"The Truth About Lies And Deception..."

Dr. Anthony Stephen Fauci

"The only true and great hero" among government officials during the AIDS crisis. A generation later, he would save an entire nation and the world from the ramblings of an insane president and an unhinged political party hellbent on ignoring a century of scientific progress during the worst crisis humanity has faced since WWII. At age 85, publicly lambasted, villainized and scapegoated for the failings of those who empowered that same psychopathic president.

History will judge us more harshly than 

any of us can imagine for this...

"It's Not So Funny..."

Inevitably, even the worst of us will depart this world...

"Is that you, Lindsey?"

"A Time To Remember..."

Today, many of us will greet one another with "Happy Memorial Day!"

But I don't use such salutations on this day, because like most veterans, I know the reason for this holiday; it was never meant to be a celebration of summer's arrival or an excuse to travel for pleasure. Memorial Day is instead a time to remember and honor our service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

On Memorial Day, it's important to remember we are honoring our fallen. For many, this day is not a happy occasion but a solemn one.

What can I say instead of “Happy Memorial Day?"

Rather than “Happy Memorial Day,” say something like “Have a meaningful Memorial Day.” It’s also not appropriate to thank a service member or veteran for their service on this day, as it is a day for remembering and honoring their fallen brothers and sisters; those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Instead, take a moment to recognize and remember. You can even say, “Today and always, I’m remembering those owed a debt we can never repay.”

For many of us from veteran families, this day is also a time to honor all of our loved ones no longer with us. This is a long tradition in our family, I'll be visiting the cemetery today to clean and maintain my parent's graves and headstones and for the first time, my brother's who passed away last year.

Yes, later this evening when husband and I return from the cemetery, we'll have a barbeque and I'll enjoy the rest of this day away from work while remembering the sacrifices of those who have made our lives possible; the fathers like mine who marched off to war and the mothers like mine who kept the home fires burning in their absence, and the gay men and women like me who also felt the call to duty and served in silence while never able to love openly.

 “Have a meaningful Memorial Day”

"The Truth Today..."

"It's Not So Funny..."

"It's Not So Funny..."

In fact, it's fu*king tragic...

"A Thought To Ponder..."

"The Evil State Of The Union..."

Evil, spiteful, vindictive, hateful...

The ranting maniac in chief

"The Truth About Black History Month..."

On Feb. 8, 1968, three black students were killed and 28 wounded as state troopers opened fire on student demonstrators on the campus of South Carolina State College in Orangeburg in the wake of protests over a whites-only bowling alley. The event would become known as the Orangeburg Massacre. Above, the contorted body of 17 year old high school student, Delano Middleton, a peaceful protester, lies mortally wounded and literally under the heel of his "lawful oppressors." This is the truth about black history in America.

Why am I remembering this today...

Some have questioned why black people have been relatively quiet about what's going on with ICE... I can't speak for everyone, but as for myself, we might be visibly absent, but we're not being quiet -- we're being careful. We're resisting and we're supporting our immigrant brothers and sisters when and how we can... But we also know this is particularly different than anything we've seen before.

Maybe other's won't say it, but we saw Renee Good's and Alex Pretti's white privilege completely ignored and it was frankly shocking to us. We're all too accustomed to black and brown civil rights being ignored and our lives being taken without any repercussions, but what we are witnessing now is something frighteningly new. 

 

As we've always been, black people are allied to the cause of freedom and justice for all, but we know what world we're living in right now, for us this is Déjà vu. Trump's ape video was merely the latest poignant reminder of exactly what he thinks of us. We know that his assault on DEI was just the beginning of what he has in store for us.

"Fear Eats the Soul"

"The Truth Today..."

Looks familiar doesn't it...

RESIST

"In Memoriam..."

Those of us who may survive this should never forget those who gave the most to resist for us all...

"Fear Eats the Soul'

"A Thought To Ponder..."

Let that sink in...

especially if you're one of those who

think what's happening is not so bad.

"Fear Eats the Soul"

"I Am Always Remembering..."

The truth is I remember seeing and using all these products and in these packages. Yes, for you younger folks, TP used to come in an array of pastel colors to coordinate with your bathroom tiles. During holidays, I remember TP printed with holiday motifs like holly and jolly Santas! Do they even make aerosol and roll-on deodorants anymore...? 

 

When I was young, almost everything came in glass bottles and metal cans including soda pop. As I marveled at recognizing everything in this photo it reminded me of just how old I am. It also reminded me of the curse of growing old, and that is having the dreams of men still young. Many of my wildest dreams came true, at least in part or for a short while... so although I have regrets, they're far fewer than I would have imagined having at this stage in my life.

Every day I'm reminded that I'm in the final stretch of this race we call life. I heard yesterday that an old friend (and I don't have many friends, old or otherwise) died of a sudden heart attack at home on Sunday. My friend Derrick was just a couple of years older than me. My brother died this year and he was just 10 years older than me, in fact of the six of us brothers and sisters I grew up with, the three oldest are gone now. It's sobering to realize you're probably next.

I'm definitely not lamenting the end of life approaching, at least not today. I have many memories to look back on and I am always remembering. I hope I might live as long as my parents, but if not, if I can at least be productive and stay active for whatever time is left, I'll be happy.

"The Sad, Sad Truth..."

 

The hypocrites will eulogize their martyr today...

The only tears I've shed are for the conscience of our nation

"The Sad, Ugly Truth About America..."

"We're Living In The Age Of The Machines..."

The machines can even imagine the sum of all our fears...

The end of life alone

"The Truth About True Love Is It Lasts..."

25 years together only parted by death

"The Truth About Me..."

I'll be cremated when I die, but if I were planning to be buried, this would be my headstone... Don't you think it would make people pause and ponder what was my life like?

Whimsical Headstones

"I Am Always Remembering..."

It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since this groundbreaking film laid bare the truth of love, fear and history for a generation who never understood the way things were.

"Fear Eats the Soul"

"The Truth About Love..."

Love seems to survive life, and to reach beyond it. I think we take it with us past the grave. Do we not still give it to those who have left us? May we not hope that they feel it for us, and that we shall leave it here in one or two fond bosoms, when we also are gone?

- William Makepeace Thackeray