The shy protester wants to take part but doesn't know how to belong or how to even start. So, she seethes privately building a rancor with no release but to turn to a community that can't be hers. The action group she founded, part of the social media overload, was unable to threshold her to "viral" heights, which wasn't surprising given her unimpressive collection of "friends". Her disappointment that her grandiose fantasies would not be achieved was mild. Still, curious how it's done, this business of activism, she faces down the phone. Not her friend, never her friend. She lends her voice to the collective outrage of the moment. A simple task really, calling the congressional folks. The phone numbers provided by an action group that was successful, unlike hers. The shy protester prepares a script to make the odious task bearable. The area code (202) Washington D.C., connecting, no doubt, to some cubicle inside the Capitol Building. A stranger with no eye contact, no gesture, no smile that could be beguiling, nor furrowed brow, no speck of lint on the no collar, nor fingernails bitten to the quik. No real human connection save for a voice that could even be a recording.
"Hello, Congressman Issa's office, how may I help you?" The shy protester blanked. The script, where was the fucking script?
Friday, February 24, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
Apocollapse - A Rap by DJ TazzieDog
Do fish in the deep, sleep?
Pectorals are stilled, no vibrational trill
Gills slowed to just a flutter
Hiding under shadows, undulating time
But this divine essence must return
To the human presence
Can't escape it, the egocentric
Let's face it, we live for the mirror,
Our preening interior struts
Rebuffs what we deem inferior
Our self-congratulation, adulation
Center of the universe excitation
Sadly dismisses those we share space with
Their place is based on our needs
What feeds our unrelenting appetite
Despite the signs that our mighty might
Antics, our pedantic insistence
That our resistance to "less is more"
Our unrelenting hoarding
Primordial rewarding for a species
Overstaying its welcome
Now playing the survival game
Has no one to blame but ourselves, a stain of shame
Contains our realization
That our end game is the end of
Civilization, as we know it
And the fish in the deep, asleep, not a peep
They're divine, they're sublime
Given time, they'll be just fine.
Pectorals are stilled, no vibrational trill
Gills slowed to just a flutter
Hiding under shadows, undulating time
But this divine essence must return
To the human presence
Can't escape it, the egocentric
Let's face it, we live for the mirror,
Our preening interior struts
Rebuffs what we deem inferior
Our self-congratulation, adulation
Center of the universe excitation
Sadly dismisses those we share space with
Their place is based on our needs
What feeds our unrelenting appetite
Despite the signs that our mighty might
Antics, our pedantic insistence
That our resistance to "less is more"
Our unrelenting hoarding
Primordial rewarding for a species
Overstaying its welcome
Now playing the survival game
Has no one to blame but ourselves, a stain of shame
Contains our realization
That our end game is the end of
Civilization, as we know it
And the fish in the deep, asleep, not a peep
They're divine, they're sublime
Given time, they'll be just fine.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Black History Month
Dear Mr. Trump,
February marks Black History Month and even though you spent much of your presidential campaign fanning the flames of white supremacy and have a rather checkered past regarding race relations, having been sued by the Feds in 1976 for racial discrimination and bias regarding Trump Management's rental practices, still, you photo op'd your way through a kumbaya roundtable breakfast with a dozen or so African-Americans and your trusty Ben Carson by your side talking about the depth and breadth of contribution to America by noteworthy African-Americans. Your disingenuous suck-up was a hot mess from the get go.
"Well, the election, it came out really well. Next time we'll triple the number or quadruple it. We want to get it over 51, right? At least 51", were your opening remarks. I'm assuming you came up with this opener yourself because if you didn't you should immediately fire your speechwriter. It's unclear what the 51 was referring to but I'm sure you had something in mind. On you blundered:
"Well this is Black History Month, so this is our little breakfast, our little get-together...During this month, we honor the tremendous history of African-Americans throughout our country. Throughout the world, if you really think about it, right: And their story is one of unimaginable sacrifice, hard work, and faith in America. I've gotten a real glimpse--during the campaign, I'd go around with Ben to a lot of different places I wasn't so familiar with. They're incredible people." Just stop right here Mr Trump. "They" are the people you are now addressing during breakfast. At this point you also spoke about Ben Carson, your unqualified HUD cabinet guy and the big job he shoulders dealing with not just housing but with the mind and spirit. Hmmm, sounds like yoga is now part of HUD.
"I am very proud now that we have a museum on the National Mall where people can learn about Reverend King, so many other things...Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who has done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed. Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and millions more black Americans who made America what it is today. Big impact."
In case you forgot the museum's name, which I'm fairly certain you did, it's the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the one you were supposed to attend on Martin Luther King Day but backed out due to a petty twitter feud you started with black icon, activist, hero, still-alive Congressman John Lewis. As for your mention of Frederick Douglass, it was apparent that you knew nothing about him and probably didn't realize that he did his "amazing job" back in the 1800's. But, I am grateful that you brought his name up because it gave me cause to read more about the great abolitionist and suffragist. I suggest you join me in familiarizing yourself with this great orator and thinker.
