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We miss her regular twice-weekly comments and insights, and want to hear her dissect, slice and dice, and make fun of the events and revelations of the week. No one could do it like she did. She made us feel like we weren't alone. She made us want to be our better selves and stand up and use our power. She would be so proud that we finally woke up and worked to make this happen.
In many of her lectures, she would exhort her audience to believe in their power. She'd say: "I hear people whine: 'I can't do anything. I'm just one person.'" Then she'd lift her head high and quote from the Declaration of Independence in her Barbara Jordon voice and remind them, "as a U.S. citizen, you have more political power than most humans who've ever lived on this earth."
In fact, we know how she would have felt, because she was as prescient about this election before her death two years ago as she was about all the other tragedies of the Bush years. Carlton Carl, CEO/publisher at Molly's beloved Texas Observer, recalls her saying after Obama's 2004 speech at the Democratic convention, "You know ... that young man could be president some day."
Before Barack Obama announced his candidacy, Chicago Magazine asked a number of luminaries if they thought he should run. Opinions varied. Molly was succinct and direct, and with her usual wit and certainty said: "Yes, he should run. He's the only Democrat with any Elvis to him."
And, in her column on Jan. 20, 2006, she said: "It's about political courage and heroes, and when a country is desperate for leadership. There are times when regular politics will not do, and this is one of those times. There are times a country is so tired of bull that only the truth can provide relief. If no one in conventional-wisdom politics has the courage to speak up and say what needs to be said, then you go out and find some obscure junior senator ... with the guts to do it." She was speaking about Gene McCarthy then, but it might as well have been Barack Obama.
She'd be so happy that her beloved Constitution (she donated one speech a month to groups working to preserve and maintain the First Amendment) is in safer hands -- that some of the worst things ever done in our name are over. She'd love that Barack Obama began his community organizing knowing that power lies in all of us united, and that he continues to remind us that we are the deciders.
I saw and heard many interviews after Nov. 4 and during inaugural celebrations with people who all said they wished their mother or father or grandmother or friend had been here to witness this history in the making. Tens of thousands of us wished that Molly could have been here to see it.
I choose to believe she and all of them did see it because they live on in our hearts, minds and actions. Molly is honored with awards, lectures and scholarships in her name. Many of her readers formed "Pots & Pans" Brigades, following the advice in her final two columns to take to the streets and demand an end to the Iraq war. She always signed her books and her letters with, "Raise more hell," and you can make her live on by doing just that.
She lives in everyone who took courage in who they are and what they thought when they read her columns and books, and knew they weren't alone and they weren't crazy. She lives on in The Texas Observer and the ACLU, to whom she left a large portion of her estate.
In a letter for the ACLU, she says: "Every time someone down the line is irreverent about authority, I'll have my monument. Every time some kid who was born a nigger, a kike, a wop, a Polack, a gook, a gimp, a fag, or just a plain maverick lifts up her head and dares anyone to stop her, I'll have my monument. Every time they peaceably assemble to petition their government for redress of a grievance, I'll be there. Whenever they worship as they please (or not at all), I'll be there. Whenever they speak up and speak out and raise hell, I'll be there. And every time some blue-bellied, full-blooded nincompoop who holds elected office is called to the floor for deciding to keep us safe by rewriting the Constitution, or by suspending due process and holding a citizen indefinitely without legal representation, I'll be there. Now that is immortality. I don't have any children, so I've decided to claim all the future freedom-fighters and hell-raisers as my kin. I figure freedom and justice beat having my name in marble any day. Besides, if there is another life after this one, think how much we'll get to laugh watching it all."
Ken Bunting, an old friend of Molly's who's now associate publisher of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, said of Molly on Election Day, "I'm not much of a believer, but I think our friend is looking down and smiling right along with Barack's grandma." You know, I think he is right.
This article was distributed by Creative Writers Syndicate, Inc.
84 Comments so far
Show AllI miss the laughter Molly could draw forth even in the bleak times. There's so much grief in all that's going on, so much damage that has been done. Humor is hard to come by now. God bless you, Molly.
I think Molly would have been the first to say that Bush-lite is just another AIPAC puppet.
Yup. I think that Molly might say the same thing I say about Obama: "Handsome is as handsome does."
· Yr Obd't Servant
The closest Idaho could come to having a Molly Ivins is Frank Church and Cecil Andrus. My neigboring state of Montana has Brian Schweitzer whose humour reminds me of Molly Ivins. I guess that having a gem like Molly out here to lighten us up is just a pipe dream. :(
Jason Jordan
Sandpoint, Idaho
Molly saw it all so clearly. After the 2004 election she wrote a piece likening America electing Republicans to a dog that kills chickens. An old farmer told her how you can cure a chicken killing dog. You tie the dead chicken around his neck and leave it there untill the chicken rots off. After that the dog won't kill chickens any more.
Molly said that George W Bush was America's dead chicken and by the time he rotted and fell off we wouldn't be fools enough to ever elect another Republican president.
Now I'm not so sure that Americans are collectively as smart as an old mutt farm dog (I've known a few of those and have reason to respect them) but from Molly's lips to God's ear. And of course now she has closer proximity. Let her be America's patron saint.
Entire piece on chickens and dogs cited above...
