First Lady Michelle Obama speaks alongside actors Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman as she welcomes high school and college students from across the country for a workshop with the cast and crew of the film 42
I am not a baseball fan. This is one story that I would like to see. I have no doubt that it will be great, touching and a tear inducing waterworks film. I am ready though.
Sadly, many of our young people don’t appreciate the obstacles and abuse that people like Jackie Robinson had to overcome just to do things that are taken for granted today. Today, it is just assumed that you can do whatever you want to do with little or no sacrifice.
Hopefully, this movie will help to remind us of the sacrifices that were made from which we are now benefiting.
Our re-living of history is right before our eyes.
The majestic election and re-election of pres Obama.
But the haters, the obstructionists and the 98% of the media that cover this history in making……as they carry their own baggages while pretending that their racial biases against this POTUS are not being noticed, scored and documented.
It is what it is. PBO election was a gross miscalculation. Why do you think they’ve gone through such lengths to suppress voters and gerrymander districts?
Since the election, the GOP Lie Machine™ has reached the point of critical mass it’s about to implode in on itself like a Black Hole of Certifiable Insanity. Watching some of the Dems get caught up in it’s gravitational pull has given me a big sad, so I’ve allowed myself to be completely engulfed in a state of Game Of Thrones Awesomeness. 😀
I can watch Jon Stewart, Stephanie, and Rachel, some Lawrence, (WTF did they do to Ed?), but the next-level liars Maher has on make me want to throw things at my TV. I need some HAPPY.
Welcome Gazelle! The only difficulty is we already have a Gazelle, so maybe you could add something to your name so we know who’s who?! Thanks for visiting!
Hey there, sorry about the incomplete post! I am as they say: technically declined! I changed my name to Gazelle62. Just so you are aware, I have been following you guys for months on this blog and now feel I would like to contribute. Thanks for the welcome. Might be typos as I am French.
Hello Gazelle62! Welcome! For a split second there I thought I slept w/ my keyboard in my hand & was commenting away. Scary thought for one afflicted w/ TODitis! LOL!
Yeah, but with creative math (a la school of Chips) I will undoubtedly get there well before 2074! Not that I am worrying as that would be the very thing to add flaws to the face (I’m told). 😉 😉
Okay article but one can’t get past the douchebaggery of Ron Fournier. 99.9% of his articles are the written equivalent of the ignorant white man who can’t get past the fact that we have a Black president for two terms.
Agree, have to always caveat a Fournier article. It had a link to his 08 AP profile..But Michael Lewis anecdotes of his B-Ball game at the FBI building, is the one I hold more credence too.
Authors of NRA report, recommending arming everybody in and near schools, have a financial interest in the training and gear accompanying those recommendations—surprise, surprise. (kinda like Jeb Bush and education reform)
Then you have local governments putting laws on the books requiring all households to own a gun/ammunition…just to make a point.
======
“Georgia town passes law requiring citizens to own guns and ammo”
—-
A Georgia town has passed a law requiring its citizens to own a gun and ammunition — a measure one councilman says is similar to putting a security sign in your front yard to deter criminals…Town leaders said they wanted to make a point about gun rights.
The law requires the head of every household to own a gun and ammo to “provide for the emergency management of the city” and “provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants.”
The law is also meant to pre-empt any future attempt by the federal government to confiscate guns, according to the council’s agenda.
And will that Georgia town be ready to pay the fines that are inevitably going to emerge as these gun-toting citizens start taking the law into their own hands and killing each other? They’ve forgotten how litigious this society has become. It’s all quite ridiculous – and frightening.
“The measure is modeled after a law adopted in 1982 by Kennesaw, another Atlanta suburb. Police there acknowledge that they haven’t tried to enforce it.”
What’s the punishment for non-compliance? Also the idea that a town ordinance will “pre-empt” a federal law is laughable. Some body should teach these imbeciles about the “Supremacy Clause” in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution:
“This Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made or which
shall be made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every sate shall
be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.”
If the NRA was proposing a free gun and free ammunition for every citizen (i.e. recreating the wild, wild West), then one might be able to take their dangerous ideas as being legitimate (yet deeply flawed, and still entirely worthy of rejection). There’s a profit motive behind every suggestion the NRA ever proposes.
You think she can put her hand on her long form? Not that I’m ..ahem… that old, but I was trying to remember where my legal BC was recently and couldn’t. Fortunately I had other forms of ID and didn’t have to go looking.
