The Tennessee Three is a good name. It will help make the trio of Tennessee state representatives famous far beyond the chamber that expelled two of them — the two African Americans. There is no question that the representatives, including the 27-year-old Justin Jones and 28-year-old Justin Pearson, committed a serious breach of decorum on the chamber floor when they used bullhorns to lead a rowdy protest from the floor of the state house after the murders of six people — three of them 9-year-olds at a local school.
As a child growing up in the 1960s and watching all three network newscasts covering the civil rights movement every night with my parents who were news junkies, the Tennessee Three controversy is like a bad flashback. The term “ uppity” being used on the floor of a southern statehouse in our time is especially telling and galling to me.
Dana, I grew up in a similar household of news junkies, where we boycotted grapes and lettuce, marched for civil rights and protested the Vietnam war. My parents were awesome during that time; one coming from a very poor family, and one from an upper middle class family. They both were people of strong faith (my Dad a pastor). My father, at 96, and is heartbroken by what he has seen over the past 7 years, but understanding the human condition, and having watched the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, not as surprised as others. I'm glad my mother is not around to see what is transpiring.
Ditto...our family boycotted grapes and lettuce to support Caesar Chavez and the migrant farm workers and we were all against the Vietnam war. My father served in the Navy in the South Pacific during the Second World War and he was very outspoken against the Vietnam war.
Not all adults have gone astray, but it will take the old along with the fine youth of this country- really, all of us-to stop the evil leeching into our society.
I live in a state that is very Republican and I have become fearful of going to vote. If the wrong person finds out that I am a Democrat, what could happen? It's not as private here as you would assume. What a world this country has become...
Reading your excellent essay, Steve, it occurred to me that maybe the reason MAGA Republicans are so reluctant to have their children learn the real history of America is not because they are concerned about how those children will feel about themselves. They are probably afraid that without sufficient cultural indoctrination, they might someday look at their parents and grandparents and seeing their moral cowardice, feel disgust.
The "debate" directed at the Tennessee Two that were expelled was demeaning and disgraceful. The Republicans did everything except call them "boy." They are truly deplorable to their core.
Another state to avoid visiting and spending money in, which is sad because it is beautiful there and many of the people (though apparently not enough to vote them out) do no support these racist legislators. I hope businesses around the state and around the nation, the world, look at what happened there and make business decisions that cause the state enough economic pain that change will begin.
Sandra, you beat me to it. There’s no question about it, the “B” word was on their tongues. The only thing they thought better of that day by not verbalizing it. The behavior, the tone, the tenor of the TN legislative body is reprehensible.
Gerrymandering is the culprit not just people failing to vote. Until this is taken seriously nothing can changes - the fix is too great, too rigid, and too rigged. Don’t forget the issue of illicit gerrymandering is taking a huge toll on the voting for representation. Without corrections, it is nigh impossible to overcome the injustice regardless of how many people vote. And don’t call us lazy just because our votes don’t count even when we cast them faithfully. Adding insult to injury is really NOT helpful.
I cannot afford to pay money so PLEASE let me continue to read what you write. 2 months after college grad. I was hit in bad car wreck and have a significant brain injury therefore I am on small govt. pay. ($800 per month). My brain is slowly getting better -- it happened 1994 and went into a black tunnel for years so I am so lucky now. Just very POOR. I love reading your site and Thanks so much. gaylerush8811@yahoo.com
Gayle, if the offer for free subscriptions to any substack sites I receive are offered to me again, I will forward them to you. I wish you the very best, and I am thrilled to have you on our team.
Gayle, I send you wishes for a speedy recovery. Steve, if it’s possible for those of us able to cover subscriptions for others, please let us know. We must grow our community in order to beat back the growing authoritarian tide that endangers our nation.
You're right, Steve. And it's also worth thinking about the freedoms we as Americans take for granted. It's easy to do because we've had them for our lifetime, but it is imperative that we look to other countries to remind ourselves of the beauty of freedom and how easy it is to let it slip away. Imagine being killed for not covering your head, imagine having to flee your home or be sent to the front lines of the senseless war of a tyrant, imagine being told you have no choice and have to remain pregnant against your will.......WAIT!
That's us, here in this United States of America.
We need to take to the streets to stop it, or it will fester. It has already begun. But the good people of this country far outnumber those Steve has described. And we can stop it.
The Tennessee Three is another call to action. Each time this happens, and the pattern is now established, we must be loud in our condemnation. We have the responsibility to ask what must be done in each instance to right the wrong
In other circumstances the arts industries are very vocal about mis justice. Has any word come out of Nashville’s music scene?