"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."
Frederick Douglass
February marks Black History Month and even though you spent much of your presidential campaign fanning the flames of white supremacy and have a rather checkered past regarding race relations, having been sued by the Feds in 1976 for racial discrimination and bias regarding Trump Management's rental practices, still, you photo op'd your way through a kumbaya roundtable breakfast with a dozen or so African-Americans and your trusty Ben Carson by your side talking about the depth and breadth of contribution to America by noteworthy African-Americans. Your disingenuous suck-up was a hot mess from the get go.
"Well, the election, it came out really well. Next time we'll triple the number or quadruple it. We want to get it over 51, right? At least 51", were your opening remarks. I'm assuming you came up with this opener yourself because if you didn't you should immediately fire your speechwriter. It's unclear what the 51 was referring to but I'm sure you had something in mind. On you blundered:
"Well this is Black History Month, so this is our little breakfast, our little get-together...During this month, we honor the tremendous history of African-Americans throughout our country. Throughout the world, if you really think about it, right: And their story is one of unimaginable sacrifice, hard work, and faith in America. I've gotten a real glimpse--during the campaign, I'd go around with Ben to a lot of different places I wasn't so familiar with. They're incredible people." Just stop right here Mr Trump. "They" are the people you are now addressing during breakfast. At this point you also spoke about Ben Carson, your unqualified HUD cabinet guy and the big job he shoulders dealing with not just housing but with the mind and spirit. Hmmm, sounds like yoga is now part of HUD.
"I am very proud now that we have a museum on the National Mall where people can learn about Reverend King, so many other things...Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who has done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed. Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and millions more black Americans who made America what it is today. Big impact."
In case you forgot the museum's name, which I'm fairly certain you did, it's the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the one you were supposed to attend on Martin Luther King Day but backed out due to a petty twitter feud you started with black icon, activist, hero, still-alive Congressman John Lewis. As for your mention of Frederick Douglass, it was apparent that you knew nothing about him and probably didn't realize that he did his "amazing job" back in the 1800's. But, I am grateful that you brought his name up because it gave me cause to read more about the great abolitionist and suffragist. I suggest you join me in familiarizing yourself with this great orator and thinker.
"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."
Frederick Douglass
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
The Salute
Dear Mr. Trump,
I recently saw a picture of you and your beautiful Melania hand-in-hand wearing matching, handsome long, black wool coats, posing in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln just prior to the start of your Inaugural Concert, featuring Toby Keith and 3 Doors Down. I had never heard of 3 Doors Down but they must have been very special to rate headliner status at your special concert. But, back to Mr. Lincoln...You, the soon-to-be sworn in 45th president, even saluted the 19-foot tall sculpture icon carved out of 28 blocks of white Georgia marble. As you faced Lincoln I'm sure you noticed the inscription behind him etched into the marble wall:
In this temple
As in the hearts of the people
For whom he served the Union
The memory of Abraham Lincoln
Is enshrined forever.
I don't know if you were moved by the quiet presence of Mr. Lincoln, his steely gaze looking out across the mall toward the Washington Monument, but I certainly was when I visited him the day after attending the Women's March, which was the day after your inauguration, it being the reason for my participation in the march. His presence was oddly comforting and reminded me that some things are bigger than any administration, bigger than any two-bit despot posing as the "leader of the free world". As you paused on the steps of the memorial for photos were you thinking that some day your greatness might too be memorialized in cold, white marble? The 45th. president on his throne with the inscription etched in pure gold:
In this temple
As in the heart of darkness
In which he divided the nation
The memory of Donald J. Trump
Is stained forever.
I recently saw a picture of you and your beautiful Melania hand-in-hand wearing matching, handsome long, black wool coats, posing in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln just prior to the start of your Inaugural Concert, featuring Toby Keith and 3 Doors Down. I had never heard of 3 Doors Down but they must have been very special to rate headliner status at your special concert. But, back to Mr. Lincoln...You, the soon-to-be sworn in 45th president, even saluted the 19-foot tall sculpture icon carved out of 28 blocks of white Georgia marble. As you faced Lincoln I'm sure you noticed the inscription behind him etched into the marble wall:
In this temple
As in the hearts of the people
For whom he served the Union
The memory of Abraham Lincoln
Is enshrined forever.
I don't know if you were moved by the quiet presence of Mr. Lincoln, his steely gaze looking out across the mall toward the Washington Monument, but I certainly was when I visited him the day after attending the Women's March, which was the day after your inauguration, it being the reason for my participation in the march. His presence was oddly comforting and reminded me that some things are bigger than any administration, bigger than any two-bit despot posing as the "leader of the free world". As you paused on the steps of the memorial for photos were you thinking that some day your greatness might too be memorialized in cold, white marble? The 45th. president on his throne with the inscription etched in pure gold:
In this temple
As in the heart of darkness
In which he divided the nation
The memory of Donald J. Trump
Is stained forever.
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