selection

for this

election,

eager

to reach

as many

American

citizens

beyond 

the base

of this

existential

race.

MAGA
has cat

fights

while

withdrawing

rights

of voters

and women

and immigrants

and LGBTQ+

all for a POTUS

who cares

nothing

for us,

or the climate

crisis

or anything

else 

except

avoiding prison.

Listen,

the next

100 days

we need

to raise

money

and momentum.

In this 

brat summer

moment,

the intelligent

and confident

Kamala

for a new

era,

hardly

a sad,

childless

cat lady,

makes

the Trump

Vance

team

seem

even 

more 

unacceptable

and bizarre

and far

from where

we want

to be

as a 

democracy.

Let’s make

history

for our freedom

and future,

more secure.

I’m sure 

we can win it

if you’re all

in it.

The catastrophe

could be

behind us

if you’re

behind Harris.

That would

be

so much

winning. 

Risky Business

America’s not ready?

Was America ready

For Trump?

For the Pandemic?

For an assassination attempt?

For Biden’s exit?

For Harris’ ascendance?

The Veepstakes

are on

and everyone 

is buzzing.

I hear

the fear

that America

isn’t ready

for two women

at

the top.

Too risky?

Seriously?

Democracy

could lose

if Harris

would choose

a woman?

I suspect

that those

who reject

a two- woman

team

would 

not seem

to lean

D.

I know

it’s the 

indies

and uncommitted

that have 

everyone

twisted

in nots.

Firsts

are tricky,

and then

prove

not risky

quickly

after 

we see

them.

Bill Clinton

defied

what many

decried

to be 

the “rules”

that always

should be

applied.

He selected

another

similar

young,

Southern,

white guy,

and they got

elected

to two 

terms.

The first

(real) Black

president

also spent

8 years

serving,

preserving

and 

advancing

the best

that could

be.

The disruption 

age

in which

we live

creates

such rage 

and fear

that what’s 

so dear

can be lost

overnight.

So the plight

of two women,

or a gay man

or a Jewish man

along with

a mixed race

woman,

creates 

a sense

of insecurity.

With maturity

and sobriety

we’ve had

to face

changes

unexpectedly.

Were we

ready

then?

And if not,

when?

No one

predicted

the last 

few weeks,

much less

the last few

days,

And yet

we are rising-

not flailing 

or failing-

as the right

thing to do

was the best

thing to do

and feels

as exciting

and good

as it is

new.

We weren’t

ready

for Trump,

or Dobbs,

or mobs

storming

the Capital.

Mass deportation,

no abortion,

diminished

education,

and the rest

of the Heritage

Foundation

stuff

is exactly

why

two tough

women

could be

possibly

the key

and what

America

is ready for.

Marvel Us

As Comic Con 

descends upon

the city

I call home,

super heroes

will be 

in line

for days 

at a time

to get inside

the convention

center.

What a marvel

we get to 

see

as thousands

agree

with decency

and civility

to 

continue

the tradition

with whatever

addition

moves the

conversation

at the convention.

I think you get

where I’m going

here.

It’s clear

the marvel 

happened 

yesterday

when Biden

announced

he’s stepping

away,

so Harris

can earn 

your vote.

The Marvel

Universe

is always 

threatened

by destructive 

forces

and ego.

But the hero

and shero

know

they must go

forward

for

more

than their

own selves.

How marvelous

for us

to witness

what fitness

really means.

The courage

and strength

and great 

length

it took to be

our superhero

of democracy,

without

a stage lit

like a show,

showed

the world

our marvel.

I imagine

his grief

will not be

brief,

but his 

legacy

will be

an inspiration.

I’m so grateful

for this

moment,

and moved

by a torrent

of emotion.

Excitement,

relief,

new-found

belief

that good

could

still

win

over spin,

but also 

compassion

for what must

have been

excruciating

for Biden.

So now

the comical

Comic Con

that will soon

surround me,

will oddly

ground me

in knowing

that real

heros

and sheros

and so much

fantastic

is not made

of plastic

or on green

screen.

It’s democratic;

at times,

dramatic,

a universal

marvel

that is US.

Confidence, Man

“Look, Folks”,

as he

would say;

“C’mon, Man!”,

he would

inveigh

that he’s

the best one

and should

and could

finish the job.

So why the 

defection

despite

affection?

Everyone knows

the torch

gets passed,

and sees him

past

his prime.

Losing confidence,

questioning

competence,

begging acceptance

of the optics,

is just

not

a good look.

Look, Folks,

he appears

knowledgeable

yet weak

week

after week.

Each moment

on screen

we screen

his condition,

with increasing

attrition,

despite

a great

3 years. 

It sears 

the heart

and mind

that such 

a kind

and effective

politician

against 

the definition

of a Confidence Man,

could lose

the coalition

of confidence.

It’s not 

the platform

on which 

he stands

that demands

change.

He can’t 

defend

his own

success,

and we’re

supposed

to pretend

to address

his strength?

The length

of this standoff

between those

with confidence

and those

without

will without

a doubt

be resolved 

soon.

(It isn’t yet

because

we can’t

forget

what we

all saw

and fear

each time

he appears.)

I suspect

we can 

expect

that after

the RNC 

Convention,

convention 

will be

upended

and the intended

outcome

of restoring

confidence

will come about

not 

with a lout,

but

with a more

youthful

and vigorous

substitute.