I see some nutballs are all in a frenzy that MSNBC should not be given credit for hiring an African American, Karen Finney, because———–yep, she’s not black enough. (Who in the world is Tim Graham?— some anti-abortion obsessed religious goof is what I see) I remember this dumb argument about skin tone during Barack Obama’s early days—–was he black enough, was he white enough—–some people just cannot evolve, as they say.
I chuckle. Once again, GOP Outreach 101 fails in the face of their blatant racism. They just can’t hide their hate of African-Americans. Yet they wonder why they aren’t getting the Black vote.
I was listening to NPR yesterday morning when an article about race was on. The part I heard involved filling in the checkboxes on forms about what race you are. An AA man told his story how his kids had a different take on filling out the boxes than his generation did. He had kids from 2 marriages. His current wife had White kids while they both had a mixed child. This was a his, hers and ours scenario. He spoke of how in his generation if you had any Black blood you checked AA whereas now they check both AA and Caucasion. The story was about taking his kid to the dentist and he checked AA in the box. His kid told him later in the car that he always checked both boxes. The father went back and changed the form checking the other box too.
Another story was from a mixed Asian/White man who said he used to cry privately after having to check one box only because he felt like he was asked to choose whom he loved most, his Mother or Father. I identified with having similar thoughts when having to choose one box too. I usually ignore the directions and check both Caucasion and Native American.
Good Evening TODers – at least it’s evening here in Maryland. I grew up going to baseball games. I was the “son”my father never had. I saw Satchel Paige pitch one time (after he had actually retired). I read a lot about the “Negro League”. I think “42” will be a great movie. I have often compared President Obama to Jackie Robinson because of PBO’s temperament. He looks past all the negative BS and keeps his eyes on the prize.
My grandfather told me stories of the Negro Leagues…we had a team called the Philadelphia Stars…he showed me where they played …it was in a part of Fairmount Park…near Parkside Ave in West Philly…
he said it was a festive occasion…the men and women came dressed…and they had a picnic of sorts cpmplete with food and stuff…
i got my love of baseball from my grandfather…
My father was pretty old (hahaha as I thought) when I was born. He was born in 1896. So for a long time all he could to were the Negro League games. He also told me about how people dressed and brought food.
We have a patron a ton of equipment so that he can spend all day watching over the air TV. Annoying, but nothing earth-shattering.
Today, just as I sat down at reference, he comes SCREAMING out of the meeting room pursuing a male and female couple, yelling that they’d taken his picture. This couple claimed that they’d seen him “tapping into the library cameras” to spy on patrons, and they’d taken his picture to report him. The male of the couple, the female informed me, “worked for the government”. I told the male, “Sir, you can’t take pictures of people without their permission.” He replied “Tell me where I can’t”. I felt like saying, “The fucking 4th Amendment, asswipe.” But by this point I’d decided this was a job for my manager, so I went and got her.
Really, the stuff that I think they told me in grad school but which I ignored because I had no intention of working with the public. It’s.All.True.
FLOTUS: Jackie and Rachel Robinson showed me how much hard work it takes to move our country forward…how much strength it took to press ahead…to not give up….
In many ways, Anniebella, their experiences, while not exactly the same, are comparable. I think a great deal of the ugliness directed at them has a great deal to do with the fact that the Robinsons and the Obamas shattered the my of “white superiority.” Just like Jesse Owens did at the 1936 Olympics. Adoilf Hitler was fuming!
Rachel Robinson at 91 — beautiful and still has her own teeth. I’m in awe. And so sorry her husband died young. They had to swallow so much hatred and not give so much as an iota back. I couldn’t do what they did. Not in a million years. I don’t have that kind of self-discipline. The sort of self-discipline and grace shown by our President and First Lady too.
I’m too much of a hothead and not so secure in myself. I respect the HELL out of the people who integrated the dime stores and colleges. James Meredith comes to mind. They paid a big price for their victories.
A few months ago my 80-year-old aunt who is a Big fan of the President sort of hemmed and hawed and finally apologized for not understanding what I was doing back in the sixties and seventies when I was an activist. So I have had that victory.
Thank you Chipsticks for the video and the pictures. I know I could count on you. Hay did anyone see FLOTUS on Entertainment Tonight? It was the second part of her interview, and FLOTUS said she was getting tired of the bangs, so look for them to be gone soon.
