I became a cop in the 70s. I quickly figured out two things.
1. The only thing I held as sacred was the law.
Football or soccer or chess or poker, the game means nothing without an agreed upon set of rules.
2. I liked defense attorneys. If the prosecutor and I could not overcome a strong defense then my arrestee deserved to go free. Simple. Clear.
The civil rights movement was the defining event for my generation. I’ve been to Selma and walked over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Alone. It was a sobering moment. I once met a woman who was on that bridge on Bloody Sunday. Listening to her talk about it was like meeting a piece of living history.
I grieve for democracy. I’ve lived to see the best of us and now the worst of us.
Thank you Joyce for keeping our eyes on the prize.
The first thing we need to do is elect Judge Janet Protasiewicz to Wisconsin's Supreme Court and Brandon Johnson as Chicago's next mayor on April 4. Their challengers are both MAGA GOP candidates.
This would be a great concrete way to honor the late Rep. John Lewis' life's work.
People who live in “blue” states can help in purple states… how can I volunteer to help the democrat running against Lauren Boebart, I will move there for a month or three to do it.
Hi, Joyce. Another good piece. I listened to President Biden's speech on my drive back from Austin Sunday afternoon. It certainly is apparent that he is far superior to his predecessor in his ability to communicate appropriately, especially in times like these. The contrast is STARK, and we must focus on spreading the word to those friends who for reasons that make no sense, do not take the time to vote. My own son doesn't vote. Why? Because jury duty comes from the voter polls,, which could explain why I get called down so often. I need to convince our Texas Rep John Raney, who used to be a loan customer to push legislation that would use Texas Drivers' Licenses & other Texas IDs to pull jury lists from. Everyone should have a chance at serving on a jury at least once. It's part of our lives after all. Anyway, it was a good speech by Joe Biden, and I am happy he made the trip to Selma to make it. I hope we get an indictment this week in GA. Carry on!
A re-comment from January: "Dr. King once said, 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.'" Amen. At every level of interaction. Let's raise more Martin Luther Kings in this world and fewer Putins and tfgs. Now is the time and place we stand up and measure how tall we are.
Thank you for this. I was a six year old in New Orleans, LA, having just moved from Seattle where my older brother had a black teacher and she was much beloved. We moved South to segregated schools, a hard situation for our parents to explain, though they did. Also, in those days, everything was shown on the news. It wasn't what it is now. It was Chet Huntley/David Brinkley or my birthday twin Walter Cronkite. I remember seeing blow by blow the hits to John Lewis and being horrified. That left a huge scar in my memory... that, and Ruby Bridges. I thought we had moved to another planet. Nope. It was the good ol' US of A. John Lewis immediately became a hero of this young white girl. I sent him a note...and a few throughout the years. We must all lend support to this crucial voting rights effort. Each citizen gets a vote...no matter what mode that vote is delivered. We need lots o' good trouble to get this done! Please let's all do this together so we aren't still struggling in another half century. we can be on to better things together. Thank you. (and give Ms. Pickles a pat for me. Love her!)
Thanks Joyce, so true. While I never met any of these people personally, I too miss them. I no longer have wise black women in my life, I miss them them. I miss President Obama for his optimism and courage. I miss them all for their optimism and courage in the face of insurmountable odds. There seems to be something beautiful that comes from hardship. It does not need to be so damn hard to make people we want to emulate.
Thank you Joyce for your direction at this time in our history. I wish I could have met John Lewis. I have nothing but respect for how he led his life and was so committed to stirring up 'good trouble'. God bless all who continue the fight because as you say we are still all in this together!
Didn't realize how much you were involved with Selma.
Really glad that President Biden stopped there Sunday to help commemorate the importance of Selma and how 🤔 much a travesty the roll back limits on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have occurred because of the gerrymandering minority of GOP control freaks are such sore losers that they lost control of the government reins. 🙄 That's exactly why 2024 is indeed the most important election in America 🇺🇸 bar none! The other travesty of Selma is the GOP refusal to support the John Lewis Act because again they know they don't represent the best interests of most Americans!!
Good evening Joyce - thank you for sharing your interactions with John Lewis and people who care about living the dream that embodies who we have always aspired to be and voting rights is the sacred legacy that affords us the promise that we can come together to make things better for all of us. This weekend I met a girl from Tunisha who is so happy to be living in America for a few years and on her way to full citizenship so she can vote in 2024. I could see it in her eyes and her face was radiant with hope. That is the hope that John Lewis perpetuated loud and clear. Blessings for the important work you do every day for all of us 🇺🇸
I became a cop in the 70s. I quickly figured out two things.
1. The only thing I held as sacred was the law.
Football or soccer or chess or poker, the game means nothing without an agreed upon set of rules.
2. I liked defense attorneys. If the prosecutor and I could not overcome a strong defense then my arrestee deserved to go free. Simple. Clear.
