Break It Down!

When MAGA Says: "Indefensible." "It's a bribe." "Such a stain" on the administration.

2025-05-14T00:04:00.002-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

President Donald Trump has announced what liberally might be called his plan to accept a jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One. As word spread about the pending largess from a foreign government, particularly one with dubious ties to some of our most notorious adversaries, Trump has gone on the defensive, arguing it would be stupid not to accept the gift of the Qatari plane.

Surprisingly, at least a few of MAGA’s most dedicated and celebrated supporters beg to differ.

In an unusual departure from their typically predictable sycophancy, some MAGA media outlets and the voices behind them are activating their platforms to urge Trump to change his mind about this extraordinary and extravagant gift. Still others are asking Trump voters to reflect upon how they would react if a Democratic president endeavored to enact this very same plan.

Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro said Monday on his podcast, “I think if we switched the names to Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, we’d all be freaking out on the right.”

Shapiro also linked the potential Qatari deal with other reports of “influence peddling,” like Trump’s cryptocurrency sweepstakes.

Shapiro added, “The administration’s policy is too important for this sort of activity.” He emphasized that he wants Trump to succeed. “President Trump promised to drain the swamp. This is not, in fact, draining the swamp.”

Naturally, some Trump-aligned commentators and social media stars are echoing the president’s talking points about the luxury jet, including his insistence that only “stupid people” would turn down such a gift. Other MAGA media outlets are deflecting the criticism by sowing doubt about the media coverage of the controversy. After all, the non-MAGA media is considered the enemy of the people, by Trump and MAGA.

However, a surprising number of Trumpniks sound almost as outraged as the Democratic lawmakers who say accepting the plane would be profoundly unethical and possibly illegal.

Many of these right-wing critics, like Laura Loomer, predicated their objections on Qatar’s relationship with the militant group Hamas.

Key members of Hamas leadership have long been based in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Notably, Qatar reportedly agreed to expel Hamas officials last November.

Laura Loomer criticized Trump’s potential jet deal on Sunday and Monday by writing a series of anti-Qatar posts on X, including:

“This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true.”

“And I say that as someone who would take a bullet for Trump. I’m so disappointed.”

Fox News host Mark Levin shared her post and wrote, “Ditto.”

For now, most of the conservative criticism has been leveled in social media spaces, not on the TV shows Trump is known to enjoy. The jet controversy has been only lightly covered on Fox News, the country’s dominant right-wing TV channel. The main story on Fox’s website about the matter on Monday was titled, “Trump rips ABC reporter for asking about accepting luxury jet from Qatar,” making it sound as though ABC was the problem.

In one outlier instance, “Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt about the matter on Monday morning.

In responding, Leavitt framed it as a government-to-government transaction that would be done “in full compliance with the law.” In doing so, she sidestepped reports that Trump’s presidential library will take possession of the plane shortly before he leaves office, which of course, would ensure he can still use it.

The “Fox & Friends” host followed up by asking Leavitt, “Do you worry that if they give us something like this, they want something in return?” The press secretary said no because Trump “only works with the interest of the American public in mind.”

Kilmeade then dropped the subject, moving on to Mother’s Day.

Some other conservative media figures seem less inclined to move on.

Batya Ungar-Sargon, who has championed the MAGA movement on CNN and other channels, told Newsmax on Monday afternoon, “This is not a gift” from Qatar, it’s “a bribe.”

National Review contributing editor Andrew McCarthy wrote Monday that accepting the plane is “indefensible. The president and his flacks again demonstrate that they don’t grasp the concepts of constitutional duty and conflicts of interest.” He cited the “Trump family crypto venture” as another example.

Talk radio host Erick Erickson, who, like the National Review, has often criticized Trump from a conservative perspective, didn’t mince his condemnation of the potential jet gift.

On his Monday show, Erickson argued that Qatar is not a US ally (though the US government disagrees) and pointed out that Attorney General Pam Bondi, who reportedly signed off on the legality of the gift, was previously a paid lobbyist for Qatar.

“I think she’s opening Donald Trump up to legal trouble later,” Erickson said.

Later in the day, on X, Erickson observed that “even a lot of Trump supporters were not thrilled about the Qatar plane gift” when the initial reports surfaced on Sunday.

Erickson suggested bots are flooding X with pro-Trump propaganda, “a lot of small accounts I’ve never interacted with before are flooding my timeline insisting it is a great idea.”

“When MAGA Says: “Indefensible.” “It’s a bribe.” “Such a stain” on the administration!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime, by clicking the link: https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/12/media/maga-media-shapiro-loomer-levin-trump-qatar-plane-gift

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/05/when-maga-says-indefensible-its-bribe.html

Never Say Never: Not Exactly Southern Hospitality

2025-05-07T00:32:00.003-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

In the annals of U.S.-Canadian relations, yesterday will go down as odd, but not at all surprising. At least not if you’ve been following the interactions between the two neighboring countries and their leaders. Historically, the two countries have been, not just geographically adjacent, but longtime allies, robust trading partners, and frequent cross-border visitors. Transnational tourism has been a flourishing industry.

All those traditional connections began to be challenged, strained, even frayed, as Donald Trump emerged as America’s 47th President. He derided then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Governor and referred to Canada as the 51^st state. At least on days when he placed them ahead of Greenland for extending/accepting that distinguished honor. He accused Canada of treating the United States poorly because of horrible (for the U.S.) trade deals, negotiated by incompetent Presidents.

Due to dynamic social and political changes in Canada, Trudeau stepped aside early. Meanwhile, in the United States, President Trump continued to spout disparaging rhetoric about subsuming Canda, Greenland, the Panama Canal, and denigrating a variety of political leaders at home and abroad, in places such as our neighbors to the north and the south, respectively, Canada, and Mexico, as well as one of our key allies, Ukraine. Over the course of time, an interesting development occurred. The Canadian Left, which had been flailing under Trudeau, experienced a total about-face, and sent Mark Carney, a member of the Liberal Party, to a landslide victory.

Over the past couple of months, Carney, speaking for most Canadians, apparently, has continued to insist, Canada is not for sale. While bringing an affable personality, and unlike Volodymyr Zelensky, wearing a tailored suit to the White House, he also brought the simple, but firm message, Canada, and its 5,525-mile border, longest in the world, is not for sale, or annexation…or open to American statehood. Full stop.

Trump made a Real Estate analogy and suggested the design of the two countries, when viewed together was how it was meant to be. Carney responded, “As you know from Real Estate, there are some places that are never for sale. We’re sitting in one now. You know, Buckingham Palace that you visited as well. Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign the last several months, it’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale ever.”

With that statement, Carney for all practical purposes, accomplished what he had come to Washington to do; stated in the clearest terms possible that his beloved O Canada is not amenable to becoming Canada, USA.

Trump being Trump, persisted, of course.

“Never say never,” Trump shrugged…as Carney mouthed the word “never” over and over, while sitting next to him, disregarding the impertinence of his neighbor from the south.

All things considered; it could have been worse. Trump didn’t call him Governor Carney, Vance didn’t accuse him of being disrespectful, and no one insulted his sartorial selection. “Never Say Never: Not Exactly Southern Hospitality!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime, by clicking the link: https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/politics/trump-carney-canada-not-for-sale

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/05/never-say-never-not-exactly-southern.html

Trump's Second First One Hundred Days

2025-04-30T01:22:00.004-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

Yesterday marked the 100^th day of Donald Trump’s second term in office. It was a day, like any other day since the onset of the first term. One which was highlighted by the stark contrast in the two sides of the political divide. Trump surrogates and supporters were flung across the span of the airways heaping abundant praise on Donald Trump. Conversely, those who view Trump’s policy prescriptions as onerous were pointing out the pain, fear, and straight up chaos raining down upon the American landscape, as a result of his always brash, often profane assertions.

Three weeks ago, speaking before a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner, Trump insisted, “I know what the hell I’m doing,” and further boasted that, world leaders are “kissing my ass” as they try to negotiate trade deals. On Monday in an interview with The Atlantic, he professed, speaking of his second term, “I run the country and the world.”

Trump-o-philes like that. For them, he is the man of the hour. GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said, “President Trump understood the assignment from the first day in office. Many praised the pace at which he’s moving, and several included in their social media taglines, the phrase, “Promises made, promises kept.”

Indeed, he has done a lot. He’s signed 140 Executive Orders – the most by any President in his first 100 days. FDR, the previous record holder signed 99. He has, however fallen behind other presidents, in terms of passing legislation. He has only signed 5 bills into law. Even Sleepy Joe signed 11.

Despite his frenetic pace, a simple truism has been underscored; activity doesn’t always equal movement, especially positive movement. Polling, for whatever it’s worth, suggests there is a growing level of dissatisfaction with the Trump show. So, while his most enthusiastic supporters appear to like everything he does, no matter how gross, or how over dramatized, some of the support Trump attracted during the campaign is waning.

In one Poll, 64% of Independents say Trump’s Tariff policies will hurt their finances. Meanwhile, his net favorable rating among nonwhite voters fell from -27 points to -39 points, as his net favorability among those under age 30 fell even more precipitously, from -12 points to -47 points. Also, back to Independents, his net favorability fell from -9 points to -30 points. In another poll, asking how have Trump’s policies affected U.S. Economic Conditions, 59% said they Worsened Conditions, 27% said they Improved Conditions, while 14% said they had No Effect. Another poll found Trump’s approval at 100 days was lower than any president in the last seven decades. One Poll from last week found 39% Approve of the President’s performance, while 59% Disapprove. Perhaps, the most interesting Poll was one from last week that found Trump’s Net Approval Rating on dealing with Ukraine was -13 points, and with Russia, -18 points. While the former Polls were conducted by an array of outlets Trump doesn’t like, the Ukraine, Russia polling was conducted by Fox News.

Regardless of the source, Trump who crows about positive polls and fumes about the negative ones, characterized these polls with a predictable series of dismissiveness, using a bevy of terms, including, fake, corrupt, compromised, sad, negative, sick, investigations, criminals, and cheats.

Trump detractors haven’t exactly been silent. They have noted, among other things, Trump:

Initiated a purge of diversity initiatives

Granted clemency to nearly 1,600 people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021,

including those caught beating police officers on camera

Signed 140 executive orders (26 of them on his first day in office)

Fired independent regulators

Gutted entire agencies; laid off great swaths of the federal workforce; and invoked 18th-century wartime powers to use against a criminal gang from Venezuela

Declared, undeclared, revised, and redeclared tariffs like a DJ spinning knobs in the booth, upsetting the rhythms of global trade and inducing vertigo in the financial markets

Raged at the leader of Ukraine, a democratic ally repelling an imperialist invasion, for not being “thankful”

Praised the leader of the invading country, Russia, as “very smart,” reversing in an instant 80 years of U.S. foreign policy doctrine, and prompting the countries of NATO to prepare for their own defense, without the protective umbrella of American power, for the first time since 1945.

In reflecting upon the space we Americans collectively occupy, I am reminded of the immortal opening paragraph of Dickens’ A TaIe of Two Cities, in which he opined, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

These three months and ten days have been a metaphorical roller coaster, to be sure. But as I caution anyone who will listen; you ain’t seen nothing yet. “Trump’s Second First One Hundred Days!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime, by clicking the link: https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/04/trumps-second-first-one-hundred-days.html

Pontiff Slips The Mortal Coil: A Timely Transition

2025-04-23T00:57:00.001-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

Jorge Mario Bergoglio died Monday. If that were the headline of almost any newspaper in the world, two dqys ago, very few people would have batted an eye. Instead, the headline worldwide was, Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio), born December 17,1936, died April 21, 2025. The Pope, as you know, is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State,

A papal conclave elected Bergoglio as the successor to Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned February 28, 2013. He became the 266^th Pope on March 13, 2013, and served for 12 years, until his death, Monday. From a long line of Popes, Pope Francis held several firsts. He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first Latin American, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside of Europe since the 8^th century, when Pope Gregory III was from Syria.

Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After recovering from a severe illness, while in his 20’s, he was inspired to join the Jesuits. He was ordained as a Catholic Priest in 1969. From 1973 to 1979, he was the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. He was elevated to archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and became a cardinal in 2001.

Bergoglio chose Francis as his papal name, in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. In the entirety of his public life Francis was noted for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, international visibility as pope, concern for the poor, and commitment to interreligious dialogue.

He was known for having a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors. For example, he chose to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae (House of St. Martha) guest house, rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by previous popes. Francis made women full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia. He asserted that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic toward LGBTQ people and stated that although blessings of same-sex unions are not permitted, the LGBTQ individuals can be blessed, if blessings are not given in a liturgical context. Francis was a critic of trickle-down economics, consumerism, and overdevelopment. He made climate change action a major focus of his papacy, he viewed the death penalty as inadmissible in all cases and committed the Catholic Church to its worldwide abolition.

Pope Francis criticized right-wing populism, supported decriminalization of homosexuality, condemned Israel’s military action in Gaza, opposed anti-immigration politics, including those of Donald Trump. After making his last public appearance on Easter Sunday, he died on Easter Monday, following a stroke, and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. “Pontiff Slips The Mortal Coil: A Timely Transition!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime, by clicking the link: https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/04/pontiff-slips-mortal-coil-timely.html

The Journey to American Dystopia

2025-04-16T00:40:00.003-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

There are numerous voices positing that America is set upon a course running full speed, and headlong into dystopia. A president who expressed aspirations of being a dictator, if only for a day, seems to have had a change of heart, as one day, became day one…and every day that followed.

The President, who alleged the previous administration used “law fare” to target him, has set out to take retribution on those who disagreed with him, which for all practical purposes aligns with his definition of targeting. He has interpreted the powers of the Executive Office to be absolute, and the members of his Party, with few exceptions have demonstrated almost Borg-like capitulation to that notion. Moreover, even the highest Court in the land has, best-case scenario, extended him a lengthy runway to execute that strategy, and worst-case scenario, shown that it has no appetite whatsoever, to reel him in.

As Trump winds his way through the first 100 days of his second term, he has been busy establishing himself as Culture Warrior-in-Chief. The irony here is, Republicans have long cast Democrats, liberals, and the left, writ large3 as the originators of culture war. That is projection at its finest, something the GOP has raised to an artform.

Trumpers have elevated two principal euphemisms in what they characterize as the War on Woke. They lead with DEI, which if you believe them, is the source of everything bad in America…except for those detestable immigrants, of course. But I’ll save discussion of that “evil” for another day. DEI is the scourge that they swear imperils Western Civilization.

So, there is really one, and only one thing you need to know about this irrefutable (according to them) truth. DEI, and Western Civilization are verbal evasions; place holders, if you will. In lowest common denominator terms, DEI equates to Black; Western Civilization translates to white. In essence, for them, it’s the classic struggle between good, the latter, and evil, the former. In other words, if we don’t shut down DEI, which they flatly argue is the infusion and elevation of all things (people really) Black, which they characterize as unworthy, unqualified, and unwanted, the entirety of Western Civilization, the white world broadly, but white America, especially, will succumb to the grossly incapable and unfit.

So, as the biggest bully, with the loudest megaphone, Trump, bolstered by his band of merry warriors is wreaking havoc on the financial markets, destroying social contracts, attacking the judicial system, disemboweling the federal government, blackmailing law firms, defunding educational and research institutions, and, installing his personal lackeys and sycophants, ostensibly, to usher in the New Trump Order. “The Journey to American Dystopia!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime, by clicking the link: https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-journey-to-american-dystopia.html

Here's My Number; Use It...Or Else

2025-04-09T00:29:00.006-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

I decided to make this a succinct post about current events. Here it is.

Yesterday evening, Trump told a group of Republicans, hours before the tariffs were set to take effect, “These countries are calling us up. Kissing my ass. They are dying to make a deal.”

This not so humble brag epitomizes the brinksmanship the President of the United States is foisting upon the American public, our allies and trading partners, our competitors, and all other nations who would do business with the United States. Moreover, he framed it as if that were an offer no one could refuse. Basically, “Here’s My Number; Use It...Or Else!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/08/politics/trump-tariff-negotiations-foreign-leaders/index.html

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/04/heres-my-number-use-itor-else.html

Twenty-five Hours and Four Minutes

2025-04-02T00:25:00.006-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

On Thursday, August 29, 1957, at 9:12 p.m., SC Senator Strom Thurmond concluded a filibuster that he had begun at 8: 54 p.m., the previous day. Thurmond set a then record, in an effort to waylay the Civil Rights Act of 1957. He held the floor for twenty-four hours and eighteen minutes. Since that point, he has held the record for the longest single-person filibuster in United States Senate history. In fact, it was the longest single-person Senate speech…until yesterday.

On Monday evening, NJ Senator Cory Booker began speaking at 7:00 p.m. He did not relinquish the floor until 8:04 p.m. last night, setting a new record, twenty-five hours and four minutes. Technically, Booker’s oration was not a filibuster, since it was not designed to impede any specific piece of legislation, or nomination, but rather to issue a call to arms advising that the country is in crisis. He spoke out against an array of issues, including castigating Elon Musk’s efforts to overhaul the federal government, and Trump’s warning of potential cuts to key healthcare programs for millions of Americans.

Senator Booker said, “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able. I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis.”

He added, “In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety; financial stability; the core foundations of our democracy. These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”

Booker, a member of the Senate Democratic leadership team executed his speech at a time when voters have increasingly called for stouter opposition to Trump and his policies. All this while Trump and the GOP control the Executive Branch, the House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court is comprised of a two-thirds conservative majority.

Fundamentally excluded from the levers of power, and viewing the circumstances of their limited options, Senator’ Booker’s speech resonated as one of the most high-profile forms of protest by a Democratic Solon during Trump’s second term.

While no specific piece of legislation was defeated, the speech delayed most of Tuesday’s Senate business. In that regard, it principally amounted to a symbolic gesture. As he held the floor, Booker cited the spirit of the late Congressman John Lewis as his motivation. Lewis was a pivotal civil rights advocate. Thurmond, whose record Booker broke, set the record, attempting to defeat a civil rights bill, as he spoke against the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Senator Booker referenced a promise he had given Representative Lewis, vowing to make him proud. At 7:19 p.m., Senator Chuck Schumer interrupted Booker to advise him that he had broken the record.

Booker said, of Lewis, “He wouldn’t treat this moral moment like it was normal.” He then asked, “Where does the Constitution live? On paper or in our hearts?”

TX Senator Ted Cruz, who held the floor for his own marathon speech in a 2013 filibuster against the Affordable Care Act, offered Booker this advice: “Wear comfortable shoes and don’t drink water.”

Though not a filibuster, the speech did keep the Senate floor open – and floor staff and US Capitol Police detailed to the chamber working – for as long as he continued speaking. Lawmakers had concluded voting on Monday before Booker began speaking. Democrats in the upper chamber widely praised Booker’s effort. CT Senator Chris Murphy appeared to smooth out the process by discussing the effort with Senators as they arrived on the floor and arranging speakers to ask Booker questions. Murphy spent the entire night in the Chamber. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Booker for his strength and conviction.

At the conclusion of Booker's time at the podium, House Democrats, standing in the back of the chamber, and Senate Democrats rose in a standing ovation. “Twenty-five Hours and Four Minutes!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/31/politics/booker-senate-floor-speech-trump-protest/index.html

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/04/twenty-five-hours-and-four-minutes.html

A "Signal" No One Saw Coming

2025-03-26T00:05:00.003-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

Nothing to see here. There was no classified information. Not that I recall. It’s Pete’s fault. That last one wasn’t a quote, but it might as well have been. I’ll explain later.

Yesterday, a group of Trump’s finest faced members of the Senate Intelligence Committee for question about a group chat on the Application “Signal.” The app is encrypted but not secure in the sense that government communications that include classified information are required or at least expected to be.

That brings us to a key point. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard repeatedly denied that the chat contained classified information.

“There were no classified or intelligence equities that were included in that chat group at any time,” Gabbard testified under oath. Ratcliffe was similarly adamant in his denials at various points during Tuesday’s hearing.

That’s how they started. But…later, when pressed on whether the sensitive operational details for the forthcoming strikes against Iran-backed militants that Hegseth reportedly sent to the thread were classified, both top intelligence officials deferred to the defense secretary.

“With respect to the assertions and the allegations that there was strike packages or targeting information or things that relate to DOD, as I pointed out, the Secretary of Defense is the original classification authority for determining whether something is classified or not, and as I’ve understood from media reports, the Secretary of Defense has said the information was not classified,” Ratcliffe told lawmakers. Translation, “It’s Pete’s fault.

When asked whether such information should be classified, Gabbard told the committee, “I defer to the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council on that question.” Interesting parsing.

Not surprisingly, Hegseth’s texts, which reportedly included “operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,” have drawn the most attention.

Multiple current and former defense officials have said that any discussion of the timing, targets or weapons systems to be used in an attack is always classified — because of the potential risk to US service members lives if those plans are revealed prematurely. I’m sensing a clear element in disconnect in the various perspectives on this story.

Ratcliffe and Gabbard both said. “I can again confirm that with respect to the communications that were related as to me, there was no classified information,” Ratcliffe added. In other words, to quote Shaggy, “It wasn’t me!” “A “Signal” No One Saw Coming!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

By The Numbers: Name That President

2025-03-19T00:28:00.003-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

"May you live in interesting times," is an English expression, often mistakenly attributed to the Chinese. The use of the expression is meant to be Ironic, suggesting that "interesting" times are often times of trouble. I think it's fair to say, we are there.

Today's post is intended to depict a few of the ways our times are "interesting," by reviewing several metrics associated with a certain leader of the free world. Let's get right into it.

64 Times Mentioned in Epstein Report.

97 Times Pleaded the Fifth.

34 Felony Convictions.

91 Criminal Charges.

26 Sexual Assault Allegations.

6 Bankruptcies.

5 Draft Deferments.

4 Indictments.

2 Impeachments.

2 Convicted Companies.

1 Fake University Shut Down.

1 Fake Charity Shut Down.

$25 Million Fraud Settlement.

$5 Million Sexual Abuse Verdict.

$2 Million Fake Charity Abuse Judgment.

$93 Million Sexual Abuse Judgements.

$400+ Million Fraud Judgment.

First President in history to serve a full term increase the deficit every year he was in office.

First President in history to maintain a debt to GDP ratio over 100% for his entire term.

Highest annual budget deficit.

Most added to the national debt in a single term.

Most new unemployment claims.

Largest single day point drop in the history of the Dow.

First major party candidate in half a century to lose the popular vote twice.

Longest government shutdown in history (and he did that while his own party controlled both chambers of Congress).

First President in the history of approval ratings to maintain a net negative approval rating for his entire term.

First President to be impeached twice.

First President to have bipartisan support for his conviction after impeachment (which happened both times).

Most indictments, guilty pleas, and criminal convictions of members of an administration.

First president to have a mug shot.

Please go ahead and lookup every claim here…that is, if you can identify the subject. “By The Numbers: Name That President!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Five Years Later: COVID-19

2025-03-12T00:33:00.003-04:00

It's time to Break It Down!

