Sigh. I am amazed at the resemblances between us, Kamau. I am a qigong instructor & have the *utmost* respect for anybody who even attempts to learn Bruce Lee's system! :)
The idea of Hitler going fishing with some guy cracks me up. Such things were beneath The Artist. I know because I've researched the Nazis for about 40 years now, so let me school that UFC Nazi wannabe.
Hitler's mentor, Ernst Rohm, was gay. He was prolly the gayest gay in Germany. This wasn't the best-kept secret in the west, but Dolph never had a problem with it. Not a peep out of him. That is, until the mid-'30s, when Rohm became of no further use to him. Then the Fuehrer said he was a dangerous & demented queer & engineered his murder.
You'd think I'd get tired of saying being a friend of Hitler was as deadly as being an enemy. Well, sometimes I do...but it's the truth, & it's still relevant to our situation. At least a dozen people who were Hitler's "friends" disappeared in the '30s. Or I should say, in Jersey grrl parlance, "were disappeared." It can happen to MAGA too.
I am a horrible, horrible human being because dark humor gets me through. When I read "Bryce is a flat-earther, doesn’t believe in gravity, is against seatbelts,...." I giggled to myself wondering how then could he sit in a car without wearing a seatbelt and not float away because there's no such thing as gravity? And up he goes, like a li'l camo-patterned balloon that might get stuck in a tree or just keep rising so high that sees the world in all it's glorious its two-dimensional flatness. It's like the most f-ed up kids book ever. And they probably wouldn't ban it.
Ok before I completely lose nerve…to answer the question, What are you doing? I had some T shirts made up and am giving them away free to anyone (I will pay postage). One says on the front: Love trumps Hate. On the back: Compassion IS Power.
The other says on the back: Oligarchy (Noun) 1.Rule by the few at our expense. 2. A club for insecure billionaires. 3. A shortcut to hell
The idea is that even though wearing the second one has so far elicited zero response even in a pretty crunchy neighborhood, (which was a surprise) maybe one discouraged person would see the message(s) and take heart.
Years ago I stopped shopping at Walmart and then last year I stopped shopping at Amazon and even switched from Kindle to Nook for e-books. I turned to Target but now I can’t shop there anymore. Looks like I may have to stop shopping periodt! Now whenever I need to buy something I do extensive research on their Trump and DEI stance and then make my decision. Old Navy apparently is still on the right side of history.
Thank you so much for this and for all of your newsletters, Kamau. To answer your question, I've been stepping back to take stock of what I’m consuming (in every sense of the word), and where and how I'm spending my energy. Like you, this had led to divesting, as much as possible, from anything MAGA adjacent, including getting off of Instagram to reclaim precious time and mental space.
I’m continuing to write and work on behalf of wild nature and I’m coaching boxing again. I’m a former fighter. I turned pro when women’s boxing was in its infancy and though my fights mostly fell through, I had an incredible education in the sport at Gleason’s in Brooklyn. Most of the boxers I hung out with were (and are) social justice activists, incredibly wise and intelligent people. My coach gave me books like the autobiography of Assata Shakur, The Art Of War and countless others to read so I could become a fighter in every sense of the word. I’ve been wanting to organize some of the fighters I know to counter the incredibly loud ignorance and stupidity in the sport. In the meantime, I’ve been living locally, collaborating on land stewardship initiatives and being mindful of where my time and energy is spent so I can have the strength to do the work that’s needed.
Yeah, Gleason’s was my home away from home for years. It was an amazing experience. It feels good not only to share what I learned there, and to offer such a therapeutic and empowering practice to others, but also to activate that massive part of me again since most of my recent public facing work is writing, outdoor education and nature advocacy. For many that creates a cognitive dissonance but for me it's all intertwined.
I have never been a boxing or martial arts fan ... except for aikido, but it makes me very sad that a large percentage of the public is thrilling to the Nazi message you describe. And I agree with your conclusion, including Take More Walks. Also, listen to music. And read novels. But keep your head up high, and out of the sand, and do what you can to fight back against this onslaught of Nazi sludge!
