A Message of Peace

RONIT AND JAMIL could not be more timely. It is about peace and love and creating a bridge between human beings of disparate cultures. The reviews have been fabulous, and I am being asked to give staged readings in other venues, other than City College. I am hoping I can bring this cross-country as a talisman of PEACE, so people can immerse themselves in the message of hope that this book brings. I pray the message becomes huge in the world, not just for the sake of my book, but for the sake of humanity.

Empty by Suzanne Weyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just reread my friend Suzanne Weyn's wonderful book, EMPTY because I am teaching it for a class, and all I can say is WOW! Written in 2010, the book imagines a world in the very near future where gas is running out and there is no oil. Not only does this mean no driving and no heat, but every day necessities-food, malls-the world as we know it no longer exists. Additionally, some terrible storms invade the landscape.

Sound familiar? This world exists right now. According to the January 19th NYT, for the third year in a row a heat record was set, which threatens society and nature. Scientists are alarmed.

The scientists in Weyn's book also knew there would ultimately be a disaster, but they did not think it would come so quickly. The world is in a dangerous place, and what this means for the teens-the protagonists of the book- is they must come up with a plan, using natural sources of food and energy to save them. Can they do it quickly enough?

This book is intensely prophetic, especially at a time when all of the wonderful plans for saving our environment are under question with our new president. Undoing the Paris Accords only spells disaster.

Can the teens save their world? Can we?

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Values

Life is about being thoughtful, having a conscience, being decent. Aristotle was talking about reflection and exploration, being able to look at what is going on with a certain level of clarity, and also facing the ambiguity. I am afraid of America, that it is not examining its way in politics and the world. What does that mean? It could mean, like it did in ancient Greece and Rome, the end of civilization. On a very basic level, it means the end of decency and integrity. Once values disappear, what are we left with? Nothing.

I am afraid of this existential world, and its significance. Too many political leaders have allowed the lapse of the most important thing they have: personal values. And when that goes, only bad things will follow.

THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE

THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE was blasted at the Million Women Marches, all over the country. It includes all people--all races, all genders, all gender orientations, all religions--so many faces flooding the streets. Democracy is the voice to speak out against your insane tweets. Democracy is the resistance--the repeal of the Affordable Care Act;, climate change denial, threats to the pursuit of equality (racial, economic, gender), a general erosion of civility, modesty, nuance, logic. Democracy is the voice to say you can not play with facts, say you are draining the swamp and fill your cabinet members with filthy rich, corrupt billionaires, many of whom have no experience in government. Power, in the words of Frederick Douglas, concedes nothing without a demand.

Here are our demands, Mr. Trump. What are you going to do now?

Trump World

There is a new world called Trump World. It is filled with lies. How ironic that Hillary Clinton's name was defaced with the coined expression "crooked Hillary," and his followers shouted, insanely, "lock her up" when this man can contradict himself dozens of times in ONE DAY ALONE.

But here is the thing, Mr. Trump. You can not argue facts. When you say there were over a million people at the inauguration, and blame the picture which shows so few people on photo shopping, it is obvious how insecure and petty you are. Not only that, pictures do not lie; say what you want about the media. All they did was take pictures. And further proof: I was there the day of the inauguration, when it ended, and there were not many people on the train with their red baseball hats, "Make America Great Again."

America can not be great as you continue to lie and spread venom. America WAS great under President Obama, who had grace and dignity and the ability to not even call you out for what you are. I wish I could be as silent in your presence.

But I cannot. And speaking of lies, GLOBAL WARMING is a scientific truth. You want to argue with scientists? Are you a scientist, too? Try taking a trip around the world, or maybe read some books about it and follow statistics. Try taking a look at the insane storms and flooding, ones which just might cause your beloved golf course in Florida to be underwater. But I forgot; you do not read. You do not even take security briefs. You have bigger things to do. What do they happen to be?

But I know, it will be someone else's fault. It always is in Trump World, where facts and evidence do not matter.

