Indeed. I'm a songwriter of dark and melancholy tunes and while I've created characters to sing through (like the NumberMan, the Particle, Number 6 and others) I never thought to take it as far as X did. That is an exciting idea to try to try!
" “All men are created equal” is a sentence that either means something or it means nothing. "
Damn right! Either EVERYONE counts or NO-ONE does! Simple as that. Your writing is most compelling which is why I subscribe (paid), like and restack your work continually. I will always do what I can, brotherman.
Make America America Again reminded me of the late great Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again." Here's the some of the verses (below). The whole poem is remarkable to say the least. It's online and can be found by searching title.
Sadly, most people don’t have the attention span to read an essay as long as this, but I want you to know how much I appreciate your work and insight. Keep writing and I especially enjoyed the links.
I will take the clear-headed hell of truth; for their promised heaven in the lie is built on lofty clouds that hold no weight.
Keep writing. This essay is one for the books. I could see the forefathers in the front row at SOTU. And for the first time, in a very long time, I had a sense of their hell in declaring a revolutionary truth. I’ll be thinking about it for awhile.
I love your writing. But my new medication for the illness that took away my career and put me on disability has a $120 monthly copay. Not sure how we are going to manage that. But maybe when the car we bought used is paid off in June, I'll be able to set aside $10 or $20 a month to support journalists like you.
Just as a snapshot into current America: I have a PhD but was forced into long-term disability/early retirement at 45. I'm now 60. I spend way too much time on the phone forcing insurance companies to honor their own goddamn contracted benefit packages. My husband is retired Air Force with two bachelor degrees and two masters. At 62, he works for the Comm of PA in human services, helping people make use of what social safety nets still exist. Combined income is $65k a year (military retirement pay hasn't kicked in yet), less than $5k of debt, but every month's budget has a razor thin margin. No cable tv, two basic streaming services, bargain basement home internet. Cheap phones, cheap cell plans. Our only saving grace is that our home is paid off. But we’re only a broken furnace or leaky roof away from a home improvement loan that will function like a new mortgage. One our budget has no room for. Every attempt at saving for big ticket home maintenance has gone to medical bills.
And yet politicians tell us the middle class is just fine and we're in a golden age.
Outstanding mind experiment! Please keep writing, I need to hear your voice. And I won't stop fighting for everyone's equality.
Indeed. I'm a songwriter of dark and melancholy tunes and while I've created characters to sing through (like the NumberMan, the Particle, Number 6 and others) I never thought to take it as far as X did. That is an exciting idea to try to try!
Hang in there. The truth is worth it. I appreciate your insights and candor. Your voice is important and needed. Thank you
" “All men are created equal” is a sentence that either means something or it means nothing. "
Damn right! Either EVERYONE counts or NO-ONE does! Simple as that. Your writing is most compelling which is why I subscribe (paid), like and restack your work continually. I will always do what I can, brotherman.
Make America America Again reminded me of the late great Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again." Here's the some of the verses (below). The whole poem is remarkable to say the least. It's online and can be found by searching title.
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There’s never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.”
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There’s never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.”
Amazing. I will be processing this in my head at least for the next 24 hours.
Sadly, most people don’t have the attention span to read an essay as long as this, but I want you to know how much I appreciate your work and insight. Keep writing and I especially enjoyed the links.
I will take the clear-headed hell of truth; for their promised heaven in the lie is built on lofty clouds that hold no weight.
Keep writing. This essay is one for the books. I could see the forefathers in the front row at SOTU. And for the first time, in a very long time, I had a sense of their hell in declaring a revolutionary truth. I’ll be thinking about it for awhile.
I've read a lot of recaps of the SOTU , but yours is by far the best.!
Keep writing! I was up at 3:00 am last night too. What had me awake was my Anger!
I'm sometimes overcome by it.
I am doing what I can to stand up for and work for Equality for All.
We can not give up.
You're not alone, Kathy! There's lots of us!
Wow. Powerful! Thank you for your writing.
I love your writing. But my new medication for the illness that took away my career and put me on disability has a $120 monthly copay. Not sure how we are going to manage that. But maybe when the car we bought used is paid off in June, I'll be able to set aside $10 or $20 a month to support journalists like you.
Just as a snapshot into current America: I have a PhD but was forced into long-term disability/early retirement at 45. I'm now 60. I spend way too much time on the phone forcing insurance companies to honor their own goddamn contracted benefit packages. My husband is retired Air Force with two bachelor degrees and two masters. At 62, he works for the Comm of PA in human services, helping people make use of what social safety nets still exist. Combined income is $65k a year (military retirement pay hasn't kicked in yet), less than $5k of debt, but every month's budget has a razor thin margin. No cable tv, two basic streaming services, bargain basement home internet. Cheap phones, cheap cell plans. Our only saving grace is that our home is paid off. But we’re only a broken furnace or leaky roof away from a home improvement loan that will function like a new mortgage. One our budget has no room for. Every attempt at saving for big ticket home maintenance has gone to medical bills.
And yet politicians tell us the middle class is just fine and we're in a golden age.
Sorry for the rant. It's been a frustrating day.