The civil rights movement was the defining event for my generation. I’ve been to Selma and walked over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Alone. It was a sobering moment. I once met a woman who was on that bridge on Bloody Sunday. Listening to her talk about it was like meeting a piece of living history.
I grieve for democracy. I’ve lived to see the best of us and now the worst of us.
Thank you Joyce for keeping our eyes on the prize.
Terrible that we need to say this in 2023 but our lives depend on it. Thank you Joyce for all you do and I am in.
The first thing we need to do is elect Judge Janet Protasiewicz to Wisconsin's Supreme Court and Brandon Johnson as Chicago's next mayor on April 4. Their challengers are both MAGA GOP candidates.
This would be a great concrete way to honor the late Rep. John Lewis' life's work.
Whenever I hear the 23rd Psalm, I think of the Edmund Pettis Bridge as being in the valley of the shadow of death.
People who live in “blue” states can help in purple states… how can I volunteer to help the democrat running against Lauren Boebart, I will move there for a month or three to do it.
Hi, Joyce. Another good piece. I listened to President Biden's speech on my drive back from Austin Sunday afternoon. It certainly is apparent that he is far superior to his predecessor in his ability to communicate appropriately, especially in times like these. The contrast is STARK, and we must focus on spreading the word to those friends who for reasons that make no sense, do not take the time to vote. My own son doesn't vote. Why? Because jury duty comes from the voter polls,, which could explain why I get called down so often. I need to convince our Texas Rep John Raney, who used to be a loan customer to push legislation that would use Texas Drivers' Licenses & other Texas IDs to pull jury lists from. Everyone should have a chance at serving on a jury at least once. It's part of our lives after all. Anyway, it was a good speech by Joe Biden, and I am happy he made the trip to Selma to make it. I hope we get an indictment this week in GA. Carry on!
A re-comment from January: "Dr. King once said, 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.'" Amen. At every level of interaction. Let's raise more Martin Luther Kings in this world and fewer Putins and tfgs. Now is the time and place we stand up and measure how tall we are.
Thank you for this. I was a six year old in New Orleans, LA, having just moved from Seattle where my older brother had a black teacher and she was much beloved. We moved South to segregated schools, a hard situation for our parents to explain, though they did. Also, in those days, everything was shown on the news. It wasn't what it is now. It was Chet Huntley/David Brinkley or my birthday twin Walter Cronkite. I remember seeing blow by blow the hits to John Lewis and being horrified. That left a huge scar in my memory... that, and Ruby Bridges. I thought we had moved to another planet. Nope. It was the good ol' US of A. John Lewis immediately became a hero of this young white girl. I sent him a note...and a few throughout the years. We must all lend support to this crucial voting rights effort. Each citizen gets a vote...no matter what mode that vote is delivered. We need lots o' good trouble to get this done! Please let's all do this together so we aren't still struggling in another half century. we can be on to better things together. Thank you. (and give Ms. Pickles a pat for me. Love her!)
Thanks Joyce, so true. While I never met any of these people personally, I too miss them. I no longer have wise black women in my life, I miss them them. I miss President Obama for his optimism and courage. I miss them all for their optimism and courage in the face of insurmountable odds. There seems to be something beautiful that comes from hardship. It does not need to be so damn hard to make people we want to emulate.
Thank you Joyce for your direction at this time in our history. I wish I could have met John Lewis. I have nothing but respect for how he led his life and was so committed to stirring up 'good trouble'. God bless all who continue the fight because as you say we are still all in this together!
You just inspired me again. Thank you and good night.
Excellent article 👏 👍
Didn't realize how much you were involved with Selma.
Really glad that President Biden stopped there Sunday to help commemorate the importance of Selma and how 🤔 much a travesty the roll back limits on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have occurred because of the gerrymandering minority of GOP control freaks are such sore losers that they lost control of the government reins. 🙄 That's exactly why 2024 is indeed the most important election in America 🇺🇸 bar none! The other travesty of Selma is the GOP refusal to support the John Lewis Act because again they know they don't represent the best interests of most Americans!!
Thank for this very necessary reminder. We have come so far - yet not really.....
Love this post, Joyce, and all your great writing.
Good evening Joyce - thank you for sharing your interactions with John Lewis and people who care about living the dream that embodies who we have always aspired to be and voting rights is the sacred legacy that affords us the promise that we can come together to make things better for all of us. This weekend I met a girl from Tunisha who is so happy to be living in America for a few years and on her way to full citizenship so she can vote in 2024. I could see it in her eyes and her face was radiant with hope. That is the hope that John Lewis perpetuated loud and clear. Blessings for the important work you do every day for all of us 🇺🇸
“A republic if you can keep it,” Ben Franklin said. Let’s make it so. We’re in this together 🫶