Million Woman's March

The Million Woman's March was fabulous in a million ways, in that there were women (and some men) in Washington, D.C., our national's capital, saying what he is doing to women's rights via Planned Parenthood and the Affordable Care Act is NOT okay, and it's not! The way after what many had assumed would be the inauguration of the first female president, turned into the travesty called Donald Trump. So hundreds of thousands of women of all ages and all colors and all forms of sexual orientations took to the streets in cities across the country in defiant, jubilant rallies. And with millions of women everywhere marching, there were no arrests, no threats; this was a peaceful demonstration for the terribly polarized nation. And being with my daughter, Samantha, her friend, my sister-in-law and cousin, Becky, made it even sweeter. We marched for my granddaughter, Ella. And the sweetest moments came from my husband, Ira (I am so proud of you and Samantha for doing this) and from my daughter herself. She thanked me for the weekend and also thanked me for "birthing her."

I am the one who had to thank them!

Goodbye President Obama

Goodbye, dear president. You inspired a great nation. You were never crude, always a brilliant orator, quite funny and a remarkable husband, parent, leader. And you always were optimistic, even when there were people who accused you of insanity, such as the birther rumors. I NEVER heard you call anyone a name; put down anyone; be anything but utterly and totally positive. The thing is, it was evident you always believed in the American people and this optimism was contagious. You are leaving this office with a 55-60% approval rating, while our new president enters with a 37% approval rating. Today, though, I will be like you. I will not put him down, but I will say, the nation mourns your departure. I allow your last words in your farewell address to resonate with me: "Let me tell you, the generation coming up-unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic-I've seen you in every corner of the country. You believe in a fair and just and inclusive America; you know that constant change is America's hallmark, that it's not something to fear but something to embrace; you are willing to carry out this hard work of democracy forward. You'll soon outnumber us, and I believe, as a result, the future is in good hands."

Today, president Obama, I bid farewell to you and your optimism and the way you have etched the meaning of goodness and righteousness in the world. I will try my very hardest to keep your wonderful essence with me as I face a world that now seems totally unfamiliar.

The Two-State Delusion: Israel and Palestine – A Tale of Two Narratives by Padraig O'Malley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just finished THE TWO STATE DELUSION by Padrig O' Malley. This book was remarkable in the way it showed both sides of the coin-for the Israelis and the Palestinians, and for the right of return. The frightening perspective, for me, is his sense that the time for a two state solution has passed. Palestine's political disunity and economic fragility coupled with Israel's continuing ideological shifts to the right make the concept of peace negotiations untenable. Reading this book was an education; in fact, every American should read this book in order to get a broader understanding of the politics and machinations inside both Israel and Palestine. You get a glimpse not only into the lives of the politicians, but ordinary citizens, too, many of whom want peace (on both sides), but also do not see its feasibility. This quote in the book really stood out for me: "There is little hope for advance on any front until both Jewish Israelis and Palestinians begin to think in terms of the long view and differentiate between what they can accomplish in the here and now and what they can leave for future generations to decide. Demography is a long way down the road; so is squeezing out the hatred; so, too, is educating both publics about the costs of living apart and the benefits of living together. But of utmost importance is respect."

I am starting to think, in some ways, there are similarities between the left and right here. We have become enemies. Once that happens, how do you proceed to work together? There must be some way, somehow-or is it really just the death of idealasim?

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Happy Birthday Ira

Happy belated birthday, Ira. I MUST write about you on my blog, since you are central to my life, but it is pivotal I write about your essence-THINE BEFORE MINE. Ira, you have lived your life to the service of others. First of all, me, your wife. I never wanted to live in the suburbs, and explained to you I am not a driver and did not want to "shlep" the children places, and since I was with the children more, you agreed. You agreed to take the vacations I suggested; you opened yourself to the culture I introduced you to; you became a tireless and devoted Dad, one who probably put your children first and foremost. I would say your family came before your job, not that you were not dedicated as a physician. You have worked your whole life in an inner-city hospital, and though the work has been demanding and you certainly complained enough, you also worked in a dedicated fashion, and if someone did not have the money to pay you, it was irrelevant. You were never motivated by money. If you were, perhaps you would have voted for Trump, because your taxes would have been lower, and the cabinet choice for Health is Richard Price, a man who you abhor, but one who puts doctors and their purse strings first. Why? He is not there for the patients, but only the doctors. My guess is many mercenary doctors made another decision, but not you. You are a man with such a strong moral compass that you put me to shame. It is always thine before mine, and I can not say I am this way as strongly as you.

This is why I admire you. This is why I respect you. When you look up "mensch" in the dictionary, there you are. In fact, you have grown to be even more of a mensch over the years. You are appalled by the Trump presidency because of the man's total lack of a moral center.

