Category Archives: General

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Think about it, even though after 69 years, it may be difficult to imagine. It’s important, but I’m going to offer a little comment on it, except again, I hope you read the column linked.

It was written in 2018 by Will Alexander. Well, one short paragraph from the author who lived it follows reads as follows, “Back then, racial oppression was real. Today, it’s pure fiction – used as a tactic for political power; as nostalgia for blacks and whites who missed out on the glory days of the Civil Rights Movement; as a cover for envy; and as an ax over the heads of whites who dread the high costs of being labeled as racists.”

Alexander is not saying racism doesn’t exist today; it does, but not close to the magnitude it did. He gives an example of the horrors of oppression. If he saw something similar today, it would be rare, likely attached to isolated hate crimes. By the way, I hate the term “hate crime.” To me, all violent crimes emanate from hate without race playing a role.

Racism seems to be overused today. But you can read the document contributed by Mr. Alexander, which is linked. One final note: don’t confuse it with prejudice. All of us have prejudices, and those may or may not have to do with race.

As for the trial, it was four days later. On December 5, Parks was found guilty of violating segregation laws, given a suspended sentence, and fined $10 plus $4 in court costs.

Appeals and related lawsuits went through the courts, reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. On November 13, 1956, the Supreme Court ruled the bus segregation law was unconstitutional.

Today’s Microscopic Racism Is Light Years From Real Oppression

The New York Times faced criticism for referring to women as “non-transgender women,” which some see as an attempt to be inclusive. But it is a further reinterpretation, remember cisgender, that further diminishes by redefining or eliminating the term “woman” by making it contingent on not being transgender. The New York Times is not alone in this.

The use of “non-transgender women” instead of “cisgender women” or simply “women” in New York Times articles makes transgender women the default or primary category of women, with cisgender women now being a qualifier term, even though a cisgender woman is someone who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman, but in a way twice removed.

That sounds odd to state it that way, but a cousin twice removed may not make sense, which someone is free to point out. Legally, the term “removed” refers to the number of generations apart, not the degree of cousinship, first, second, etc.

The number before “cousin” (twice removed) indicates how many generations back you must go to find the common ancestor relative to the closest common generation. For example, “second cousin” means you share great-great-grandparents, as “second” points to the second generation of grandparents.

I don’t understand it; I know it from law school. My analogy, right or wrong, is that “woman” is twice removed from “non-transgender women” with “cisgender” in the middle, two generations of words apart.

With the default being “non-transgender women” for “women” is like referring to “sane people” as “non-crazy people.” If you followed this, give yourself a pat on the back.

If you disagree, or the analogy doesn’t make sense, email me.

I hope people had a nice Thanksgiving, had time with family and friends, and are thankful for what you have. Take a moment to remember those who may not have what you. Think about those who have family but won’t be able to share Thanksgiving with loved ones, like those with wives, husbands, or children serving our country in the military stationed far from home. I hope you enjoyed some time away from social media and had real encounters with real people.

Most of all, remember those you were with today. All of them may not be there next year; it happens. The problem is you can’t know who, so be kind to all who are important in your life. I hope you enjoyed some time away from social media and had real encounters with real people.

May God Bless You

Happy Thanksgiving

I’m not concerned about the dinner conversation today. We are a mix of political beliefs from left to right. There have been tense moments in the past, but I’m noticing something different since the election in people I run into. Even though it was not that long ago, there was a sense of relief that Trump had won. Even the more vocal democrats are quiet now. My friends are mostly conservatives, but a few are not. Harris was a bridge too far for them and way too far for me.

I intend to enjoy the day with my family.

I keep reading comments about President Trump’s selection of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as the next U.S. Surgeon General in his upcoming administration. The main complaint I see is she didn’t go to a top medical school.

I’m semi-retired, and this comment is not meant to pat myself on the back. I went to law school at the University of Akron. In an email exchange last Thursday, a judge told me hard work will beat talent. I responded that if he was including intelligence, real or perceived, as talent, I agreed because I never lost to a Harvard attorney.

I recall a case where the other attorney worked for a prestigious national law firm. The attorney was hired to represent corporate clients in domestic cases but was out of his element. I tried to resolve the matter, explaining why he couldn’t win. His response was, “I went to Harvard!” I admitted I was just a country lawyer but would do my best for my client in court, so we went to court.

I know nothing about her except the complaints she went to a less-than-prestigious medical school, but that means little to me in and of itself. I go to the Cleveland Clinic for all medical care. Before choosing doctors, I read their bio. I’d need to check, but the doctors listed on my “care team” include none who attended an Ivy League school. But I’m confident in the medical care I receive, just as I was in my own abilities.