My mother was so pro-women that she refused to come into this world until women had the right to vote. She was born Aug 19, 1920. She despised Trump from the '80s so I'm glad she didn't have to live through that horror, but I wish she could have known your work.
Betsy, Both my mother and father were of the same mind. I recall my mom telling me about hearing that Trump had won the election in 2016 and she sat crying for hours. My father was just as vehemently opposed to MAGA: He was a student of Karl Barth (studied with him in Basel in 1956-7), one of the most prominent anti-NAZI theologians of that era and author of the Barmen Declaration in 1934, which was a rejection of Hitler's attempt to usurp the Protestant churches of Germany...much like Trump has co-opted the "Evangelicals" (they're not in the slightest true Christians) today. History repeats itself, and we're all called to stand up and fight for our rights.
I believe my mother and father, who passed away in Nov 2021 and May 2022, would be horrified as well to see that Trump is the GOP presidential candidate...not in 1934, but in 2024. Every generation has to re-learn the same old, difficult lessons. Amazing, isn't it?
Another great column by Nina Burleigh. Turns out I'm a descendent of Elizabeth Cady Stanton--my paternal grandmother was a Cady--and, apparently, the DNA still runs strong in my extended family as we're all staunchly equal-rights minded.
Abraham Lincoln, whom most historians consider to be the best president the US has ever had, understood the principle of, "All people are created equal," in the 1850's. Heather Cox Richardson has a fabulous essay on Lincoln's developing philosophy in her Substack column on Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12th: https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/february-11-2024. This paragraph says it all:
"Lincoln saw clearly that if we give up the principle of equality before the law, we have given up the whole game. We have admitted the principle that people are unequal and that some people are better than others. Once we have replaced the principle of equality with the idea that humans are unequal, we have granted approval to the idea of rulers and ruled. At that point, all any of us can do is to hope that no one in power decides that we belong in one of the lesser groups."
Today's GOP/MAGA party is based on the premise ("gamble" would be a better word) that they won't at some later date be reclassified as members of a "lesser group." And, ironically, Democrats are now the ones espousing--living--Lincoln's promise that we are all equal under the law while the GOP sinks into full-tilt revanchist antebellum slaveholder mode.
After Harris wins on November 5th, the next step is to inform the Supreme Court that, in spite of their recent ruling, even the President isn't above the law. Abe Lincoln would approve.
Thanks. I do feel privileged--and very lucky. Like the old saying goes, the best way to get rich is to choose your parents well...like one DJT. I'll take Cady Stanton over Fred Trump any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
It is the era of the woman, and it's about time for some sanity and decorum in our leaders. Hateful mysogeny has set us back nearly to the bronze age. We need a dynamo like Ms Harris to right the ship of the United States and set us back on a path to fairness and kindness and prosperity for us all.
Right on, Nina, the happy warrior tone of this convention in contrast to the American carnage rehash to Rs served up last month is just right. It's not just the Ds message and attitude, the live band and recorded soundtrack like the roll call playlist really rubs it in faces of the lost in medieval fantasy losers hanging onto TFG and expresses our joy in diversity. I've been recalling watching DNC conventions with my family as a kid on our little black and white tv. My mother's mother was a quadrennial Indiana delegate to DNC conventions so watching on tv held special attachment for me, knowing Grandma was there, doing her thing. She was an effective and happy warrior from Indianapolis. She and my Mom had similar attitudes in politics, and for Mom, in business starting in 1960, because she had to in order to support our family in the face of pervasive misogyny. <> While watching last night, my internal sound track kept going back to The Who's song, Pure and Easy: https://youtu.be/-gXuBRMtU2A?si=VT2QVi37H2uZYmgL "There once was a note. Listen!"
Spot on as always, Nina - thank you. I am so hoping that this is a showdown between the forces of hate and fear and those of kindness and love. It's been getting worse and worse for so long...isn't it time for the pendulum to swing?
My mother was so pro-women that she refused to come into this world until women had the right to vote. She was born Aug 19, 1920. She despised Trump from the '80s so I'm glad she didn't have to live through that horror, but I wish she could have known your work.
