The debt limit situation is a manufactured crisis. Veteran's benefits, Medicare, Social Security payments, and other federal resources are at risk as the GOP refuses to make a deal. The U.S. credit rating is at risk too. If no deal is made by June 1, 2023, seniors may have their Social Security payments (that they have earned with years and decades of work) threatened. Republicans want draconian cuts to necessary social programs. Republican hypocrites claim to be against debts but they refuse to allow the super wealthy top pay their fair share of taxation (allowing the super wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes will lower the deficit). The House adjourns for the holiday weekend without a debt deal. The GOP MAGA extremists are holding America's economic future in hostage. This situation will harm veterans' benefits from the federal government too. This will harm food resources and even Meals on Wheels plus Head Start (that has educated millions of American children for decades). Medicare and Social Security was signed by FDR and LBJ after the working class and the poor fought for these laws by protests, sacrifice, and other methods in the streets. These corporate greed by some large corporations relate to record bank bailouts, more tax breaks for the rich, and other corporate welfare. War mongering, greed, and corruption by the corporate elites contributed to the national debt and the debt limit crisis that we are dealing with.
A Florida school has banned Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem. That action is a disgrace. Gorman's poem was powerful, not offensive, and poignant. Gorman's words specifically talked about bringing the country of America together in forming a growing, progressive community. Her poem desires justice and the fact that we are all in this together in eloquent terms. This shows how radical far right people in Florida don't care about black people, kids, or any human beings who believes in liberty and justice. These hypocrites lecture us on free speech, but they show book bans being the antithesis of the freedom of speech. One racist parent complained about the poem, and it was banned in a Florida school. This is an example of racism and censorship completely. A genius black poet has every right to show her views. Books don't kill people, but guns do. The idolization of guns is more important for MAGA extremists than protecting the lives of children from gun violence. Gorman is a black woman, so racists hate her views because she is black and she is a woman. It is as clear as that. Over 16,000 books are banned in schools nationwide, not just in Florida. DeSantis running for President now shows his cruel, bigoted agenda. DeSantis considering to pardon January 6th terrorists if he is Presidents shows his extremism and anti-democratic attitudes. I find Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem to be one of the greatest items of literary prose of the 21st century period. She is an icon of our time period.
Recently, I found a lot of information about my family tree. First, my 4th great grandparents are Morefield Hurst Turner and Milly Woodson Bozeman. One of their children was named Cordelia (Candy) Turner (1860-1934). Cordelia Turner was my 3rd great grandaunt whose first husband was John Henry Wiggins (b. 1853. He was a descendant of the Nottoway people). Their children were William Wiggins (1878-1931), Annie Wiggins (1879-1958), Benjamin Wiggins (1896-1957), and Lula Wiggins (1899-1971). Cordelia Turner's 2nd husband was Marshall Darden (1863-1937). Their children are Caster Darden (b. 1912), Eunice Darden (b. 1916), William Darden (b. 1918), and Rose Darden. My 1st cousin William Wiggins married Annie L. Barnes (b. 1878). They had the following children of Lonie Wiggins (b. 1896), Eddie Quiney Wiggins (1897-1918), Nettie Wiggins (b. 1898), Willliam S. Wiggins (1901), Leroy Wiggins (1903-1937), Annie M. Wiggins (b. 1906). Otis Wiggins (b. 1908), Henry Wiggins (b. 1909), Alice Wiggins (b. 1913), Delia L. Wiggins (b. 1914), Willie Davis Wiggins (1916-1908), Bennie Wiggins (1918-1993), and Virgie Wiggins (1919-1991).
My 2nd cousin Virgie Wiggins married Gilbert B. Monger Sr. (1908-1961) and their children are Edward Monger (b. 1939), Gilbert B. Monger Jr. (1939-1993), Earl L. Monger (b. 1942), and Oliver Monger (b. 1946). My 3rd cousin Earl L. Monger married Elsie Doretha Steward (b. 1946), and they had the children of Derrick Lamont Monger (1977-2023), and Tisha D. Monger (b. 1994). These children are my 4th cousin. Virgie Wiggins had a child with Charlie J. Jefferson Sr. named Charlie Jasper Jefferson (1935-1976). Charlie Jasper Jefferson married Alma Romaine Daniel (b. 1933) and had the child of Darrin V. Jefferson (1961-2011). My 2nd cousin Leroy Wiggins (1903-1937) married Lucille Anderson (b. 1908) and had the following children of Emerson Lee Wiggins (1933-1995), Lillian Louise Wiggins (1935-2012), and Mythais Wiggins (1937-2007). My 3rd cousin Mythais Wiggins married Martha Ann Jordan at Greenville, Virginia on April 3, 1958. Their child is William Anthony Wiggins (b. 1969). William Anthony Wiggins married Leigh Ann Wiggins (1974-2021), and their child is Mythais Wiggins Jr. (b. 2006). My 3rd cousin Lillian Louise Wiggins (1935-2012) married George Ryland (b. 1927). They had many children who are Leroy McKinley Ryland (1955-2006), Lennice Harmon (1961-2020), Eric Green, Regina Michaels, LaVern Williams, Patricia Ryland, Jerome Ryland, and George Ryland. My 4th cousin Lenince Harmon married John Eric Harmon Sr., and their children are Justin Isaiah Harmon, Johsua Adair Harmon, and John Eric Harmon Jr.
The recent sad news of Tina Turner's passing represents many things. It shows how we must recognize the innovators of music and be inspired to achieve our best in our greatness. Greatness is purely part of Tina Turner's legacy. As the Queen of Rock and Roll, she broke down cultural, racial, and gender barriers. She also sparked up modern popular culture in many respects from dancing, fashion, and to singing. Tina Turner's powerful voice and energetic dancing style were unmistakable. Her overcoming the storm is an understatement. She thrived after overcoming a lot to further her legend across multiple generations with her talent, charisma, work ethic, compassion, and love of the art of music. You have to have a passion in life to be great. She exceled in expressing her dreams. Tina Turner was from the South (in Tennessee) filled with vigor and energy. She looked decades younger than her actual age. When we see her perform with her gorgeous legs and her audacious agility (including her resiliency during her longevity), we are reminded about the glorious presence of a black woman. She lived in America, Switzerland, and all over the world, but her zeal for life was paramount. She honored the present icons like Beyonce, and Tina Turner loved all of her children unconditionally. Her songs are anthems of human life like Proud Mary, River Deep - Mountain High, Nutbush City Limits, What's Love Got to Do with It, The Best, etc. We know about her accomplishments from selling over 100 million records globally, earning 12 Grammy Awards, being a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2021, and being the first black woman artist to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Along with her achievements, she expressed a down to Earth humbleness that was so glorious. Tina Turner praised the actors and actresses involved in a recent play about her life. Today, she with the ancestors in the afterlife. For 83 years, Tina Turner has prominently shown her light, her truth, and her great form of transcendent expression worldwide. Now, we give a great deal of gratitude for her courage, her heroic walk, and her presence.
Rest in Power Sister Tina Turner.
By Timothy
No comments:
Post a Comment