In the throes of Sunday coffee I was hit with the thought that we are due for another massive rising up with music event- think Live Aid, but this would be along the lines of, say, humanity aid
To that end, of course I immediately shot off a Tweet thread to those artists and activists who had participated in an event promoting rights (lead by Andra Day and Common), to see if they would be interested in a reprisal, now focusing on the overall crisis of democracy....
But I think we are ready and eager to stand in solidarity, and I will keep beating this drum even if my lonely voice echoes...
Here is the beginning of my thread.
1/ @common
@AndraDayMusic
@BlmBoston
@TaranaBurke
@DoloresHuerta
@VO_StandingRock
@AlabedBana
@eji_org
@cecile
@janetmock
@WCKitchen
@sandyhook
#standupforsomething
All:
It is time.
The urgency and condition of our country eclipses all boundaries and divisions...
If anyone would like to lend ideas or energy, awesome.
Ketch Secor, the leader of the Old Crow Medicine Show, had an editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle (of all papers!) urging country musicians to work on creating an environment hostile to guns. Maybe his band can turn to saving democracy.
I have reached out to the participants in the 2018 Oscar performance and others I think might be sympathetic, but it's difficult to not get drowned in the sea of noise, although I will keep looking for angles and inroads, as we are all ready for this ....I just need to "..know a guy who knows a guy...."
Dee Snider has given permission to use "We're Not Gonna Take It," so, there's a kernel.
So if anyone knows a guy who knows a guy, by all means...
"We're NOT Gonna Take It!" This sounds like an amazing theme song for a huge music festival...like Woodstock! To get this off the ground, maybe we need to start one in the near future in Nashville? I see this an an opportune time to energize the youth vote and to connect all generations in our society who care about critically important current issues. I feel we'd need some organizers who represent the younger generations. What powerful music are they listening to? Maybe SSchmidt and a young Congressman can say a few words. Getting more of 'The Warning' out to the public may do so much good. We need 'COOL'!!
I wrote to some friends in Nashville (Al and Emily Cantrell, professional song-writers, and musicians -and climate activists) regarding potential contact information. Following is part of the reply from Al Cantrell today: "There was just such a festival (on line, mostly I think) here in Nashville, called the Rainbow Festival, or "Nashville Love Rising" I'm not sure which. I was able to listen to a long list of acts which donated music. I was able to listen to the first 30 seconds or so - of each song.
All the acts are on Spotify, I assume, since that was the host for the demos.
Here's the info that might get you started,
Emily and I are really not well connected, except for Kacey Musgraves - we know one of her producers and co-writers, Daniel Tashian. I don't know his politics (I would expect him to be liberal) but she has been somewhat outspoken so you could search for an interview with her to find out if she might be a candidate. I've attached the article about the festival from the NPR site in PDF form below, and I"ve attached the screen shots of the music acts on the spotify site.
Mia, from what I gather from this is that Kacey Musgraves and/or Daniel Tashian might be good sources of information and further contacts. Al and Emily have lived and worked in Nashville for a long time, so these are probably good starters. I can be involved more with this after the weekend. I hope we can get something rolling, or add to what is already going on. Best, Lisa
Despite the disgusting display of the Tennessee GOP House, I am hopeful that we are seeing the dawn of a new civil rights movement in the US. Gen Z is mobilizing & they will help lead us back to America’s true promise: of liberty, justice & the right to pursue their goals without the fear of being obliterated while they learn, worship, or shop at their local mall or supermarket; that women have the right to decide how & when children fit into their lives.
In response to the certain drumbeat of their demise, the GOP has decided that they will stop at nothing to impose minority rule. They are showing us how small & fearful they are of having to compete on a more level playing field. They are willing to abandon the US Constitution & will subjugate anyone who isn’t a CIS male.
Here in MA, it is tempting to say, “that won’t happen here”. We are a bastion of democracy and have shown that our wealthy state can afford to provide healthcare to all, to protect the rights of women, POC & LGBTQIA individuals, provide high quality public education and successfully balance the rights of gun owners with the need for public safety. What we cannot afford to do is to sit & watch the fight as if we are above the fray.
Instead of AR-15 this family should have water guns. As a Black American I am proud of the response that America has had for the Tennessee Three. It gives me hope that there will be some change coming
They took my breath away... I knew I was witnessing something that will be remembered for years to come. I was so moved in a way I have not felt for quite some time. I am so grateful to know there are some brilliant inspirational young leaders out there.
