Love your final blurb. Canceled mine two months ago. I feared that Obama would be murdered in office. The hatred was out and proud in Texas. The secret service was on the job then. I have a feeling that the tale will be told someday. But, back to the point. They are the real deal. What you see is what you get. Ideals that any lighter skinned person would be proud to own. It’s still amazing to me that so many people haven’t figured out that melanin is just skin deep. Weird that so many palefaces try to darken theirs in tanning beds and such. Damn, no logic no where.
Both Obama’s are evidence that the best of us can be tan. The presidency can now be a “black job.” A female job ( probably thanks in large part to Rosie the Riveter). My admiration for both is that they have had to work twice as hard as a white person to get where they are. That is after they got to the starting line. There were/are plenty of obstacles that deter people of color just getting to the starting line. The vitriol spewed by so many, especially the orange menace, was and is unconscionable. Orange will never be the new black. But black may be the new equal. Way past time.
"Orange will never be the new black. But black may be the new equal." I love this JD, and think its a great summary of where we are today, in this revitalized moment of HOPE!
JD, I always imagine you standing in a doorway speaking your words with your hands on your hips like the wise boss of the house and finishing every comment with the weary mutter "Most people are just damned fools." And you're right.
You have seen a lot, Tom, and you share it well. I sat transfixed last night and tonight. I think the "Brat Pack"article you shared yesterday realy points to the nature of the revolution we are witnessing/ being part of. Right down to the DJ tonight. I don't need to name any speaker. You all saw and heard them. I was blown away by so many of the younger ones, women of color mostly. If this is our future, I hope I live long enough to be part of it.
I'm glad you mentioned that amazing DJ. As someone pointed out, the music played last night represented decades of cultural icons in the music industry. There was meaning in that madness! I felt like dancing, and so, it appears, did many others.
Let's add Howard Thurman to that list of Saints who in 1980 may have captured what is happening at this Convention. We may be hearing the sound of the "genuine."
“The burden of what I have to say to you this afternoon is, “What is your name, who are you and can you find a way to hear the sound of the genuine in yourself?” There are so many noises going on inside of you, so many echoes of all sorts, so [much] internalizing of the rumble and the traffic, the confusions, the disorders by which your environment is peopled that I wonder if you can get still enough—not quiet enough—still enough to hear rumbling up from your unique and essential idiom the sound of the genuine in you. I don’t know if you can. But this is your assignment….
There is something in every one of you that waits, listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself and if you cannot hear it, you will never find whatever it is for which you are searching.… You are the only you that has ever lived; your idiom is the only idiom of its kind in all the existences and if you cannot hear the sound of the genuine in you, you will all of your life, spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls….
Who are you? How does the sound of the genuine come through to you?… Don’t be deceived and thrown off by all the noises that are a part even of your dreams, your ambitions… that you don’t hear the sound of the genuine in you because that is the only true guide that you will ever have and if you don’t have that you don’t have a thing. You may be famous, you may be whatever the other ideals are which are a part of this generation but you know you don’t have the foggiest notion of who you are, where you are going, what you want. Cultivate the discipline of listening to the sound of the genuine in yourself.”
Howard Thurman, “The Sound of the Genuine,” Baccalaureate Address, Spelman College, May 4, 1980.
Being a school night, I had to go to bed earlier, so I couldn’t catch the Obamas live. I did, however, wake up early and listen to their incredible speeches @ 1.25 speed on YouTube while eating breakfast, making coffee, getting dressed and walking the dog for the last 10 minutes of President Obama’s exhortations. They were more energizing than any cup of coffee; more filling than any bowl of cereal. My step will be lighter, and my hours filled with more meaning today, because of their leadership and the importance of their words. The promise of a Harris/Walz win is ever closer.
I was a middle school social studies teacher for over 40 years.
Like any good social studies teacher in early September 2004, we discussed and reviewed what had happened at both parties' conventions over the summer. The Republican convention had just taken place about a week before the new school year began.
Over the course of several days, I shared video clips of both conventions with my students.
One of the kids wanted to listen to Obama's entire speech, so I promised to start the next day's class with it. To save time, I rearranged the schedule to show the speech to all four of my classes at the same time during the period before lunch.