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
Molly, Anne Armstrong and Barbara Jordan, in semi disbelief, would be singing, joking. chanting and praising.."Yes we did, yes we did. YES WE DID!"
Judith Hodgens
Molly Ivins almost gives Texans a good name.
Imagine if she had been the Texan appointed by the Supreme Court to the Presidency in 2000 instead of Mr. Shrub.
Even dead, she would have been a better President than wee willie Georgie or at least done less harm.
Too bad she was the only journalist in this century with any "balls."
Signed: Lawlessone [for more irreverence, see resistence-is-possible.blogspot.com]
Araquin:
Have you no mercy?
In my 20s I believed in American "exceptionalism".After my health began to fail,and my mind begin to allow truths from elsewhere to seep in,my opinions sure changed.
As the plundering done by the Overlords changes us,may all the peoples of the world we oppressed when we were stronger forgive us.
The Pots and Pans Brigade and Holy Hell Raisers are out in full force. We are all members of Molly's Light Brigade and maybe George Carlin's too...I liked them both in different ways.
Thank You Betsy for posting this article.
I was having a "woman moment" as I read this.
Nuff said........
However, whoever touches the Field Negro vs the House Negro Comment is itching for a snowflakes sticking together snowball battle...... So I'm gonna giddy up and get out of Dodge....or Austin....or where ever Molly Ivins hails from.
This article and comment section is about Molly Ivins.....not you.
Molly was from Austin. And I agree.
Thomas what part of Texas are you living in? I was thinking about getting you to keep an eye on my daughter in Austin. And while you are at it check out the new boy friend!!!!.LOL (Some guy from Fort Worth) You can write a weekly report and post it here on CD. LOL
I'm in East Texas. Born and raised in Dallas, but we've been here for 20 years. Austin is about 4-5 hours away.
Can't give you a weekly report but if you'll have her bring him by, we'll check him out and if he doesn't measure up....well the Hogs are always hungry........(lol)
Ahhh Austin, my favorite city outside of the USA! Home not only to the too soon departed Ivins but the equally missed Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Hook 'em Horns!
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
Ahhh Austin, my favorite city outside of the USA!
And sometimes the rest of Texas feels the same way when the legislature is in session!
I loved Molly Ivins, and I really miss her comments.
But there was one sentence in this article which didn't make any sense to me:
"as a U.S. citizen, you have more political power than most humans who've ever lived on this earth."
??? Like what?
Which right do US citizens have that I don't???
I can only see the rights that I do have which (many) US citizens don't:
Like getting rid of a govenment before a rigid legislative period is over.
Like having proportional representation, so MY political leanings are represented in legislatures and I don't have just two parties to choose between who have a chance to get into a legislature.
Like starting a nation-wide referendum on any issue if I find enough like-minded people.
Like unionizing my workplace.
Like having annual collective bargaining about wages.
Like having free daycare centers.
Like having universal health care.
Like being sent to a spa for 3 weeks of rehab when I've had a complicated medical procedure or a severe disease.
So what right do I not have that an American citizen does have?
Perhaps her message was we misuse our power more than any other nation on earth?
What happens when snowflakes stick together?...............friends come together and have snow ball fights. :)
Leea
JWVerez;
I live in Madison,Wi.There arew an above-average number of Progressives here-at least 3 contribute to CD.The surrounding counties can be very "rednecked" in their actions.
Isn't Austin similar to Madison,and hasn"t the enduring problem been to spread more liberal attitudes to the rest of your state without being tarred as "eggheads" or elitists? That's the task here in Wisconsin as Neanderthals like "Toxic Tommy Thompson" can appeal to the worst of us and grab power.
I live in El Paso which is more liberal compared to most of the state although I will admit that the die-hard conservatives can really be a nuisance here too. I can see Austin as similar to Milwaukee. As for the rest of the state, don't get me started on North Texas as my wife and I had to put up with self-righteous bulldozers on the far right (I'm guessing Oklahoma has a greater influence up there). Thomas More would be able to better guide you on the eastern part of the state than would I.
East Texas is surprisingly more liberal than North Texas, well maybe not...North Texas has mostly right wing conservatives as opposed to conservatives....witness Dick Armey and Phil Gramm.
I know Oklahoma extremely well, and if what JWVerez says is right, i.e. that OK influences North Texas - does he by "North Texas" mean the panhandle or the Dallas area BTW, sorry for my ignorance - I am relieved.
I only know the Dallas area, and what I saw there reminded me very much of OK, which - with the exception of a handful of people, so few that one thinks one knows everyone of them personally - stands for just about everything I've been rallying against all my life.
But even I have heard that Austin is quite a wonderful place. So I know that what I've seen so far might not be representative of all of Texas.
If it weren't for all those election results...(OK is still worse, 66% McCain, for example, but who wants to be just mildly better than OK?)
By North Texas I'm sure he means Denton approx. down to DFW area.
Texas is a collection of oddballs and a half. We've got whatever you'd like...from extreme right wing in North Texas to socialists in Austin and the hill country. Latino's, rednecks, conservatives, liberals, you name it. More so than other states I think.
More center than anything I'd say. Remember that illegals get an education because of a ruling that came out of Tyler,Tx, supposedly the red neck area of Texas.