We do not have to imagine what they would do if they had absolute power. They have shown us time after time in TN, TX, FL and at the Supreme Court level. If Trump or a Trumplike candidate is elected to the highest office then we will see what absolute rule looks like nationwide. Thank God Trump was incompetent and only cared about himself. Otherwise he would have imposed the extreme position of the GOP on all of us.
I pray the nation is watching the direction the GOP is moving towards. I fear TN is just the beginning. The GOP want armed teachers in every classroom as a solution. They want to ban any knowledge that does not agree with their warped sense of patriotism. We do not need more guns in classrooms. We do not need books being banned. What we need is assult weapons banned and our classrooms open for discussion of guns and violence that is associated with the gun culture. We do not need books banned but rather the discussion of what makes some people uncomfortable in those books. This is where growth and knowledge comes from. Things that make some people uncomfortable and talking about those things is how you learn to get over fears and rise above hatred.
Those who take away rights from us will always say "You don't belong here." They will hold an AR-15 weapon or one like it with their smiling kids at their side, obliterating the real image of a shattered and unrecognizable body of a child become pieces of evidence in the identification of who their name was and who are their parents or carers who must be informed that those are the bodily parts of their young daughter or son, children left in their schools the very day they were obliterated to pieces. You see, I see children even in adolescents turned all undesirable remnants for politicians who will do nothing to stop such violence giving the green light by their cowardly indifference, shooting after shooting. Maybe until the day they themselves have to go through some same collective experience. That is the reason, if ever there was one, to clearly demand their ousting in the next elections, because it is these very women and men who do not belong in government making such decisions that make no sense at all and go against every fundamental tenet of governance of the people by the people for the people. Of The People, By The People, For The People. We all, who see what is Right in front of us, distinguish clearly those who were on the right side of history the day Tennessee lawmakers decided that three among their peers were not one of them, by putting them in the front pages of all the newspapers in the nation and the world that covered this travesty of power. Democracy shined, even if the dark forces of racism attempted to strike two young and vibrant voices for democracy. You see, they failed to stop the path towards inclusive representation. I have faith that these two young men will be reinstated, after the repudiation of such acts have reverberated across the country and the world.
You are among those who speak Reason From The Heart, Steve. May many more hear what you say on this day.
N.Zampierollo… they kicked out the two black young men but let the white woman remain in office..All three Protested BUT only white Racist Tennessee people kicked out blacks…possibly KKK members …
Yes, Marsha, I wrote about this the day it was happening. I will now expand on those comments, because we all must when having the opportunity to do so and this community is just one such place to do it. State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who are Black, were expelled. The third lawmaker, State Representative Gloria Johnson, was not by one vote. When asked by the press about it, in terms of why she wasn't as compared to her fellow congressmen, she answered that it had to do with the color of her skin. Representative Johnson is white and older than the two lawmakers ousted, with past experience as a teacher and a witness to such violence. Please read the following:
"From the stage of the 2023 CMT Awards on April 2, country music star Kelsea Ballerini spoke of having witnessed the Aug. 21, 2008, shooting at Knoxville's Central High School when she was a student there.
"From the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 6, state Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, recalled seeing terrified students fleeing after the same school shooting when she was a teacher at Central."
Representative Johnson also showed embarrassment when answering that question, as you felt and so did I, dear Marsha. What we all must be grateful for is that we were given the opportunity to hear these three formidable representatives speak about gun control and what I see as a very hopeful outcome in the future for us all. The conversation just brings to the fore the conversion of failure in one party of multiple issues that affect the lives of the majority of Americans. Blessings, Marsha.
Ironically, I believe Justin Pearson's vote kept Gloria Johnson in (she was saved by one vote). He hadn't been expelled yet. His expulsion vote came right after her vote. You can't make this stuff up. The times we live in. But I hold out great hope because these extreme rights stealers are showing their asses across the country. I strongly believe that America will go truly "woke" as we will finally wake up and fight to regain and maintain our constitutional rights. And sometimes it just takes a spark like the Tennessee Three to awaken the dormant majority from their catatonic slumber.