I had never seen the majority of my 7th and 8th graders so mesmerized by an in-class social studies video as they were that day.
The period ended, and as we were walking to lunch, one of my 8th grade girls, who had been on my middle school team as a 7th grader, came up to me and asked, "What did you think about Obama's speech?" I turned it around and asked her what she thought. Her response: "That man is going to be president." I replied, "You are right about that."
the day after Obama's speech in 2004, I went into work the next day and asked my work-wife Ruth (who's African American) if she'd seen it. she said no, she'd been too tired (back then, she was working a second job as a counselor on Riker's Island). I told her that Obama was definitely going to be President one day. "I've been hearing bullshit like that my whole life," was her answer.
whenever I feel the need to make her suffer a little bit (she never shows me any mercy, EVER), I remind her of this.
Once I began reading yours and other Substack newsletters, I canceled my NYT and Wapo subscriptions and my life is so much better. I don't even click on their websites. I didn't realize how defeated I was feeling with their daily dose of poison, ever so slowly and regularly making me accept the fashionable cynicism and apathy of being informed by the msm. Now, I tune into the actual speakers speaking and what a difference this is to be inspired, to wake up the idealistic youth that is still alive and waiting for this moment after so many years. This really is happening! Thank you for sharing all you do!
I'm a sucker for anyone who challenges me (us) and give advice on how to be something better that what we were or are. Guess that's my definition for hope, something I've always looked for in a candidate for any office. I've figured out that life has no reverse gear. What others call going back is neutral and all that happens when you choose neutral is you sit there or if the wind comes up or the ground shifts you inevitably go forward or down into some gully of despair. Obama gave me hope. Kamala and Tim woke that giant up in me.
These last two days "at the convention" have done more for my spirits than anything else I could imagine. I guess what has been missing HAS been hope. And Michelle pointed out that it is BACK again. I thought it was brilliant that Harris and Walz were in Milwaukee last night, with a crowd of 18,000 plus, standing room only, while a crowd of (?) swelled the convention center and simultaneous roars of appreciation and happiness swelled both locations. It will be interesting to see how MSM manages to downplay this display of enthusiasm. I don't do Twitter but I would imagine the MAGAts are twittering like crazy over there today.
I'm watching last night's DNC on C-span - admit I fast forwarded a lot but listened & watched Bernie of course AND Angela Alsobrook - SHE was great - the story about her grandmother teaching herself to type so she could get a better job says much about her. I hope shes successful in the Senate race in Maryland - I think we all will hear more about her in the future. Now back to waiting for the Obamas!
First convention I wouldn't want to miss & I am grateful it has been even better than I'd hoped - stellar line up of speakers - come on even the roll call was great. Excited for tonight & I may even listen to Bill out of curiosity ... yeah, I voted for Perot , Ha. Last night was so special I will be watching the speeches again to help keep up the energy to do something ! Not that the need to keep tfg out of "whitey's house" isn't enough. Funny to feel relieved & worried at the same time.
yep...it was one helluva fucking good night at the Convention. and I HATE conventions. actually, it was a great night, considering the nature of conventions. fabulous energy. even last night's roll call was FUN.
and the Obamas came through like crazy.
tonight, the buildup to Walz was intense. then Walz came out, short and sweet and tough, with a resume anyone running for office would KILL for. after that resume was so thoroughly explored, all he had to do as make a little bit of sense. and he made a LOT of sense.
again, the social studies teacher thing had me hooked as soon as I knew about it...
Love your final blurb. Canceled mine two months ago. I feared that Obama would be murdered in office. The hatred was out and proud in Texas. The secret service was on the job then. I have a feeling that the tale will be told someday. But, back to the point. They are the real deal. What you see is what you get. Ideals that any lighter skinned person would be proud to own. It’s still amazing to me that so many people haven’t figured out that melanin is just skin deep. Weird that so many palefaces try to darken theirs in tanning beds and such. Damn, no logic no where.
Both Obama’s are evidence that the best of us can be tan. The presidency can now be a “black job.” A female job ( probably thanks in large part to Rosie the Riveter). My admiration for both is that they have had to work twice as hard as a white person to get where they are. That is after they got to the starting line. There were/are plenty of obstacles that deter people of color just getting to the starting line. The vitriol spewed by so many, especially the orange menace, was and is unconscionable. Orange will never be the new black. But black may be the new equal. Way past time.