Saw her hairdresser on some show a week or so ago on some segment about The Bangs—–he hinted that more changes were coming and that the bangs may be making an exit——just as every black girl on the teevee now has The Bangs.
just now when I read the title of the article, I was immediately thought of you and your tenacity on this issue. In fact I was just scrolling down to give you a heads up about your idea when I saw this comment . thanks for all you do – we appreciate it very much
Al Green at the White House. What is the haters going to say about this? You can count on them saying something. Ole you cancel the WH tours, but you are still having these things. Hell yes, we are. I am looking forward to it, I always enjoy it when they have these programs.
Maybe the Secret Service can just arrest GW while they’re out here. I wish President Obama didn’t have to do anything with any of those Bush family members ever.
I’m very glad this movie 42 is coming out now. Our young people need to learn about the heroes of the civil rights movement. They take their freedom for granted because they have not been taught.
In my Composition class we are reading “Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton, about South Africa, just before apartheid started in 1948. In one of the chapters today the two main characters were affected by a bus boycott in Johannesburg. The company wanted to raise the fare from 4 shillings to 6 shillings and that 2 shilling raise would have eaten up what small wages the Africans made. Their boycott succeeded.
I asked my class if they knew of any event in American history like this boycott. They stared at me. SO…..I used that opening to teach them about the Montgomery bus boycott and Rosa Parks. They did recognize slightly the name Rosa Parks. This was a great opportunity for me.
In fact, I find this book to be a great opportunity for teaching. They can see problems in another country, then they relate it to us.
If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. I first read it when a senior in high school, and could never get away from it. When I needed to choose a novel for my college literature class, I chose that. The students really responded to it. Now, I’m teaching Composition and am using it. I recommend that book and also Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe who just died. They both have great relevance to us.
I just teach part time now, as I’m officially retired, but find teaching is still the most fulfilling thing I do. I think of what Jill Biden said: “Teaching is not what I do, it’s what I AM.” I have learned that is true for me also.
President Obama will travel to Texas later this month to attend the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas
Is it tradition for sitting presidents to attend the dedication of a former president’s library ? Of course President Obama couldn’t refuse the invitation. But to be honest the whole thing makes me cringe. Because the previous administration was an incompetent and corrupted one. And I have no doubt that the contents of Bush’s presidential library will be an affront to intelligence, nuance and truth. I hate to see President Obama associated with it even in a small way.
That being said, for the record I don’t subscribe to the school of thought that says the Obama administration should have prosecuted some members of the Bush administration. It was impossible politically, AND from a cultural, sociological perspective. It would have fractured the american society even more that it already is. I wish the “emoprogs” would get it.
Furthermore, since the republican party is totally incapable of self-reflection and views the world as “us against them”, they would have sought vengeance for years. Interesting to note that John W. Dean, ex-member of the Nixon administration, has talked in one of his books about his knowledge that one important factor in the harassing of Bill Clinton, that lead to impeachment proceedings, was the desire of republicans to “get even” because they had been humiliated by Watergate and Nixon’s resignation. See ? No matter how justified the “punishment” of a republican president, republicans always want revenge. They are the party of pettiness and immaturity, of victimization and polarization. They have no real respect for democracy nor for political institutions.
They sure like to pad themselves in the back though. I don’t think I will have the stomach to watch any clips of the dedication of that library.
President Obama, I know you’ll represent the institution of the Presidency very well. But please don’t go overboard with empathy and gentleness. Sometimes I think you’re too kind and forgiving…
Al Green, Cyndi Lauper, Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah, Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Ben Harper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore, Charlie Musselwhite,and Mavis Staples will appear in the ‘In Performance at the White House’ series next Tuesday – it will be broadcast by PBS on April 16 at 8 p.m. EST.
That is going to be a barn burner. I love Sam Moore. I ran out within an hour to buy his CD after seeing this performance on the Today Show in 2010. It’s a great CD. We still blast it on all our road trips. Love this song—-they were rockin’……
I made 15 calls today to the R’s on the Health Committee. I thought it was “interesting” that I only got 5 “live” answers. Out of those 5, two of the aides tried to play dumb and ask what HB2061 did. Right????? I did not play along. Two weeks ago, I made 14 calls to various legislators regarding the Governor taking federal funds for expanding Medicaid and only got one answering machine. That’s why I found it “interesting” that I got so many machines today.
My gosh, I’m in tears viewing the photos on this post.
Jackie Robinson had unmatched courage and dignity, just heartbreaking that he died before witnessing Hank Aaron surpassing Babe Ruth’s home run record.