Yesterday was March 11, 2025. Five years ago, on March 11, 2020, after more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

The U.S. on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, surpassed 1 million Covid-19 deaths, according to data compiled by NBC News — a once unthinkable scale of loss even for the country with the world's highest recorded toll from the virus.

The number — equivalent to the population of San Jose, California, the 10th largest city in the U.S. — was reached at stunning speed: 27 months after the country confirmed its first case of the virus.

As the epicenter of the pandemic, 1,826 days later, COVID-19 remains a source of disparate opinion, and rancorous division. Established as a pandemic in the final year of the first Trump administration, the Coronavirus became a bright yellow line that divided Americans between pro and anti-Trump factions. Donald Trump at one point called the virus a Democratic hoax, subsequently was hospitalized due to contracting it, later proposed several not scientifically supported remedies, and hosted at least one function deemed to be a superspreader event.

Trump supporters frequently dismissed the severity of the virus and disparaged almost all proposed strategies for keeping people safe, whether wearing masks, social distancing, handwashing, and especially closing businesses and institutions. Doctors, scientists, and people supporting such safety measures were frequently at odds with Trump and his devotees.

Five years later, COVID-19 is still with us. We learned early on that like the flu, it will probably always be around.

The COVID-19 Vaccine became widely available in 2021. It was a two-shot regimen, with two primary deliverers, Moderna, and Pfizer. In an interview with former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, Trump admitted he had gotten a Covid vaccination.

Over 81% of the population has had at least one covid vaccination, 70% of the population is considered fully vaccinated, 97% of the population over age 16 has at least one shot, and 82% over 16 years of age are fully covered. As a result of the high number of vaccinated Americans, the frequency of the disease has been greatly diminished. Test Positivity for the week ending March 1^st, was 3.9%. “Five Years Later: Covid 19!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right-hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.”

The Quintessential Barter: Are We There Yet?

2025-03-05T00:08:00.007-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

There’s no easy way to frame this, so I might as well just rip off the band-aid. Forget the Constitution, never mind history, legacy, and tradition. We are entering a new frontier.

The Founding Fathers would be apologetic. The great experiment is null and void. Done. Finis.

For Republicans, Trump is known as transactional, the ultimate deal maker. His bona fides in the bizarre are legendary and need no recounting.

Musk is the wealthiest man in the world. After buying Twitter and converting the platform into a conservative safe space where conspiracy theories abound, hate speech is welcome, and Trump support is the coin of the realm, he is to Trump, what Trump is to MAGA, the source of all things indisputable.

So, it came to pass, Musk bought the election for Trump. In turn Trump has given Musk the latitude to convert America into his wholly owned subsidiary; AmericaX. A land in which federal agencies have been neutered, and their functions outsourced to Musk and the Oligarchs. "Are We There Yet?”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Hard Reset

2025-02-26T00:02:00.004-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

Hard Reset

The United States is the most powerful nation in the history. Through its leaders, it has long proclaimed itself to be exceptional. To be fair, in many ways, it is. By dint of will, intellect, ingenuity, ambition, perseverance, grit, and a healthy helping of God’s grace, we have attained a standard of living that is the envy of the world.

For more than a decade, Americans have been growing increasingly weary of, and disenchanted with historical norms and traditions, especially in government and media spaces. A cynical view of what fueled this rapidly emerging tempestuous reaction holds that the election, and subsequent re-election of Barack Obama was a mind-exploding catalyst.

In 2008, Obama was a relatively new US Senator from Illinois, who had dramatically entered the national political consciousness four years earlier with a stemwinder of a speech at the Democratic National Convention. Still, his auspicious introduction notwithstanding, he was a decided underdog when he entered the 2008 Democratic Primary. At that time, Hillary Clinton was considered the odds-on favorite to capture his Party’s nomination. To shorten the story, that didn’t happen. Senator Obama went on to win the nomination, and would later defeat Arizona Senator John McCain, becoming the nation’s first Black President.

McCain ran a spirited campaign, but he faced significant headwinds due to the Great Recession. However, after Clinton conceded and withdrew from the race for the Democratic nomination, Obama was able consolidate his Party’s support. Winning the 2008 Presidential Race was a seminal moment for both the Democratic Party and for the United States. The 43 Presidents before Obama had all been White, and if truth be told, it’s likely no one had first Black President on their Bingo Card in 2008.

While the dawn of the Obama era proved to be a prodigiously pivotal moment in time and history, not everyone celebrated. Democrats exulted in having stopped a third consecutive Republican administration from occupying the White House, and for having won both the House and the Senate. Black America was euphoric. Most in the community thought they might never see a Black Man in the Oval Office.

Conversely, Republicans were gobsmacked. They were in utter disbelief, and for many, McCain became a pariah for having lost…to the Black guy. After all, it was not unheard of to be out of power for four years, or even for eight, but never in the history of “exceptional” America had anyone among them seriously considered the prospect of ceding occupancy of 1600 PA Ave. to a Black man.

The opposition fortified immediately. On the evening of January 20, 2009, after President Obama’s inauguration earlier in the day, a group of 15 high-ranking Republicans, including Senators and House members met for dinner to plot the plan of action for the official GOP resistance to Barack Obama. The strategic assault continued throughout both of Obama’s terms in office. Author Robert Draper, wrote a book about the GOP exploits, entitled, Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives (later republished under the title: When the Tea Party Came to Town). Spoiler Alert, judging from the second title, you can infer, the Tea Party sprang up in response to Obama’s presidency, at least in part because nothing else was successful in neutralizing him.

The resistance, while unable to derail his re-election bid, did reduce his numerical support, advantage, and leverage in Congress. That opposition grew increasingly mean spirited during the Obama years and was often racialized. It was common for the evening news to capture depictions of Obama effigies, and other negatively racialized images of the President.

Enter Donald Trump. Some people debate whether Donald Trump created the Birther trope. I will not split hairs on this matter. The fact is Trump was in on the use of it, early, and often. This slight, which was rooted in Trump’s oft-repeated assertion that President Obama was not born in America, served to further exacerbate racial tensions.

Since those days, we’ve seen the end of the Obama administration, the Trump administration, the Biden administration, and the advent of a second Trump presidency. Along the way, Trump, Congress, and SCOTUS have taken turns engaging in escalatory actions.

Now, the President, armed with the aid of Senate and House majorities, a collection of malleable cabinet members, a heavily conservative-skewed Supreme Court, and a director of disruption, appears poised to change the very nature of the way the United States operates its government. I believe a legitimate question is, “Will we continue to be a constitutional federal republic?

Trump and his gofers are actively engaged in pushing, pulling, and prodding to consolidate more and more power in the hands of the Executive. Congress, which technically controls the purse strings, has consistently, willingly ceded its authority to Trump. Perhaps, when all is said and done, the most radical result of the assorted machinations will emerge from the slashing and burning of federal agencies and their staffs, which currently, is a concept that seems to find favor among people who call themselves conservatives. What remains to be seen, is how these self-proclaimed conservatives will view it when Musk and the Oligarchs assume the role of heads of privatized formerly governmental functions?

Unless there is a quick and decisive turn, I sense, We The People, are in for a…”Hard Reset!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the link below:

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/02/hard-reset.html

That's One Theory, But...

2025-02-19T00:19:00.004-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

On the evening of January 29^th, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 while the plane was on approach for landing at Reagan National Airport. As a result of the collision, both the plane and the copter plunged into the Potomac River. All souls on both aircraft were lost.

On the Thursday evening after the crash, Donald Trump, ambled into the White House press room to face reporters and execute his solemn duty as consoler-in-chief. After a few on task opening remarks, Trump pivoted sharply, and in his own idiosyncratic style, commenced the combative, unscripted, finger pointing, scapegoating blame game madness that he has elevated to an art form.

He started by admitting, “We do not know what led to this crash,” but quickly added, “but we have some very strong opinions and ideas.”

He then speculated, absent evidence, that lowered standards of hiring for air traffic controllers in the Federal Aviation Administration during the Joe Biden and Barack Obama presidencies may have been a factor in the disaster. Naturally, this speculative scenario conveniently omitted the fact that he served a four-year term between Presidents Obama and Biden.

Trump, his GOP congressional coterie, and Republicans in general have regularly attacked “Diversity, equity and inclusion” programs in the federal government. He and his team have made attacking and eliminating such programs a central priority during their first days in office, arguably, even more that lowering the price of eggs, and reinvigorating the economy that he sold as faltering during his campaign…saying he’d fix it on day 1.

He said DEI has divided Americans and weakened the country. Less than 24 hours after the first major US air disaster in more than a decade, coincidentally, on his watch, Trump, along with his secretaries of transportation, defense, along with the Vice President, all took shots as hammering this point, and all with zero evidence, that federal hiring practices had any connection to this crash.

When asked by a reporter how he could blame diversity programs for the crash when the investigation had just started, Trump responded: “Because I have common sense.”

At other moments, he acknowledged there was no confirmed cause, saying, “It’s all under investigation.”

Because he has common sense? More than a few people would enthusiastically debate that assertion. But not me. At least not here and now. Instead, I submit an alternative contemplation.

An interesting thing happened on January 20^th, nine days before the crash. Michael Whitaker, the leader of the Federal Aviation Administration stepped down, months after Elon Musk demanded that he quit. As of January 29^th, the FAA had no Senate-confirmed leader. Whitaker quit before Donald Trump took office. He had run the FAA for just a year, but said in December that he would step down as the new President was being sworn in.

Whitaker and Musk clashed over SpaceX. It was one thing when Musk was the richest man in the world, and owner of SpaceX. But when became the leading voice behind the newly formed Department of Governmental Efficiency, aka DOGE, his personal influence on all things governmental, including the FAA expanded exponentially.

Last September, Whitaker proposed over $600,000 in fines for SpaceX. Musk responded by demanding his resignation and threatened to sue. Whitaker told a congressional committee fines are the only tool the agency has, that enable it to get compliance on safety matters.

Musk continued his attack via X, while campaigning with Trump. He accused Whitaker’s agency of harassment, posting “The FAA space division is harassing SpaceX about nonsense that doesn’t affect safety while giving a free pass to Boeing even after NASA concluded that their spacecraft was not safe enough to bring back the astronauts.”

Further, in response to an Australian YouTuber who posts about space and who has said the FAA “should not exist,” Musk accused Whitaker of standing in the way of his vision of putting human life on Mars.

Upon announcing in December that he would leave the agency, Whitaker wrote to FAA staff:

“The United States is the safest and most complex airspace in the world, and that is because of your commitment to the safety of the flying public.”

He called his time at the federal agency “the best and most challenging job of my career.”

The FAA was already wrestling with persistent shortages of air traffic controllers. More recently, air traffic controllers were included in the Trump administration’s offer of buyouts to federal employees.

Investigating the plane-copter crash will be led by the independent National Transportation Board, which is chaired by Jennifer Homendy. For the record, she has also clashed with Musk, over the safety of self-driving software in his Tesla vehicles.

Trump flatly blamed DEI and his Democratic predecessors for the crash. He credited common sense for his conclusion. He did so without corroborating evidence.

Considering the flurry of activity across the federal government, due to Trump’s imperatives, DOGE’s planned disruptive effect, in general, and Musk’s running off the FAA head, in particular, it occurs to me, that factors other than DEI may have contributed to the crash. Feel free to draw your own inferences. Meanwhile, I leave you with, “(DEI) That’s one theory, but…!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Potomac_River_mid-air_collision

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpvmdm1m7m9o

https://www.yahoo.com/news/faa-administrator-quit-jan-20-045322293.html

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/02/thats-one-theory-but.html

Merit: Not Really, Not at All

2025-02-12T01:35:00.004-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

In the great emotional ruse that is anti DEI, anti CRT, anti-affirmative action, anti-Civil Rights Act, anti-Voting Rights Act, anti LGBTQ, anti-disabled, etc., we are told the motivation for opposing initiatives and programs to right past wrongs, some which endured for centuries, is the pursuit of merit-based selection. The inherent implied premise for this obsessive compulsion is, that merit is a special sauce possessed, only by white men.

