Books, Documentaries: June 18, 2020
I woke up this morning to the news that yet another young African-American man/boy was found dead—hanging from a tree in California with a rope around his neck.
This news follows news of the past few days that three white policemen in Atlanta found an African American man passed out drunk in a car in a fast-food chain line. They wound up tormenting him, chasing him, shooting him in the back, and not calling for medical help while one stood on his shoulders while he died. When the officers were charged, other Atlanta police called in sick to protest.
Later today, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration did not follow the law when they tried to get rid of the DACA cohort. Trump, the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, responded with images of shotgun blasts in people’s faces: “These horrible & politically charged decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are shotgun blasts into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans or Conservatives.”
These events are just from the past few days. And I didn’t even cover John Bolton’s book which details even more corruption and lawlessness that the GOP has chosen to ignore and/or facilitate.
I am so exhausted and so sad. I don’t recognize this country any more. The past 3 1/2 years have been hell on earth as EVERYTHING I hold sacred—truth, honor, integrity, service to others, faithfulness—has been…debauched and disappeared.
I, for some reason, about a week ago started listening to Michelle Obama’s memoir BECOMING, and as painfully hard as it to hear in places, I have really enjoyed living in her mind for a bit of time. For one thing, the memoir pulls together her history, the history of her part in Obama’s campaign, and her/their time at the White House. I’m still listening, but I’ve heard enough to think that this book is one that is meant for this moment in time.
I highly recommend it.
Michelle Obama’s Memoir, BECOMING
Louisa Enright's Blog 
I join you, in all your sentiments. I firmly believe that there are good people who will do the research and find good candidates in November and in the elections of the future. Too many of us have not taken our vote seriously, myself included. From now on I will not only listen to what the candidates say, but will investigate what they have done. Actions speak louder than words.
I loved Becoming.
Thank you so much for this comment. And for reading my blog. My angst boiled over with this post.
Thank you for your post. I am a fellow quilter from Texas that has followed your blog for sometime but never comment, just admire. There are too many quilters that have taken the stand of stay out of politics, just quilt, without realizing that politics govern every aspect of our lives. BLM stayed strong and through every attack, every condemnation they had, kept the momentum strong. As a result, so many changes have been made that is a good start for fixing a horrible problem. However, the other Susan comment is right. The best thing we can do is vote. I am a voter Registrar. I have registered over 200 people. We just have change. Again, thank you for speaking out when many quilters are staying silent. ❤
Thank you so much for this supportive comment and for reading my blog. And thank you for registering so many people so they will, hopefully, vote. Racism and racist violence is, as you say, a horrible problem. I am hopeful now that there will not be an easy way for people to turn a blind eye any longer. If people have any ethics and morals at all, they are going to have to think about what it means for anyone to murder someone in what amounts to cold blood because they see them as “other.” That is a huge cultural problem. Sweeping this problem under the rug only allows it to continue. We are going to have to work hard to regain some of the respect the world once thought we deserved.