Thank you. I needed the reminder to take a walk during this tragedy that we are experiencing. I have also had to give up Target and Amazon. Their loss considering how much money I have spent there. Get up stand up. Don't give up the fight.
Also a Wing Chun student (albeit for only about a year). It's demanding but engrossing and rewarding.
I know it's a lot of work but do try to keep up with "I did nazi that coming." I became a paid subscriber just to help the effort. Everybody who can should also pony up. We can ask for a W. Kamau best kung fu movie recommendations. Maybe it will happen!
I am with you in no longer supporting those who allow themselves to be bullied by the hateful right. Target? Out. Lowe's? Out, Home Depot? Already out. I even wrote to the CEO of MolsonCoors, the company I was proud to work for for 39 years until I retired in 2015. Coors was an industry leader, the first brewer to extend benefits to same sex partners. They also worked hard to diversify their workforce decades before DEI was a thing. Not anymore as they have turned their backs on their employees to satisfy the anti-equality movement. Sad to have to write the CEO to say I can no longer support MolsonCoors as a consumer or voice.
I get and agree with dropping support of UFC. I don't get why people support UFC in the first place. I don't get supporting the fighting sports in the first place. I don't get sanctioning and encouraging an activity in which the goal is for participants to beat the living shit out each other. The goal and ultimate triumph is to concuss one's opponent. I don't get celebrating brutalization.
I don't get the "agency argument" that the participants are doing this of their own free will, so it's ok. There is no doubt in my mind that if there were to be sanctioned fights to the death, people would line up to participate and to watch...provided the purse was big enough. Where do we draw the line?
As an individual, I have to draw my line where the damage inflicted is part and parcel of "the game", not just the risk of injury in any physical endeavor. In the fighting sports and football, injuries are accepted as an unavoidable element, and since no one is forcing anyone to play, it's ok for us to continue to support the activity for our amusement. CTE continues to destroy lives. Chronic pain and addiction are frequent companions of retired footballers. Much as I always loved the game, I can no longer support it.
If they ever go to flag football, I'll be back--all the skills without the violence and destruction, which of course are the elements required for fans, so that ain't gonna happen.
Monthly contributions to the ACLU. Unsubscribed from NY Times and WashPo. Subscribed to The Guardian and several Substackers (Joyce Vance, Heather Cox Richardson, Adam Kissinger) Putting Trump on mute. If I hear his voice I start a loud gibberish and stick my fingers in my ears like someone is telling me the final score of soccer game I’ve DVRed. Browsing property in Europe (I have an EU passport).
I teach English as a second language to 6th graders in a predominantly Hispanic and African American jr high school. Last Monday my school barely made the attendance number needed to count as a school day. The Hispanic students were too scared to come. Tik Tok told them ICE was coming 🤦♀️ I live in IL where we don’t let that happen. I wear my Pride gym shoes everyday. The kids love them. I don’t identify as gay but I’m not shy about being an Ally. We have a trans teacher and a trans secretary at my school and I’m so proud when my kids use their preferred pronouns. They come from a culture that isn’t known for their inclusiveness so I am proud to surround them with love and support in all areas.
I used to spend ALOT of money at Target. Not another dime. Stopped Amazon long ago. I'm glad my hometown Wegmans is on the right side of history. I'm considering Costco. Have had to buy a few small items at Walmart, but I keep it minimal. I also subscribed to you, Kamau, cuz you definitely keep me sane these days. O and I made a bunch of phone calls to R House people in nearby districts. I have some family in DC, so maybe a good protest march soon!
Sigh. I am amazed at the resemblances between us, Kamau. I am a qigong instructor & have the *utmost* respect for anybody who even attempts to learn Bruce Lee's system! :)
The idea of Hitler going fishing with some guy cracks me up. Such things were beneath The Artist. I know because I've researched the Nazis for about 40 years now, so let me school that UFC Nazi wannabe.