The return to power of the 47^th President has resulted in celebratory exultation among many of his adherents, who believe all their various and sundry shortcomings have been visited upon them because some unfair practice or methodology intervened and redirected benefits that should have inured to them, to some Black, Brown, non-cisgender, or disabled person.

It’s as if, in their incontrovertible view, the world, especially America, is divided into two sides; one side comprised of white men, and the other side, everybody else. Interestingly, with the certainty of this same uncontestable truth, they believe Team Everybody Else has severely damaged them, taking more than they could possibly have ever deserved, and leaving them, the only deserving ones, with a mere pittance. Inexplicably, they harbor this notion, despite the face, they control the vast majority of everything of value in a free enterprise and capitalistic society. They have by far, most of the wealth, most of the property, most of the CEO offices, most of the college and university presidencies, most of the tech businesses, most of the highest corporate titles...you name it, white men dominate it (OK, maybe not Basketball, American Football, and track and field sprint events…most of which were segregated until the mid-20^th century).

And yet, the whining and complaining dominates the landscape. The argument is turbocharged by a rightwing echo chamber that is so inescapable, it persuaded many individuals and groups not naturally on that side of the line to vote against their own interests. While it’s conceivable, time will enable many, if not most, to see the light, the damage will have long been done. But that’s a convo for another day.

Darren Beattie, a “Make America Great Again” ideologue has reportedly been hired to run the State Department’s worldwide public diplomacy efforts. Beattie shared with readers of Revolver, a conservative website he worked for, that he would be the acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. It was unclear whether he would assume the position on a permanent basis; that would require Senate confirmation. All things considered, in the current environment, there is no reason to believe he wouldn’t gain confirmation.

He first achieved notoriety when he was fired during his tenure as a White House speechwriter for the first Trump Administration. He lost his position after it was revealed that he spoke at a conference attended by white nationalists. More recently, on October 24, 2024, he wrote on the Revolver website: “Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work. Unfortunately, our entire national ideology is predicated on coddling the feelings of women and minorities, and demoralizing competent white men.”

This is emblematic of what one writer called a blatant, dangerous, insulting, gaslighting lie. I wish he could have made his sentiment a little more explicit.

Over the course of couple of months since the election, Trump has been moving expeditiously to install members of his new Cabinet…and to “unemploy” tens of thousands of federal workers from the previous administration. As the head of the Executive Branch, or as some argue, as the Executive Branch, he has wide ranging leeway to appoint whomever he wants. Wide leeway is not the same as unlimited control. His first pick for Attorney General, Matt Gaetz, was such an unpopular selection that he withdrew his nomination. White guy notwithstanding, I guess, even Team Trump conceded he was not a worthy candidate for that position. Perhaps, miracles do happen.

There are other controversial nominees. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, is a noted anti-vaccine activist, and conspiracy theorist. Still, he’ll probably gain confirmation. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence has allegedly parroted Russian talking points and has met with then Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Although opposed by most democrats, she cleared a Senate Intel Committee vote, 9-8, and she will likely be confirmed by the Senate later today.

By traditional standards, neither Kennedy, nor Gabbard, not to mention Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, who’s highest attained rank was Major, qualify for the positions to which they have been elevated. Anyone arguing that they are is being transparently dishonest, or quite simply, lying. If anyone with their respective resumes were presented by Democrats, for those same positions, Republicans heads would explode; they’d be summarily dismissed as being unqualified, and presented by unserious, if not clueless, Democrats. But such is the nature of the game, when the President, House, and Senate are of the same Party. It is what it is. “Merit: Not Really, Not at All!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:

https://www.wjbf.com/news/u-s-world-news/competent-white-men-must-be-in-charge-if-you-want-things-to-work-trump-admin-hires-darren-beattie-to-run-public-diplomacy-at-state-department/

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/02/merit-not-really-not-at-all.html

Bey Watch: "This Is My "Country" Redux '25

2025-02-05T00:12:00.001-05:00

It’s time to Break It Down!

Today is my late father's 105th birthday. Happy Birthday dad; I love you; I miss you!

Last year, Beyoncé teased her then upcoming new Country Album, “Cowboy Carter,” during halftime of Super Bowl LVIII, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ten days later, I blogged about Queen Bey’s foray into Country Music. Presciently, at the time, I mused what it might be like for Beyoncé to be nominated for Grammy’s or Country Music Awards this year. She was nominated by both, and while she was received 12 nominations for People’s Choice Country Music Awards, she was snubbed, going 0-for-12. Conversely, after garnering 11 Grammy nominations, she captured 3 Awards, winning for best Country Duo/Group performance, (along with Miley Cyrus), for the Top Country Music Album Award, and for the pièce de resistance, Album of the Year. Her 11 nominations elevated her record for total Grammy nominations to 99, and her 3 wins pushed her record total Grammys to 35. With that, kick back, and check out what I wrote about Bey and Country Music a year ago.

I am well on the way to my 17^th year as a Blogger, Content Creator, or whatever other term you choose as your preferred euphemism. In sixteen and a half years, I have made over 850 blog posts. The range of topics I have tackled run the gamut, and include, among other things, politics, history, sports, holidays, healthcare, education, race, America, labor, wars, personalities, and travel, just to cite a dozen categories. One thing I have never written about, and in full disclosure, have never contemplated writing about, is Country Music. Decades ago, I heard a Country Music singer say, “The Country in Country Music, is America.” While admittedly, not a fan of the genre, then or now, I must admit, the moment I heard the guy say that I thought it was profound. I still believe that to be true.

Yesterday, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter’s new song, “Texas Hold ‘Em” debuted as the Number 1 song on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Even if it’s only a paragraph, I must write about that. Imagine Bey being featured/nominated for one or more awards in the Country category at the 2025 Grammy’s, or at the Country Music Association Awards Show next year. We all know Bey & Jay are music royalty. When they make music, they make news. That’s been the case, since long before the two became the power couple they are today. For them, grabbing headlines in the music world is virtually de rigueur. But even by that standard, this is different.

Let’s not get it twisted though. Black folks are not new to this country music thing. The first “string bands” in this country were comprised of enslaved people. Moreover, the root of country music is blues, of which Santi Elijah Holley said, “It’s Black as hell.” When I was growing up, Charley Pride, was the Country sensation of the era. In 1962, Ray Charles released his 17^th album, entitled, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. He went on to earn a Grammy for Album of the Year. Oh yeah, lest I forget to mention it, Beyoncé’s other new country song “16 Carriages” ranks No. 9 on the Billboard Country Music chart. Yes, in addition to debuting at Number 1, she also has a second Billboard Country Music chart Top 10 hit.

Today, there are several successful Black artists, popular for their singing country music, including Mickey Guyton, Kane Brown, Jimmy Allen, Brittney Spencer, and Willie Jones. They are all fine artists. However, none of them is Beyoncé, who has collected 88 Nominations, and 32 Grammy Awards: both, the most in history. Incidentally, Jay-Z has also garnered 88 Nominations, tying “his Bey” for most ever, to accompany his 24 Grammy Awards. Yes, that’s right, between the two of them, they have earned 176 Grammy Nominations, and 56 Grammy Awards.

In landing her first-ever No. 1 single on the country charts, Beyoncé enters rare air. She became only the second solo woman with no accompanying artists to achieve the feat. Taylor Swift, whose songs “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” hit No. 1 in 2021.

Bey is also the first woman to have topped both the Hot Country and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts since the lists began in 1958. Morgan Wallen, Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Ray Charles are the only other artists to have reached No. 1 on both charts.

Her current hits, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” were released Feb. 11, after Beyoncé teased the release of new music in a surprise Super Bowl ad for Verizon. She also announced her eighth solo studio album “Renaissance Act II” is scheduled for release March 29, 2024. “Bey Watch: This Is My “Country Redux ‘25!””

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/11/entertainment/beyonce-new-music-super-bowl-ad/index.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/beyonce-country-album-grammy-cowboy-carter-1235256088/

https://www.vulture.com/article/beyonce-cowboy-carter-album-of-the-year.html

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/02/bey-watch-this-is-my-country-redux-25.html

Short, Sweet...and Different

2025-01-29T00:19:00.003-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

We are eleven weeks removed from the 2024 Election, and ten days post inauguration. As I reflect on the passage of time, especially the last week and a half, I am mindful that eight years ago, every utterance out of the mouth of the then newly elected President seemed mind numbingly outrageous, and the catalyst for all manner of protestation. Fast forward to today. Something is different.

The President is the same now, as then. He is equally loquacious, just as prone to make off the wall utterances, and certainly no less controversy friendly. So, what has changed? To be perfectly honest, America has. The President, who has been the GOP Nominee for three consecutive elections, increased his share of virtually all demographics, including Black men, Hispanics, and young Americans. Those increases enabled him to capture a plurality (let’s be clear, not a majority) of the popular vote, the first time Republicans led in that category in twenty years, and just the second time since the 1988 Presidential Election. The differential between him and his Democratic opponent was 1.61%, according to the Associated Press.

While all those things are significant, none of them accounts for the principal variance between 2017 and 2025, at least not in my world. I opted not to watch the Inauguration. In fact, I chose to forego the news altogether for the first three days of the week. I even limited my social media activity. I have a complete understanding of the outrage machine, including the recognition that the behaviors and actions that prompt that response are intended to elicit that exact reaction. Well, I’ve opted not to cooperate. With ten days gone, there are 1,451 days left of the madness, Nope, not this time. I’m keeping it ”Short, Sweet…and Different!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/03/nx-s1-5213810/2024-presidential-election-popular-vote-trump-kamala-harris

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/01/short-sweetand-different.html

MLK, Jr.: Quotes You Don't Remember...Or, Perhaps Never Heard (Relayed by Nikole Hannah-Jones) Redux '25

2025-01-22T00:04:00.004-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

My original posting about the King Holiday dates-back-to January 19, 2011. In 2022, I amended the topic to add a perspective shared by Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Solomon Peña, who lost his 2022 bid for New Mexico state House District 14, was arrested by an Albuquerque SWAT team for allegedly paying and conspiring with four men to shoot at the homes of two state legislators and two county commissioners, authorities said. No one was injured but investigators said Peña intended to cause serious injury or death. Peña, attributed his defeat to a “rigged” election is accused of masterminding a series of shootings targeting the homes of elected Democrats.

But I digress. Consider this “batschitt” craziness an FYI! It’s not the topic of today’s post.

Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Over the years, I’ve written a post about Dr. King, the holiday, and how it came to pass. Today, I am again revisiting a post I initially wrote and posted Wednesday, January 19, 2011, and that I reprised January 18, 2017, January 17, 2018, and again, January 23, 2019, examining the advent of the King Holiday. It’s been 39 years since the initial observance of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (MLK DAY), and just over 41 years since President Reagan signed the MLK, Jr. Holiday bill into law. Contemporary events continue to remind us that now is an apt time to look into the rearview mirror of time.

After over three decades of inculcation into the very fabric of our society, it may be largely forgotten that the conceptualization, submission and continual resubmission of the idea, the enactment, and the gradual national observance, was not the product of universal acceptance of a grand and enlightened concept, but rather, was emblematic of the civil rights struggle itself; steeped in controversy, and the eventual victory of a relentless movement to achieve richly deserved, and long overdue social justice.