My husband used to live in Tyler, TX before we got married and moved to Atlanta. Isn't Tyler, TX represented by Ralph MOODY Hall, Democrat turned Republican ? My husband used to have to put up with redneck bullies laughing at his soft-heartedness that I couldn't stand it out there. I was able to convince him of better places to move to luckily. Do you suppose Tyler, TX could turn into a haven for potential Latino bullies? I'm not against Latinos but I'd hate to see the cruel and violent types similar to some of the Cubans in Miami who went violent over Elian Gonzolas being deported.
Tyler is a lot better these days!
"cruel and violent types" There are these types in every ethnic group, I see no difference among Latinos here than Blacks or Whites.
The only problem in the Latino population are the Mexican drug runners and other criminal elements that are hiding among our illegal population and THAT is becoming a problem. But its not because they are Latinos its because they are drug runners and criminals.
Hmmm, not even my wife has the energy to drive that far across the state but remembering Galveston, I always thought that the eastern part of the state had room for moderate Republicans although I would have suspected that like Oklahoma influening North TX, Louisiana had a greater impact on East TX especially on the last election.
TRIBUTE TO MOLLY IVINS
Molly;
Your informative and thought provoking writings have provided insight and logic for so many. Even two years after upor death, your contributions to journalism and our republic are still alive and can never be forgotten.
Give em Hell in Heaven Molly.
My wife loved Molly to death and she couldn't get over her loss for at least a month. Now and then when I'm about to give up on something, my wife will go crazy quoting Molly and put me to shame for not willing to come out on the matter and solve the problem. I'm pretty sure we can get someone out here in El Paso to be the next Molly Ivins.
I can remember when even some foul-brained conservatives loved her for her humour if not her political beliefs. If she were alive today, she'd be ashamed at Obama for begging the GOP all the time instead of using the presidency to pave the way for a long term change in direction from conservatism to at least moderate progressivism. And she would be disgusted with Obama for flipping to the right on every issue just to score political points and she would most likely been completely disheartened to watch Obama fight for those phoney bailout packages for Wall Street. I think she also would have remained like Jim Hightower, that is rendered irrelevent unfortunately.
To all those outside TX who think it's only a conservative state, let me tell you that it didn't have to be this way. TX used to have a strong progressive named Ralph Yarborough who used to be a major headache to LBJ on the war and big oil. TX can have another chance at coming up with someone just like Ralph Yarborough to represent this state but the National Democratic Party needs to quit writing us off and I guess we local squares are gonna have to unite somewhere. TX is no CA or NY where you simply need a few big cities to win.
I'll take Lloyd Doggest for US Senator of TX over Cornyn or Hutchinson anyday as he's the closest we can get to having someone ala Molly Ivins for US Senator from TX.
Maybe JWVerez and his friends in Texas should write off the National Democratic Party. There's not a dime's worth of difference between the dems and repubs. But I don't want to get into that right now.
JWVerez brings up some good points about Molly questioning Obama and his policies. Molly wouldn't be Molly if she didn't raise hell. She wouldn't have gotten sucked into Obama-mania like so many others.
But she did have a naive belief and avoidance problem about the events surrounding September 11, 2001. Like Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, when asked her thoughts, she would say things like 'let's move on' or 'that's in the past.' It bothers me that these otherwise fine people never demanded a re-opening of the investigation into 9/11.
Many of us believe that the 9/11 Commission's Report was full of holes and missing evidence. Would the truth about these events damage the American Empire to such an extent that it would cease to exist? Would that be such a bad thing? Should we go on pretending?
Ending on a positive note: Molly Ivins was wonderful. Back when I used to read an MSM newspaper, her column would be the first I'd look for.
"Maybe JWVerez and his friends in Texas should write off the National Democratic Party. There's not a dime's worth of difference between the dems and repubs."
Not to get into it, but you only sat that because you never met Senator Tom DeLay and his friends. This guy and his bunch was meaner and lower than a snake. And I know JWVerez will agree on that!
I can never forget the hate and spew Tom Delay showed. I didn't move to Texas until the late 1990s but even in El Paso, the son of a gun was so pervasive and I can never forgive the way he made our state a complete laughing stock at the same time the CA Republicans did their with that CA recall. I wished TX could recall our governor and legislators and purge this state of such cancer.
P.S.: I was equally angry at those in the TX Democratic Party who knowingly cooperated and were prepared to be mugged by Tom Delay. And back when the Dems fled to Oklahoma, I wanted to shoot that idiot who came back and ruined it for the Democrats who tried to stop this illegal redistricting in 2003.
And to the people who want to write off TX as too conservative, then why don't you write off your staunch red areas of your state and see how that goes. Rural CA and western NY are no less conservative than half of rural TX and you can see the election results for yourself on www.uselectionatlas.org and check on the various presidential, senatorial, and gubenatorial races of these past 20 years and compare the results.
I wasn't familiar with Molly's views on 9/11, but it's disappointing to find that she was afflicted by the denial or avoidance practiced by so many others.
Even Glenn Greenwald, who I respect and admire, is dismissive of the question of what really happened on 9/11; apparently he shares Chomsky's rationalization that the question is too much of a quagmire, and in any event isn't really "important" in the scheme of things.
Methinks they doth protest too little.
