“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
At the Washington Monthly, Garrett Epps hears a rhyme:
The struggle in the 1850s arose out of the federal government’s determination to return Black Americans to slavery (via the Fugitive Slave Act–ed.) even after they had escaped to the free North. What is happening on the streets of American cities—and most particularly, now, on the streets of Los Angeles—carries uncanny echoes of that decade-long battle, which ended in secession and Civil War.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
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*Mark Twain.
Vaccine Nation 0
Thom looks at how the Trump maladministration is undermining public health.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
More politeness on the pavement:
According to police, a 61-year-old semitruck driver pointed a handgun at a woman and child during a road rage incident.
For some fool reason, I find myself to be somewhat skeptical of the NRA’s notion that more guns make for more politeness. It seems to me that they make for les–oh, never mind.
One Thing Is Not Like the Other Thing, Reprise 0
At AL.com, Jared Margulies, Emily Wittman, Janek Wasserman, and Luke Herrine, Jewish faculty members at the University of Alabama, argue that conflating opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza with antisemitism, as Alabama senator Katie Britt recently did, is a misdirection play. Given dis coarse discourse, methinks it a timely and worthwhile read. Here’s a tiny bit from early in the article:
“Fight Fiercely, Harvard”* 0
Der Spiegel spoke with Harvard Professor Ryan Enos about Donald Trump’s crusade against universities, particularly Harvard, America’s oldest institution of higher education. The interview is worth a read; here’s a tiny bit:
DER SPIEGEL: Why has Harvard become the main target?
Enos: I think there are three reasons. First, Trump is following the classic pattern of authoritarian leaders who want to destroy democracies. He is attacking the institutions of civil society that could potentially limit his power: judges, broadcasters – or, indeed, universities, as places of free thought. Second, Trump thought it would be popular to attack elite universities because parts of his electorate were critical of them. He miscalculated, but more on that later.
DER SPIEGEL: And third?
Enos: Donald Trump now harbors a personal grudge against our university because it openly opposes him. Harvard is the beacon of resistance against Trump. No other institution in the U.S. opposes him so openly. Trump wants to break this resistance.
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*With apologies to Tom Lehrer.
A Tune for the Times 0
From the Youtube page:
“Agony” is one of the many extraordinary and hilarious songs from Stephen Sondheim’s magnificent “Into the Woods” (1986) which has long been a family favourite. The original involves two fairytale princes reflecting on their painful pursuit of maidens within the intertwined plots of Brothers Grimm tales. Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen did a great job in the 2014 movie but we think the most perfect take was sung by Robert Westenburg and Chuck Wagner in the original Broadway production.
It would naturally have been better to cast Alfie as the Second Prince … but needs must with topical parodies, and he was off playing cricket for Faversham today. So this is Ben and Tom (with help and some giggling behind the scenes from Danielle and Tess) using the song to reflect on the unamicable breakup – playing out on all our social media feeds around the world – between the two powerful but petulant men at the centre of the American government, Elon Musk and Donald Trump. It’s hard not to get the popcorn out and wait for the next move in their toddler antics, especially if you are not a fan of the administration and its manic instability. It was tempting to try to shoehorn more references in (to bills, lawns, karma, tariffs, and pork), but we mostly gravitated to Sondheim’s original framework because it’s so strong. Plus, there’s a reprise of “Agony” in Act II so this may end up as a Suella Braverman-style refrain.
The Ruler of Lawless 0
David analyzes the aspiring authoritarian’s actions. I cannot take issue with his analysis. (Warning: Short promo at the end.)
At AK,com, Roy S. Johnson has more.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Steve M. hears a rhyme echoing all the way from the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.
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*Mark Twain.
Suffer the Children 0
One more time, that’s not scripture. That’s Republican policy.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” exposes his portable phallus to his child, and another child is sacrificed to America’s leaden idol.