JD Chilcutt - have to say I always enjoy reading your comments.
So glad, often we twist in the wind, other eyes help one see.
"Orange will never be the new black. But black may be the new equal." I love this JD, and think its a great summary of where we are today, in this revitalized moment of HOPE!
How I wish, and hope, and will work for it.
JD, I always imagine you standing in a doorway speaking your words with your hands on your hips like the wise boss of the house and finishing every comment with the weary mutter "Most people are just damned fools." And you're right.
My laugh for the day. Not sure about wise boss, but always had trouble suffering fools.
You have seen a lot, Tom, and you share it well. I sat transfixed last night and tonight. I think the "Brat Pack"article you shared yesterday realy points to the nature of the revolution we are witnessing/ being part of. Right down to the DJ tonight. I don't need to name any speaker. You all saw and heard them. I was blown away by so many of the younger ones, women of color mostly. If this is our future, I hope I live long enough to be part of it.
I'm glad you mentioned that amazing DJ. As someone pointed out, the music played last night represented decades of cultural icons in the music industry. There was meaning in that madness! I felt like dancing, and so, it appears, did many others.
Let's add Howard Thurman to that list of Saints who in 1980 may have captured what is happening at this Convention. We may be hearing the sound of the "genuine."
“The burden of what I have to say to you this afternoon is, “What is your name, who are you and can you find a way to hear the sound of the genuine in yourself?” There are so many noises going on inside of you, so many echoes of all sorts, so [much] internalizing of the rumble and the traffic, the confusions, the disorders by which your environment is peopled that I wonder if you can get still enough—not quiet enough—still enough to hear rumbling up from your unique and essential idiom the sound of the genuine in you. I don’t know if you can. But this is your assignment….
There is something in every one of you that waits, listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself and if you cannot hear it, you will never find whatever it is for which you are searching.… You are the only you that has ever lived; your idiom is the only idiom of its kind in all the existences and if you cannot hear the sound of the genuine in you, you will all of your life, spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls….
Who are you? How does the sound of the genuine come through to you?… Don’t be deceived and thrown off by all the noises that are a part even of your dreams, your ambitions… that you don’t hear the sound of the genuine in you because that is the only true guide that you will ever have and if you don’t have that you don’t have a thing. You may be famous, you may be whatever the other ideals are which are a part of this generation but you know you don’t have the foggiest notion of who you are, where you are going, what you want. Cultivate the discipline of listening to the sound of the genuine in yourself.”
Howard Thurman, “The Sound of the Genuine,” Baccalaureate Address, Spelman College, May 4, 1980.
fabulous statement. Thank you for sharing.
So good, John. I’m going to keep it.
I love this. Thank you.
Being a school night, I had to go to bed earlier, so I couldn’t catch the Obamas live. I did, however, wake up early and listen to their incredible speeches @ 1.25 speed on YouTube while eating breakfast, making coffee, getting dressed and walking the dog for the last 10 minutes of President Obama’s exhortations. They were more energizing than any cup of coffee; more filling than any bowl of cereal. My step will be lighter, and my hours filled with more meaning today, because of their leadership and the importance of their words. The promise of a Harris/Walz win is ever closer.
This is brilliant, beautiful and hopeful Tom. It’s not impossible, we just need to keep working. Thank you Michelle and Barack!
💙 What a great first letter to read this morning, TC.
I’ll be cancelling my NYT digital subscription this morning (enfin!)
Nicely distilled, Tom. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
TC…. You are my brother and I love you.
Salud!
🗽💜
Thank you, Christine.
TC, I agree with you about the Obamas.
I was a middle school social studies teacher for over 40 years.
Like any good social studies teacher in early September 2004, we discussed and reviewed what had happened at both parties' conventions over the summer. The Republican convention had just taken place about a week before the new school year began.
Over the course of several days, I shared video clips of both conventions with my students.
One of the kids wanted to listen to Obama's entire speech, so I promised to start the next day's class with it. To save time, I rearranged the schedule to show the speech to all four of my classes at the same time during the period before lunch.