· Yr Obd't Servant
A short look at Ms. Ivins views on 9/11 and what came after....I apologize to Mr. More for using the ACLU for my first citing...well not actually:
http://www.aclufl.org/news_events/?action=viewRelease&emailAlertID=365
This is in regard to the "Sarasota Resolution" protesting the abrogating of our rights in response to 9/11.
Molly Ivins spoke in support of this resolution. Click on the link to the resolution below the body of the article.
http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/molly-ivins-may-9.html
Molly Ivins May 9
AUSTIN, Texas — Of course I am above sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. So serious a servant of the public interest am I, I can fogey with the best: On my better days, I make David Broder look like Page Six.
I don't care what anyone smoked 20 years ago, I approve of those who boogie 'til they puke, and I don't care who anyone in politics is screwing in private, as long as they're not screwing the public.
On other hand, if you expect me to pass up a scandal involving poker, hookers and the Watergate building with crooked defense contractors and the No. 3 guy at the CIA, named Dusty Foggo (Dusty Foggo?! Be still my heart), you expect too much. Any journalist who claims Hookergate is not a legitimate scandal is dead — has been for some time and needs to be unplugged. In addition to sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, Hookergate is rife with public interest questions, misfeasance, malfeasance and non-feasance, and many splendid moral points for the children. Recommended for Sunday school use, grades seven and above.
But for starters, let us consider the unenviable record of Porter Goss at the CIA. From the beginning of his tenure, Goss has been criticized for politicizing the agency. He brought a bunch of political hacks with him for staff, one of whom turns out to be the poker player called "Nine Fingers." And in the end, he was likely fired for not having politicized the agency sufficiently.
What is the point of politicizing an intelligence agency? So the CIA officials would get a report from some agent in Iraq saying, "Looks bad." The first thing they'd ask was, "Is this agent a Republican or a Democrat?"
Maybe there really are conservatives who believe everything in Iraq is hunky-dory and there's a giant media conspiracy to hide the joyous tidings. But as you may recall, the ever-nimble minds at Donny Rumsfeld's shop have already tried paying public relations people to invent good news about Iraq and then plant it in newspapers there — it didn't work.
In fact, it was so stupid it was humiliating. Fortunately, the Pentagon was once again able to investigate itself and determine it had done nothing illegal.
So now they're turning the CIA over to a general who not only ran the warrantless wiretap program, but still can't figure out that it's unconstitutional.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/5/124943/325/492/654474
Molly Ivins November 4th 2004
AUSTIN, Texas — Do you know how to cure a chicken-killin' dog? Now, you know you cannot keep a dog that kills chickens, no matter how fine a dog it is otherwise.
Some people think you cannot break a dog that has got in the habit of killin' chickens, but my friend John Henry always claimed you could. He said the way to do it is to take one of the chickens the dog has killed and wire the thing around the dog's neck, good and strong. And leave it there until that dead chicken stinks so bad that no other dog or person will even go near that poor beast. Thing'll smell so bad the dog won't be able to stand himself. You leave it on there until the last little bit of flesh rots and falls off, and that dog won't kill chickens again.
The Bush administration is going to be wired around the neck of the American people for four more years, long enough for the stench to sicken everybody. It should cure the country of electing Republicans.
And at least Democrats won't have to clean up after him until it is real clear to everyone who made the mess.
Damn it , we need her more than ever!
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
Red Rick says "A short look at Ms. Ivins views on 9/11 and what came after...." But the ACLU link he provides doesn't show Molly's views on 9/11. As I mentioned previously, Molly avoided commenting on the re-opening of any investigation into the events surrounding 9/11.
Molly Ivins speaking in support of the "Sarasota Resolution" is nice, but as stated in the resolution itself "over 182 communities throughout the country" had already addressed the USAPATRIOT Act, Executive Orders, etc. - courtesy of the Bill Of Rights Defense Committee http://www.bordc.org/
So it's hard to see Red Rick's point.
Stronger actions have been needed for years by 'we the people' in order to effect real changes in the operations of the American Empire.
My post was to assist Obedient Servant in comprehending Ms. Ivin's views on 9/11 and its aftermath
I am sorry you missed the citing:
Molly Ivins, one of the nation's wittiest and best-known political pundits and widely syndicated political columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, will appear in Sarasota September 11 to talk about the government crackdown on civil liberties in post 9-11 America.
There was then a link to the actual resolution that Ms. Ivins spoke in favor of
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
"Molly Ivins, one of the nation's wittiest and best-known political pundits and widely syndicated political columnist"
Very true....and a TEXAN!!!!
I might add humbly that Barbara Jordan was a Texan too and if she had lived just a bit longer we would have had National Health coverage for years.
Which only shows that the exception proves the rule...
This is me ducking...
.....
.......
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
No need to duck when you state a truism! (lol)
Red Rick
Thanks for the Chicken Killing article....the predicted stink surely showed up.
"I apologize to Mr. More for using the ACLU for my first citing...well not actually:"
Huummmm....perhaps I should clarify something here, I am not against the ACLU per se in fact I was a contributing member till early 07 I think it was. I am extremely angry at them for assisting illegal immigration, advocating for illegal immigrants over the rights and interests of American citizens. I simply can't believe that they have joined big business on this. But, a topic for another strand, off topic here.
