Happy New Year Alicia! Sending love with an open heart. Quoting MLK is perfect. Also thank you for not including fake negative BIden polls. What the heck is with that?
IKR--they know that shit is bogus--it is their way of depressing voter turnabout or making people believe the populace has lost faith in Biden even though things are great. We know that historically people are happy with the incumbent if the economy is surging. Biden has worked miracles, even with a hostile GOP.
What I can't get is why. The media always suffers under a dictatorship--unless of course--someone else is pulling the MSM strings. And thus a hostile takeover begins.
I have seen a few so-called progressive shows like TYT (Cenk Ugur), Secular Talk, and others pull the ageism card as well. I swear they are working to take Dem votes away from Biden and help Trump win--it is the only reasonable conclusion, all things considered. I fear we may discover some folks we thought were firmly in our camp were not--and maybe even vice versa. Time will tell.
Happy New Year Steve and thank you so much! I want to look firmly ahead--well aware that some tomfoolery will be afoot. We can keep one another stabilized and grounded. It is gonna be a madhouse though--guarantee it.
MLK, Jr. was a truly amazing person. He was an enormously powerful force for good at a time when we desperately needed that. I have a beautiful story from one New Year's Eve a couple of years ago. I had attended a wonderful Christmas Eve service at a tiny Black church in the middle of the slum area here in Charleston, SC. The minister invited me to attend their New Year's Eve service, as well. (A New Year's Eve church service? I thought that New Year's Eve was for partying, drinking, etc.) I said I would. I was told that the service is called "Watch Night". I was very curious. When I went, the minister kindly explained to me (everyone else was Black, and already knew), that Watch Night had taken place every New Year's Eve for over 150 years, at least in small Black churches here in the South. He said that when slaves found out that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed on January 1, 1863, from then on New Year's Eve was a several hour service of celebration that "We were freed!" I was amazed! I remember at the end of the service, everyone turned to the person next to them and said, "We're FREE!!" Not sure what to say, I decided on, "I'm so glad that you're FREE!" It was a powerful and deeply moving celebration. (Alicia, have you ever celebrated Watch Night? heard about it?)
Heard of it but never attended. I have however been to Ebenezer Baptist Church which is near the historic Auburn Avenue in GA. I got goose bumps reading your account.
Please consider going to Watch Night. It was one of the most powerful things I have experienced in my long life. That would be amazing to experience it at the Ebenezer Baptist Church!
Great memory, Janet! Yes, I was 10 years old. We were visiting both sets of grandparents (mother's in Arlington, VA; father's in D.C.) As we did every summer, we went to the Smithsonian Museum. My father was so surprised because we were the only people there -- and was it ever fun for us kids to run around with no one to stop us! As we left one building to cross to another, in front of us were rows upon rows upon rows of Black people, all dressed in their Sunday best, walking probably 20 or 30 people across very quietly. My father said, "Kids! Get back into the museum NOW!!" My mother, who almost never contradicted my father said, "No. You will stand here and respect these people! They are the bravest people you will ever see in your life!" And so we did, for at least 30 minutes. I looked up shyly from time to time and there was always one person or another who smiled at me. We found out that they were walking to the Mall for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most famous speech ever, "I have a dream". What an enormous blessing that was. I will always remember it just as it happened.
I never studied U.S. history -- only the histories of all of the other parts of the world Europe (in particular British Colonialism and Russian history), Africa, Asia, and S. America. I did take one seminar on U.S. Colonialism. There were only two History Majors offered when I was in college, 1970-74, European and American -- i.e., all white people -- which I thought was ridiculous. I created my own major, "World History", which I am happy to say is now a major at UNC. The subject never came up. I wonder if it would have, had I studied U.S. history.
We, imho, represent the opposite of the magats, they represent evil and yes I am invoking the "e" word. Evil is real, evil is what tries to tear our society apart for the personal benefit of the few and "good" represents that which seeks to build a strong inclusive society to the benefit of all.
Yes I will lay claim to representing Good, we are the forces of Good, Love is our super power, we can trust, we can cooperate due to that trust. Ultimately Evil cannot trust and cooperate, all they have is hate, distrust, and lies.
Love will win but we must continue the good fight, and in the future we must remain vigilant and not allow this to happen again.
Happy New Year 🎊 Alicia. LOVED 💗 your video. And THIS:
“But above all—let us resolve to remain in the light of love.
