Your commentary, like many, has hit the nail on the head. I like your comment, "be a joyful warrior." It might be a little hard, but it can be done. Resist peacefully as long as you can.
I recently read a story about how food banks are struggling to keep the shelves stocked as they try to meet increasing need. I may not be able to do much physically anymore but I'm going to help out community, even in a small way, by increasing my contribution to the Greater Chicagoland Food Depository.
Those 2 guys who were drinking their coffee were taken away by ICE and their cousin can’t find them. An MSNBC reporter interviewed the cousin and uploaded it to Substack!
I see a contradiction here. You say we should be "terrified" and then say we shouldn't let ourselves get so terrified we don't act. But people I know are there already — terrified, paralyzed and told constantly to BE terrified — leading to more paralysis. I see it among lots of people I know (miraculously, not among the amazing women who have organized all our demonstrations this year and are currently working on the No Kings rally for October 18). They have given up. They are being told it's hopeless. And here in Ohio it probably is. Back home in Chicago, I'm not so sure.
Personally, I find myself less terrified — an emotion I don't find useful — than just fucking pissed. I'm thinking about us as kids, hanging out on the corner of 74th and South Shore Drive, overlooking the lake, across the street from the building where our favorite teacher lived (7370 South Shore Drive) and next to the building where Mavis Staples lived (7337 South Shore Drive) and trying to imagine military helicopters landing on an apartment building in the next fucking block. I'm thinking about those kids traumatized for life. I'm trying not think bad thoughts about what I'd like to see happen to certain people in power, although I've been telling people I'd like to sentence Donald Trump to never be served anything but fresh vegetables ever again. In McDonald's boxes to heighten the disappointment. "Sir, here's your daily ration of cauliflower."
Elderly fanboy of your lifetime of work here. Thank you for so many memories of great shows, whether I attended or read about later in PeeDee & Scene. Helped me be cool during my Old Brooklyn years. Long gone from CLE now but wow did your name jump out of these Comments. This feels like getting to tell a former teacher how much I appreciated their work 😊
Sure agree with your take on terrified - let's say, I feel a wave of fear and summon up some punk sense of anger with a Clash sound track or Dylan protest song. Time to rock and roll
Former elementary teacher here, suggesting you and other locals could actually do a lot just by standing on the corners near the school where the students who walk there or even those who are walked there by their parents who hope the presence of an adult will help keep their students both safe to and from school, and therefore help them start their important school day not terrified but happy to see community support, from people they may not know, but who wave and smile, say "have a great day" and over time may even learn their name and tell them you like the new coat or whatever. 15 minutes in AM while kids are heading to school, or 15 minutes in PM after dismissal time when students are missing the safe comfort of their school and room and teacher.
I think a way of showing solidarity is for everyone going outdoors in Chicago to wear a Cubs cap and a surgical mask. Like the rouse done in a spy thriller, you can’t profile someone when you can’t see their face. If EVERYONE in Chicago does this, it will not only be a sign of solidarity, it will confound ICE. Make their tactic our tactic. They will wilt in the face of solidarity.
Pritzker, or someone else high up in the political chain, needs to get this message out.
What I do not like is people assuming that all undocumented are Hispanic and implying that Hispanics are illegal. My son in law who is hispanic can trace his ancestry all the way back to the native Americans who occupied California before the Spanish took it over. Also there is a huge Asian population in this country some of whom are undocumented. We have to stop thinking it is a problem just for certain people, it is a problem for all of us.
This stuff is beyond heartbreaking to see our country disintegrating right in front of us, all because of one convicted felon..... He needs to be removed and jailed for crimes against humanity and domestic terrorism... he and his goons are the enemies within!
In addition to being a horrendous show of how little this Administration cares about our Constitution, our rule of law, and our people, it is a mind-boggling waste of f*cking money, to use our National Guard, to hunt down.......school children?! WTF! I hope somebody is keeping a ledger, so we can prove the financial damage this Administration has wreaked upon our nation, and I hope every MAGA asshole in office has to pay out the nose for their support and silent complicity in this disaster.
For now, we will march in huge numbers on October 18, and I hope all Americans who detest what Trump and his minions have done and are continuing to do will join us, including normal conservatives and non-MAGA Republicans, and former MAGAs who have awakened to the incessant lies and deception. We are ALL Americans, and Americans want NO KINGS!
Cynthia - Mike says, "we’ve got to walk and chew gum" - one Chiclet in the box is definitely to hammer on the waste, fraud, and abuse of this unnecessary use of military resources, who lack actual police powers to arrest for theft, drugs, speeding etc. - the crimes that plague every metro area. So it's a fraud that cities become safer, and civil rights are abused as well as budgets. Enormous waste of our taxes while Republicans keep the government shut down.