Betsy, Both my mother and father were of the same mind. I recall my mom telling me about hearing that Trump had won the election in 2016 and she sat crying for hours. My father was just as vehemently opposed to MAGA: He was a student of Karl Barth (studied with him in Basel in 1956-7), one of the most prominent anti-NAZI theologians of that era and author of the Barmen Declaration in 1934, which was a rejection of Hitler's attempt to usurp the Protestant churches of Germany...much like Trump has co-opted the "Evangelicals" (they're not in the slightest true Christians) today. History repeats itself, and we're all called to stand up and fight for our rights.
I believe my mother and father, who passed away in Nov 2021 and May 2022, would be horrified as well to see that Trump is the GOP presidential candidate...not in 1934, but in 2024. Every generation has to re-learn the same old, difficult lessons. Amazing, isn't it?
Another great column by Nina Burleigh. Turns out I'm a descendent of Elizabeth Cady Stanton--my paternal grandmother was a Cady--and, apparently, the DNA still runs strong in my extended family as we're all staunchly equal-rights minded.
Abraham Lincoln, whom most historians consider to be the best president the US has ever had, understood the principle of, "All people are created equal," in the 1850's. Heather Cox Richardson has a fabulous essay on Lincoln's developing philosophy in her Substack column on Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12th: https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/february-11-2024. This paragraph says it all:
"Lincoln saw clearly that if we give up the principle of equality before the law, we have given up the whole game. We have admitted the principle that people are unequal and that some people are better than others. Once we have replaced the principle of equality with the idea that humans are unequal, we have granted approval to the idea of rulers and ruled. At that point, all any of us can do is to hope that no one in power decides that we belong in one of the lesser groups."
Today's GOP/MAGA party is based on the premise ("gamble" would be a better word) that they won't at some later date be reclassified as members of a "lesser group." And, ironically, Democrats are now the ones espousing--living--Lincoln's promise that we are all equal under the law while the GOP sinks into full-tilt revanchist antebellum slaveholder mode.
After Harris wins on November 5th, the next step is to inform the Supreme Court that, in spite of their recent ruling, even the President isn't above the law. Abe Lincoln would approve.
how cool to be related to Cady Stanton!
Thanks. I do feel privileged--and very lucky. Like the old saying goes, the best way to get rich is to choose your parents well...like one DJT. I'll take Cady Stanton over Fred Trump any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
I love how you slip in the very subtle but comedic remarks such as the seconds it took for Trump to , well ….wink wink…great writing
It is the era of the woman, and it's about time for some sanity and decorum in our leaders. Hateful mysogeny has set us back nearly to the bronze age. We need a dynamo like Ms Harris to right the ship of the United States and set us back on a path to fairness and kindness and prosperity for us all.
Yaaaay! I was hoping to hear you're in Chicago! Give my best to Roscoe Street off Belmont Harbor, where I lived for a very, very happy year.
Right on, Nina, the happy warrior tone of this convention in contrast to the American carnage rehash to Rs served up last month is just right. It's not just the Ds message and attitude, the live band and recorded soundtrack like the roll call playlist really rubs it in faces of the lost in medieval fantasy losers hanging onto TFG and expresses our joy in diversity. I've been recalling watching DNC conventions with my family as a kid on our little black and white tv. My mother's mother was a quadrennial Indiana delegate to DNC conventions so watching on tv held special attachment for me, knowing Grandma was there, doing her thing. She was an effective and happy warrior from Indianapolis. She and my Mom had similar attitudes in politics, and for Mom, in business starting in 1960, because she had to in order to support our family in the face of pervasive misogyny. <> While watching last night, my internal sound track kept going back to The Who's song, Pure and Easy: https://youtu.be/-gXuBRMtU2A?si=VT2QVi37H2uZYmgL "There once was a note. Listen!"
Spot on as always, Nina - thank you. I am so hoping that this is a showdown between the forces of hate and fear and those of kindness and love. It's been getting worse and worse for so long...isn't it time for the pendulum to swing?
How does one contact you by email or DM, please? I haven’t figured it out.