Hitler's mentor, Ernst Rohm, was gay. He was prolly the gayest gay in Germany. This wasn't the best-kept secret in the west, but Dolph never had a problem with it. Not a peep out of him. That is, until the mid-'30s, when Rohm became of no further use to him. Then the Fuehrer said he was a dangerous & demented queer & engineered his murder.
You'd think I'd get tired of saying being a friend of Hitler was as deadly as being an enemy. Well, sometimes I do...but it's the truth, & it's still relevant to our situation. At least a dozen people who were Hitler's "friends" disappeared in the '30s. Or I should say, in Jersey grrl parlance, "were disappeared." It can happen to MAGA too.
Thank you for this!
It's one of my greatest pleasures to help out! :)
I am a horrible, horrible human being because dark humor gets me through. When I read "Bryce is a flat-earther, doesn’t believe in gravity, is against seatbelts,...." I giggled to myself wondering how then could he sit in a car without wearing a seatbelt and not float away because there's no such thing as gravity? And up he goes, like a li'l camo-patterned balloon that might get stuck in a tree or just keep rising so high that sees the world in all it's glorious its two-dimensional flatness. It's like the most f-ed up kids book ever. And they probably wouldn't ban it.
🤣
Ok before I completely lose nerve…to answer the question, What are you doing? I had some T shirts made up and am giving them away free to anyone (I will pay postage). One says on the front: Love trumps Hate. On the back: Compassion IS Power.
The other says on the back: Oligarchy (Noun) 1.Rule by the few at our expense. 2. A club for insecure billionaires. 3. A shortcut to hell
The idea is that even though wearing the second one has so far elicited zero response even in a pretty crunchy neighborhood, (which was a surprise) maybe one discouraged person would see the message(s) and take heart.
Then there are the yard signs…
GOOD FOR YOU!
Sounds like some (many?) UFC fighters have taken too many hits to the head.
They have to be horrible to begin with.
Or no other employable skills.
Sadly. Education would help these people but they’ve been convinced that it’s not achievable.
Years ago I stopped shopping at Walmart and then last year I stopped shopping at Amazon and even switched from Kindle to Nook for e-books. I turned to Target but now I can’t shop there anymore. Looks like I may have to stop shopping periodt! Now whenever I need to buy something I do extensive research on their Trump and DEI stance and then make my decision. Old Navy apparently is still on the right side of history.
So crazy with a name like “Old Navy” that they are on the correct side.🤯
Costco
Yup. We have recently become Costco people.
Self hate propels Nazi’s. That’s the comment.
Thank you so much for this and for all of your newsletters, Kamau. To answer your question, I've been stepping back to take stock of what I’m consuming (in every sense of the word), and where and how I'm spending my energy. Like you, this had led to divesting, as much as possible, from anything MAGA adjacent, including getting off of Instagram to reclaim precious time and mental space.
I’m continuing to write and work on behalf of wild nature and I’m coaching boxing again. I’m a former fighter. I turned pro when women’s boxing was in its infancy and though my fights mostly fell through, I had an incredible education in the sport at Gleason’s in Brooklyn. Most of the boxers I hung out with were (and are) social justice activists, incredibly wise and intelligent people. My coach gave me books like the autobiography of Assata Shakur, The Art Of War and countless others to read so I could become a fighter in every sense of the word. I’ve been wanting to organize some of the fighters I know to counter the incredibly loud ignorance and stupidity in the sport. In the meantime, I’ve been living locally, collaborating on land stewardship initiatives and being mindful of where my time and energy is spent so I can have the strength to do the work that’s needed.
Wow! That is awesome. I love that you are coaching boxing and passing on what you learned! And Gleason’s?? WOW!
Yeah, Gleason’s was my home away from home for years. It was an amazing experience. It feels good not only to share what I learned there, and to offer such a therapeutic and empowering practice to others, but also to activate that massive part of me again since most of my recent public facing work is writing, outdoor education and nature advocacy. For many that creates a cognitive dissonance but for me it's all intertwined.
I'm not an MMA fan, but I'm a W. Kamau fan, so I support this and everyone here 😂❤️
Thank YOU!