Your moral center, Ira, is so superlative, that daily I count my blessings that I married you and managed to stay married all these years. I can only look forward to our bright future together, one that includes fighting the forces that try to make our world less moral. You are the meaning of the word "man."

Hidden Figures

Just saw the movie Hidden Figures, and it made me feel hopeful. Why? Three black women worked for NASA during the height of Jim Crow South, and these women, by being smart, daring, and unafraid, were able to endure the hardships and prejudice not only against Blacks, but against women. But against all odds, these women came out on top. They did it with intellect and the power of conviction. And the men who had chosen to close the doors to them had to stop and pause and let them in-because these three women demanded it.
Two things really stood out as remarkable:

1. The audience was filled with children, mostly middle schoolers. I was afraid, since they were so chatty, throwing popcorn-doing what middle schoolers can do. Yet, the lights went out and-silence. Not only that, there were so many moments where the women in the film would not back down-sort of like Rocky moments for women, and the kids cheered. They also cheered against the ugly racism when it reared its ugly head. And you know what I thought? The parents of these children have done such a good job, since these ten and eleven year olds already realize what is WRONG in the world, and also what is RIGHT. These kids made me believe. They also made me believe I, too, can fight against what will clearly be WRONG in the world in the next few years, and perhaps I can win.

AND

2. These women worked for NASA in the late fifties, early sixties, sort of pre-feminism. Yet, two out of three had husbands who shared the work and believed that their girlfriends/wives could rise to the top. In other words, the men thought of the women as equals. Considering this was decades ago, these men were as remarkable as the women in the film.

And boy was I impressed in their ability to FIGHT for what is RIGHT.

John Lewis

John Lewis is a national hero. He has every right to say he will not attend this inauguration, since this is not a legitimate presidency. In fact, more than half the nation is saying this. Congressman Lewis was daring when it was not fashionable to be so daring, having joined with Dr. Martin Luther King to walk the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. This is Martin Luther King weekend, a time to honor one of our national heroes. And Congressman Lewis works in the South, and has repeatedly gotten reelected because of what he has brought to Georgia. Before our tweeting-crazy soon to be president puts down this great man of dignity, he needed to check his facts, and understand how Lewis is so beloved in the South, in Georgia where he is a representative, and by both Democrats and Republicans alike. He is a much admired man, and what these tweets, which have become a stand in for public policy, represent, is an insecure, petty man--not presidential. John Lewis represents honesty, integrity and courage, a man who stands on the pillar of all that it means to be Democratic.

Negroland: A Memoir by Margo Jefferson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

NEGROLAND by Margo Jefferson is a glimpse into a world I did not know about, really. Pulitzer-prize winning cultural critic Margo Jefferson was born in 1947 into an upper class Black family in Chicago. There is a whole world of families like these, many of whom have originated with antebellum blacks from the North and South. It is a world of pedigree, with the motto, "Achievement, Invulnerability, Comportment." Margo and her sister went to private schools where they were among the few Black students, and despite her easy ability negotiating both worlds, she offers a glimpse into its own challenges of being different from the other Blacks, almost a class unto themselves. The expected behavior was sometimes constraining, and she was always cognizant of what to do-and not.

What a fallacy this book exposes about post-racial America, and in what a powerful and evocative way!

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Under The Udala Tree Review

Just completed reading UNDER THE UDALA TREE by Chinelo Okparanta. Its focus was twofold: the civil war in Nigeria and its impact on family AND a young girl's coming of age in this harsh landscape, made harsher still because she knows she loves women, even at a young age. Apparently, the government made homosexual love punishable for up to fourteen years in prison. Not only that, but Ljeoma's mother is a strict Christian, and at one point takes to reading passages from the bible to the young girl, so the protagonist feels like a sinner. Written in lovely and lyrical verse, this is a tour de force, and feels extraordinarily relevant not only because of its cultural landscape, but because in America, we have suddenly turned our political and social clock backwards. A must read!

Letter from NARAL Pro Choice America

Pamela, 

Vice President-elect Mike Pence tried to shut down the government in order to defund Planned Parenthood. He said he "longs for the day that Roe v. Wade is sent to the ash heap of history." He repeatedly cosponsored legislation that would make abortion illegal nationwide in almost all cases and while he led the state, Indiana *literally* criminalized a woman for an abortion, throwing her in jail with a 20-year sentence. 