Several members of Congress, a few states, and even a President, using a host of creative means, sought to undermine, outmaneuver, sabotage, subvert, and otherwise derail the efforts of the measure’s proponents. Ultimately, the movement was consolidated, snowballed, and would simply not be thwarted.

The effort to create a King Holiday was started by U.S. Representative John Conyers, Michigan, shortly after Dr. King’s death, in the spring of 1968. It was first introduced in the House of Representatives in 1979 but fell 5 votes short of the number needed for passage in the Lower Chamber.

High profile opponents to the measure included Senator Jesse Helms, NC, Senator John McCain, AZ, and President Ronald Reagan. Both Senators voted against the bill, and Senator McCain publicly supported Arizona Governor Evan Mecham for his rescission of MLK Day as a State Holiday in Arizona. The campaign however, reached a critical mass in the early 1980’s. Spurred on by Stevie Wonder penning a song in King’s honor called, “Happy Birthday,” a petition drive to support the campaign would attract over 6 million signatures. It has been called the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. History.

Buttressed by what had become a wildly successful public campaign, Congress soon followed suit. The proposal passed in the House by a vote of 338-90, and in the Upper Chamber by a vote of 78-22. Given the dimensions of this overwhelming support, in the form of bicameral veto-proof votes, President Reagan signed the provision November 2, 1983, and it became Federal Law. The first observance under the new law took place January 20, 1986, rather than on January 15th, Dr. King’s birthday. A compromise in the legislation specified that the observance take place on the Third Monday in January, consistent with prior legislation (Uniform Monday Holiday Act).

Of course, that was not the end of the story. It would take more than 30 years after Dr. King’s death before the Holiday was fully adopted and observed in all 50 states. Illinois holds the distinction of being the first State to adopt MLK Day as a State Holiday, having done so in 1973. Twenty years later, in 1993, for the first time, some form of MLK Day was held in each of the 50 States.

It was not until 2000 that South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges signed a bill to make MLK Day a paid holiday for State employees; giving the Palmetto State the dubious distinction of being the last of the 50 States to do so. However, Mississippi also sets itself apart by designating the Third Monday in January as a shared Holiday that honors the memory of Robert E. Lee and Dr. King…two fine southern gentlemen.

Three summers ago, after entertaining a whirlwind, on again off again, job offer from UNC, journalist, McArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize winner, and UNC alum Nikole Hannah-Jones opted to choose Howard University as her next employer, over UNC. Ms. Hannah-Jones, who gained notoriety for her work on the 1619 Project, has become a lightning rod for discourse around issues of civil rights, and the much-ballyhooed topic known as Critical Race Theory, #CRT.

Two years ago, NH-J was invited to give an MLK speech on the Monday Holiday. She discovered that a few members of the group hosting her wrote and subsequently leaked emails opposing her giving the speech. Those who opposed her felt it dishonored Dr. King to do so and characterized her as a “discredited activist” “unworthy of such association with King.”

This insight motivated her to call an audible. She scrapped her original speech and spent the first half of her speech reading excerpts from several of Dr. King’s speeches…without revealing that they were his words. She subbed BLACK for Negro, to avoid dating the material and giving away the fact that it was from over half a century ago. Literally, that’s all it took to transport to 2022.

Here is some of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ 2022 MLK, Jr. Day speech:

“It was in the year 1619 that the first BLACK slave was brought to the shores of this nation. They were brought here from the soils of Africa and unlike the Pilgrim fathers who landed here at Plymouth a year later, they were brought here against their will…”

“White Americans must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society…The evils of capitalism are as real as the evils of militarism and racism…”

“The problems of racial injustice and economic injustice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution of political and economic power. A nation that continues year after year to spend more $ on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

“The crowning achievement in hypocrisy must go to those staunch Republicans and Democrats of the Midwest and West who were given land by our government when they came here as immigrants from Europe. They were given education through the land grant colleges…”

“These are the same people that now say to black people, whose ancestors were brought to this country in chains and who were emancipated in 1863 without being given land to cultivate or bread to eat; that they must pull themselves up by their own bootstraps…”

“What they truly advocate is Socialism for the rich and Capitalism for the poor… “We know full well that racism is still that hound of hell which dogs the tracks of our civilization.”

“Ever since the birth of our nation, White America has had a Schizophrenic personality on the question of race, she has been torn between selves. A self in which she proudly professes the great principle of democracy and a self in which she madly practices the antithesis of democracy.”

“The fact is, there has never been a single, solid, determined commitment on the part of the vast majority of white Americans to genuine equality for Black people.”

“The step backwards has a new name today, it is called the white backlash, but the white backlash is nothing new. It is the surfacing of old prejudices, hostilities and ambivalences that have always been there…”

“The white backlash of today is rooted in the same problem that has characterized America ever since the black man landed in chains on the shores of this nation.”

“Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance…with each modest advance the white population promptly raises the argument that BLACK AMERICANS HAVE come far enough.”

“…for the good of America, it is necessary to refute the idea that the dominant ideology in our country, even today, is freedom and equality and that racism is just an occasional departure from the norm on the part of a few bigoted extremists.”

“If America does not respond creatively to the challenge to banish racism, some future historian will have to say, that a great civilization died because it lacked the soul and commitment to make justice a reality for all men.”

“Why do white people seem to find it so difficult to understand that the Black people are sick and tired of having reluctantly parceled out to THEM those rights and privileges which all others receive upon birth or entry in America?”

“I never cease to wonder at the amazing presumption of much of white society, assuming that they have the right to bargain with BLACKS for their freedom…”

Oh, the uncomfortable silence as I read Dr. King’s words at a commemoration of his life when people had no idea that these were his words. When I revealed that everything, I said to that point was taken from his speeches between ’56 and 67… Can you say SHOOK!

Then I read all the names that white Americans called King: charlatan, demagogue, communist, traitor — and brought out the polling showing more than three-quarters of Americans opposed King at his death while 94 percent approve of him now.

I left them with this: People who oppose today what he stood for back then do not get to be the arbiters of his legacy. The real Dr. King cannot be commodified, homogenized, and white-washed and whatever side you stand on TODAY is the side you would have been back then.

In fact, most white Americans in 1963 opposed the March on Washington where Dr. King gave the “I Have A Dream” Speech with that one line that people oppose to anti-racism like to trot out against those working for racial justice.

When the speech was over, Father Pfleger, who had been cheering me on from the crowd, whispered in my ear: That’s what you call the “You Gone Learn Today” speech.

“This is why the 1619 Project exists. This is why the decades of scholarship that undergirds the 1619 Project exists. Because if we do nothing, they will co-opt our history and use it against us.”

Dr. King was a radical critic of racism, capitalism, and militarism. He didn’t die. He was assassinated. And many, including Reagan, fought the national holiday we’re now commemorating. “If you haven’t read, in entirety, his speeches, you’ve been miseducated & I hope that you will.”

As it was in 1625, 1725, 1825, 1925, and yeah, it remains in 2025…”MLK, Jr.: Quotes You Don’t Remember…Or Perhaps Never Heard (Relayed by Nikole Hannah-Jones) Redux ’25!”

I’m done; holla back!

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1483187472276328449.html?fbclid=IwAR3Gq0hLX0vDKCRlP693LO4TBL9-jWsBZnPiUg5Nqmf–T2c63h3l3BCwu8

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com/2024/01/17/mlk-jr-jr-quotes-you-dont-remember-or-perhaps-never-heard-relayed-by-nikole-hannah-jones-redux-24/

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/01/mlk-jr-quotes-you-dont-rememberor.html

Justice Department Reviews and Provides Assessment if the Tulsa Race Massacre

2025-01-15T00:13:00.005-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

Occasionally, I run across a printed story so compelling, that rather than write about it, I instead, shard in whole cloth an already written story. This Department of Justice (DOJ) press release on Tulsa’s Black Wall Street was one of those stories. At its core, this piece is emblematic of why so many conservatives line up in opposition to DEI, CRT, and inclusion policies and practices.

This week, the Justice Department issued a report on the Tulsa Race Massacre. The report documents the department’s findings, made during its review and evaluation of the Tulsa Race Massacre, undertaken pursuant to the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act. The Civil Rights Division previously announced it was undertaking this review during a Cold Case Convening held on Sept. 30, 2024.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said, “The Tulsa Race Massacre stands out as a civil rights crime unique in its magnitude, barbarity, racist hostility and its utter annihilation of a thriving Black community.” White Tulsans murdered hundreds of Greenwood residents in 1921, burned their homes and churches, looted their belongings, and locked the survivors in internment camps.

The Justice Department has not previously spoken publicly about this race massacre, nor officially accounted for the horrific events that transpired in Tulsa. This report breaks that silence by rigorously examining and providing a full accounting of one of the darkest episodes of our nation’s past.

This report reveals new information and shows that the massacre was the result, not of uncontrolled mob violence, but of a coordinated, military-style attack on Greenwood. Now, more than a century later, there is no living perpetrator for the Justice Department to prosecute. But the historical reckoning and the need for it, of the massacre continues. This report reflects our commitment to the pursuit of justice and truth, even in the face of insurmountable obstacles. We issue this report with recognition of the courageous survivors who continue to share their testimonies, acknowledgement of those who tragically lost their lives and appreciation for other impacted individuals and advocates who collectively push for us to never forget this tragic chapter of America’s history.”

The report discloses the department’s findings on the Tulsa Race Massacre and examines events that occurred between on May 31 and June 1, 1921, when white Tulsans mounted a concerted effort to destroy a vibrant Black community, remembered today as Black Wall Street. During the massacre, hundreds of Black residents were murdered, their businesses and homes burned to the ground and their money and personal property stolen. Survivors were left without resources or recourse. Subsequently, the City of Tulsa resisted offers of meaningful help to the victims and utterly failed to provide necessary aid or assistance, at the same time efforts to seek justice through the courts foundered.

Despite the gravity of the department’s findings, no avenue of prosecution now exists for crimes that occurred during the massacre — the youngest potential defendants would today be more than 115 years old, and the relevant statutes of limitations expired decades ago. Nevertheless, as the federal government’s first thorough reckoning with this devastating event, our review officially acknowledges, illuminates and preserves for history the horrible ordeals of the massacre’s victims. As antilynching advocate Ida B. Wells said, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” This report aims to do that very thing.

The Nature of the Review

A team of career lawyers and investigators from the Emmett Till Cold Case Unit of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division conducted the review. Members of the unit spoke with survivors and with descendants of survivors, examined firsthand accounts of the massacre given by individuals who are now deceased, studied primary source materials, spoke to scholars of the massacre and reviewed legal pleadings, books, and scholarly articles relating to the massacre. The team produced a thorough, 123-page, sourced report.

Factual Findings

The review revealed that, on the night of May 31, 1921, a violent attack by as many as 10,000 white Tulsans destroyed Greenwood, a uniquely prosperous Black community. The attack was so systematic and coordinated that it transcended mere mob violence. The review found that the trigger for the violence of the Tulsa Race Massacre was the kind of unfounded condemnation that, at the time, was commonly employed to justify unspeakable treatment of Black men; a white man alleged that a Black man, 19-year-old Dick Rowland, assaulted a white woman who operated an elevator he used. After Rowland’s arrest, a local newspaper then sensationalized the story, and soon, a mob of white Tulsans gathered outside the courthouse, demanding a lynching.

The local sheriff called on Black men from Greenwood, many recently returned from service during World War I, to come to the courthouse to prevent a lynching. The white mob saw this effort to protect Rowland as an unacceptable challenge to the social order. The mob grew. A confrontation broke out, and when someone fired a shot, horrific violence erupted. The Tulsa police deputized hundreds of white residents, many of whom — immediately before being awarded a badge — had been drinking and agitating for Rowland’s murder. Law enforcement officers helped organize these special deputies — as well as other white Tulsans — into the forces that would eventually ravage the Greenwood community.