My childhood HERO was Sandy Koufax, and his bio introduced me to the Negro leagues and the immortal Satchel Paige. I couldn’t believe what I read about that horrid discrimation. And Satchel Paige was the Oscar Wilde (wit) of baseball.
You don’t have to be a Dodger fan to appreciate what they did on opening day yesterday (check out today’s LA Times front page), which featured Vin Scully announcing Sandy Koufax to the mound, and celebrated the 1963 World Champion Dodgers (the first season I paid attention to baseball):
One of these days I’d love to go to Opening Day of a ball game. Sounds like it was a lot of fun. Magic Johnson is like a big kid having fun…he’s a adult who brings out the wonder and joy to everything he does. I hope the Dodgers have a wonderful and winning season.
Ok, I’ve been mulling this over, and I think I’m going to ask some of you fine folks for a great favor.
As you may or may not know, I’m working on a couple of novels. One’s finished, the other is in its gestation.
I haven’t been working too diligently on them; however, the example of the missus’ fortitude with taking control of he health has spurred me to re-start revisions on the completed work.
What I need are: READERS. I have a blog where I’ve been posting pieces from both novels, but haven’t gotten much back in the way of critique.
So, if any brave souls want to volunteer to read “The Genealogies” as I finish revising chapters, I would be forever indebted.
Like the DC meet-up, we could organize emails via Chips, if she’s not opposed. I’ll be creating a special email for this endeavor.
The Obama Diary 
Evening all!
Mary, Swbluega and Theo, all tied at 6:36!! Cool:
Thanks Chipsticks….can our President be any cooler?
No!! 🙂 He is the coolest of the cool!
I love him in those shades…Yessss
Highly acceptable, Prettyfoot!
Yeah…smilin
Yeah!!
Wow, Chips, that just put a little sparkle in my evening!
Hello Everyone!
Good afternoon!
Congrats Mary Gold!!!! Swbluega Silver, Theo Bronze…. I will medal if you fail your doping test!
🙂
Well done all three of you! I dare say your faces are all looking like these. 😆 😆 😆
Given the picture, I think the grins are bigger than that.
A triple-play with maryl, swblue, & theo – congrats!!!
It’s GGAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hello you!
42
The simplicity of it is majestic.
Brilliant.
😎
Looking forward to seeing the movie.
I am not a baseball fan. This is one story that I would like to see. I have no doubt that it will be great, touching and a tear inducing waterworks film. I am ready though.
Sadly, many of our young people don’t appreciate the obstacles and abuse that people like Jackie Robinson had to overcome just to do things that are taken for granted today. Today, it is just assumed that you can do whatever you want to do with little or no sacrifice.
Hopefully, this movie will help to remind us of the sacrifices that were made from which we are now benefiting.
Sadly this movie and all it’s nuances are still relevant today. Not that much has changed except in sports.
Our re-living of history is right before our eyes.
The majestic election and re-election of pres Obama.
But the haters, the obstructionists and the 98% of the media that cover this history in making……as they carry their own baggages while pretending that their racial biases against this POTUS are not being noticed, scored and documented.
It is what it is. PBO election was a gross miscalculation. Why do you think they’ve gone through such lengths to suppress voters and gerrymander districts?
That’s going to be a good film.
Tally! I know I haven’t been around, but where have you been?!
Since the election, the GOP Lie Machine™ has reached the point of critical mass it’s about to implode in on itself like a Black Hole of Certifiable Insanity. Watching some of the Dems get caught up in it’s gravitational pull has given me a big sad, so I’ve allowed myself to be completely engulfed in a state of Game Of Thrones Awesomeness. 😀
I can watch Jon Stewart, Stephanie, and Rachel, some Lawrence, (WTF did they do to Ed?), but the next-level liars Maher has on make me want to throw things at my TV. I need some HAPPY.
Oh, I hear you. I took an extended break as me and missus prepared for her surgery.
What’s the update on that?
She’s lost almost 50 lbs since starting the pre-op diet.
excellent! fingers crossed. I friend of mine did it. He’s lost a LOT. It’s saving his life.
Mrs Robinson is a beautiful lady at any age.
90?
She is Gorgeous.
Hello everyone, new here, from Canada…Love President Obama!
Welcome Gazelle! The only difficulty is we already have a Gazelle, so maybe you could add something to your name so we know who’s who?! Thanks for visiting!
I
Hey there, sorry about the incomplete post! I am as they say: technically declined! I changed my name to Gazelle62. Just so you are aware, I have been following you guys for months on this blog and now feel I would like to contribute. Thanks for the welcome. Might be typos as I am French.
