God did not free black American slaves from their southern bondage. Instigated by abolitionists, that task fell to the Grand Army of the Republic. Continue reading Decoration Day 2024
Category Archives: Observed
Killing Snakes
Have I been strident about what occurred in Israel on October 7th, 2023? Hell yeah! My stridency equals, no, surpasses those on the wrong side of the issue.
Have I been dismissive about what torments Gazans are enduring over the months since? Indeed, I have.
Have I lost social media correspondents with my backing of Israel’s justifiably ruthless extermination of Hamas terrorists? Yes. Continue reading Killing Snakes
Presentable People
On this everyone can agree – O.J. Simpson really messed up.
No. Not that he killed his ex-wife Nicole and her boyfriend Ron Goldman in 1994. The college and professional football legend had nothing to do with their demises. Rather, O.J. tempted fate and got severely scorched by it when he crossed the Mojave Desert into Nevada in order to retrieve memorabilia he believed still his. Continue reading Presentable People
Uprooted
This February, The New York Times published two of the more discouraging articles that’ll likely be printed in 2024.
Each dealt with working people. These days, there isn’t enough reportage regarding hourly workers. Those news holes must be crowding space breathlessly tracing the trajectories of celebrities, ideologues, and ephemeral topics. Continue reading Uprooted
Where the Skies Are Cloudy All Day
Leave it to Americans to give our Saturnalia a wholesome name. Thanksgiving. Continue reading Where the Skies Are Cloudy All Day
Unentitled
Who else finds all this “reparations” chatter amusing? Or dismaying? Continue reading Unentitled
Decoration Day 2023
Americans have done a great disservice to the valorous who fought and sacrificed for the Union cause during the Civil War. By renaming it Memorial Day then amalgamating all who’ve fallen in each of our nation’s armed conflicts, Decoration Day, consecrated and commemorated on May 30th, has been robbed of its purpose.
Like Armistice Day. November 11th signifies the emergence of the United States as the 20th century’s preeminent global power. The true start of the American Century.
A date upon which Henry Luce and Walter Lippmann might’ve seamlessly agreed. Continue reading Decoration Day 2023
Moxie
As I’ve written before and will remind in the future, Las Vegas is a metropolis churning with transients. Unlike elsewhere few people are from here. Roots are so shallow hydroponic growths probably have greater depths than the majority of human flesh and emotions calling Las Vegas “home.”
Home. What a loaded word. Continue reading Moxie
Shading America
Without a doubt the 28 days of February 2023 delivered a most dispiriting observance of black American presence and heritage. Since its inception as Black History Week in 1926 which then became Black History Month 50 years later, the celebrations and reminiscences fueling this recognition of the most loyal Americans served as a noble reminder of black struggles and national contributions. Continue reading Shading America
Stray Cavalcade
Other than oasis stops on some caravan route, maybe, where else does so much diverse as well as damaged humanity cross except Las Vegas?
There are bigger, better, brighter, more dynamic cities upon our globe. Yet in them the cast of characters, residents and visitors, rarely change as often nor as rapidly or as abruptly as in the Big Mayberry. Continue reading Stray Cavalcade