Violence was initially unorganized and opportunistic. But at daybreak on June 1, a whistle blew, and the violence and arsons that had been chaotic became systematic. White Tulsans, many of whom had recently drilled together as the “Home Guard,” formed to replace members of the National Guard who had gone overseas during the Great War, became organized and efficient in their destruction. They looted, burned and destroyed 35 city blocks while Greenwood’s residents tried desperately to defend their homes. As the fires consumed Greenwood, many Black families fled for their lives, leaving behind their homes and valuable items. White residents chased them across and beyond the city, taking into custody men, women, children, the elderly and the infirmed, and looting the homes they left behind. The destruction of the district was total. The survivors were left with little to nothing.

Law enforcement officers (both from the Tulsa Police and the National Guard) disarmed Black residents, confiscated their weapons and detained many in makeshift camps under armed guard. In addition, there are credible reports that at least some law enforcement officers did more than arrest and detain Black men; some participated in murder, arson and looting. After the devastation, city officials promised to help Greenwood rebuild, but the government of Tulsa not only failed to do so, it also put up obstacles to residential reconstruction. White local leaders rejected outside aid, claiming they could handle the recovery, but then provided little to no financial support. Instead, claiming the area was best suited for industrial use, they imposed harsh new fire codes that priced residents out of the area.

Legal Findings

The department’s report concludes that, had today’s more robust civil rights laws been in effect in 1921, federal prosecutors could have pursued hate crime charges against the massacre’s perpetrators, including both public officials and private citizens. In addition, if modern interpretations of civil rights laws were in effect in 1921, police officers, public officials and any who acted in concert with such persons could have been prosecuted for willfully violating the civil rights of massacre victims. Many of these legal avenues, however, were not available in 1921. The few avenues for federal prosecution that were available in 1921 were not pursued.

Now, the statute of limitations has expired for all federal civil rights offenses. Moreover, the team could find no living perpetrators, and prosecution under any law (federal or state) would almost certainly be foreclosed by the Constitution’s Confrontation Clause, which requires the government to provide live witnesses who can be cross examined by the accused. Such witnesses would need to have sufficient knowledge to prove a particular defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The report recognizes that some may find the department’s inability to prosecute a painful or dissatisfying outcome. However, the review recognizes and documents the horrible events that occurred as well as the trauma and loss suffered by the residents of Greenwood. While legal and practical limitations prevent the perpetrators of the crimes committed in 1921 from being held criminally accountable in a court of law, the historical reckoning continues. Legal limitations may have stymied the pursuit of justice, but work continues to ensure that future generations understand the scale and significance of this atrocity.

Following issuance of the report, Assistant Attorney General Clarke will convene with members of the Greenwood District, survivors and descendants of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the Tulsa civil rights community and other stakeholders.

For further information please contact the Office of Public Affairs. If you have information about a civil rights cold case, meaning a hate crime or other civil rights offense that resulted in death and that occurred on or before Dec. 31, 1980, please contact the Civil Rights Division’s Cold Case Unit at Coldcase.Civilrights@usdoj.gov.

In a way, the non-action following this report is reminiscent of that following Trump’s 34 felony convictions, and Jack Smith’s chronicles on January 6 and Trump’s election subversion case. ”Justice Department Reviews and Provides Assessment of the Tulsa Race Massacre!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the link below:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-results-review-and-evaluation-tulsa-race-massacre

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/01/justice-department-reviews-and-provides.html

James Earl Carter, Jr.: Centenarian

2025-01-08T01:32:00.003-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

As I reflected upon contemporary events, sifting through the corridors of my mind for a suitable topic du jour, a couple of mega (not MAGA) matters landed on my radar.

Monday was January 6th. As American History continues to unfold, chances are that date will be as resonant and memorable for our fellow citizens as December 7^th. In 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor represented the fiercest attack ever on America, the institution, from external forces. Arguably, on January 6, 2021, the attack on the Capitol represented the fiercest attack ever on America, the institution, from internal forces…at least aside from the Civil War. In fact, even during the hostilities of the Civil War, no factions breached the walls of the Capitol.

While Vice President Harris returned the Certification of Electoral Votes to it’s normal perfunctory status, on Monday, with little or no fanfare, the collective media sphere did make note of it, because of course, last time, the Certification was interrupted by gallows on the grounds of the Capitol threatening the life of the then Vice President, a horde breaking windows, and crashing doors, running through the building with Confederate Flags, giving chase to government officials, while trashing the building, attacking law enforcement officers with bear spray, defacing Congressional offices, and smearing fecal matter on the walls. There are those who argue that Trump contributed to, if not caused that version of American carnage. Tempting as it is, that is not the topic I chose for today.

Familiarly known as Jimmy, James Earl Carter, Jr. was our nation’s 39^th President. He served one term, having been elected November 2, 1976, defeating President Gerald Ford, and losing four years later, on November 4, 1980, to Ronald Reagan. Carter had a term filled with a vast array of challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis, rampant inflation, unrest in the Middle East, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a gasoline shortage due to production declines, massive gasoline price hikes, and resulting rampant inflation, along with rising unemployment. It may not have been the worst Presidential tenure; Hoover bore the brunt of the Great Depression. It was, however, bad enough to seal Carter’s fate as a one-term President.

While there are those, especially Republicans, who label Carter the worst-ever U.S. President, just as many view the arch of Carter legacy as being so much more than his presidency. President Carter who passed away Sunday before last at 100 years old was the oldest former President, and the first to reach the century mark.

Carter, the classic anti-establishmentarian as president, came to Washington in the wake of the Nixon-Watergate scandal with the stated mission of disassembling the Washington establishment. In contemporary parlance, one might say, he aimed to drain the swamp. In assembling his Cabinet, he sought and relied upon several smart people with one glaring deficiency: experience in navigating the Washington’s massive and complex bureaucracy. The peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia packed up his bags after one term, and took what to some, was a surprising route. He returned to his roots in Plains. After having been crushed by Reagan in the 1980 Election, Carter exclaimed that he would pattern his post-presidency after Harry Truman and not endeavor to personally enrich himself.

To that end, Carter turned to statecraft and made diplomacy one of his calling cards. Quickly, he made his mark in the Middle East by meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1981, and touring Egypt in 1983, as well as meeting with the Palestine Liberation Organization. These initiatives expanded the upon the work that he’d begun while President, with the Camp David Summit and Accords.

In 1994, President Clinton enlisted Carter’s assistance in a North Korea peace mission. Carter negotiated an understanding with Kim II Sung. Carter would later announce the outline of a treaty with Kim on CNN, without having the Clinton Administration’s consent to spur action.

In March 1999Carter met with Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui. He praised the progress Taiwan made in democracy, human rights, economy, culture, science and technology. Carter, however, remained controversial in Taiwan due to having ended U.S. with the country.

In addition, Carter championed a plan to hold elections in Venezuela in 2003 (though the country didn’t get it done), in 2006 he stated his disagreements with Israeli domestic and foreign policy while saying he supported the country. Meanwhile, he extended his criticism to Israel’s policies in Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza, in 2007, Carter joined Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, to announce his participation in The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working together on peace and human rights issues, he visited Darfur, Sudan, Cypress, the Korean Peninsula, and the Middle East. He attempted to travel to Zimbabwe, but he was prevented from doing so by President Robert Mugabe’s government. In 2008, he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in 2010, Carter traveled to North Korea and negotiated the release of Aijalon Gomes, in 2012, he stressed that Egyptian military generals could take full executive and legislative power to form a new constitution, in 2017, he to the Trump Administration to be a diplomatic envoy to North Korea, and in 2018, official files revealed that in 1993, Carter had suggested a Northern Ireland peace process role by President-Elect Bill Clinton.

Lest one be deluded into thinking Carter was a one-trick pony, his peanut farm had amassed $1 million in debt when he left office in 1981. He began writing books to retire the debt, and by 2019, he’d written over 30 books, including best sellers, covering a variety of topics, including a novel, a children’s book, reflections on his presidency.

In 1982, Carter founded the Carter Center, a non-governmental and nonprofit organization designed to advance human rights and alleviate suffering. He worked with the World Health Organization to eradicate dracunculiasis, also called Guinea worm disease. The incidence decreased from 3.5 million cases in the mid-1980’s to 25 cases in 2016, and four in the first seven months of 2024.

Jimmy Carter, and his wife and life partner Rosalynn, were involved in many endeavors after his presidency, but none were more notably connected to the Georgia native than Habitat for Humanity. The Carters initiated the Carter Work Project in 1984, Over the past 40 years, the former President and his work has touched lives around the world. The Carter’s examples have rallied volunteers, supporters, and celebrities to take part in the mission of helping Habitat for Humanity become internationally recognized for building decent and affordable housing. The Carters touched the lives of thousands of Habitat homeowners and volunteers, and inspired millions across the globe. The Carter Work Project has had more than 108,000 volunteers in 14 countries and built 4,447 homes.

Of course, there is more that can be said about a man who lived a century. He was the first American President born in a hospital, grew up in a town populated almost exclusively by Black people, played high school basketball, attended Georgia Southwestern College and Georgia Institute of Technology before matriculating and graduating from the Naval Academy, married Rosalynn (a high school valedictorian) after college, and played sprint football, and ran cross country at the Naval Academy, and worked in the Navy’s nuclear engineering program. In summary, Jimmy Carter was a Renaissance Man. Peaceful transition…”James Earl Carter, Jr.: Centenarian!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/01/james-earl-carter-jr-centenarian.html

Happy New Year: Here's to Auld Lang Syne Redux - 2025 Edition

2025-01-01T03:54:00.008-05:00

It’s time to Break It Down!

Another holiday week, another reprised edition of “Break It Down!”

This Issue has been revised from the Break It Down post I originally conceived, created, and published December 29, 2010, and subsequently re-posted in amended formats December 28, 2011, December 31, 2014, December 30, 2015, December 28, 2016, January 3, 2018, January 2, 2019, December 30, 2020, December 29, 2021, December 28, 2022, January 3, 2024, and today January 1, 2025. This is my first post of the month, and of the year 2025 This is the 913th Edition of Break It Down, which debuted August 20, 2007, on the BlogSpot platform. I migrated the principal site to WordPress August 3, 2012, approximately three weeks before the Fifth Anniversary of the blog. You may find this and most other posts at either site.

With this post I hope you had a blessed and bountifully Happy New Year. Now, enjoy today’s blog post.

The one-half fortnight between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a unique occurrence in the unfolding of the American version of the Gregorian Calendar. It is the only instance in which the space of a mere seven days separates two major holidays. Unquestionably, the timing is propitious. Millions of holiday travelers returned home from their Christmas commemoration and revelry, just in time to get a day off to “celebrate” the New Year…and recuperate from their extracurricular activities, including the exploits of New Year’s Eve. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I hope to the extent feasible, most people whose traditions include Christmas, celebrated, and observed the arrival of the New Year, responsibly. If not, by now, you should have had a few hours to work through the fall out.

In last week’s post, I presented a re-formatted airing of my personally crafted Christmas post, (https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com/2024/12/25/twelve-days-of-christmas-the-e-concert-2024-edition/) from past Noels. This week, I doubled down and revisited my trusty time capsule. Once again, this tack permits new readers to catch-up by seeing the piece, it allows long-time readers to reflect upon both the passing year as well as the theme lifted in the post, and finally, it ensures that those busy readers, with no time to invest in checking out a new blog during the holidays, will not have to miss anything. It’s a win, win…win!

With that loosely framed preamble behind us, here’s this week’s déjà vu all over again post.