Janet at least Gloria Johnson went outside and held black young men kicked out of office /holding
Hands and protested outside with them and shown as a white female former educator she has guts and isn’t an embarrassment to the white female democracy voting
As I have stated many times, Hillary Clinton's supporters in 2016 (especially the women) were screaming into the void about the Supreme Court and losing our right to bodily autonomy if Trump got elected. The Bernie crowd mocked us and told us we were just being hysterical because Roe v. Wade was established precedent. The media ignored us, and instead ran story after story about Clinton's emails while glorifying Trump's every move.
We took it seriously. The Bernie crowd didn't. The media didn't. And what do you know, every person in this country with a uterus became second-class citizens with a stroke of Justice Alito's pen.
This is the Republican platform. No longer is it just about lower taxes and smaller government. It's about taking rights away from anyone who isn't white, straight, "Christian" (although certainly not in their actions), Republican, and cisgender MALE.
Hillary Clinton's supporters were paying attention. We tried to warn everyone. We were mocked and ignored. The Cassandra complex will be with us forever.
Bernie people were aggressively anti-Hillary. If they couldn’t have what they wanted, then by golly neither could we. Surely there are ways - should have been - to support a close cousin in opposition to the devil himself. By demonizing everyone who wasn’t Bernie, they might as well have been The Enemy. I sense unrest in their ranks again - not strongly pro-Joe. Again in 2024, it’s Joe + Kamala, period. Not seeking perfection here, y’all. It’s an existential battle of good vs evil. I hope Bernie’s support is more full-throated for Joe than his paltry endorsements in the past.
She said they didn’t listen to us! And too many of them didn’t, nor did they vote for Hillary but instead for what we are being destroyed by right this very instant. It would help if we could all keep focus.
Again, Steve states the truth in simple yet elegant language. This carnage of American Democracy will not stop until we take to the streets, close down the economy and then vote these dangerous, venal, stupid asses out of every nook and cranny of our body politic!
As a small minority of readers, I am becoming more energized and hopeful looking at americas future.
Each week there seems to be many stories that work to the advantage of voters like me. Banning a 20 year fda approved medication, throwing out 2 educated black men with a pony tail and Afro, a trial approaching for a Goebels like media company, a dnc legislator getting elected on dnc principles reveals herself as a fraud, jordon calling in sycophants who can not be cross examined and the leader of MAGA indicted: AND THIS IS LAST FIVE DAYS
There is a movement afoot, bigger than maga, bigger than fox, bigger than any right wing crazy on radio, it is the youth, women, ethnic and white men who were “raised right” who are going to storm the ballet box in ‘24 who will flip state houses, flip 75 seats in a Gerrymandered house and flip 10 seats in the senate.
That will bring the death of maga, maybe of gop and allow cold civil war to be won by the voters.
Call me loony, call me naive, all fine, but every time one of these headlines hits the young, the minorities and women get angrier and angrier and will vote in astounding numbers while gop voters will have orange sphincter as their candidate, MTG as his running mate.
“Goebels like media company” is a great description. The USA, UK and Australia suffer this disease. I wish Dominion well & wish the trial was covered by court tv.
As a child growing up in the 1960s and watching all three network newscasts covering the civil rights movement every night with my parents who were news junkies, the Tennessee Three controversy is like a bad flashback. The term “ uppity” being used on the floor of a southern statehouse in our time is especially telling and galling to me.
Dana, I grew up in a similar household of news junkies, where we boycotted grapes and lettuce, marched for civil rights and protested the Vietnam war. My parents were awesome during that time; one coming from a very poor family, and one from an upper middle class family. They both were people of strong faith (my Dad a pastor). My father, at 96, and is heartbroken by what he has seen over the past 7 years, but understanding the human condition, and having watched the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, not as surprised as others. I'm glad my mother is not around to see what is transpiring.
Ditto...our family boycotted grapes and lettuce to support Caesar Chavez and the migrant farm workers and we were all against the Vietnam war. My father served in the Navy in the South Pacific during the Second World War and he was very outspoken against the Vietnam war.
As an outsider (not American or in America) seeing all this happening, I’m disgusted and disappointed.
Bring on peaceful protests. Bring on increasing voter numbers. Bring on truth & justice.
Acts like this highlight the stench of racism, power hungry, greed, lack of democracy and lazy citizens.
I’m hoping more young ppl vote & get involved. The adults have left the dinosaurs & lunatics take over. The adults got lazy or joined a cult.
The way it’s going, lynching will be legal again ( or should we consider it has with so many ppl of colour being killed by cops?)
I can’t do much to help. But I am cheering on democracy & pointing out injustice I see daily to others.
Not all adults have gone astray, but it will take the old along with the fine youth of this country- really, all of us-to stop the evil leeching into our society.