Now, I am not talking about mealy mouth obsequience and complacency—that is not love, it is apathy dressed up in self-loathing. I am talking balls to the wall, fiery, passionate, flat-footed love. The kind that won’t back down even when the going gets tough.”
TYSM Rob, I think people think being a meek doormat is love--no--it can be upfront, truthful, fiery and still affectionate and kind. It is a balance. Without balance you risk losing yourself and when you are not true to yourself, you can't give real, abiding love.
Ms. Alicia Norman: 2024 in the Heritage of Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Bayard Rustin, Jesse Jackson, John Lewis, Elijah Cummings . . .
Our adversaries bring Jim Crow with them. Our adversaries are not new; they are not imaginative. As a 75-year-old, one can clearly see that our adversaries bring nothing new. They bring Jim Crow.
We have leadership that has the potential to change every two-years in the House; four years in the Presidency; six years in the Senate.
What remains is countervailing forces.
There are powerful forces for civil rights.
But we are not free of Jim Crow under any leadership. There is systematic racism, much is intentional, some is not, but it is systematic.. It is, truly s-y-s-t-e-m-a-t-i-c! The Navy Federal Credit Union discriminates against blacks in home loans. That is the NAVY Federal Credit Union. Racists may fight against "Critical Race Theory" -- which often the teaching is not CRT, but always the opponents do not understand CRT but fundamentally misunderstand. CRT. Well, with the police violence against blacks and the systematic discrimination in home loans.
We have civil-rights legislation -- until the Supreme Court guts the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which they have done!
Civil Rights legislation, and white delusion that "things are much better, alright now" comes crashing down with the unspeakable police (paramilitary, really) that killed Breonna Taylor.
Breonna Taylor was a first-responder. Breonna Taylor was well loved by good family and well-loved friends around her.
Breonna Taylor is always in the Soundtrack of my mind, a beautiful person who cared for health in her community.
So, no matter who is elected in 2024, we have systematic racism prevailing in social structures and the fight always must continue in the Heritage of John Lewis and Elijah Cummings -- God bless their good, their loving, Spiritual souls. John Lewis, Elijah Cummings: We miss you.
Breonna Taylor: We miss you.
As a Catholic, I hope and have faith these wonderful persons enjoy what Dante made known as the "Beatific Vision" in the presence of Our Lord.
(Born in the late '40s, I am white; started life on the wrong side of these issues in the '50s and early '60s; as a late teen, early twenties, Awakened by the Great Moral Movement of My Time: The Civil Rights Movement. The liberation brought to my soul by such moving, such loving people in the Civil Rights movement . . . well, they Converted me and they AWAKENED me. It felt GOOD to shed the racist strait-jacket. May God's Grace do the rest. But the Conversion and Awakening occurred approximately 55 years ago.)
Dammit! You made me come off my holiday political hiatus.
/rant on
Said it before and I’m saying it again. If you are a Democrat, Independent, Progressive, Moderate, or non MAGA republican (if such a thing exists), vote the Democratic ticket, all down the line. Hold your nose if you have
to but VOTE THE DAMN TICKET!!! We can sort out policy differences AFTER the election, provided Mango Mussolini and his magatroopers are sent packing. It is not hyperbole to say that this coming election is a referendum, a plebiscite of you will, on whether we continue to live in the light or descend into darkness. I for one choose the former. I’m sick and tired of every election being an existential crisis for this country. I have never, in my whole life, told anyone how to vote, but I am now. We simply cannot let this fragile, fractured, imperfect (understatement), yet inspirational, aspirational, way of governance slip away. If he has accomplished nothing else of any value (and he hasn’t in his whole miserable life) the Anger Yam has shown just how vulnerable this democracy really is. We just can’t let it slip away. It’s so much easier to lose it than it will be to reinstate it.
"She’s beautiful, she can sing, and she can write, so why isn’t Alicia Norman working in Hollywood? 😊😁"
Janet, I have often believed I am too damned cantankerous to make it in tinsel town. I'd be embroiled in some kind of scandal for saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. LOL!
Envy! I love me some Bono. His heart is pure although people often accuse him of grandstanding. I am sure it looks that way to the anti-woke folks--they don't know what an empathic heart looks like.