As the ever

astute

Confidence Man

who literally

and figuratively

dodges

bullets,

shows strength,

and dare 

I say,

discipline,

the energy

and unity

on display

each day

this week

makes

the weakened

opponent

each moment

weaker,

and his party,

now

the one

of

fear 

and loathing,

is seeking 

some confidence,

and preferably,

a woman.

Map Quest

Holding it

as long

as possible,

the drive

continues

until

what was

once

probable

is now

unfathomable,

while

the situation

of this election

becomes

untenable.

The liberal

art of losing

the electoral

college,

despite

the popular

vote,

is no 

longer

remote.

We are

being driven

by fossils

fueled

by the vision

of apocalypse.

The fear

of the end

so near

brings up

the rear

view

mirror

of fascism.

Cataclysm

feels

imminent.

Despite

the words

at the presser,

I heard

some answers

that seemed

to hint

at some

exit ramps

ahead. 

Stopping

to rest

after a

personal

best,

could test

the road

less

traveled.

Have we

unraveled

entirely?

Or merely

enough

to find 

the stuff

to repair

our tire

before 

we expire

and find

a charging

station?

A slight

detour

might

be required

to be

re-inspired.

Seeking

the path

to victory,

fearing 

history

as precedent,

we are in

a moment

to test

this quest

not yet

mapped:

to elect

a project 

for 2025-

keeping

democracy

alive-

or turning

right

into a 

dead

end?

Patriot Acts

“I know how

to tell

the truth,”

declared

the POTUS

the day after

the rest of us

saw 

he couldn’t claw

his way out

of a debate

with a liar

lying

about 

everything.

Telling 

the truth

for the uncouth

MAGA man

is seen 

in the ways

he conveys

fears and aches.

The stakes

being grilled

have filled

our capacity

on this anniversary

of America.

Patriotism

on display

today,

waiving in 

red, white,

and blue,

hate and fear

is still clear

while professing

love

for America

above everything

except embryos.

I chose

anniversary

instead of birthday

because a union

was created

and debated

since 1776.

America

is not

biological;

it’s philosophical

and ideological, 

though sometimes

with 

the logical part

missing.

We are all

patriots today,

celebrating

this anniversary

of possibility

for humanity

to live decently

in democracy,

once 

associated

with liberty

and justice

for all.

Truth

has been

spinning

for winning

elections.

But reflections

of  acts

of patriotism

reveal

less cynicism

and criticism

than truism,

until the era

of MAGA.

Now,

truth telling

is telling.

Claiming

to be

a patriot

with mendacity

and audacity

to blatantly

lie

is the truth

this 

4th of July

of one party

claiming

the future.

The truth

is grim,

but patriotism

for US

has meant 

a system

dependent

upon

truth

and accountability.

A patriot

acts

for 

a more

perfect union,

not for

a savior

or

not with 

a diety

but with

democracy,

where 

the truth

is not easy

to accept.

Heat Wave

Desantis

cut

all grants

for arts

in Florida.

This is not

merely

the display

of Tom Delay

opposing

a nude

sculpture.

This is culture

war 

gone

nuclear.

Aside

from 

refuge

from the deluge

of the monstrosity

of absurd 

political

verbosity,

the arts

engage 

with less savage

rage

and elevate

hearts

and minds.

Thinking

critically

is critically

necessary,

and increasingly

lacking

in society.

Not merely

criticizing

the opposing

position,

but juxtaposing

division

for consideration

is the job

of the thoughtful

democratic

citizen.

Of course

arts 

are 

not exclusive

to democratic,

inclusive

societies.

All cultures

create

culturally 

great

works,

that work

to showcase

impressions,

expressions,

confessions,

obsessions

beyond

politics

or religion,

or economics

or any statistics.

Art 

is part

of being

human,

if only

to be

appreciated.

No reason

was given

as to what

had driven

Desantis

to defund

grants

for arts

across

the great

state

of Florida.

How about 

opera

in Tampa?

Or the Miami

City

Ballet?

Or the New

Word Symphony

or every gallery

from Tallahassee 

to The Keys?

More importantly,

these sacred

places 

not

for profit

benefit

the public—

educating,

celebrating,

debating,

and creating

connections

anew.

He won’t

undo

what he 

threatens

to,

despite

his defunding

veto.

It’s abundantly

clear

he’s sincere

about 

being a

rage 

machine.

He won’t

be outdone

by anyone

except

by himself.

Should

we be 

outraged

or disengaged?

Which

would be

most effective

against

the invective

and incentive

to be incensed

by the lack

of sense

and every 

pretense

and policy

to lash

back

against

culture

and history

since 1960?

Adding fuel

and heat

to compete

for VEEP

may be

a steep

conquest,

but my best

guess

is that

this wave

won’t 

save

him.

Heat

waves

have begun

not just

in the Sunshine

State. 

The first 

debate

will ignite

the fight

that will

get overheated

as MAGA

acolytes

on the right

like to 

make waves

and heat

things up.

The boiling

point

is the point;

to foil

any opposition

even if

the position

is to defund

all arts.

Don’t let

the heated

rhetoric

and waves

of crazy

keep you

lazy.

Support

the arts.

Buy and read

banned books.

Help women

access care

as needed.

Ignore the 

debate.

Help create

access

and accountability.

It’s your responsibility

in this 

heat wave.