Keep cheering for us, and thank you!
Thank you, wherever you are! We need all the pro-democracy folks we can get.
I live in a state that is very Republican and I have become fearful of going to vote. If the wrong person finds out that I am a Democrat, what could happen? It's not as private here as you would assume. What a world this country has become...
Reading your excellent essay, Steve, it occurred to me that maybe the reason MAGA Republicans are so reluctant to have their children learn the real history of America is not because they are concerned about how those children will feel about themselves. They are probably afraid that without sufficient cultural indoctrination, they might someday look at their parents and grandparents and seeing their moral cowardice, feel disgust.
Sadly, they care for noone but self. They want scapegoats to blame and back to a time white ppl felt safe (aka superior).
The "debate" directed at the Tennessee Two that were expelled was demeaning and disgraceful. The Republicans did everything except call them "boy." They are truly deplorable to their core.
Another state to avoid visiting and spending money in, which is sad because it is beautiful there and many of the people (though apparently not enough to vote them out) do no support these racist legislators. I hope businesses around the state and around the nation, the world, look at what happened there and make business decisions that cause the state enough economic pain that change will begin.
Sandra, you beat me to it. There’s no question about it, the “B” word was on their tongues. The only thing they thought better of that day by not verbalizing it. The behavior, the tone, the tenor of the TN legislative body is reprehensible.
IT's a snapshot of America, unfortunately.
Gerrymandering is the culprit not just people failing to vote. Until this is taken seriously nothing can changes - the fix is too great, too rigid, and too rigged. Don’t forget the issue of illicit gerrymandering is taking a huge toll on the voting for representation. Without corrections, it is nigh impossible to overcome the injustice regardless of how many people vote. And don’t call us lazy just because our votes don’t count even when we cast them faithfully. Adding insult to injury is really NOT helpful.
Have you seen the gerrymandering?
I cannot afford to pay money so PLEASE let me continue to read what you write. 2 months after college grad. I was hit in bad car wreck and have a significant brain injury therefore I am on small govt. pay. ($800 per month). My brain is slowly getting better -- it happened 1994 and went into a black tunnel for years so I am so lucky now. Just very POOR. I love reading your site and Thanks so much. gaylerush8811@yahoo.com
Gayle, if the offer for free subscriptions to any substack sites I receive are offered to me again, I will forward them to you. I wish you the very best, and I am thrilled to have you on our team.
Gayle, I send you wishes for a speedy recovery. Steve, if it’s possible for those of us able to cover subscriptions for others, please let us know. We must grow our community in order to beat back the growing authoritarian tide that endangers our nation.
Lisa: that’s a kind gesture.
You're right, Steve. And it's also worth thinking about the freedoms we as Americans take for granted. It's easy to do because we've had them for our lifetime, but it is imperative that we look to other countries to remind ourselves of the beauty of freedom and how easy it is to let it slip away. Imagine being killed for not covering your head, imagine having to flee your home or be sent to the front lines of the senseless war of a tyrant, imagine being told you have no choice and have to remain pregnant against your will.......WAIT!
That's us, here in this United States of America.
We need to take to the streets to stop it, or it will fester. It has already begun. But the good people of this country far outnumber those Steve has described. And we can stop it.
The Tennessee Three is another call to action. Each time this happens, and the pattern is now established, we must be loud in our condemnation. We have the responsibility to ask what must be done in each instance to right the wrong
In other circumstances the arts industries are very vocal about mis justice. Has any word come out of Nashville’s music scene?
In the throes of Sunday coffee I was hit with the thought that we are due for another massive rising up with music event- think Live Aid, but this would be along the lines of, say, humanity aid
To that end, of course I immediately shot off a Tweet thread to those artists and activists who had participated in an event promoting rights (lead by Andra Day and Common), to see if they would be interested in a reprisal, now focusing on the overall crisis of democracy....
But I think we are ready and eager to stand in solidarity, and I will keep beating this drum even if my lonely voice echoes...
Here is the beginning of my thread.
1/ @common
@AndraDayMusic
@BlmBoston
@TaranaBurke
@DoloresHuerta
@VO_StandingRock
@AlabedBana
@eji_org
@cecile
@janetmock
@WCKitchen
@sandyhook
#standupforsomething
All:
It is time.
The urgency and condition of our country eclipses all boundaries and divisions...
If anyone would like to lend ideas or energy, awesome.