I hold the same opinion of Unions in respect to replacing American workers with illegal workers in the membership.
Another topic, another pen name....( how many freaking hints do you need?)
As someone not now present (?) once said to you, the ACLU does not support illegal immigration, it supports the legal rights of illegal immigrants. I am unaware of any Unions that have a policy of replacing citizens with said illegals...are you?
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
Ok....Ok.....
So I'm a bit slow, what else is new!
"I am unaware of any Unions that have a policy of replacing citizens with said illegals...are you?"
Yes, the AFL-CIO or any other union accepting illegal workers because that is, de facto, a policy of replacing American workers with illegal workers.
I like the new quote!
Thomas, If you would read this article on the AFL webblog:
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/09/11/immigration-laws-us-trade-policy-hurt-all-workers/
I believe it is the position of the AFL that once corporations hire illegals those workers have the right to representation, not quite the same thing as you suggest. When illegals try to organise the immigration folks show up immediately and then the corporation hires a new crop. Is this the American way?
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
Red Rick
"I believe it is the position of the AFL that once corporations hire illegals those workers have the right to representation, not quite the same thing as you suggest."
I'd say it is the same.....and you are correct, that is exactly their position stated to me last year by the young woman that was in the position of hadling it. Their argument I'd say is simply a facile version of what I said they were and are doing. The result is the same.
"When illegals try to organise the immigration folks show up immediately and then the corporation hires a new crop. Is this the American way?"
Absolutely not, but I feel a lot of our corporations have ceased to be American. And thats exactly what the bastards are doing, hiring a new crop. And as long as the law is defied, they will continue doing it. And if they are sucessful in getting amnesty again or getting even legal status for the illegals, the same thing will happen all over. They have no interest in these poor folks except as cheap labor, thats why they provide the money to fight any adherance to our immigration laws.
I am afraid that for most of the illegals, they will lose either way. There is just no upside for them untill they immigrate here legally.
This fight is coming fast, the economy will acclerate it greatly and the American citizen and workers must come first. If it can just be delayed till fall it would be much less destructive for everyone I believe.
I forgot to add that the article was great and reflects my feelings fairly well till it gets to the part where he suggests that American workers shouldn't come first or that illegal workers should be accomadated alonside American workers. No can do. Won't work because of the cost.
But all illegal workers or illegal people for that matter as over 50 % of illegals don't work, deserve and have the right to certain protections under our laws.
There seems to be a pattern amongst protesters that was perhaps set unknowingly by Dr. King himself as his chance to look from the other side of the fence was stolen, cut short by the injustice of the day.
I can speak as someone "from the other side of the fence", I suppose, though I am a woman, a freedom barrier still not well acknowledged by status quo, the point I will try to make from this side is that there is no other side.
Dr. King was grappling with one searing realization when he wrote his letter from the Birmingham jail. In reflecting on the lack of support of his non-violent and direct action based in love by "..the white moderate... He goes on to write, "Perhaps I was too optimistic; perhaps I expected too much."
No, I do not believe that Dr. King was either of these, and I think that President Obama himself might reveal the truth of the matter in time. But I will not hinge my understanding on his. The greater truth is this: there is no real "moderate" nor "progressive" nor "conservative" because all these words are deceptive to the greater truth that King himself claimed obedience to, that truth is we are all human, and in slaving anyone, we merely reflect our pre-existing state of slavery. In putting others in prison for our deception, we become our own worst deceiver and imprisoned in such. This explains why those who are labeled "moderate" stand by and do nothing while injustice and brutality explode around them. They are more afraid, more abused, and more enslaved from truth and justice in their own mind and soul than any human in material bondage might ever find themselves to be.
They become the least of us, not the best of us, and that material illusion of wealth or power or safety that we see with our eyes blinds us to the inner quality of humanity they may and often do equally suffer from, inequality.
How inequality is planted even here, where many assume it does not exist, is a long and sordid tale of ignorance and fear in ignorance and the actions these feelings often evince from humans. Going on and on and on into the past.
Here in slavery or the fight against slavery or the moderate indifference in slavery, where we often forget to look behind the veils of ego illusion, we are all equals.
No life truly better in the end for excess, or truly worse for poverty, but truly equal at the inner altar where excess and poverty are allowed to co-exist in a state of assumed fundamental difference.
So when we protest material or physical injustice we would all be wise to remember what exactly it finds purchase to sink it's roots into, the preexisting inequality and spiritual poverty of those who perpetrate it. From here we really can speak with power to that truth.
We have all been slaves of the times, each and everyone, and it is time we are all set free from the worst bondage ever experienced by humankind, the bondage of the spirit in the mind of illusions and deceit.
From his dark prison cell, Dr. King could only see the illusion that is intended by those who need it most, all is well on the white side of the fence, behind the lacy curtains in the mansions of the moderates.
We all know today as those years of civil disobedience pay off, all is not well there at all, in fact the only thing that was ever well seems to be found in the dark of prison where it is temporarily held prisoner to the fears of the imaginary well. The last thing they want is discovery and yet the thing they must want most is also discovery.
So perhaps we should all discover the truth, not protest a lie.
What happens when snowflakes stick together?...............friends come together and have snow ball fights. :)
Leea
harvey wasserman
MOLLY! we love you and miss you more than we can say....except Betsy has said it so well....