Trump's promise was to save gov't money by cutting corruption, fraud and econ. abuse. Instead he's spending scads of money on nonsensical stuff - like cementing over the rose garden, paying secret service personaell to watch him play golf, his birthday parade, etc etc, and now htese pointless ICE capades. If MAGA could catch on to this reversal of his promises, maybe that would wake them up.
First fact to recognize is that the president of the United States is a psychopath!! Second fact is he must be impeached under the Constitutional laws that apply, and they are valid. Third fact is that somehow we must get more Republican congressional representatives to get their heads out of their behinds and become heroes instead of cowards. Fourth fact is that there must be millions of people protesting against this psychopath every day until their actions have consequences!
I've been writing this in my head for a while, as I've always written, and now I'm putting it here. Mike offers great info on this site, both written and video, and he doesn't require anyone to subscribe in order to see the WHOLE thing. I recently did subscribe because I was watching/reading his stuff every day. This decision was a big deal for me because I am retired...I'm old!..and even if you've saved as much as you can, it's not an equivalent intake. That's not a complaint; it's just fact. I would like to encourage others to do the same if they can, whether it's month to month, or for a longer period. Most of the other sites let you read or watch only up to a point, not all the way to the end; maybe that's their only income and they have no choice. It's not for me to say or judge. I needed to respond to Mike's generosity, so I went ahead and took the plunge. When my subscription runs out, I hope I'll be able to continue it. For now, I'm enjoying his work and his guests! I hope others will agree with me.
Here in Texas, my mom just told me that the Hispanic man who came to work on a project for her brought his teenage daughters with him. First time that has happened. I bet they pulled them out of school now. I don’t blame them but those girls are the ones who will be left behind academically and I’m sure their parents had such high hopes for them when they came to this country.
Given that Trump operates by trying to inspire fear, I don’t think “should terrify” is a productive message.
Let’s not do his work for him.
Suggest other words: should [outrage/anger/disgust/motivate/alarm/spur/cause/energize/offend/enrage/infuriate] every American [optional: to take [peaceful] action].
Your commentary, like many, has hit the nail on the head. I like your comment, "be a joyful warrior." It might be a little hard, but it can be done. Resist peacefully as long as you can.
Are you encouraging communism?
I recently read a story about how food banks are struggling to keep the shelves stocked as they try to meet increasing need. I may not be able to do much physically anymore but I'm going to help out community, even in a small way, by increasing my contribution to the Greater Chicagoland Food Depository.
I heard a story about food banks that serve hispanic communities over burdened with stuff because people are afraid to leave their house
A friend of mine is organizing a pickup and dropoff to families
Brilliant! I love that plan.
Those 2 guys who were drinking their coffee were taken away by ICE and their cousin can’t find them. An MSNBC reporter interviewed the cousin and uploaded it to Substack!
Jesus really? Video I saw they got away no?
Jeezus!
I'm guessing they didn't have a warrant.
No of course not. Just assaulted them on the street getting a morning coffee.
They never do, just hatred and violence in great abundance.
I see a contradiction here. You say we should be "terrified" and then say we shouldn't let ourselves get so terrified we don't act. But people I know are there already — terrified, paralyzed and told constantly to BE terrified — leading to more paralysis. I see it among lots of people I know (miraculously, not among the amazing women who have organized all our demonstrations this year and are currently working on the No Kings rally for October 18). They have given up. They are being told it's hopeless. And here in Ohio it probably is. Back home in Chicago, I'm not so sure.
Personally, I find myself less terrified — an emotion I don't find useful — than just fucking pissed. I'm thinking about us as kids, hanging out on the corner of 74th and South Shore Drive, overlooking the lake, across the street from the building where our favorite teacher lived (7370 South Shore Drive) and next to the building where Mavis Staples lived (7337 South Shore Drive) and trying to imagine military helicopters landing on an apartment building in the next fucking block. I'm thinking about those kids traumatized for life. I'm trying not think bad thoughts about what I'd like to see happen to certain people in power, although I've been telling people I'd like to sentence Donald Trump to never be served anything but fresh vegetables ever again. In McDonald's boxes to heighten the disappointment. "Sir, here's your daily ration of cauliflower."
Elderly fanboy of your lifetime of work here. Thank you for so many memories of great shows, whether I attended or read about later in PeeDee & Scene. Helped me be cool during my Old Brooklyn years. Long gone from CLE now but wow did your name jump out of these Comments. This feels like getting to tell a former teacher how much I appreciated their work 😊
Sure agree with your take on terrified - let's say, I feel a wave of fear and summon up some punk sense of anger with a Clash sound track or Dylan protest song. Time to rock and roll
Former elementary teacher here, suggesting you and other locals could actually do a lot just by standing on the corners near the school where the students who walk there or even those who are walked there by their parents who hope the presence of an adult will help keep their students both safe to and from school, and therefore help them start their important school day not terrified but happy to see community support, from people they may not know, but who wave and smile, say "have a great day" and over time may even learn their name and tell them you like the new coat or whatever. 15 minutes in AM while kids are heading to school, or 15 minutes in PM after dismissal time when students are missing the safe comfort of their school and room and teacher.
