Hate Remembered - 1965 Selma Al

Every year at about this time I reflect back on a short period that I spent in Selma, Al in 1965, as a foot soldier demonstrating and trying to cross a famous bridge to march to Montgomery, Al. Next weekend, marks 52 years since that march and those demonstrations that were held for the most basic of American rights, the right to vote.

But this year is different. Other times I have been able to reflect on how far we've come and how proud I was to be a part of the movement for social change and civil rights. This year I remember and reflect on the hate that I saw in Selma. It was real and it was deep. It was reflected in white faces, young and old. White haters who spat, cursed, pushed, shoved and hit demonstrators. There were people killed in Selma and Montgomery and small towns in between. I could taste and feel the hate.

I feel sad and depressed this year because the hate has been allowed to appear again, to raise its head with the blessing of an elected leader and his spokespeople and team. There may be denials. There may be tamp downs. But the reality is that hatred has been given a very big and very bright green light. It has become acceptable to spew hate, to divide and to demean.

I know there are good and decent people but there are also the sons and daughters of those haters who I saw in Selma 52 years ago. It was wrong then and it's wrong now. I was naive. I thought it was over. But now I know - it's a constant battle this fight against hate. Give it a breath of air and it comes back. Give it a leader who allows it to come back and it will.

For those who may not have ever experienced this kind of hate, get ready. It is ugly and dangerous and it will pit people against each other. I'm tired, I'm getting old but I know this. I, we, have to stand up another time. We have to speak up and speak out against this hate and division. Lets do it together.

A Free Press

As a blogger, writer, sometimes journalist and opinion writer, I have to speak out on the attacks we have recently seen on the main stream media and the media in general. I certainly don't like everything I see or hear that is written, recorded, filmed or photographed. Some of it is stupid, silly gross, disgusting. Some of it however is genius, beautiful and mesmerizing and I would be the loser without my ability to see, touch or celebrate it in some way. My children would lose. My granddaughter would lose. I of course have to make choices about what I see, what I trust and how I verify reality from fantasy. That's my responsibility.

Now to the point. Recently, the leader of the United States of America, Donald Trump said bluntly that the media is the enemy of the people. He is wrong. Leaders who want to control what people read, here or see are the enemies of the people, plain and simple. His statement is un-American in every sense of the word. Excuses are now being made about what he really meant and who he was really talking about but it won't wash. His real effort is to undermine people's trust in the media and he has found some fertile ground.

I believe at this point that it's up to every journalist, writer, artist or producer to speak up as strongly as possible for a free and open press. That is what this Gadfly is doing and what I will continue to do. Again, my responsibility.

Are We Seeing The Birth of A Dictatorship In US?

It seems like an impossibility in the USA, but three weeks into the presidency of Donald J. Trump questions of a potential move toward a dictatorship are being openly discussed. I initially hesitated about even putting this in writing but then I watched Stephen Miller, a top advisor to the President speak in a series of interviews last weekend. The reality began to hit home. "The powers of the President will not be questioned." (partial quote). Unlimited power in opposition to the Constitution of the US is what we all should have heard. And things went down hill from there.

It is important to understand history and how dictators come to power. As we look historically, we see  the violent overthrow of governments as well as elections relative to dictators taking power. We also see actions and policies that should have provided warnings to the rise of authoritarian regimes. Things like demonizing the media as well as any open opposition. Turning all opposition into enemies of the people and the government. Squashing dissent. Creating and provoking violence and protests that can then be put down with police authority. Not only criticizing but ignoring or overruling other branches of government. Providing police and military authorities with budgetary and policy support including more power to surveil and harass dissenters.

It looks like we are there. Checks and balances that have been seen as a critical part of our Constitution are now under attack by Trump and his administration. Judges are "so-called" and an interference in governing. Congress is ineffectual and cumbersome. The worst came recently in continued attacks on the media where it was identified as the enemy of the people.

The enemy of the people always is dictatorship, tyranny and fascism. We are beginning to see our enemy.