Welcome Gazelle62! Fellow Canadian, here. (There are a few of us on this blog…) 🙂
Thank you so much theo67! I live in Ottawa. I know more about American politics than Canadian. This site is out of this world!
welcome Gazelle62! Nice to have you join us. Ottawa is a lovely place and nice people I met there.
Hello Gazelle62! Welcome! For a split second there I thought I slept w/ my keyboard in my hand & was commenting away. Scary thought for one afflicted w/ TODitis! LOL!
She was absolutely stunning as a young women. She’s beautiful now.
Mrs. Robinson is simply stunning and so dignified! WOW!
Missed the bell, but Mrs. Robinson really and truly doesn’t look her age. Hmmmm. I wonder if tips from her would help at this stage?
At 29, I mean.
😯 At 29, you have nothing to worry about. 61 yrs from now is 2074. 😆
Mrs Robinson at 90 in great health and her face is flawless. Wow.
Yeah, but with creative math (a la school of Chips) I will undoubtedly get there well before 2074! Not that I am worrying as that would be the very thing to add flaws to the face (I’m told). 😉 😉
Behold a living history book.
Hiya Yardarm! Looking forward so much to seeing the film.
Me too. I lived it!
Okay article but one can’t get past the douchebaggery of Ron Fournier. 99.9% of his articles are the written equivalent of the ignorant white man who can’t get past the fact that we have a Black president for two terms.
Agree, have to always caveat a Fournier article. It had a link to his 08 AP profile..But Michael Lewis anecdotes of his B-Ball game at the FBI building, is the one I hold more credence too.
Authors of NRA report, recommending arming everybody in and near schools, have a financial interest in the training and gear accompanying those recommendations—surprise, surprise. (kinda like Jeb Bush and education reform)
Then you have local governments putting laws on the books requiring all households to own a gun/ammunition…just to make a point.
======
“Georgia town passes law requiring citizens to own guns and ammo”
—-
A Georgia town has passed a law requiring its citizens to own a gun and ammunition — a measure one councilman says is similar to putting a security sign in your front yard to deter criminals…Town leaders said they wanted to make a point about gun rights.
The law requires the head of every household to own a gun and ammo to “provide for the emergency management of the city” and “provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants.”
The law is also meant to pre-empt any future attempt by the federal government to confiscate guns, according to the council’s agenda.
—–
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/02/17567999-georgia-town-passes-law-requiring-citizens-to-own-guns-and-ammo?lite
And will that Georgia town be ready to pay the fines that are inevitably going to emerge as these gun-toting citizens start taking the law into their own hands and killing each other? They’ve forgotten how litigious this society has become. It’s all quite ridiculous – and frightening.
I agree that this is frightening. The use of “Stand Your Ground” as a defense will probably be abused…more so than it is now.
I lived in Ga and FL for 12 years, if I remember correctly Kennesaw, Ga has such a law..
True; that was also referenced in the article.
“The measure is modeled after a law adopted in 1982 by Kennesaw, another Atlanta suburb. Police there acknowledge that they haven’t tried to enforce it.”
What’s the punishment for non-compliance? Also the idea that a town ordinance will “pre-empt” a federal law is laughable. Some body should teach these imbeciles about the “Supremacy Clause” in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution:
“This Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made or which
shall be made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every sate shall
be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.”
It’s always “follow the money,” isn’t it? They never disappoint. SMDH.
If the NRA was proposing a free gun and free ammunition for every citizen (i.e. recreating the wild, wild West), then one might be able to take their dangerous ideas as being legitimate (yet deeply flawed, and still entirely worthy of rejection). There’s a profit motive behind every suggestion the NRA ever proposes.
42 is going to be a fantastic movie and Mrs. Rachel Robinson? Wow….wow….wow. She’s almost 91?!?!
You know UT, I’m tempted to demand she produce her birth cert – although, we’ve been there!
You think she can put her hand on her long form? Not that I’m ..ahem… that old, but I was trying to remember where my legal BC was recently and couldn’t. Fortunately I had other forms of ID and didn’t have to go looking.
I see some nutballs are all in a frenzy that MSNBC should not be given credit for hiring an African American, Karen Finney, because———–yep, she’s not black enough. (Who in the world is Tim Graham?— some anti-abortion obsessed religious goof is what I see) I remember this dumb argument about skin tone during Barack Obama’s early days—–was he black enough, was he white enough—–some people just cannot evolve, as they say.
