The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues. Ukrainian authorities are trying to evacuate civilians from cities. Over 100,000 civilians are still trapped in the city of Mariupol. There is still a huge bombing from Russian military forces at the Kharkiv region. Some believe that Russian forces may be regrouping in Belarus. Eastern Ukraine still has large shelling. Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian President Zelensky's chief of staff told CNN that a small portion of optimism following talks with Russia in Istanbul. France, Germany, and the UK made statements that they will not pay for Russian gas in rubles. Russian forces finally decide to leave Chernobyl. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted the Belgian government to help them with weapons, sanctions, and membership of the European Union. Tons of shipments of military equipment are being sent from America (including the rest of the West) into Ukraine.
We always to have to make clear that corporations are not superior to people. The Constitution is meant to represent we the people. We do know that historically racists have used the Constitution to oppress black people and other minorities. That is why the Constitution have rules in it to change it in order to make society more just. Laws in the Constitution were changed or added to ban slavery, ban the poll tax, advance voting rights, and eliminate other injustices. Today in our generation in 2022, far right forces not only seek to harm voting rights. Many of these extremists want to promote a whitewashed history of America (that omits white racism, slavery, and other issues), limit free speech rights in public, and desire an end to democracy as we know it. Many global corporations have inordinate power that harm the rule of law, have immunities and privileges that grassroots people don't have, and the unjust 2022 Citizens United decision gave huge power to many corporations.
Some news is that Republican Senator Susan Collins said that she will vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Collins is the first GOP Senator to back President Joe Biden's Supreme Court pick. Collins meet with Judge Jackson before on Capitol Hill at Washington, D.C. Senator Collins told the New York Times of her decision before releasing her official statement. The moderate Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia said that he would vote for her. Only 3 Republican Senators voted for Jackson in 2021 when the Senate confirmed her to fill a vacancy on a powerful DC-based appellate court. GOP Senator Mitt Romney hasn't decided yet to vote for Judge Jackson or not. In my view, Judge Jackson experienced the most disrespect any Supreme Court nominee had to go through in American history. I haven't seen this level of mistreatment of any nominee in my life. Yet, Judge Jackson maintained poise, integrity, and character during the midst of vicious assaults on her character. History will be made in the near future, and we want justice for all.
There are always those who have their jealousy. Kareem Abdul Jabbar said that Will Smith's action was a blow to black people in general. Not only do I disagree with that, but Kareem's words advance the old stereotype that black people must be 100 percent in order to have acceptance in mainstream society. The truth is that we don't need acceptance from mainstream society in order to be free. We should be free on our own accord. Kareem's son stabbed a man and almost killed a man. Kareem would not think that his son is not a stain on the black community. I wonder if Tommy Lee's and Kid Rock's fight at an awards show is a stain on all white people according to Kareem? No. John Wayne had to be restrained by 6 bodyguards in the Oscars to try to physically potentially assault a Native American woman (who just said that concern for Native American people must exist in the world). Kareem forgets that white racists don't care about respectability politics. Racists don't care how black people talk, walk, or how we are educated. They just hate black people, because we are black.
John Wayne is praised by many in Hollywood, but he was a racist and believed in the lie of white supremacy by his own words. Therefore, Will Smith's mistake should never be blamed on all black people. These hypocrites talk about violence never solved anything. Tell that to the slave revolts that contributed to banning the Maafa in the Western Hemisphere. Tell that to the WWII heroes who used violence to defeat Nazis during WWII. Tell that to the Union heroes who helped to defeat the Confederates using violence during the American Civil War. Therefore, justified self-defense is righteous. Unjust violence is wrong. So, I don't agree with Chris Rock being slapped, because verbal jokes can be responded by verbal words without violence. I certainly understand Smith's need to defend his wife. Smith's act represents many complicated issues of mistreatment, mental health, violence, pain, and the chance for healing. This story is nuisance which is why I take a nuisance position. Chris Rock doesn't deserve to be slapped. I do understand the complexities of this incident though. So, Kareem is incorrect. The disappointing thing is that Kareem knows better. False, negative stereotypes about black people were promoted long before Will's slap. If a person, especially in 2022, thinks that one slap is representative of all black persons, then that person is an overt racist. That's very true.
By Timothy
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