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Should Democrats, like Superman, Seek ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’?

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I had a moment a little while ago when I was thinking about the notion that democrats, in spite of recent political victories (Yes!!!) need to come up with a message or at least a snappy meme, that resonates with voters (and more and more people are becoming so designated).

In that same moment I happened to turn the TV on and a man on C-SPAN was discussing superheroes, how they are mostly about creating a better world, citing Superman’s pursuit of “Truth, Justice and the American Way.”

That triggered in my mind, right away, long ago days, when I was all caught up in the excitement of “Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane!” feigning flying, with a croker sack or a pillow case or half a sheet tied to my neck, rescuing dames in distress and going upside the head of evil geniuses and tricksters and anyone daring to challenge my super powers – seeking, basically, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.”   [Read more…]

Saying Goodbye to a Friend Who Gave Me a Helping Hand

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You know that feeling you get when a dear friend all of a sudden says something like “Well, we’re moving to Seattle next month,” and a kind of sadness sets in? Nothing devastatingly grievous or crippling, but you feel a little empty inside, knowing that your pal is no longer just down the street or across town, but gone.

That was me when I got the word that the San Diego Free Press was coming to an end because I see them as a friend, a beloved friend; because who, but a dear friend, would allow you to write about a little of everything, anytime you wanted to, and any way you wanted to, be it poetry or prose.

I can’t adequately express what a lift in my spirit the gift of having a place to vent so freely has meant to me. What can one say about being appreciated so openly and unconditionally?   [Read more…]

An Awakening

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Lately I’ve been feeling so good.
Like a little boy would
unwrapping the toy
he most wanted
on Christmas Day
simply because
we, as a society, finally,
the first opportunity
we got to have a say,
said “Enough is enough”
to a pretend president
who has had his way
trampling on our collective psyche
without mercy
like a hungry bull
trying to knock down
a barn door
separating him from a bale of hay.   [Read more…]

Thinking of Walls That Could Be Walked Through

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The other night I went to a Border Angels event, in celebration of their years of honoring their creed: “Love Has No Borders,” leaving water, among the things that they do, to keep people from dying trying to cross deserts where awaiting them is a sun that shows no mercy.

It was so nice just sitting there among people who believe deeply in the idea of rights for all human beings.

I was as kickbacked as I could be through all the welcomings and honoring dignitaries and congratulating people who give of themselves tirelessly towards the making of a better world – sipping on a margarita that was mixed just right, not too sour, not to sweet, smiling broadly, one moment, while a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice sang a beautiful song. What could go wrong?   [Read more…]

America is Greater Than It’s Ever Been in One Man’s Really Big Brain

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Regarding the synagogue catastrophe,
a friend of a friend of mine composed
these words setting a healing tone:
“But we Jews are strong;
we have been through this before;
I just had hoped
that we would never have
to go through it again”
and one’s mind,
as it assesses yet another tragedy
during these unquiet times,
wanders to how intensely out of hand
our world seems to be   [Read more…]

Standing Tall in a Basement in Atlanta

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I’ve been dealing with some back issues but a trip to Atlanta, especially moments I spent in a church basement there, got me standing as tall as I can.

Being in Atlanta, a Black Mecca, made me rejoice in just being black and alive.

I mean there were people who looked like me everywhere I trained my eyes: in the airport, in front of and behind counters; serving and being served; pushing wheelchairs and being pushed in wheelchairs; announcing flights and boarding flights – in the hotel doing every job there is to be done in the hotel industry.   [Read more…]

I Keep Thinking of Christine

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I keep thinking of Christine,
her story of a man
cupping his hand
over her mouth
so she couldn’t scream
and expose his scheme
to forcefully
have his way with her
like so many men have done
for eons
in human history.
And for decades she didn’t scream,
except for those
inaudible screams that echo in
those dark places inside
human beings
where we try to hide
pain that’s hard to confront,   [Read more…]

When I Think of the Wall

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When I think of the wall
I see in my mind,
first of all,
people on my side of the wall,
people who,
when all is thought through,
appraising all of humanity,
live relatively comfortably,
in possession of all kinds of
certificates and degrees
from preschool
to PhDs,
living and/or dreaming
the dream of all dreams,
the American Dream,
that “Keeping Up with the Joneses Dream”   [Read more…]

Reflections on Keeping Loved Ones From Taking Their Lives

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I remember back, maybe
when I was in junior high,
neighbors talking in hush-hush tones
about a man
who had drowned himself
in the night.
“Hey, why y’all whispering?”
I wanted to know,
all wide-eyed
and mystified
and horrified.
“Shhh, boy, he died of suicide.”
And we all just carried on
with our lives,
looking at how he had died
through the eyes
of ignorance,
of unfamiliarity   [Read more…]

Everybody Wants to be Heard

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I don’t remember how I first got on Facebook, but I’m glad I did because it’s worked for me.

I’ve learned to just scroll past all the ads, fabrications, fake news, and the like, and get right at what’s up with my “friends” who are mostly people I’ve known for some time and people who became my friends through them.

I like never knowing what I might find. It could be a sad story that makes you sigh, or a beautiful picture of someone’s grandchild that brings gentle tears to your eyes, or a meme that is wise, or one that’s not so wise. So many of them about ridding our lives of people who aren’t good for us.

And I’ve run across a few such people online from time to time, like a young woman who tore into me like a bull goring a matador – because I had the audacity to think it was okay for a woman to breastfeed her baby in public.   [Read more…]

From Rough Seas to Pleasant Memories

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There have been moments
in mourning
the loss of my son
that I’ve felt like a boat
being battered in rough seas,
swirling and whirling
in pounding
un-relenting waves,
and then there comes
a little break
as the waters, seemingly,
hurl me towards the shore,
and a memory,
like one I had the other day,
springs to the fore,   [Read more…]

Time Should be Running Out for the President and His Republican Cronies

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I began this writing a day after one of the president’s thuggish friends, a man who led his campaign, was found guilty of several counts of fraud, and his personal lawyer and “fixer” pleaded guilty to illegal payments under his direction.

I waited a day to see how the Republicans in the Senate and the House would react, foolishly holding out that they would finally say “Enough” to the lunacy coming out of the West Wing of the White House – considering that the clock should have run out on his presidency months ago.

And all they’ve done so far is claim that a sitting president can’t be indicted when, whether that is true or not, they have the power to take him down. Like they could impeach the sordid clown.   [Read more…]

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