Policing in the United States is a hot button issue, particularly policing in minority communities. The George Floyd case is but one of many police-involved incidents that has cast a harsh light on the disparate way law and order is… Read More ›
Racism and Bigotry
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR
Remember the line from a song in Mary Poppins (the original movie with Julie Andrews) where she sang “Just a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down?” I remember when Trump was elected saying that once he got… Read More ›
THE WILLINGNESS TO REJECT REALITY
There was an article in “The Atlantic” — A Political Obituary for Donald Trump (this article will appear in the January/February 2021 issue) — about Trump and how his lies are like radioactive dust. The distrust they have caused may… Read More ›
HERE WE ARE AGAIN AND THE WEEK IS FINALLY ENDING — AND WHAT A WEEK!
After a Zoom with Garry’s favorite pals, the former colleague group on Trump, racism, Boston’s history of racism, Trump, Trump, and Trump, we’re back to CNN. Now Biden is leading in all FOUR on the line states — AND maybe… Read More ›
WHAT’S NEXT? WHO’S NEXT?
Like most everyone I know, I’m waiting to find out the results of the election. It’s just a few days away. We all have theories about what’s going to happen, but nothing substantial. Here in Massachusetts, maybe the bluest state… Read More ›
WHITE SUPREMACISTS ARE NOT THE ONLY RACISTS
I had a major battle on Amazon about a book I said was racist. A lot of people said “No, it isn’t. The author is an avowed Boston liberal.” I’m sure he said he was and he probably believes it’s… Read More ›
WHEN WORDS FAIL – Marilyn Armstrong
I was reading a comment in the Washington Post that followed my own line of thought: Yes, the politicians are to blame — but so are we. The two trends intersect.The Republican war on science succeeded by making people distrust… Read More ›
“I AM SAMOAN!” DECLARES GARRY ARMSTRONG
I’m Samoan. You may not believe it, but a whole bevy of racists in the 1970s believed it and it has become an inside joke in local media — or at least the retired members of local media. Maybe you’ve… Read More ›
WHY WE NEED TO SAY IT – RICH PASCHALL
From The Battleground, by Rich Paschall When someone says “Black Lives Matter” (BLM), some are quick to respond “All Lives Matter” or “Blue Lives Matter” or some other variant. Of course, they are all true, but they are not the… Read More ›
NOT GETTING A NOSE JOB – Marilyn Armstrong
I don’t remember how many times my mother told me this story, or how many times I have told it to you. It bears retelling especially since racism and bigotry are the words of the month and maybe, the year…. Read More ›
WHAT WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN – RICH PASCHALL
From the battleground, by Rich Paschall With the continual unrest across the country and the prospects that in some places it will not end soon, many may be asking themselves, “How did things get to be like this? When did… Read More ›
BELLWETHERS AND BULLIES – MARILYN ARMSTRONG
When I was a girl in elementary school, probably around fifth grade, so I must have been about 8 or 9 – I started school almost a year early. It had to do with New York state’s cutoff entry dates… Read More ›
