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November 2020

My favorite Thanksgiving poem: Everyday Thanksgiving

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Everyday Thanksgiving

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the
alarm ring's each morning,
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear
There are those who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed tightly against
the morning lights, as long as possible.
Thank you, Lord, that I can see.
There are those who are blind.

Even though I huddle in ray bed and put off the physical
effort of rising,
Thank you, lord, that I have the strength to rise.
There are many who are bedfast.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic;
When socks are lost, toast is burned, and tempers are short,
Thank you, Lord, for my family.
There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures
in the magazines, and the menu is sometimes unbalanced,
Thank you, Lord, for the food we have,
There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work,
There are many who have no work.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day,
and wish my modest circumstances were not quite so modest
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life.


Election 2020: The Politics of Hate in America

Politics of hate in america

As we awakened this morning, predictably not knowing the official results of the presidential election, predictably subjected to Trump declaring victory prior to all votes being counted, America has lost regardless of who is declared the winner. Until we address White Supremacy and its global impact on all of our daily lives, America will be forever weakened. Moreover, America will continue its pretense of being a democracy while the rest of the world is in disbelief that a person as ignorant, uncouth, hateful and corrupt as Trump could be elected POTUS but as Dr. Eddie Glaude so eloquently stated, THIS IS US.
 
Americans don’t like to discuss race, racism, or anything unpleasant. We have been brainwashed to believe that we live in a democracy when the reality is quite different. Sadly, we can so easily unite around an athletic team’s victory while simultaneously ignoring the country’s ugly truth. To complicate and exacerbate our likelihood of overcoming the impact of America’s original sin, we watch non-white people embrace white nationalism and some blacks shill for their oppressor, for a price.
 
In the 1960’s America was embarrassed in to changing when photos and videos of fire hoses and police dogs used on civil rights protesters were broadcast around the world. In 2020, after videos have been broadcast of Blacks being subjected to police brutality and in some cases, murder, it seems America has no shame. THIS. IS. US.