U2 have been around quite awhile, but if you saw them when you were young, then girl - You’re STILL young! 😉 Envious btw. Had a chance to see ‘em in Seattle maybe a dozen-ish years ago but daughter got the flu 3 days prior so sold tickets. Then wanted to see their Vegas show in that new 6 billion dollar Sphere but the ticket prices? Yikes 😱
Dayum! So, two missed opportunities! They are still touring though, right? There were so many bands in the 90s I would have given an eye tooth to see live. As it stands, I was able to stomp around music venues like The Masquerade and The Tabernacle and see big named local and regional acts, so that was fun. As an aside, Prince came to town before he died. He did a small concert for a handful of folks--maybe 400, close seating--a once good bud of mine, music producer got to meet and see him. I think he died 2 or 3 days after the Atlanta show. I was bummed because I so wanted to meet him. I've loved Prince since forever.
Best of Prince CD gets spun at my place frequently. That was tragic. The painkillers he was on were bad enough, but he apparently also had horrible stage fright. So he’d take other stuff to still his nerves. Sad 😞
No complaints on concerts though. I’ve seen 90% of what I really wanted to see.
Love 💕 Tiny Desk! You get stuff acoustic and stripped down. Just about everyone ends up there. I’m not a Swiftie, but caught her Tiny Desk recently and enjoyed!
I love ‘em all but have always been a huge fan of The Edge. Think he may be most credited with their unique “sound” which is like no other band out there. Drummer is Larry Mullen Jr - a co-founder & there from the get-go. He’s great, and Bono? What can ya say about not only his one of a kind voice, but his humanitarian work around the globe - in particular on AIDS in Africa which he began with Dubya Bush so long ago.
Yea, you caught them early on. Bono is 63 so roughly the same age as you are. As the great Willie Nelson (who recently turned 90) might say: “Ain’t it funny how time slips away?” 😔
Happy New Year Alicia! Sending love with an open heart. Quoting MLK is perfect. Also thank you for not including fake negative BIden polls. What the heck is with that?
IKR--they know that shit is bogus--it is their way of depressing voter turnabout or making people believe the populace has lost faith in Biden even though things are great. We know that historically people are happy with the incumbent if the economy is surging. Biden has worked miracles, even with a hostile GOP.
Thank you! I refuse to even acknowledge those fake polls.
What I can't get is why. The media always suffers under a dictatorship--unless of course--someone else is pulling the MSM strings. And thus a hostile takeover begins.
And we even have smart people like Robert Reich repeating these fake polls. SMH💔
Happy new year Janet!🥂💙
That is what I don't get either. They know these polls have questionable data pools so why use them?
They think they're keeping people on their toes but they're just discouraging people. SMH
I have seen a few so-called progressive shows like TYT (Cenk Ugur), Secular Talk, and others pull the ageism card as well. I swear they are working to take Dem votes away from Biden and help Trump win--it is the only reasonable conclusion, all things considered. I fear we may discover some folks we thought were firmly in our camp were not--and maybe even vice versa. Time will tell.
Seriously Janet, I call him out every time too. He does so many great pieces but then he'll pull crap like that. Grrr.
Really good job on your love video!!
I appreciate you so much Patty, thank you :-)
Inspirational words and great motivation for an involved, caring, dedicated 2024. Happy new year, Alicia!
Happy New Year Steve and thank you so much! I want to look firmly ahead--well aware that some tomfoolery will be afoot. We can keep one another stabilized and grounded. It is gonna be a madhouse though--guarantee it.
MLK, Jr. was a truly amazing person. He was an enormously powerful force for good at a time when we desperately needed that. I have a beautiful story from one New Year's Eve a couple of years ago. I had attended a wonderful Christmas Eve service at a tiny Black church in the middle of the slum area here in Charleston, SC. The minister invited me to attend their New Year's Eve service, as well. (A New Year's Eve church service? I thought that New Year's Eve was for partying, drinking, etc.) I said I would. I was told that the service is called "Watch Night". I was very curious. When I went, the minister kindly explained to me (everyone else was Black, and already knew), that Watch Night had taken place every New Year's Eve for over 150 years, at least in small Black churches here in the South. He said that when slaves found out that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed on January 1, 1863, from then on New Year's Eve was a several hour service of celebration that "We were freed!" I was amazed! I remember at the end of the service, everyone turned to the person next to them and said, "We're FREE!!" Not sure what to say, I decided on, "I'm so glad that you're FREE!" It was a powerful and deeply moving celebration. (Alicia, have you ever celebrated Watch Night? heard about it?)