Not that it matters, but I never knew that Finney was AA. I never really gave it much of a thought.
I chuckle. Once again, GOP Outreach 101 fails in the face of their blatant racism. They just can’t hide their hate of African-Americans. Yet they wonder why they aren’t getting the Black vote.
So the “soul patrol” is still active in this day and age?
I was listening to NPR yesterday morning when an article about race was on. The part I heard involved filling in the checkboxes on forms about what race you are. An AA man told his story how his kids had a different take on filling out the boxes than his generation did. He had kids from 2 marriages. His current wife had White kids while they both had a mixed child. This was a his, hers and ours scenario. He spoke of how in his generation if you had any Black blood you checked AA whereas now they check both AA and Caucasion. The story was about taking his kid to the dentist and he checked AA in the box. His kid told him later in the car that he always checked both boxes. The father went back and changed the form checking the other box too.
Another story was from a mixed Asian/White man who said he used to cry privately after having to check one box only because he felt like he was asked to choose whom he loved most, his Mother or Father. I identified with having similar thoughts when having to choose one box too. I usually ignore the directions and check both Caucasion and Native American.
In case y’all missed this one:
Wow, Maya Angelou’s mother was something else….God Bless your soul, you raised a wonderful daughter and gave humanity a wonderful gift.
Truly. And there’s always a wonderful grandmother involved, too! 🙂
It appears this movie will be on my list as a must see. Lets hear it for Mrs. Robinson at age 90!
Good Evening TODers – at least it’s evening here in Maryland. I grew up going to baseball games. I was the “son”my father never had. I saw Satchel Paige pitch one time (after he had actually retired). I read a lot about the “Negro League”. I think “42” will be a great movie. I have often compared President Obama to Jackie Robinson because of PBO’s temperament. He looks past all the negative BS and keeps his eyes on the prize.
My grandfather told me stories of the Negro Leagues…we had a team called the Philadelphia Stars…he showed me where they played …it was in a part of Fairmount Park…near Parkside Ave in West Philly…
he said it was a festive occasion…the men and women came dressed…and they had a picnic of sorts cpmplete with food and stuff…
i got my love of baseball from my grandfather…
My father was pretty old (hahaha as I thought) when I was born. He was born in 1896. So for a long time all he could to were the Negro League games. He also told me about how people dressed and brought food.
smilin…i loved hearing those stories
sabreen60, you called? 😆 😆 😆
So, a taste of the library.
We have a patron a ton of equipment so that he can spend all day watching over the air TV. Annoying, but nothing earth-shattering.
Today, just as I sat down at reference, he comes SCREAMING out of the meeting room pursuing a male and female couple, yelling that they’d taken his picture. This couple claimed that they’d seen him “tapping into the library cameras” to spy on patrons, and they’d taken his picture to report him. The male of the couple, the female informed me, “worked for the government”. I told the male, “Sir, you can’t take pictures of people without their permission.” He replied “Tell me where I can’t”. I felt like saying, “The fucking 4th Amendment, asswipe.” But by this point I’d decided this was a job for my manager, so I went and got her.
Really, the stuff that I think they told me in grad school but which I ignored because I had no intention of working with the public. It’s.All.True.
Yikes – that library you work in always seems to have something exciting happening there!
FLOTUS: Jackie and Rachel Robinson showed me how much hard work it takes to move our country forward…how much strength it took to press ahead…to not give up….
*****************
When FLOTUS said that it made me think of the B.S. POTUS and FLOTUS have to deal with. I am not comparing it to what Jackie and Rachel went through.
but i know what you mean…
I want to see that movie 42.
In many ways, Anniebella, their experiences, while not exactly the same, are comparable. I think a great deal of the ugliness directed at them has a great deal to do with the fact that the Robinsons and the Obamas shattered the my of “white superiority.” Just like Jesse Owens did at the 1936 Olympics. Adoilf Hitler was fuming!
Rachel Robinson at 91 — beautiful and still has her own teeth. I’m in awe. And so sorry her husband died young. They had to swallow so much hatred and not give so much as an iota back. I couldn’t do what they did. Not in a million years. I don’t have that kind of self-discipline. The sort of self-discipline and grace shown by our President and First Lady too.
I’m too much of a hothead and not so secure in myself. I respect the HELL out of the people who integrated the dime stores and colleges. James Meredith comes to mind. They paid a big price for their victories.
