That so much is moving through the news pipeline this week means I've got a lot on my mind to get down on paper, I mean on screen. There's an urgency to all of this.
First, the day-in day-out struggles and beauties of raising LBGTQ kids. Other forms of discrimination receive a lot more media exposure, which is not necessarily a bad thing for these children. Just being left alone by the media machine can be a blessing when so much of the publicity is negative.
Our best understanding of human sexuality suggests that it ranges along a spectrum based on who we are attracted to; similarly our gender identity is often independent of our biological characteristics altogether.
Just grasping these fundamental truths seems to be beyond the capability of some, who instead choose to retreat behind ancient biases and fears. In my case, I confess that I was pretty broadly ignorant about the "T" in this spectrum until a girlfriend of mine introduced me to the transcendental beauty of the trans population in San Francisco.
She had a connoisseur's appreciation for women's clothing and the way in which people choose to present themselves. Those qualities allowed her to help me see trans people in a new way.
So it is with pleasure that I see the NCAA may stop holding championship games in states with anti-trans laws on the books.
Hallelujuh! This represents progress.
***
Onward to more news. When will enough sane people get sick of Israel's disgusting behavior in the Middle East to force it to stop? The way Mossad provokes Iran every time there is some hope of a rapprochement with the U.S. is getting sickening. And no one should forget the ongoing maltreatment of the Palestinians whose territory Israel occupies.
There is no way for an intellectually honest person to express concern for the indigenous populations in North and South America, Taiwan, Australia and many other places without condemning Israeli persecution of the native people within and on the other side of its borders.
I'm not questioning Israels' right to exist. Just its horrible, unjustified behavior toward the Palestinians. This is a stain on humanity and it is far past the time for the U.S. government to use its substantial leverage to force Israel to clean up its act and learn to live in peace with its neighbors.
***
Finally, some good news as the Wall Street Journal takes note of how beneficial even ten minutes of journal-writing per day can have in anyone's life. I know I resemble a broken record promoting this habit but I'll never apologize for that.
Keep track of your life -- your movements, your feelings, your observations! I know many people feel they cannot write effectively, but don't let that be an excuse to not at least try. Some of the most moving and elegant stories I have ever read comes from people who would never identify as writers.
It's the story that matters -- much more than the form. That's how we teach children when they are learning to write. We say don't worry about spelling or punctuation; phonetic words are fine and there's time to master those other details later on.
No, write as if your life depends on it. Because it may. And if you are old like me, those dizzy spells may well be mini strokes and hints that your days may be numbered. If so, the stories you withhold now will never get told.
And that would be a pity.
***
News:
* U.S. federal health agencies recommended pausing the use of Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine after six recipients developed a rare disorder involving blood clots. (Reuters)
* A Push to Move the Golf Course Atop a Native American ‘Stonehenge’ -- Historians hoping to preserve the ancient Octagon Earthworks in Newark, Ohio, as a UNESCO World Heritage site face a problem: the golf club that leases the property (NYT)
* Minnesota killing adds to the anger, and the stakes, as Chauvin trial nears its end (WaPo)
* Fox News host Tucker Carlson doubled down on comments he made days ago about the "great replacement" theory, a racist, far-right doctrine that imagines white people are intentionally being replaced with immigrants and minorities. The Anti-Defamation League has called on Fox News to fire Carlson. [HuffPost]
* Apple backs far-reaching emissions disclosure rules. (Reuters)
* California is one of the states with the worst disparities in vaccinating its Latino population, despite a statewide mandate meant to target underserved communities. [CNN]
* A drought on the border between Oregon and California could lead to cuts in irrigation water to farmers in order to sustain endangered fish species central to the heritage of local tribes. [AP]
* The Los Angeles Unified School District is considering extending the next school year by two weeks to make up for lost time learning and to address trauma from pandemic school closures. [Los Angeles Times]
* At Chauvin trial, defense’s use-of-force expert says former officer was ‘justified’ in use of force (WaPo)
* Chauvin defense team attempts to put George Floyd’s drug addiction on the stand (WaPo)
* After Nuclear Site Blackout, Thunder From Iran, and Silence From U.S. -- The Americans and Israelis have worked together in the past to impede Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but the U.S. denies that was the case in the latest sabotage. (NYT)
* Iran to begin 60% uranium enrichment after nuclear site incident (Reuters)
* Kristen Clarke faced abuse for taking on Trump. Now she’s poised to lead Justice Dept.’s civil rights team. (WaPo)
* While most Americans have weathered the pandemic financially, about 38 million say they are worse off now than before the outbreak began in the U.S. (AP)
* Myanmar Coup Puts the Seal on Autocracy’s Rise in Southeast Asia -- Not long ago, democracy seemed to be surging in the region. But in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and elsewhere, it is in trouble (NYT)
* Biden to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, officials say
(Reuters)
* As GOP-led states seek to exclude transgender athletes from sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association issued a statement reaffirming its support for transgender student-athletes competing on teams that align with their gender identity. The organization suggested it may not hold championship games in states with anti-trans laws on the books. [HuffPost]
* We should celebrate trans kids, not crack down on them (WaPo)
* Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull testified that Rupert Murdoch has done more to divide and damage America with the help of Donald Trump than Vladimir Putin has. The parliamentary hearing was prompted by a petition that was signed by half a million Australians calling for an investigation into Murdoch’s media empire. [HuffPost]
* Not Your Usual Police Chief: Biden Picks Trump Critic to Run Border Agency (NYT)
* How Journaling Can Help You Live Your Best Life -- Just 10 minutes a day of writing can be effective, says an author and life coach who suggests: “make yourself the hero in a story of your own making.”(WSJ)
* A woman softball pitcher from the University of North Texas made NCAA Division I history by throwing a perfect game in which she registered all 21 outs by strikeout. (NPR)
* Geologists Recommend Eating At Least One Small Rock Per Day (The Onion)
***
Isn't the right thing to do
How can I ever change things
That I feel
Maybe I'd give you my world
How can I
When you won't take it from me
Go your own way
You can call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way
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