Thievery

September 18th, 2022 → 1:33 pm

“Every true man’s apparel fits your thief.” — Measure for Measure

The “Walmart Chapter” came out this week on the BeforeFergusonBeyondFerguson website. Readers have told me they consider it to be the most heart-wrenching of the chapters in Seeking Forgiveness. It is certainly where things start to change in the plot and with the characters. On some level the chapter asks: What do you do when people see you, and assume something about you, even though it isn’t true? That, based on your appearance (i.e. your “apparel”) you look like a thief, or a murderer, or a liberal, or a Jew or some other such thing even when you are not. What do you do?

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Guilt and Blame

August 24th, 2022 → 11:29 am

“Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it” — Measure for Measure

In the latest chapter of Seeking Forgiveness out at the Before Ferguson Beyond Ferguson website, the topics of guilt and blame are explored. While racist incidents are never the fault of the victim, it may still be difficult not to internalize some of the negative feelings they engender. How can a mother protect her son when racism happens and her child automatically blames himself?

Filed under: Stupid/Evil People

Rage and Despair

August 20th, 2022 → 5:01 pm

“Farewell the tranquil mind.” — Othello

It has been a crazy week, filled with spectacular highs, but also shocking lows… It can be difficult, sometimes, to get out from under the suffocating weight of the lows…the mind obsessing over what went wrong, and depriving one of much desired tranquility and sleep… So let me try and purposefully reorient my thoughts towards the better things: Seeking Forgiveness went on pre-order this week! And early interviews about the book continue to be strong. 🙏

Filed under: Self/My Life & Stupid/Evil People

When you have one of those Uncles…

July 17th, 2022 → 4:46 am

“A little more than kin, and less than kind.” — Hamlet

Chapter 8 of Seeking Forgiveness came out yesterday, and it depicts a racist interaction I had with a real family member. Over the years that have passed since this incident occurred, I’ve come to understand a little more of the nuance behind it. But even with context, the interaction was pretty hurtful and inexcusable. Managing family – the love, the expectations, the disappointments, the support, the confusion, the kindness, the traditions – has been one of the challenges of my life. I continue to be challenged by it today. But perhaps the most important thing I have learned over the years, is not to give up. Love, understanding, and empathy are worth every ounce of effort.

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life & Stupid/Evil People

Trump’s Trade War

June 3rd, 2018 → 5:46 am

“Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself.”  – Henry VIII

Europe (and Canada and Mexico and all our allies) must be asking themselves right now, with friends like the U.S., who needs enemies?  Trump is so wrong on so many things it makes my soul cry.  And I’m afraid the worst burn to the U.S. is yet to come.

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People

Utter Depravity

March 27th, 2018 → 6:43 am

“Murder most foul.” – Hamlet

I don’t know why, but I was shocked to read about the murder of an 85 year old Holocaust survivor in France yesterday.  To have survived the Holocaust, and all its barbarity, to then be stabbed 11 times and lit on fire in your old age?  Wow.  And some say anti-Semitism isn’t a concern.  Just, wow.

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Cleopatra

December 4th, 2017 → 6:24 am

“Triple-turned whore!” – Antony and Cleopatra

Why is it that when men are mad at women, they call them whores?  Antony is supposed to be in love with Cleopatra, and yet still, in a fit of rage, he calls her a whore.  Find a better insult already.  Get more creative.  It’s so dull and exhausting, men always reverting to sex as their go-to form of female disparagement.  Can they not think of anything else?

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Guest Post – ShakespeareToo

November 28th, 2017 → 5:55 am

Isabella:  “Or with an outstretch’d throat I’ll tell the world aloud what man thou art.”

Angelo:  “Who will believe thee, Isabel?  My unsoil’d name, the austereness of my life, my vouch against you, and my place i’ the state, will so your accusation overweigh, that you shall stifle in your own report and smell of calumny.”  – Measure for Measure

An opinion piece in The New York Times today documents this description of sexual harassment in the play Measure for Measure.  Angelo’s little speech ends with, “Say what you can, my false o’erweighs your true.”  Ugh.  Ick.  Blech.  Gag.  Women have been dealing with this crap for forever.  It is truly exhausting.

Filed under: Blog & Other & Stupid/Evil People

Lecherous Men

October 10th, 2017 → 6:39 am

“Th’ adulterous [Antony], most large
In his abominations.”  – Antony and Cleopatra

I put Antony in brackets above, only because it can be interchanged with all manner of famous men’s names.  Harvey Weinstein, Donald Trump, Bill Cosby, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Silvio Berlusconi, Tim Murphy, Dennis Hastert…   this is getting too depressing to continue…

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Corrupt Trump

August 5th, 2017 → 6:32 am

“But this top-proud fellow,
Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From sincere motions, by intelligence
And proofs as clear as founts in July, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.”  
– Henry VIII

As clear as spring-water in July (before the recent defenestration of the EPA), corruption runs rampant through the Trump family and their cabal of crazies.

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People