What an incredible idea. Ok among us someone must have the relationships to start this. Thank you
I will keep reaching out publicly, but an "in" would be phenomenal- any activist-minded artist, producer, etc
As well, media, promoters, etc...
Steve, from all your travels you must know someone or more than one someone....Lin Manuel Miranda?
Ketch Secor, the leader of the Old Crow Medicine Show, had an editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle (of all papers!) urging country musicians to work on creating an environment hostile to guns. Maybe his band can turn to saving democracy.
Mia, fantastic and inspiring idea! Let's move on this any way we can. Thank You.
I have reached out to the participants in the 2018 Oscar performance and others I think might be sympathetic, but it's difficult to not get drowned in the sea of noise, although I will keep looking for angles and inroads, as we are all ready for this ....I just need to "..know a guy who knows a guy...."
Dee Snider has given permission to use "We're Not Gonna Take It," so, there's a kernel.
So if anyone knows a guy who knows a guy, by all means...
"We're Not Gonna Take It" Hooray Snider! Thank you, Mia!
As a funny aside, somehow Breitbart got ahold of him granting me permission (on Twitter) and went after him a little....at which he basically laughed
"We're NOT Gonna Take It!" This sounds like an amazing theme song for a huge music festival...like Woodstock! To get this off the ground, maybe we need to start one in the near future in Nashville? I see this an an opportune time to energize the youth vote and to connect all generations in our society who care about critically important current issues. I feel we'd need some organizers who represent the younger generations. What powerful music are they listening to? Maybe SSchmidt and a young Congressman can say a few words. Getting more of 'The Warning' out to the public may do so much good. We need 'COOL'!!
Mia,
I wrote to some friends in Nashville (Al and Emily Cantrell, professional song-writers, and musicians -and climate activists) regarding potential contact information. Following is part of the reply from Al Cantrell today: "There was just such a festival (on line, mostly I think) here in Nashville, called the Rainbow Festival, or "Nashville Love Rising" I'm not sure which. I was able to listen to a long list of acts which donated music. I was able to listen to the first 30 seconds or so - of each song.
All the acts are on Spotify, I assume, since that was the host for the demos.
Here's the info that might get you started,
Emily and I are really not well connected, except for Kacey Musgraves - we know one of her producers and co-writers, Daniel Tashian. I don't know his politics (I would expect him to be liberal) but she has been somewhat outspoken so you could search for an interview with her to find out if she might be a candidate. I've attached the article about the festival from the NPR site in PDF form below, and I"ve attached the screen shots of the music acts on the spotify site.
Al (Al and Emily Cantrell in Nashville)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1N4DQ6eDJtainfyouQOzei?go=1&sp_cid=0b901d3583ebc209386ddbd0d9a9620e&t=17&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/26/1166089475/nashville-love-rising-concert
Mia, from what I gather from this is that Kacey Musgraves and/or Daniel Tashian might be good sources of information and further contacts. Al and Emily have lived and worked in Nashville for a long time, so these are probably good starters. I can be involved more with this after the weekend. I hope we can get something rolling, or add to what is already going on. Best, Lisa
P.s. find and PM me on FB and we can move discussion off this space
Hi -I don't have Facebook or any social media at all. I saw that the Cantrells have Facebook.
I'll get back to you after the weekend. I have a deadline for an art show. Thanks.
Good question, the music of the 60’s was a motivator for a lot of what we accomplished in that era. 👍
So far...crickets
It is time.
It is time we call exhibit similar breaches of quasi decorum, which for too long now has substituted for genuine fellowship and decency.
We have shed complacency.
#riseup
I like it! "Rise Up"! My new handle! Thank you Mia
Despite the disgusting display of the Tennessee GOP House, I am hopeful that we are seeing the dawn of a new civil rights movement in the US. Gen Z is mobilizing & they will help lead us back to America’s true promise: of liberty, justice & the right to pursue their goals without the fear of being obliterated while they learn, worship, or shop at their local mall or supermarket; that women have the right to decide how & when children fit into their lives.
In response to the certain drumbeat of their demise, the GOP has decided that they will stop at nothing to impose minority rule. They are showing us how small & fearful they are of having to compete on a more level playing field. They are willing to abandon the US Constitution & will subjugate anyone who isn’t a CIS male.
Here in MA, it is tempting to say, “that won’t happen here”. We are a bastion of democracy and have shown that our wealthy state can afford to provide healthcare to all, to protect the rights of women, POC & LGBTQIA individuals, provide high quality public education and successfully balance the rights of gun owners with the need for public safety. What we cannot afford to do is to sit & watch the fight as if we are above the fray.