A city full of crossing guards! 💖
I think a way of showing solidarity is for everyone going outdoors in Chicago to wear a Cubs cap and a surgical mask. Like the rouse done in a spy thriller, you can’t profile someone when you can’t see their face. If EVERYONE in Chicago does this, it will not only be a sign of solidarity, it will confound ICE. Make their tactic our tactic. They will wilt in the face of solidarity.
Pritzker, or someone else high up in the political chain, needs to get this message out.
Arnold - sort of an "I am Spartacus" moment? That's been an inspiration of solidarity to me since seeing it as a kid in '61 or '62
What I do not like is people assuming that all undocumented are Hispanic and implying that Hispanics are illegal. My son in law who is hispanic can trace his ancestry all the way back to the native Americans who occupied California before the Spanish took it over. Also there is a huge Asian population in this country some of whom are undocumented. We have to stop thinking it is a problem just for certain people, it is a problem for all of us.
This stuff is beyond heartbreaking to see our country disintegrating right in front of us, all because of one convicted felon..... He needs to be removed and jailed for crimes against humanity and domestic terrorism... he and his goons are the enemies within!
Add adjudicated rapist! He never should have been able to run in the first place!
In addition to being a horrendous show of how little this Administration cares about our Constitution, our rule of law, and our people, it is a mind-boggling waste of f*cking money, to use our National Guard, to hunt down.......school children?! WTF! I hope somebody is keeping a ledger, so we can prove the financial damage this Administration has wreaked upon our nation, and I hope every MAGA asshole in office has to pay out the nose for their support and silent complicity in this disaster.
For now, we will march in huge numbers on October 18, and I hope all Americans who detest what Trump and his minions have done and are continuing to do will join us, including normal conservatives and non-MAGA Republicans, and former MAGAs who have awakened to the incessant lies and deception. We are ALL Americans, and Americans want NO KINGS!
Cynthia - Mike says, "we’ve got to walk and chew gum" - one Chiclet in the box is definitely to hammer on the waste, fraud, and abuse of this unnecessary use of military resources, who lack actual police powers to arrest for theft, drugs, speeding etc. - the crimes that plague every metro area. So it's a fraud that cities become safer, and civil rights are abused as well as budgets. Enormous waste of our taxes while Republicans keep the government shut down.
Oh, and P.S. - Epstein Epstein Epstein
Trump's promise was to save gov't money by cutting corruption, fraud and econ. abuse. Instead he's spending scads of money on nonsensical stuff - like cementing over the rose garden, paying secret service personaell to watch him play golf, his birthday parade, etc etc, and now htese pointless ICE capades. If MAGA could catch on to this reversal of his promises, maybe that would wake them up.
Is it legal for the governors to call out their state national guards to protect their citizens/residents from ICE?
First fact to recognize is that the president of the United States is a psychopath!! Second fact is he must be impeached under the Constitutional laws that apply, and they are valid. Third fact is that somehow we must get more Republican congressional representatives to get their heads out of their behinds and become heroes instead of cowards. Fourth fact is that there must be millions of people protesting against this psychopath every day until their actions have consequences!
I've been writing this in my head for a while, as I've always written, and now I'm putting it here. Mike offers great info on this site, both written and video, and he doesn't require anyone to subscribe in order to see the WHOLE thing. I recently did subscribe because I was watching/reading his stuff every day. This decision was a big deal for me because I am retired...I'm old!..and even if you've saved as much as you can, it's not an equivalent intake. That's not a complaint; it's just fact. I would like to encourage others to do the same if they can, whether it's month to month, or for a longer period. Most of the other sites let you read or watch only up to a point, not all the way to the end; maybe that's their only income and they have no choice. It's not for me to say or judge. I needed to respond to Mike's generosity, so I went ahead and took the plunge. When my subscription runs out, I hope I'll be able to continue it. For now, I'm enjoying his work and his guests! I hope others will agree with me.
You said it all. Thank u Mike!
All this horror happening as he blatantly seeks the Nobel Peace Prize.
He deserves The Piece of Shit Award !
Here in Texas, my mom just told me that the Hispanic man who came to work on a project for her brought his teenage daughters with him. First time that has happened. I bet they pulled them out of school now. I don’t blame them but those girls are the ones who will be left behind academically and I’m sure their parents had such high hopes for them when they came to this country.
Given that Trump operates by trying to inspire fear, I don’t think “should terrify” is a productive message.
Let’s not do his work for him.
Suggest other words: should [outrage/anger/disgust/motivate/alarm/spur/cause/energize/offend/enrage/infuriate] every American [optional: to take [peaceful] action].