Since we are still in the Sweet Spot of the holidays, I shall practice minimalism. For your purposes, that means the blog should be available, but not intrusive. To that end, I am taking a page from the Christmas e-concert but going a step further. Instead of a concert, I give you a song…of reflection.

Robert Burns, a Scot, wrote a poem (Auld Lang Syne) in 1788 that has come to symbolize the spirit of mass contemplation that people around the world invoke as the clock strikes midnight, signaling not just the dawn of a new day, but of a new year. Undoubtedly, you have been somewhere, at some time, when you joined those assembled to sing Auld Lang Syne, which loosely translated means, Times gone by.

Once again, that time is upon us, as today is the first day of the 26^th year of the 21^st century. After thoughtful reflection, I have had no choice but to conclude, my travails have been few and small, especially when compared to my blessings, which have been both abundant and vast! All praises to the one true, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God; a mighty fortress is He.

No need to thank me for my inherent thoughtfulness. But, by all means, “Drink a cup of kindness,” or eggnog, or Champagne, or “name your favorite adult beverage,” for me. And, if you are a teetotaler, water will do nicely, thank-you!

As I complete my first post of 2025, and prayerfully and faithfully reflect upon the year gone by, I leave with you this familiar Irish Toast:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

It was my unique honor and privilege to visit with you briefly for each of the 52 weeks of last year. I hope you have derived a fraction of the pleasure reading (and occasionally listening to) the blog posts, that I have experienced from preparing and sharing them with you. May 2025 bring you the fulfillment of all your fondest desires. “Happy New Year: Here’s to Auld Lang Syne Redux – 2025 Edition!”

I invite you to click on the links directly below, which lead to an A cappella and a Jazz interpretation of Auld Lang Syne, arranged and performed by the late Lou Rawls (and listen to the remainder of this week’s edition of Break It Down):

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/question279.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects related to this post, consult the links below:

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2025/01/happy-new-year-heres-to-auld-lang-syne_1.html

Twelve Days of Christmas: The e-Concert - 2024 Edition

2024-12-25T00:06:00.006-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

(Revised from Break It Down – 12/24/08, 12/22/10, 12/21/11, 12/26/12, 12/25/13, 12/23/15, 12/21/16, 12/26/17, 12/26/18, 12/25/19, 12/23/20, 12/25/21, 12/21/22, and 12/27/23)

According to tradition, mine if no one else’s, my Christmas post includes a complement of Songs of the Season. Today’s issue will constitute the next edition in that tradition. It’s Tuesday night, or in my personal time dimension, Blog Night. In keeping with what I do, let’s make it so, Wednesday’s coming! As incorporated in the title above, many purists celebrate Twelve Days of Christmas. This has been documented in song, book form, at least one movie, and in countless tales and renditions.

By quirk of the calendar, Christmas was a couple of days ago, but this is still Christmas Week, and so, here, as scheduled, is the Christmas Blog. I hope you enjoy the blog/e-concert.

Merry Christmas to you! I know some of you are caught up in the whole “We Are The (Secular) World” trip; thus, you substitute Holiday for Christmas in seasonal greetings. But that really shouldn’t be a problem since the man we call 44 brought Christmas back (wink-wink). But seriously though, in case you don’t know, Christmas never went anywhere. In fact, a quick check back over the Obama years reveals…Christmas was a staple in his repertoire. (http://www.msnbc.com/am-joy/watch/-merry-christmas-never-left-the-white-house-824078915806).

Of course, those innately curious enough to conduct the requisite etymological research know that the root derivation of holiday is “Holy Day;” but I digress; that is fodder for another day.

The beauty of this post is, it’s timeless. By the time you get around to it, most, if not all of you will already have done whatever it is you do to observe and/or celebrate Christmas. But you know what, herein lies an opportunity to take one more moment, a time out if you will, before returning full tilt to your normal schedule.

As is my custom, I will not use this Christmas Season Post, if you will allow me to call it that, to challenge you to sort through the facts, be they esoteric or mundane. Not the recent election, or the economy (recession or no recession), no wars, and absolutely no (further) references to Presidents, past, present, or future.

No, this is your time to take a break and leave all that behind. Notice, I did not say forget it, and I certainly would never ask that you pretend it doesn’t exist. Just give yourself a break.

In the true spirit of keeping it simple for both you and me, I am reprising an amalgam of previous posts. In fact, not just any posts…posts from several Christmas’ past. This is my fourteenth e-Christmas Concert. Several years ago, I pressed the reset button on the Concert. Instead of simply providing 12 standards, I upped the ante and provided 24, 12 by female artists, and 12 by male artists. This year, Christmas Day was Monday, two days ago. Take your time, but give them a listen, if you like Christmas Music.

The English playwright and poet, William Congreve, in the opening line of his 1697 Play entitled “The Mourning Bride,” asserted, “Music has Charms to soothe a savage Breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.” I think Congreve was on to something. If indeed music is capable of enabling us to overcome our basest instincts, and in so doing, ennoble us to pursue our finer impulses, then indeed, we should take more opportunities to render ourselves captivated by its magical spell. (By the way, it really is breast…not beast; caught you thinking, didn’t I?)

So, I identified and pulled together an assortment of my favorite Christmas Standards by several of my favorite artists. This year’s version includes a variation of the artistic olio I pulled together for your reading, viewing, and listening pleasure several years ago. Below, you will find hot links to YouTube video interpretations and two songs (one male, one female), for each of the 12 Days of Christmas listed and included in today’s Yuletide e-concert.

Female Artists

1. Eartha Kitt is known for having had many talents skills, and abilities, among them acting and singing. Last year I substituted her most popular Christmas song for “Nothing for Christmas.” After a 1-year hiatus, I’m bringing back Santa Baby. As I’ve noted before, the song was born in 1953, and as I will this Sunday, it turned 65 this year. She slays (or if you’re really in the Christmas spirit — sleighs) it. https://youtu.be/Mk_GmhD053E

2. Dianne Reeves is a Grammy-winning jazz artist who sings in the vein of Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae, a skilled lyricist and scat singer. She presents “Christmas Time is Here” as if it’s her own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hInJstw1cGE

3. Vanessa Williams was the first black Miss America. She had a short and tumultuous reign. But cream rises to the top, and her talent ensured that losing her title was but a mere speed bump in a star-studded road. Her rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear” provides a glimpse of her musical flexibility and skill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKmvk0NJnzE

4. Lena Horne was a jazz musician whose career spanned over 70 years. She was also an actress, dancer, and civil rights activist. She demonstrates her vocal caliber in this version of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh8JZp_gnU4

5. Cassandra Wilson was born December 4, 1955. Her birthdate alone ensured that I included her on this list; ’06! But that’s not the only reason she made the cut. Her range includes blues, country, and folk music, as well as jazz. Moreover, she stuck the proverbial landing in her rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmAQzS5Zk7o

6. Toni Braxton is a lot of things: a talented songwriter, singer, pianist, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist. She is known to be sexy, sultry, and an unpredictable reality show star. She’s still best known for her music though, and her version of “Santa Please” will do absolutely nothing to change that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nFWiF_E_VQ

7. The Emotions are one of those classic Old School Girl Groups born in the 70’s. Influenced greatly by Maurice White of Earth Wind & Fire Fame, they continue to perform today. One of my favorite tunes by them is their version of “What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas?” https://youtu.be/coO2E2v5RwE

8. Anita Baker released her first solo album in 1983. In 1986, she released “Rapture”, and it was the dawn of her stardom. She is known for her trademark “husky” voice, and she is at her Christmas best in this version of “The Christmas Song.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHze40h13mc

9. Diana Ross and the Supremes were the “It” Group of Motown when Motown was the “It’ place of Soul Music. The Supremes are America’s most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Here they are with their 1965 rendition of “Silver Bells.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIJROwP4BnM

10. Ella Fitzgerald is jazz royalty. Frequently referred to as the First Lady of Song, the Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella, she was widely acclaimed for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, and intonation, as well as a horn-like improvisational ability. Virtually all scat singing is measured against her. Check out her version of “Sleigh Ride. ”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnEbRaFaqfg

11. Whitney Houston had a voice known worldwide. Her recordings accounted for nearly 200 million records sold. Hers was a clarion voice of our times. This version of “Joy To The World,” taken from the movie, “The Preacher’s Wife,” is special, as was she. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYPpyTyPf6I

12. Ledisi (Anibade Young) is an R&B and jazz recording artist. Her first name means “to bring forth” or “to come here” in Yoruba. She was aptly named. Enjoy her rendering of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xMz5oGc8s1Q

Male Artists

1. James Brown was renowned for his energetic performances, which earned him another of his many titles, “Hardest working man in show business.” His rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby” is not so up-tempo, but still a reminder that he had earned his chops the hard way, and that he was much more than just flash and dash. https://youtu.be/4VFZGRoZwB0

2. Donny Hathaway was a multifaceted soulful crooner and a product of Howard University who excelled in jazz, blues, soul and gospel music, an Alpha Man. He suffered from depression and died of suicide January 13, 1979, at 33 years old. He rendered this marvelous recording of “This Christmas. https://youtu.be/pj1mVUEHeUE

3. The O’Jays were formed in 1965 and have been a staple in Soul and R&B music ever since. They knock it out of the park with this version of “Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Anymore.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc4g1wsIA9g

4. The Temptations were a significant part of what made Motown, Motown, in the 60’s and 70’s. Their rendition of Silent Night lives on as a classic among classics as far as Christmas music goes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFc7STuQF0U

5. Al Green, soul singer, turned minister, soul singer-minister was at his most popular during the 70’s. He puts his considerable talents to good use in this version of “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cFyRwlR5YXk

6. El DeBarge was the central figure in the group known as DeBarge, which reached its zenith in the 80’s. El was one of several members of the group who went on to fashion solo careers. He nails this version of “Christmas Without You.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_xB6VD7fS8

7. Will Downing has been recording albums since 1988. I’ve seen him in concerts twice, including a couple of weeks ago, and I own most of his recorded music. He simply does not disappoint. This recording of The First Noel is no exception. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOQWKBIuk-I

8. Joe (Lewis Thomas) released his debut album in 1993. He has maintained a presence on the music scene ever since. His nuanced presentation of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is just another fine example of his limitless talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vbpsVILCvU

9. Jerry Butler, popularly known as the Ice Man, fitting for an Alpha, is a singer, songwriter, and musician (guitar, electric guitar, bass, piano, saxophone, and drums) who was the lead singer for the Impressions before going on to a solo career. He recorded this classic version of O Holy Night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0dR1Dk7Bu0

10. Luther Vandross was a musical icon. Period. End of story. He is one of my favorite musicians, and his treatment of “My Favorite Things” is certainly among my favorite Christmas songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6TRlV6MOOU

11. The Whispers hail from LA, and have been around since the 60’s. They became members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003…for good reason. They got it like that. And they prove it with this version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbJ95aWUc_A

12. Kem (Owens) is an R&B/Soul singer who has made his uniquely fashioned mark on the music scene since 1999. He enlists Ledisi (Anibade Young), another single named musical star to create a fabulous rendition of “Be Mine For Christmas.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_8rVJ_ENaY

That’s it, 24 artists and videos and/or songs. Add it all up and you get “Twelve Days Of Christmas: The e-Concert – 2024 Edition!” Enjoy it throughout the Season, and by all means, remember the Reason for the Season!

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com/. Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right-hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

https://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2024/12/twelve-days-of-christmas-e-concert-2024.html

Fourteen Days; What an Adventure (A Second Look)

2024-12-11T00:03:00.005-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

I penned and published this post a year ago. I’m reprising it today…just because, it’s my blog, my call. Enjoy. Or not. It's not sports, or politics, or current events. It's just a couple of extraordinary weeks from my ordinary life. Enjoy. Or not. Your call. Peace!