I have never been a boxing or martial arts fan ... except for aikido, but it makes me very sad that a large percentage of the public is thrilling to the Nazi message you describe. And I agree with your conclusion, including Take More Walks. Also, listen to music. And read novels. But keep your head up high, and out of the sand, and do what you can to fight back against this onslaught of Nazi sludge!
Thank you. I needed the reminder to take a walk during this tragedy that we are experiencing. I have also had to give up Target and Amazon. Their loss considering how much money I have spent there. Get up stand up. Don't give up the fight.
Also a Wing Chun student (albeit for only about a year). It's demanding but engrossing and rewarding.
I know it's a lot of work but do try to keep up with "I did nazi that coming." I became a paid subscriber just to help the effort. Everybody who can should also pony up. We can ask for a W. Kamau best kung fu movie recommendations. Maybe it will happen!
I could do that, but they would probably all be before the 90’s.
I am with you in no longer supporting those who allow themselves to be bullied by the hateful right. Target? Out. Lowe's? Out, Home Depot? Already out. I even wrote to the CEO of MolsonCoors, the company I was proud to work for for 39 years until I retired in 2015. Coors was an industry leader, the first brewer to extend benefits to same sex partners. They also worked hard to diversify their workforce decades before DEI was a thing. Not anymore as they have turned their backs on their employees to satisfy the anti-equality movement. Sad to have to write the CEO to say I can no longer support MolsonCoors as a consumer or voice.
I get and agree with dropping support of UFC. I don't get why people support UFC in the first place. I don't get supporting the fighting sports in the first place. I don't get sanctioning and encouraging an activity in which the goal is for participants to beat the living shit out each other. The goal and ultimate triumph is to concuss one's opponent. I don't get celebrating brutalization.
I don't get the "agency argument" that the participants are doing this of their own free will, so it's ok. There is no doubt in my mind that if there were to be sanctioned fights to the death, people would line up to participate and to watch...provided the purse was big enough. Where do we draw the line?
As an individual, I have to draw my line where the damage inflicted is part and parcel of "the game", not just the risk of injury in any physical endeavor. In the fighting sports and football, injuries are accepted as an unavoidable element, and since no one is forcing anyone to play, it's ok for us to continue to support the activity for our amusement. CTE continues to destroy lives. Chronic pain and addiction are frequent companions of retired footballers. Much as I always loved the game, I can no longer support it.
If they ever go to flag football, I'll be back--all the skills without the violence and destruction, which of course are the elements required for fans, so that ain't gonna happen.
Oh…and I write :https://open.substack.com/pub/danstpaul/p/better-political-labels?r=1dkphq&utm_medium=ios
Monthly contributions to the ACLU. Unsubscribed from NY Times and WashPo. Subscribed to The Guardian and several Substackers (Joyce Vance, Heather Cox Richardson, Adam Kissinger) Putting Trump on mute. If I hear his voice I start a loud gibberish and stick my fingers in my ears like someone is telling me the final score of soccer game I’ve DVRed. Browsing property in Europe (I have an EU passport).
On behalf of the ACLU, thank YOU!
I teach English as a second language to 6th graders in a predominantly Hispanic and African American jr high school. Last Monday my school barely made the attendance number needed to count as a school day. The Hispanic students were too scared to come. Tik Tok told them ICE was coming 🤦♀️ I live in IL where we don’t let that happen. I wear my Pride gym shoes everyday. The kids love them. I don’t identify as gay but I’m not shy about being an Ally. We have a trans teacher and a trans secretary at my school and I’m so proud when my kids use their preferred pronouns. They come from a culture that isn’t known for their inclusiveness so I am proud to surround them with love and support in all areas.
I used to spend ALOT of money at Target. Not another dime. Stopped Amazon long ago. I'm glad my hometown Wegmans is on the right side of history. I'm considering Costco. Have had to buy a few small items at Walmart, but I keep it minimal. I also subscribed to you, Kamau, cuz you definitely keep me sane these days. O and I made a bunch of phone calls to R House people in nearby districts. I have some family in DC, so maybe a good protest march soon!