A few months ago my 80-year-old aunt who is a Big fan of the President sort of hemmed and hawed and finally apologized for not understanding what I was doing back in the sixties and seventies when I was an activist. So I have had that victory.
Thank you Chipsticks for the video and the pictures. I know I could count on you. Hay did anyone see FLOTUS on Entertainment Tonight? It was the second part of her interview, and FLOTUS said she was getting tired of the bangs, so look for them to be gone soon.
Saw her hairdresser on some show a week or so ago on some segment about The Bangs—–he hinted that more changes were coming and that the bangs may be making an exit——just as every black girl on the teevee now has The Bangs.
I saw Star Jones on tv this morning and she had bangs .
Mrs Robinson is lovely.
Jackie Robinson is a Pasadena, CA native son.
AND a UCLA alum. Go Bruins!
BOB….
you are being heard…..
RT’d it, friend 🙂
The case is totally solid and goes well beyond the parameters discussed in the fine TP summary piece.
Thank you.
Yes We Can
smilin
Me too, pf 🙂
😀 They heard you Bob!
🙂
Let’s keep the pressure on, friend!
Yes We Can
Great accomplishment Bob!
Awesome, tireless work Bob! Thank you for your dedication.
Absolutely!
just now when I read the title of the article, I was immediately thought of you and your tenacity on this issue. In fact I was just scrolling down to give you a heads up about your idea when I saw this comment . thanks for all you do – we appreciate it very much
Great Job, Bob!
Wooohoo! Music in the White House! I love these events!
Indeedddddd!!
Al Green at the White House. What is the haters going to say about this? You can count on them saying something. Ole you cancel the WH tours, but you are still having these things. Hell yes, we are. I am looking forward to it, I always enjoy it when they have these programs.
Let ’em talk. My POTUS ain’t scared of them Mofos!
Maybe the Secret Service can just arrest GW while they’re out here. I wish President Obama didn’t have to do anything with any of those Bush family members ever.
I’m very glad this movie 42 is coming out now. Our young people need to learn about the heroes of the civil rights movement. They take their freedom for granted because they have not been taught.
In my Composition class we are reading “Cry, the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton, about South Africa, just before apartheid started in 1948. In one of the chapters today the two main characters were affected by a bus boycott in Johannesburg. The company wanted to raise the fare from 4 shillings to 6 shillings and that 2 shilling raise would have eaten up what small wages the Africans made. Their boycott succeeded.
I asked my class if they knew of any event in American history like this boycott. They stared at me. SO…..I used that opening to teach them about the Montgomery bus boycott and Rosa Parks. They did recognize slightly the name Rosa Parks. This was a great opportunity for me.
In fact, I find this book to be a great opportunity for teaching. They can see problems in another country, then they relate it to us.
If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. I first read it when a senior in high school, and could never get away from it. When I needed to choose a novel for my college literature class, I chose that. The students really responded to it. Now, I’m teaching Composition and am using it. I recommend that book and also Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe who just died. They both have great relevance to us.
I just teach part time now, as I’m officially retired, but find teaching is still the most fulfilling thing I do. I think of what Jill Biden said: “Teaching is not what I do, it’s what I AM.” I have learned that is true for me also.
While not as learned as you, check out Something of Value-Robert Ruark. I’d be interested to know your thoughts on it. 🙂
President Obama will travel to Texas later this month to attend the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas
Is it tradition for sitting presidents to attend the dedication of a former president’s library ? Of course President Obama couldn’t refuse the invitation. But to be honest the whole thing makes me cringe. Because the previous administration was an incompetent and corrupted one. And I have no doubt that the contents of Bush’s presidential library will be an affront to intelligence, nuance and truth. I hate to see President Obama associated with it even in a small way.
That being said, for the record I don’t subscribe to the school of thought that says the Obama administration should have prosecuted some members of the Bush administration. It was impossible politically, AND from a cultural, sociological perspective. It would have fractured the american society even more that it already is. I wish the “emoprogs” would get it.
Furthermore, since the republican party is totally incapable of self-reflection and views the world as “us against them”, they would have sought vengeance for years. Interesting to note that John W. Dean, ex-member of the Nixon administration, has talked in one of his books about his knowledge that one important factor in the harassing of Bill Clinton, that lead to impeachment proceedings, was the desire of republicans to “get even” because they had been humiliated by Watergate and Nixon’s resignation. See ? No matter how justified the “punishment” of a republican president, republicans always want revenge. They are the party of pettiness and immaturity, of victimization and polarization. They have no real respect for democracy nor for political institutions.