Heard of it but never attended. I have however been to Ebenezer Baptist Church which is near the historic Auburn Avenue in GA. I got goose bumps reading your account.
Please consider going to Watch Night. It was one of the most powerful things I have experienced in my long life. That would be amazing to experience it at the Ebenezer Baptist Church!
Great memory, Janet! Yes, I was 10 years old. We were visiting both sets of grandparents (mother's in Arlington, VA; father's in D.C.) As we did every summer, we went to the Smithsonian Museum. My father was so surprised because we were the only people there -- and was it ever fun for us kids to run around with no one to stop us! As we left one building to cross to another, in front of us were rows upon rows upon rows of Black people, all dressed in their Sunday best, walking probably 20 or 30 people across very quietly. My father said, "Kids! Get back into the museum NOW!!" My mother, who almost never contradicted my father said, "No. You will stand here and respect these people! They are the bravest people you will ever see in your life!" And so we did, for at least 30 minutes. I looked up shyly from time to time and there was always one person or another who smiled at me. We found out that they were walking to the Mall for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most famous speech ever, "I have a dream". What an enormous blessing that was. I will always remember it just as it happened.
Question --when you went to college were you able to recount this story when the topics came up in classes and such? Just curious.
I never studied U.S. history -- only the histories of all of the other parts of the world Europe (in particular British Colonialism and Russian history), Africa, Asia, and S. America. I did take one seminar on U.S. Colonialism. There were only two History Majors offered when I was in college, 1970-74, European and American -- i.e., all white people -- which I thought was ridiculous. I created my own major, "World History", which I am happy to say is now a major at UNC. The subject never came up. I wonder if it would have, had I studied U.S. history.
Wow, I can see what that is etched in your memory. So very cool!
Etched in my heart, as well.
Oh my heart KDSherpa. I'm speechless.💙
We, imho, represent the opposite of the magats, they represent evil and yes I am invoking the "e" word. Evil is real, evil is what tries to tear our society apart for the personal benefit of the few and "good" represents that which seeks to build a strong inclusive society to the benefit of all.
Yes I will lay claim to representing Good, we are the forces of Good, Love is our super power, we can trust, we can cooperate due to that trust. Ultimately Evil cannot trust and cooperate, all they have is hate, distrust, and lies.
Love will win but we must continue the good fight, and in the future we must remain vigilant and not allow this to happen again.
Happy New Year 🎊 Alicia. LOVED 💗 your video. And THIS:
“But above all—let us resolve to remain in the light of love.
Now, I am not talking about mealy mouth obsequience and complacency—that is not love, it is apathy dressed up in self-loathing. I am talking balls to the wall, fiery, passionate, flat-footed love. The kind that won’t back down even when the going gets tough.”
TYSM Rob, I think people think being a meek doormat is love--no--it can be upfront, truthful, fiery and still affectionate and kind. It is a balance. Without balance you risk losing yourself and when you are not true to yourself, you can't give real, abiding love.
Ms. Alicia Norman: 2024 in the Heritage of Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Bayard Rustin, Jesse Jackson, John Lewis, Elijah Cummings . . .
Our adversaries bring Jim Crow with them. Our adversaries are not new; they are not imaginative. As a 75-year-old, one can clearly see that our adversaries bring nothing new. They bring Jim Crow.
We have leadership that has the potential to change every two-years in the House; four years in the Presidency; six years in the Senate.
What remains is countervailing forces.
There are powerful forces for civil rights.
But we are not free of Jim Crow under any leadership. There is systematic racism, much is intentional, some is not, but it is systematic.. It is, truly s-y-s-t-e-m-a-t-i-c! The Navy Federal Credit Union discriminates against blacks in home loans. That is the NAVY Federal Credit Union. Racists may fight against "Critical Race Theory" -- which often the teaching is not CRT, but always the opponents do not understand CRT but fundamentally misunderstand. CRT. Well, with the police violence against blacks and the systematic discrimination in home loans.
We have civil-rights legislation -- until the Supreme Court guts the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which they have done!
Civil Rights legislation, and white delusion that "things are much better, alright now" comes crashing down with the unspeakable police (paramilitary, really) that killed Breonna Taylor.
Breonna Taylor was a first-responder. Breonna Taylor was well loved by good family and well-loved friends around her.
Breonna Taylor is always in the Soundtrack of my mind, a beautiful person who cared for health in her community.