I had never seen the majority of my 7th and 8th graders so mesmerized by an in-class social studies video as they were that day.
The period ended, and as we were walking to lunch, one of my 8th grade girls, who had been on my middle school team as a 7th grader, came up to me and asked, "What did you think about Obama's speech?" I turned it around and asked her what she thought. Her response: "That man is going to be president." I replied, "You are right about that."
the day after Obama's speech in 2004, I went into work the next day and asked my work-wife Ruth (who's African American) if she'd seen it. she said no, she'd been too tired (back then, she was working a second job as a counselor on Riker's Island). I told her that Obama was definitely going to be President one day. "I've been hearing bullshit like that my whole life," was her answer.
whenever I feel the need to make her suffer a little bit (she never shows me any mercy, EVER), I remind her of this.
Once I began reading yours and other Substack newsletters, I canceled my NYT and Wapo subscriptions and my life is so much better. I don't even click on their websites. I didn't realize how defeated I was feeling with their daily dose of poison, ever so slowly and regularly making me accept the fashionable cynicism and apathy of being informed by the msm. Now, I tune into the actual speakers speaking and what a difference this is to be inspired, to wake up the idealistic youth that is still alive and waiting for this moment after so many years. This really is happening! Thank you for sharing all you do!
Thanks, Julia.
I'm a sucker for anyone who challenges me (us) and give advice on how to be something better that what we were or are. Guess that's my definition for hope, something I've always looked for in a candidate for any office. I've figured out that life has no reverse gear. What others call going back is neutral and all that happens when you choose neutral is you sit there or if the wind comes up or the ground shifts you inevitably go forward or down into some gully of despair. Obama gave me hope. Kamala and Tim woke that giant up in me.
These last two days "at the convention" have done more for my spirits than anything else I could imagine. I guess what has been missing HAS been hope. And Michelle pointed out that it is BACK again. I thought it was brilliant that Harris and Walz were in Milwaukee last night, with a crowd of 18,000 plus, standing room only, while a crowd of (?) swelled the convention center and simultaneous roars of appreciation and happiness swelled both locations. It will be interesting to see how MSM manages to downplay this display of enthusiasm. I don't do Twitter but I would imagine the MAGAts are twittering like crazy over there today.
I'm watching last night's DNC on C-span - admit I fast forwarded a lot but listened & watched Bernie of course AND Angela Alsobrook - SHE was great - the story about her grandmother teaching herself to type so she could get a better job says much about her. I hope shes successful in the Senate race in Maryland - I think we all will hear more about her in the future. Now back to waiting for the Obamas!
Watch the roll call - it's a tradition, and this one is educational, to see what the party is at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century.
First convention I wouldn't want to miss & I am grateful it has been even better than I'd hoped - stellar line up of speakers - come on even the roll call was great. Excited for tonight & I may even listen to Bill out of curiosity ... yeah, I voted for Perot , Ha. Last night was so special I will be watching the speeches again to help keep up the energy to do something ! Not that the need to keep tfg out of "whitey's house" isn't enough. Funny to feel relieved & worried at the same time.
Sorry TC - fast forwarded thru it. I just watched parts of the whole night.
Both the Obamas were great - as always. So was Tammy Duckworth.
TC, great post. Those speeches last night were for the ages.
They were indeed.
yep...it was one helluva fucking good night at the Convention. and I HATE conventions. actually, it was a great night, considering the nature of conventions. fabulous energy. even last night's roll call was FUN.
and the Obamas came through like crazy.
tonight, the buildup to Walz was intense. then Walz came out, short and sweet and tough, with a resume anyone running for office would KILL for. after that resume was so thoroughly explored, all he had to do as make a little bit of sense. and he made a LOT of sense.
again, the social studies teacher thing had me hooked as soon as I knew about it...
I got the prototype "We're Not Going Back" hat today. I would Post a photo of it here, if I could.
TC, I'll put one in the mail to you before Saturday.
MarkB
Excellent! Looking forward to that.
My knockoff Harris-Walz camo hat came this week - didn't want to wait to wear one till October.
Going hunting?
Trumpers. :-)
Misplaced your address.