They sure like to pad themselves in the back though. I don’t think I will have the stomach to watch any clips of the dedication of that library.
President Obama, I know you’ll represent the institution of the Presidency very well. But please don’t go overboard with empathy and gentleness. Sometimes I think you’re too kind and forgiving…
Al Green, Cyndi Lauper, Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah, Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Ben Harper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore, Charlie Musselwhite,and Mavis Staples will appear in the ‘In Performance at the White House’ series next Tuesday – it will be broadcast by PBS on April 16 at 8 p.m. EST.
That is going to be a barn burner. I love Sam Moore. I ran out within an hour to buy his CD after seeing this performance on the Today Show in 2010. It’s a great CD. We still blast it on all our road trips. Love this song—-they were rockin’……
Dotster, you have me dancing around the room, that is MAGNIFICENT!!!!!
We must find a way to build bridges with the constiuencies of these politicians
Thank you for this. There’s a piece that’s been roiling in my brain about the demonization of the poor. I think I’ll write it tonight.
TY….
you are a gifted writer…
we need gifted writers to tell the truth and inspire..
I made 15 calls today to the R’s on the Health Committee. I thought it was “interesting” that I only got 5 “live” answers. Out of those 5, two of the aides tried to play dumb and ask what HB2061 did. Right????? I did not play along. Two weeks ago, I made 14 calls to various legislators regarding the Governor taking federal funds for expanding Medicaid and only got one answering machine. That’s why I found it “interesting” that I got so many machines today.
hmmmmmm…i feel you on that….
but how do we reach the voters in these areaa…how do we build alliances…because they will be affected as well
FLOTUS like Mrs. Robinson in the treatment of their husbands can certainly relate.
Both gracious ladies.
I wish them Love and God’s Blessings.
Well said, and a beautiful thought about their connection!
I agree with what jacquelineoboomer said.
Some Sweet Baby James for Sweet anniebella
Thank you Dudette. Thank you thank you thank you.
You are most welcome! 😀
James Taylor and Mavis Staples ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Hey Jude’ (Kenney Honors 2010 tribute to Paul McCartney)
Good lord, already with the crappy typing! That’s: “Kennedy Center Honors 2010 tribute to Paul McCartney”
Look for two tall & fabulous people dancing and singing in the balcony next to Oprah! 🙂
thanks a lot for the heads up on this! I have watched it more than 5 times tonight – needed that kind of excellence in performance
My gosh, I’m in tears viewing the photos on this post.
Jackie Robinson had unmatched courage and dignity, just heartbreaking that he died before witnessing Hank Aaron surpassing Babe Ruth’s home run record.
My childhood HERO was Sandy Koufax, and his bio introduced me to the Negro leagues and the immortal Satchel Paige. I couldn’t believe what I read about that horrid discrimation. And Satchel Paige was the Oscar Wilde (wit) of baseball.
You don’t have to be a Dodger fan to appreciate what they did on opening day yesterday (check out today’s LA Times front page), which featured Vin Scully announcing Sandy Koufax to the mound, and celebrated the 1963 World Champion Dodgers (the first season I paid attention to baseball):
http://adage.com/article/media/check-mlb-s-opening-day-marketing-stunt/240656/
One of these days I’d love to go to Opening Day of a ball game. Sounds like it was a lot of fun. Magic Johnson is like a big kid having fun…he’s a adult who brings out the wonder and joy to everything he does. I hope the Dodgers have a wonderful and winning season.
Ok, I’ve been mulling this over, and I think I’m going to ask some of you fine folks for a great favor.
As you may or may not know, I’m working on a couple of novels. One’s finished, the other is in its gestation.
I haven’t been working too diligently on them; however, the example of the missus’ fortitude with taking control of he health has spurred me to re-start revisions on the completed work.
What I need are: READERS. I have a blog where I’ve been posting pieces from both novels, but haven’t gotten much back in the way of critique.
So, if any brave souls want to volunteer to read “The Genealogies” as I finish revising chapters, I would be forever indebted.
Like the DC meet-up, we could organize emails via Chips, if she’s not opposed. I’ll be creating a special email for this endeavor.
Sounds neat! I’m in!
Great post on the last thread, by the way!
Yay! One!
i’m in!
That’s two!
Rarely post these days, but your writing is AWESOME and I am also IN!
Thanks! Stay tuned to this space for more info.
What the heck. Count me in. I’ll try to do the best I can.
Chat away:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/04/02/chat-away-139/