This is a beautiful article, Betsy. Thank you so much!!
...and, by the way, no damn nukes....
I would rather think that she is, like George Carlin, another critical thinker who will be missed, screaming down at us (all figuratively speaking, of course) and telling us to keep on our toes. The transition went smoothly. Good. A lot of Bush policies are being redone or thrown out. But it's still too soon to celebrate.
I'd like to think that maybe right now Molly and George are knocking back a couple beers and having a good laugh at how pathetic we the living really are spending our treasure on hating and killing each other.
-- ekaton aka d.k.shaw
Ekaton,
I would love to be a fly on the wall listening to that conversation......
Indeed.
For some reason, Molly's associates and fans are inordinately fond of projecting their guesses on what Molly would do or say or think about the political status quo.
It's just a way of expressing admiration for Molly, but IMO these projections say much more about the person expressing them than they do about Molly.
But since we're on the subject, I'll offer my own 2¢ along the lines of davidpeace:
I think Molly had too much skepticism for Happy Horseshit to have kicked off her shoes and jumped on the Obama bandwagon. Oh, she may have been sufficiently persuaded that he was an acceptable candidate, and might even have rooted for him.
But Molly was no fan of Hillary Clinton, to put it mildly. And I think that her enthusiasm for Obama would have been appropriately dampened by his decision to staff his administration almost exclusively with Clintonista hawks. And I definitely believe that Molly would have been bothered by Obama's choice of Hillary as Secretary of State.
Since Molly certainly was able to walk and chew gum at the same time, I suppose it's possible that she could be simultaneously smiling AND spinning in that grave.
· Yr Obd't Servant
"she could be simultaneously smiling AND spinning in that grave."
Good one!! lol, I think that she could very well be doing that and more!
What happens when snowflakes stick together?...............friends come together and have snow ball fights. :)
Leea
I think Molly would buy you a beer.
"I think Molly would buy you a beer."
And Thomas imagine the stories one would be privileged to hear while sipping on that beer. Recently I re-read "Bushwhacked". (Ivins & Dubose)
Too true. She was a Texas treasure, we miss her a lot here. Great book!
She also had a huge praise for Thomas Frank, author of the book "What's the Matter with Kansas?"
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0429-21.htm
She also appeared on the Bill Moyers show back in 2003 when she described the self-righteous nature of the voters and the TX Republican Party similar to those in Kansas:
http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript220_full.html
IVINS: The Texas Republican party has been completely taken over by the Christian right. You're not looking at any kind of old-time Republicans. You're not looking at like, Poppy Bush Republicans, or people you would think of like that.
These people really believe that public institutions should be destroyed. They're trying to destroy the schools. They're trying to destroy the welfare system. They don't think government should be used to help people.
And it's really not because they're mean. They really think that government is bad. And that we should be doing all this on our own, through the churches. Well, the fact that that's not doable, that it's impossible, that it's an absurd proposition, is not something you can talk to these people about. It's like trying to talk to followers of David Koresh.
MOYERS: The cult leader, who…
IVINS: They're like people in a cult. They are so convinced of their own rectitude that they are not open to reason or fact or persuasion.
MOYERS: Things have changed since you and I were younger in Texas. I mean, there are a lot of people who do oppose more taxes. There are a lot of people who do believe government's become obtrusive. These people are reflecting something that's happening in your state, my state, and across the country.
IVINS: Well, part of the difference is, we've had 30 to 40 years of Republicans saying, "Government is bad government, can't do anything right. Government could screw up a two-car funeral. Everything they do is wrong. Blah, blah, blah."
And you know, before that, most people remember from the Depression, when their lives were just in dire chaos and misery, it was the government that came and helped. It was the government that got them WPA jobs, and got them on food allocations, and stuff like that.
There was a memory, that the government did good. And a distrust of big corporations. And now that's gradually eroded over time. And you add to that, just a deliberate attack on the very concept of government. What has been lost here, I think, is our sense of us-ness. That people… the Republicans talked about government as though it were them. "Those people in Washington." "Those people in Austin." Look, this government is us.
You own it, I own it. Everybody owns it. We're the Board of Directors. We control this thing. They work for us. And we've lost that sense that it's ours. When you talk to people about government now, they talk about it as though it were something that they could look at, like a picture on a wall. And say whether they like it or not.
"Well, you know, I just don't care much for politics." "Oh, it's boring." "Well, they're all crooks anyway. I mean, there's nothing I can do." I mean, we have no sense of ownership about it.
Vintage Molly.
"And it's really not because they're mean. They really think that government is bad."
Remember she always used to say "good intentions don't guarantee good results"?
Something for us all to remember. Unintended results.
I'll confess that I'm not always for big government but that doesn't mean I want no government. Overall, I just think some good things from the past that were thrown out along with better ideas that have been kept on the backburner need to be applied to government. Then again, since I did not live in TX until I moved in the late 1990s, wasn't TX somewhat libertarian/conservative even in the 1960s and 1970s? I know there was Ralph Yarborough but then there was LBJ too so I just cannot understand if the state ever really was liberal just like I'm still trying to understand how CA can be called liberal despite the pro-neocon Dems that keep getting elected each time.