Instead of AR-15 this family should have water guns. As a Black American I am proud of the response that America has had for the Tennessee Three. It gives me hope that there will be some change coming
They took my breath away... I knew I was witnessing something that will be remembered for years to come. I was so moved in a way I have not felt for quite some time. I am so grateful to know there are some brilliant inspirational young leaders out there.
We do not have to imagine what they would do if they had absolute power. They have shown us time after time in TN, TX, FL and at the Supreme Court level. If Trump or a Trumplike candidate is elected to the highest office then we will see what absolute rule looks like nationwide. Thank God Trump was incompetent and only cared about himself. Otherwise he would have imposed the extreme position of the GOP on all of us.
I pray the nation is watching the direction the GOP is moving towards. I fear TN is just the beginning. The GOP want armed teachers in every classroom as a solution. They want to ban any knowledge that does not agree with their warped sense of patriotism. We do not need more guns in classrooms. We do not need books being banned. What we need is assult weapons banned and our classrooms open for discussion of guns and violence that is associated with the gun culture. We do not need books banned but rather the discussion of what makes some people uncomfortable in those books. This is where growth and knowledge comes from. Things that make some people uncomfortable and talking about those things is how you learn to get over fears and rise above hatred.
Those who take away rights from us will always say "You don't belong here." They will hold an AR-15 weapon or one like it with their smiling kids at their side, obliterating the real image of a shattered and unrecognizable body of a child become pieces of evidence in the identification of who their name was and who are their parents or carers who must be informed that those are the bodily parts of their young daughter or son, children left in their schools the very day they were obliterated to pieces. You see, I see children even in adolescents turned all undesirable remnants for politicians who will do nothing to stop such violence giving the green light by their cowardly indifference, shooting after shooting. Maybe until the day they themselves have to go through some same collective experience. That is the reason, if ever there was one, to clearly demand their ousting in the next elections, because it is these very women and men who do not belong in government making such decisions that make no sense at all and go against every fundamental tenet of governance of the people by the people for the people. Of The People, By The People, For The People. We all, who see what is Right in front of us, distinguish clearly those who were on the right side of history the day Tennessee lawmakers decided that three among their peers were not one of them, by putting them in the front pages of all the newspapers in the nation and the world that covered this travesty of power. Democracy shined, even if the dark forces of racism attempted to strike two young and vibrant voices for democracy. You see, they failed to stop the path towards inclusive representation. I have faith that these two young men will be reinstated, after the repudiation of such acts have reverberated across the country and the world.
You are among those who speak Reason From The Heart, Steve. May many more hear what you say on this day.
N.Zampierollo… they kicked out the two black young men but let the white woman remain in office..All three Protested BUT only white Racist Tennessee people kicked out blacks…possibly KKK members …
I’m white and I’m embarrassed
STOP FULL STOP :( Marsha
Yes, Marsha, I wrote about this the day it was happening. I will now expand on those comments, because we all must when having the opportunity to do so and this community is just one such place to do it. State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who are Black, were expelled. The third lawmaker, State Representative Gloria Johnson, was not by one vote. When asked by the press about it, in terms of why she wasn't as compared to her fellow congressmen, she answered that it had to do with the color of her skin. Representative Johnson is white and older than the two lawmakers ousted, with past experience as a teacher and a witness to such violence. Please read the following:
"From the stage of the 2023 CMT Awards on April 2, country music star Kelsea Ballerini spoke of having witnessed the Aug. 21, 2008, shooting at Knoxville's Central High School when she was a student there.
"From the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives on April 6, state Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, recalled seeing terrified students fleeing after the same school shooting when she was a teacher at Central."
[Source: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/04/07/kelsea-ballerini-gloria-johnson-refer-to-2008-central-high-shooting/70088808007/]
Representative Johnson also showed embarrassment when answering that question, as you felt and so did I, dear Marsha. What we all must be grateful for is that we were given the opportunity to hear these three formidable representatives speak about gun control and what I see as a very hopeful outcome in the future for us all. The conversation just brings to the fore the conversion of failure in one party of multiple issues that affect the lives of the majority of Americans. Blessings, Marsha.
N.Zampierollo you nurture and bless my soul when you respond.
You are my Anam Cara,Marsha 🌹
I deeply respect your honest heart, dear Marsha. I always trust this good given freely, because it brings a brighter tomorrow.
