Tag: Racism
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Fade To White
What in the world do white people in America want? Oh, right – to be the only people in America whose opinion – or votes – matter. You know, like how it was when the country started. Back then, the only men (created) equal to rich, white, Christian men were other rich, white, Christian men.…
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“If You’re A Viper”: Harry Anslinger, Cannabis, Racism & Jazz
NOTE: This was originally written as part of “BLUNT TRUTHS”, an extended series about the history of cannabis prohibition I did for Weedmaps News. Across 13 installments and 25,000 words, I wrote about how one man – Harry Anslinger – invented America’s attitude toward cannabis. And that attitude sat squarely upon racism’s shoulders. “If You’re…
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The GOP’s Integrity Problem: They Haven’t Got Any
We all enter this world buck naked – and with our integrity fully intact. Soon enough though, we’ll stop being naked. As for our integrity, that’s a whole other matter. What is integrity? It’s our word being our bond. Our trustworthiness. How reliable a friend, a lover, a teammate, a leader are we? Can others…
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There’s No Such Thing As “Responsible Gun Ownership”
Sorry, gun owners, but calling yourselves “responsible” is really just a nicety you apply to yourselves. I totally appreciate that you aspire to be responsible with your firearms. If you spent money on a gun locker or safe in which to store your weapons when not in use? Good on ya! That was a (relatively)…
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So Much For A Level Playing Field…
This morning, the SCOTUS did what everyone expected it to do: it put a stake through the heart of affirmative action. Race can no longer be a factor in deciding public or private college admissions. The supposed intention: a level playing field. Strange… a level playing field was the whole POINT of affirmative action. Affirmative…
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America + Guns = Magical Thinking
Stone cold fact: a significant chunk of America really and truly thinks that having more guns around makes everyone (and America) safer. Never mind that every scrap of data screams the exact opposite. People compelled to own guns don’t care about statistics. Even “responsible gun owners” increase the chances that something bad will happen inside…
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Damned But Not Doomed
There are times when America really does seem doomed. That is, our democratic republic seems doomed to finish its run atop history’s ash heap. A great idea kneecapped by racism, greed and just plain stupidity. The GOP‘s relentless attempts – any which way they can – to stop all oversight, investigation and prosecution of their…
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Why E Pluribus Unum Matters
Most Americans – if they think about the country’s founding – focus on “All men are created equal”. Alas, when our founders wrote those words, they didn’t mean them. Oh, they meant the “men” part. Only men could be other men’s equals. But by “men”, they meant only men like themselves: white, wealthy, land owning…
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America Needs A Trump-ectomy
Dear Donald Trump: America is soooooooo done with you. Stone cold fact: the majority of us despise the man. He couldn’t win a popular vote if his bloated, orange life depended on it. Winning the Electoral College is like winning a lottery you fixed yourself. Literally everything Trump touches turns to shit. He corrupts everything…