"wasn't TX somewhat libertarian/conservative even in the 1960s and 1970s?"
Absolutely. Ralph was certainly liberal while LBJ wasn't.
I don't know if anyone can explain California. A state that used to lead the nation and now does not.
In some ways one could say CA is leading the nation but not on good notes. Right now the state is on the verge of collapse and sorely needs a bailout. I don't even want to know how many states are in a similar dire crisis. But then again, no state can permanently lead the nation and I'm guessing that CA has peaked. On another note, if CA is so anti-war as it claims to be, then why do they keep electing neocon Dims like Feinstein, Pelosi, Harmon, etc ... ? There are great reps such as Barbara Lee and Pete Stark but even now CA keeps those heros stuck in the minority column all the while giving Blue Dogs such as the Sanchez sisters? Maybe in that way too, CA seems to be leading in Blue Dogging the party. If CA's Silicon Valley succeeds in their experiment of genetically modifying the bacteria in bugs so that bugs excrete light sweet crude oil, then maybe they might lead sort of although it would be probably end up like the electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells. Maybe that state is filled with too many experiments and isn't sure which one to try to lead the nation with? I dunno.
The economy of California places it about eight in the world....
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
AH-HA! But can you explain it???????????????????
Voodoo economics
Agriculture mostly, silicon valley helps...Just think how much revenue is produced and not accounted for with our largest and most lucrative crop....no not rice.
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
As usual....ask a question and get a truthful answer! Voodoo!!
Lets start taxing that cash crop!
Directly after legalization of course, or at least decriminalization...
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
Ha! Does that mean you want to decrimnalize legalization or legalize decriminalization?
I've got a correspondence course from Rove.
Molly would be so thrilled to see Rachel Maddow's show, and would have been a great contributor and commenter on the program.
Her spitit is alive and with us.
http://davedubya.com
I have no doubt that when Obama won the election, and when he was inaugaurated, Molly was smiling in her grave both times.
RIP Molly
The restoration of America is underway.
When I moved south 20 years ago, reading a southern woman who could **be** a southern woman and still be both sane and hysterically funny, helped keep me sane during an otherwise culture-shock-filled transition.
This is the best article I've seen on CD all year, maybe ever. Of course I'm prejudiced because I thought Molly was the greatest.
She loved the Constitution and America as much or more than I do. She had the wisdom and clarity of mind to cut through BS better than anyone I've ever seen or met.
"She'd say: "I hear people whine: 'I can't do anything. I'm just one person.'" Then she'd lift her head high and quote from the Declaration of Independence in her Barbara Jordon voice and remind them, "as a U.S. citizen, you have more political power than most humans who've ever lived on this earth."
Words to live by.
I wish she were still here. She was by far the best of us.
Then why did you call me a racist for pointing out that Mr. Obama is acting like a "House Negro?" Do you think Mr. Obama's policies are more beneficial for the working person or the ruling elite? Do you think his cabinet is "change we can believe in" or more of the ruling elite control?
MALCOLM X: THE HOUSE NEGRO AND THE FIELD NEGRO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQe9nUKzvQ
We are all Field Negros now. We should have solidarity with our brothers, regardless of color. But, like all oppressed, we should look at the facts of our existence. However, you may identify more with the ruling elite than you let on.
I don't believe you get it, never the less.
hoytdouglas
Calling Mr. Obama a Field Nigger is a racist remark to me. It wasn't what you meant I'm sure, but it is was what you said. Its obvious what you meant to say by your next to the last paragraph.
Calling someone something like that is a racist remark to me. Its sort of like saying to a black child that wants to study "you're acting White"
I may have been hypersensative to the remark because I absolutely hate racism and intolerance, remember I'm from Texas and we used to have plenty of it when I was growing up. We still have some, but surprisingly not that much.
"Do you think Mr. Obama's policies are more beneficial for the working person or the ruling elite? Do you think his cabinet is "change we can believe in" or more of the ruling elite control?"
I simply don't know yet.
I have high hopes for Obama, but this stimulas package and the speed he insists we need seem no different than Bush and his Republicans. Most of his picks for his cabinet made sense, but some obviously did not. Nothing like having a tax cheat in charge of the IRS. And their excuses sounded much like neocons explanatiions for the same type thing.
The truth is I don't think that much of color except that folks keep bringing it up. They keep saying a Black man was elected President...yes he was and a marvelous thing it was, something I'd never thought I'd see in my lifetime. But he wasn't elected because he was Black, he was elected because everyone thought he would be the best choice.
I don't get why I should agree with everything in the program Hoyt, I don't. I doubt I'm right about everthing I believe, Rigidity of ideology is not what I call liberalism. I agree with what I think is right. Elites can sometimes be right just as the poor or anyone else. Whats right and the truth are the only thibgs that really matter to me.
In any case I'm guilty of knee jerk posting, something I've critisized and rightly so, if I had gone back and checked your prior postings I would have known not to call you racist. And its something that should not be said lightly. I was in the wrong here, so please accept my apology for my bad manners in knee jerk posting.