So, no matter who is elected in 2024, we have systematic racism prevailing in social structures and the fight always must continue in the Heritage of John Lewis and Elijah Cummings -- God bless their good, their loving, Spiritual souls. John Lewis, Elijah Cummings: We miss you.
Breonna Taylor: We miss you.
As a Catholic, I hope and have faith these wonderful persons enjoy what Dante made known as the "Beatific Vision" in the presence of Our Lord.
(Born in the late '40s, I am white; started life on the wrong side of these issues in the '50s and early '60s; as a late teen, early twenties, Awakened by the Great Moral Movement of My Time: The Civil Rights Movement. The liberation brought to my soul by such moving, such loving people in the Civil Rights movement . . . well, they Converted me and they AWAKENED me. It felt GOOD to shed the racist strait-jacket. May God's Grace do the rest. But the Conversion and Awakening occurred approximately 55 years ago.)
Dammit! You made me come off my holiday political hiatus.
/rant on
Said it before and I’m saying it again. If you are a Democrat, Independent, Progressive, Moderate, or non MAGA republican (if such a thing exists), vote the Democratic ticket, all down the line. Hold your nose if you have
to but VOTE THE DAMN TICKET!!! We can sort out policy differences AFTER the election, provided Mango Mussolini and his magatroopers are sent packing. It is not hyperbole to say that this coming election is a referendum, a plebiscite of you will, on whether we continue to live in the light or descend into darkness. I for one choose the former. I’m sick and tired of every election being an existential crisis for this country. I have never, in my whole life, told anyone how to vote, but I am now. We simply cannot let this fragile, fractured, imperfect (understatement), yet inspirational, aspirational, way of governance slip away. If he has accomplished nothing else of any value (and he hasn’t in his whole miserable life) the Anger Yam has shown just how vulnerable this democracy really is. We just can’t let it slip away. It’s so much easier to lose it than it will be to reinstate it.
/rant off
"She’s beautiful, she can sing, and she can write, so why isn’t Alicia Norman working in Hollywood? 😊😁"
Janet, I have often believed I am too damned cantankerous to make it in tinsel town. I'd be embroiled in some kind of scandal for saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. LOL!
Envy! I love me some Bono. His heart is pure although people often accuse him of grandstanding. I am sure it looks that way to the anti-woke folks--they don't know what an empathic heart looks like.
U2 have been around quite awhile, but if you saw them when you were young, then girl - You’re STILL young! 😉 Envious btw. Had a chance to see ‘em in Seattle maybe a dozen-ish years ago but daughter got the flu 3 days prior so sold tickets. Then wanted to see their Vegas show in that new 6 billion dollar Sphere but the ticket prices? Yikes 😱
https://youtu.be/oxo-loXdcH0?si=neSZk2-cAqGN_dqS
Dayum! So, two missed opportunities! They are still touring though, right? There were so many bands in the 90s I would have given an eye tooth to see live. As it stands, I was able to stomp around music venues like The Masquerade and The Tabernacle and see big named local and regional acts, so that was fun. As an aside, Prince came to town before he died. He did a small concert for a handful of folks--maybe 400, close seating--a once good bud of mine, music producer got to meet and see him. I think he died 2 or 3 days after the Atlanta show. I was bummed because I so wanted to meet him. I've loved Prince since forever.
Best of Prince CD gets spun at my place frequently. That was tragic. The painkillers he was on were bad enough, but he apparently also had horrible stage fright. So he’d take other stuff to still his nerves. Sad 😞
No complaints on concerts though. I’ve seen 90% of what I really wanted to see.
Love 💕 Tiny Desk! You get stuff acoustic and stripped down. Just about everyone ends up there. I’m not a Swiftie, but caught her Tiny Desk recently and enjoyed!
https://youtu.be/FvVnP8G6ITs?si=ciH0ill0-KyimjkO
I love ‘em all but have always been a huge fan of The Edge. Think he may be most credited with their unique “sound” which is like no other band out there. Drummer is Larry Mullen Jr - a co-founder & there from the get-go. He’s great, and Bono? What can ya say about not only his one of a kind voice, but his humanitarian work around the globe - in particular on AIDS in Africa which he began with Dubya Bush so long ago.
Yea, you caught them early on. Bono is 63 so roughly the same age as you are. As the great Willie Nelson (who recently turned 90) might say: “Ain’t it funny how time slips away?” 😔