This is the man that Donald Trump picked as his running mate, and in the immediate aftermath of the election—when it became clear that Pence would soon be our nation's vice president—supporters of reproductive freedom were stunned. But you quickly sprung into action. One by one, NARAL started receiving donations "in honor of" Mike Pence. It became clear to us that many members were looking for a way to tell Mike Pence and Donald Trump that we know what their true agenda is and we are NOT taking this sitting down. We are standing up and we are fighting back. 

Soon, the donations totaled over $350,000 from more than 10,000 donors, including you. The agenda put forth by Mike Pence and Donald Trump is dangerous to women and our families, and their victory was a gut punch. But if there's one thing that can give us hope, it's the outpouring of grassroots energy we're seeing for the fight ahead. You're not sitting around feeling helpless. You're ready to fight. And the flood of donations this community made in Mike Pence's name proves it.

We went door-to-door surrounding Pence's new home in Washington, D.C. asking his neighbors to put up signs proclaiming, "This neighborhood trusts women." There was an outpouring of support, and we turned the streets purple.

 

We even compiled a list of the top 10 reasons why NARAL members donated in his name—comments submitted from members like you—in a framed photo we'll deliver to the VP's White House office when he moves in.

 

This was one of the most satisfying campaigns we've run, and I'm grateful to you for being a part of it. Your continued support will help us hold Trump and Pence accountable over the next four years, and I'm so excited to have you on our side.

Thank you for all you do for reproductive freedom.

The Last True Love Story by Brendan Kiely
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading Brendan Kiely's THE LAST TRUE LOVE STORY, and I am so bowled over that I do not know where to begin. Brendan is the wonderful author of ALL AMERICAN BOYS with Jason Reynolds, a book I truly loved. These are classified as young adult fiction (so is THE GOSPEL OF WINTER, but in the case of this book in particular, this is a book for teens and adults, since it is a love story-about living with loss, and learning to love despite it all.) It is the story about a young boy who has been raised, in part, by his grandfather, who now has Alzheimer's. Hendrix steals his grandpa out of the nursing home to take him on a road trip, so that he can go back East to the place where he first kissed the woman he loved-his wife and Hendrix's grandma, now deceased. He drags Corrina, his friend and designated driver, along for this wild and wacky journey, which is not just about the road, but also about love, loss, race, grief and finally discovery-personal and in terms of love. This wonderful multigenerational story truly proves, in the most poignant of ways, that the only stories that last are the love stories (grandpa's words). I am SO PROUD that Brendan is a graduate of CUNY's MFA program, and that he will be on my young adult panel at AWP. Way to go, Brendan!!!!

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Israel

Worried about Israel. Was worried when I wrote RONIT AND JAMIL, but that was my sign for hope, for a two state solution. According to the NYT, the U.N. resolution has explicitly stated that an expansion of the settlements is illegal, as it should be. However, now there is a special envoy to the U.N, appointed by none other than D.T., who says Israel has a carte blanche. So does Trump. Benjamin Netanayu has forged a wonderful relationship with Donald Trump, and now there is no stopping Israel from doing what it wants, even if it is illegal. The problem, however, is that without the support of the U.N., Israel's actions will legitimately be called war crimes-and they are. What could this amount to? This could amount to war, and The Trump will unilaterally support Israel's illegal moves, because America is now the land of illegal. Clearly, D.T. can do what he wants, and there is no one to stop him.

What is the possibility, my dear vision of the world, my dear book, RONIT AND JAMIL? This could mean WAR between Israelis and Palestinians, with a very sick America (our SICK government, not our decent people) supporting what amounts to WAR CRIMES. Yet again, I feel such grief for this terrible world of danger and despair. 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, everyone. Good things are happening with my book, RONIT AND JAMIL. Not only are the reviews superb, but there is expressed interest in performing the book as a staged reading throughout NYC. There is already one at City College on February 28th, and there will be one some time in the spring at Brooklyn College. This is a book about PEACE, PRAYER, LOVE and POSSIBILITY!

And so, dear friends, these are all my vision for 2017, even if it means I have to fight to make this happen. I hope you will join me on the march, on line, in standing up for all that is decent and kind in the world.

Amen, 2017.