Sheri Kastner ty for being kind Marsha
Barbara sending you hugs, Marsha
Lou Kinsey thanks ✅ loved the three
Flags kudos to you bless you.Marsha
Ironically, I believe Justin Pearson's vote kept Gloria Johnson in (she was saved by one vote). He hadn't been expelled yet. His expulsion vote came right after her vote. You can't make this stuff up. The times we live in. But I hold out great hope because these extreme rights stealers are showing their asses across the country. I strongly believe that America will go truly "woke" as we will finally wake up and fight to regain and maintain our constitutional rights. And sometimes it just takes a spark like the Tennessee Three to awaken the dormant majority from their catatonic slumber.
TY, Rich, for passing on this info. I knew the scenario but could not remember the names to tell it but you did.
Janet at least Gloria Johnson went outside and held black young men kicked out of office /holding
Hands and protested outside with them and shown as a white female former educator she has guts and isn’t an embarrassment to the white female democracy voting
Americans in this country !!!
I’m embarrassed to be white! Marsha
Karen thank you I value your opinion and your honesty…you have a kind
Heart too:) Blessings, marsha
Thank you for shining a bright light of reason on this very dark element of our country! We are better than this!
As I have stated many times, Hillary Clinton's supporters in 2016 (especially the women) were screaming into the void about the Supreme Court and losing our right to bodily autonomy if Trump got elected. The Bernie crowd mocked us and told us we were just being hysterical because Roe v. Wade was established precedent. The media ignored us, and instead ran story after story about Clinton's emails while glorifying Trump's every move.
We took it seriously. The Bernie crowd didn't. The media didn't. And what do you know, every person in this country with a uterus became second-class citizens with a stroke of Justice Alito's pen.
This is the Republican platform. No longer is it just about lower taxes and smaller government. It's about taking rights away from anyone who isn't white, straight, "Christian" (although certainly not in their actions), Republican, and cisgender MALE.
Hillary Clinton's supporters were paying attention. We tried to warn everyone. We were mocked and ignored. The Cassandra complex will be with us forever.
🙌
Don’t blame the bernie crowd. They aren’t the enemy.
Did I say they were the enemy? No.
But they certainly helped Trump win in a variety of ways, including actually voting for him in significant numbers.
https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-trump-2016-election-654320#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16810716933314&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsweek.com%2Fbernie-sanders-trump-2016-election-654320
Bernie people were aggressively anti-Hillary. If they couldn’t have what they wanted, then by golly neither could we. Surely there are ways - should have been - to support a close cousin in opposition to the devil himself. By demonizing everyone who wasn’t Bernie, they might as well have been The Enemy. I sense unrest in their ranks again - not strongly pro-Joe. Again in 2024, it’s Joe + Kamala, period. Not seeking perfection here, y’all. It’s an existential battle of good vs evil. I hope Bernie’s support is more full-throated for Joe than his paltry endorsements in the past.
Amen.
She said they didn’t listen to us! And too many of them didn’t, nor did they vote for Hillary but instead for what we are being destroyed by right this very instant. It would help if we could all keep focus.
Again, Steve states the truth in simple yet elegant language. This carnage of American Democracy will not stop until we take to the streets, close down the economy and then vote these dangerous, venal, stupid asses out of every nook and cranny of our body politic!
As a small minority of readers, I am becoming more energized and hopeful looking at americas future.
Each week there seems to be many stories that work to the advantage of voters like me. Banning a 20 year fda approved medication, throwing out 2 educated black men with a pony tail and Afro, a trial approaching for a Goebels like media company, a dnc legislator getting elected on dnc principles reveals herself as a fraud, jordon calling in sycophants who can not be cross examined and the leader of MAGA indicted: AND THIS IS LAST FIVE DAYS
There is a movement afoot, bigger than maga, bigger than fox, bigger than any right wing crazy on radio, it is the youth, women, ethnic and white men who were “raised right” who are going to storm the ballet box in ‘24 who will flip state houses, flip 75 seats in a Gerrymandered house and flip 10 seats in the senate.
That will bring the death of maga, maybe of gop and allow cold civil war to be won by the voters.
Call me loony, call me naive, all fine, but every time one of these headlines hits the young, the minorities and women get angrier and angrier and will vote in astounding numbers while gop voters will have orange sphincter as their candidate, MTG as his running mate.
“Goebels like media company” is a great description. The USA, UK and Australia suffer this disease. I wish Dominion well & wish the trial was covered by court tv.