"They keep saying a Black man was elected President...yes he was and a marvelous thing it was". Maybe it is because Obama ran as a Black man. He was the one who kept bringing up his race. He and his supporters played the race card. Obama kept saying Republicans would use the fact that he looked different against him. The Republicans did not bring it up - Obama did. If you disagreed with or even questioned Obama you were called a racist. The media did their job to get him elected(as they did with George Bush). Obama is President - alot of people voted for him because he was black. Alot of people voted for him because George Bush was such a horrible President. We really do not know much about Obama as most of his records are sealed. Let's HOPE he turns out to be a good President.
Thomas Moore,
You are a good and honorable person. I, too, get heated up, and overly argumentative. It is I who speak harshly. Please, forgive me my bad manners, too.
At the end of the day, we progressives must speak together and work together.
I find your writing thoughtful, and I enjoy listening. Thank you.
hoytdouglas
"It is I who speak harshly. Please, forgive me my bad manners, too."
You must be kidding! Calling someone a racist is something that should only be done when you are sure by statement or record that they are. Not so in your case. My fault entirely and your comments to me were anything but harsh. The only bad manners displayed here was the amount of time before I offered an apology.
"I, too, get heated up, and overly argumentative."
When you feel strongly about something you can't resist it. But this article reminding me of Molly and one of her favorite obsevations " "good intentions don't guarantee good results" certainly applies to me here! But I can't see where you were overly argumentative.
"At the end of the day, we progressives must speak together and work together."
Amen.
I find your writing thoughtful, usually with excellent content and conclusions (except where you disagree with me and are obviously wrong! (lol) and I appreciate your civil and generous attitude. The only apology required here is mine.
Have a great weekend.
Very well stated, sir. This is indeed the way to debate and progress. Thank you for demonstrating a maturity and wisdom that is far, far too rare.
I am newly arrived here but I did take the pains to read past articles and commentaries and know Mr. More to be sincere and well intentioned. He is ,after all, from Texas, thus deserving of our compassion, understanding and tolerance. ;-)
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
Red Rick
Thats very kind! We can use all the help we can get.
Especially those of us from Texas I would imagine.....
A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet..You are very welcome, Thomas.
Red
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so. Bertrand Russell
"Calling Mr. Obama a Field Nigger is a racist remark to me."
I agree. To me it is an extremely offensive remark. I was very surprised that such a remark would come from a "liberal" thinker. Or should I be surprised? Thomas I believe that you owe no apology to this so called "Progressive/liberal" thinker. In this case I believe that this man/woman who made this very offensive remark owes the readers here on CD an apology. Certainly he/she is not the one to be in a position of accepting apologies from anyone.
BTW, President Obama is doing just fine.
Perhaps I split hairs here, but hoyt did not use the term you and Thomas are so quick to write. You should re-read his remarks.
-- ekaton aka d.k.shaw
"Perhaps I split hairs here"
Field Negro and Field Nigger are one and the same to me. Its simply a euphamism, one used many times before.
Its perfectly permissable to split hairs here becaiuse the exact term Hoyt used was Negro.
I appreciate your remarks Dante, I've taken quite a beating recently. But in this case Hoyt was trying to make a point that unfortunately can be taken the wrong way and I did. As I said, looking back at postings of Hoyts I'm convinced I'm in the wrong here and certainly owe Hoyt an apology. Racist should be used very carefully and I don't believe I did.
And thanks to you Mr. Shaw for splitting hairs. I am simply not careful enough. And that is not a good thing.
You should at least pay some attention to what hoyt actually wrote before accusing him of racism. First, he never called Obama a "field nigger" or "field negro." He called him a House Negro. Big difference if you know where the term originates, in Malcolm X's speech. Following Malcolm's metaphor, Obama's problem is that he IS NOT a field negro but instead a house negro. (Again, these are Malcolm's terms, not mine.) The house negro's main concern was obeying his master and making sure none of the other slaves got out of line and caused master any trouble. The field negro stayed loyal to his own kind and wanted nothing so much as for master to die. The house negro's attention and energies was in insuring the longevity of master and obedience to him by the field negroes. It remains to be seen which group Obama will ultimately fall into.
OUCH....I am simply not having a good week!
In any case Field or House Negro is the same difference. The term didn't originate in Malcom X's speech of course, its a bit older than that.
Again though.....Mia Culpa
Damn Hoyt....jump in and save me here!!! The kid is drowning!
But it's not the same difference. They mean diametrically different things. If you mean it's racist to use either of the terms, then you're indirectly calling Malcolm X a racist. Using the word "negro" isn't racist, and especially in the context of the 1960's. He was trying to describe a situation with a metaphor. And no one used the cumbersome term African-American then. Pretty soon, vacuous political correctness will insist that "African-American" is a racist term.
God, lets do away with PC conversation! Its the bane of real debate/conversation and I'd hate to indulge in it myself.
But adding House or Field to Negro changes the meaning to me and thats what it means in the South. Fortunately since we had the real problems early we are farther down the road on some of this, but still sensative to some words. Many of my old team mates, friends then and now resented Negro because of what it represented and took umbrage if you didn't say Black instead of Negro.
It may be a generational or regional difference in viewing a statement......or
maybe it was a full moon.
Thomas More wrote:
God, lets do away with PC conversation! Its the bane of real debate/conversation
ADVOCATE:
Yes, please. Everybody.
Look at the whole person, not the occasional wart.
There was no one like Molly.
I miss her too.