Occasionally, I stretch my personal boundaries and share a personal experience in my posts. During the last couple of weeks, I published reprised editions of the blog. As a concession to being away on vacation, I opted to do so, instead of delving into process of developing new or current content. But make no mistake, posting on the fly, from thousands of miles, and numerous time zones away was a challenge. Another box checked.

The last couple of weeks presented me with an extraordinary and exhilarating slice of life. My hope is, it unfolded in an unobtrusive, if not totally unnoticeable way. My wife and I undertook a 14-day odyssey that included six airports, eight flights, a 3-day cruise, and more than 10,000 miles, not including nautical miles, or ground transportation. In addition, we spent time in locations seven, and nine time zones away. Not coincidentally, I posted from cities in each of those time zones, Egypt Standard Time two weeks ago, and Gulf Standard Time last week.

For a time, we wondered whether the whole notion of this trip was merely a snake-bit idea. Initial planned and schedule for post-Thanksgiving 2020, Covid intervened, and effectively said, NOPE, not happening. It took three years to reschedule it to post-Thanksgiving 2023. Then Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and suddenly, the journey that I had looked to with such anticipation and excitement, seemed quite possibly headed for a second cancellation. However, as we continuously monitored State Department advisories, consulted trusted friends and associates who recently traveled to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as checked-in with our travel agents. We continued to get affirming intel, and on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, admittedly, with some degree of trepidation, we boarded our first flight, and said, “Let’s do this.”

Needless to say; there were people in our inner circle who were not wild about the idea of our traveling to the Middle East, especially, amid heightened tensions stemming from the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Interestingly, there were also folks who, in one camp, thought Egypt was overrated, and folks in another camp who were unimpressed with the UAE in general, and with Dubai, in particular. Then there was yet another camp which was enraptured by the opulence of the Emirates. Fast forward to the end. Peace in the Middle East, at least in the parts we visited, endured. Both Egypt and Dubai delivered, as advertised. They are two very different places, The Capital of Egypt, Cairo, is part of a sprawling 20 million people metropolitan area, and known for its antiquities, while the UAE was created in 1971, one of, if not the wealthiest nation on earth, and filled with gleaming streets, and soaring skyscrapers. Dubai, the largest city in the Emirates, with a population of 3 million people, and the Capital of Emirate of Dubai, is home to the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, which stands 2,722 feet tall (over half a mile). Abu Dhabi, the second largest city in the Emirates, and the Capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest Mosque in the Country, and the third largest Mosque in the world. The building complex covers an area of more than 30 acres, excluding exterior landscaping and parking.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent in the UAE, this is where I fully embrace my bias and admit, the impetus for the trip, for me, was Egypt. As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (ΑΦΑ), Inc., which holds as its symbol, the Sphinx, I’ve long wanted to see it in person. My wife is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (ΔΣΘ), Inc., and the Pyramid is one of the organization’s symbols. For an Alpha-Delta couple, it doesn’t get much better than having an opportunity to visit/see the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid. Except, it did get better. It just so happened that the trip not only covered December 4th, the Fraternity’s 117th Anniversary, but also December 1st, my 50th Alphaversary. Suddenly, that 2020 Covid cancellation is feeling like divine karma. I’ll take it.

Visiting Giza may have been the pièce de resistance of the trip, it was one of many highlights. The Hanging Church in Cairo, the seat of the Coptic Pope, is perhaps the first church built in basilican style. It is called “Hanging,” because its nave is suspended over a passageway. The Aswan High Dam is a prominent historical landmark, and one of the largest embankment dams in the world. It is used as a mechanism to prohibit the Nile from flooding, Then, there is the Nile, the world’s longest river, 4,132 miles (11 countries…Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Republic of the Sudan, and Egypt). Karnak Temple Complex, located in Luxor, comprises a vast mix of temples, monuments, and chapels. Construction of the complex began during the reign of if Senusret (1971-1926 BCE). BCE means Before the Common Era, or before Christ was born. There were also numerous museums of note, including, the Karnak Open Air Museum, the Mummification Museum, and the Le Scarabe Papyrus Museum. Every stop included shops, and or vendors.

In the UAE, we visited three of the country’s seven Emirates, all eponymous of their Emirate, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, the largest cities in each of the three largest Emirates. I mentioned the Burj Khalifa earlier. Standing on the 125^th Floor circular observation tower, looking out over, and surveying the sprawling, gleaming city of Dubai was an amazing sight. The 60-second ride from lobby level to the 124^th Floor, as you might imagine, was quite the experience. But nothing compared to cityscape vista available from any point on the 125^th Floor. By the way, to get to the top floor, you must climb the final flight of stairs. I guess the engineers, architects, and designers wanted visitors to do some of the work on their own, of ascending to the summit. The only 7-Star Hotel in the world, Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs), is in Dubai. It is the third tallest hotel in the world, and one of the most iconic structures in Dubai. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is a veritable one-stop shop for viewing over 5,000 artifacts from the Islamic world. It was a fascinating venue. Finally, Abu Dhabi, home to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE. Sheikh Zayed is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the first President of the UAE, which was founded in 1971. The Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan, is a working palace, and a cultural landmark. Perhaps the most visited landmark in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The main axis of the building is rotated 12 degrees south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

We visited all these sites, and more. Mrs. Miller even rode a Camel while in Giza, and we rode the dunes in the Arabian Desert. Much appreciation to our travel agent, tour guides, and traveling compatriots. Thank God for traveling mercies. “Fourteen Days; What an Adventure (A Second Look)!“

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.comand/or http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.

Find a new post each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right-hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2024/12/fourteen-days-what-adventure-second-look.html

December 7, 1941: A Day Which Will Live in Infamy Redux '24

2024-12-04T00:09:00.009-05:00

It’s time to Break It Down!

In 2011, in observance of the 70th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing by Japan, I wrote the following post. The now 83rd Anniversary, which we will commemorate Saturday, seems like an apt occasion to revisit subject. Since I wrote the post in 2011, a few years ago, my wife and I visited Honolulu, Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor, including the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Oklahoma Memorial, the USS Utah Memorial, and the USS Cisco (Submarine) Memorial Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. It was a great trip with lots of amazing history and artifacts. So, here’s the original post:

Seventy years ago today, an incursion of the highest order befell our great nation. On that fateful Sunday in early December, the Japanese Empire, with the aid of its naval and air forces, attacked the American military installation at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Although, Hawaii did not officially become the 50^th State until June 27, 1959, the Republic of Hawaii was annexed, and had become the incorporated U.S. Territory of Hawaii on July 6, 1898. To wit, America was, in an instant, immersed in World War II (WWII), by default.

The next day, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) met with the U.S. Congress to request a Declaration of War, and in so doing, uttered these now famous words: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

This brazen and unmitigated act of war had surprised the American military establishment, and the Country as a whole. While we as Americans remember the pillage at Pearl Harbor, the comprehensive nature of the Japanese attacks, though amply documented, is less well-known. In fact, over a two-day span, Japan spread a torrent of carnage throughout the Pacific, including:

· Torpedoing ships between Honolulu and San Francisco

· Launching an offensive against Malaya

· Assailing Hong Kong

· Raiding Guam

· Attacking the Philippine Islands

· Raiding Wake Island

· Invading Midway Island

FDR’s request was granted of course. Four days later, on December 11^th, Germany, and Italy, which had signed a three-nation pact with Japan on September 27, 1940, declared war on the United States. In his prepared statement, Adolph Hitler declared Germany and Italy were compelled to defend their ally, Japan. At that point, it’s fair to say it was on! From December 7, 1941, until Japan surrendered, unconditionally, on September 2, 1945, global Armageddon raged. Over those 3 ¾ years, many of the key operational dynamics would shift, change, or otherwise be altered, as is always the case during periods of war. During this time frame:

Benito Mussolini quit his post as Dictator of Italy
U.S. Flag raised over Iwo Jima
FDR died; Harry S. Truman was sworn in as President of the United States
Italians killed Mussolini
Adolph Hitler committed suicide
U.S. tested first Atomic Bomb at Los Alamos (New Mexico) National Laboratory
Winston Churchill lost re-election bid
U.S. dropped the (Atomic) Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, three days apart
Allied Nations celebrated VJ (Victory over Japan) Day
Japan surrendered, unconditionally

The War had actually begun in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland on September 1^st; it lasted six years.  During that span, in what was the second World War in 25 years, every major world power was involved in a war for global domination.  By the end, over 60 million people had lost their lives.  Ultimately, the conclusion of the war was precipitated by the United States unleashing the cataclysmic and previously unknown forces of nuclear weaponry.  It was only after the U.S. destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in a three-day period that the Japanese Empire was persuaded to surrender, which for all practical purposes, ended the war.

So it is with much respect, simple humility, and a heavy dose of sadness that I salute the millions pressed to service to defend the world as we know it against the rapacious desires of those in search of global hegemony and world domination.  In any version of this story America deserves a special place.  As a nation we resisted direct involvement until victimized by a lethal and unprompted frontal assault.  After engaging, we worked with allied forces to try and repel the efforts of relentless transgressors.  Finally, when nothing else worked, we introduced a wild card, the most lethal weapons system known to man, the Atomic Bomb.  The resulting death and devastation was so stunningly pervasive, a heretofore recalcitrant enemy was forced, immediately to “call it off.”

We now live in the nuclear age of course.  Many nations have access to nuclear weapons, while others are trying to attain them.  What the future holds is uncertain.  But we know for sure that any number of countries have The Bomb at their disposal, and there are enough nuclear weapons stored around the world to destroy the earth, many times over.  With what should be mixed emotions, as Americans, we also know that the only nation ever to unleash the fury of this potential “world-ender” is us, as in the U.S.  In that regard, it was then, and remains today, an absolute truth, “December 7, 1941: A Date Which Will Live In Infamy Redux ’24!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the links: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.comand/or http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com.Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5166

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infamy_Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE

http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/day-of-infamy/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

http://framework.latimes.com/2011/12/06/pearl-harbor-photos/#/0

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/harford/opinion-talk/ph-ag-edit-pearl-1207-20111206,0,5066736.story

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=248401

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/pearl-harbor-day-december-7-1941-a-date-live-infamy-pearl-harbor-photos-gallery-1.25192

http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/tmirhdee.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/11/newsid_3532000/3532401.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamos_National_Laboratory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II

http://www.worldwar-2.net/

http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2011/12/december-7-1941-date-which-will-live-in.html

http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2024/12/december-7-1941-day-which-will-live-in.html

A Time for Giving Thanks, Redux '24

2024-11-27T00:20:00.001-05:00

It’s time to Break It Down!

This is a vintage post, originally pinned November 24, 2010, and subsequently edited and re-posted every year since 2013, including November 27, 2013, November 26, 2014, November 25, 2015, November 23, 2016, November 22, 2017, November 21, 2018, November 27, 2019, November 25, 2020, November 24, 2021, November 23, 2022, November 22, 2023, and today, November 27, 2024.

Still, it was not a given that I would re-share this post today. As I weighed recent events, numerous options presented themselves, including, the still relatively new Speaker of the House, the recently approved agreement to forestall a government shutdown, POTUS’ 81st Birthday, Monday, the dueling criminal charges of Donald Trump and Hunter Biden, the GOP impeachment inquiry into President Biden, Clarence Thomas’ protégé-led federal judge panel striking down another tool in the arsenal of civil rights enforcement, and finally, of course, the brand new hostage release/prisoner exchange deal, between Israel and Hamas. No dissenting opinions were registered. After earnestly deliberating the question of today’s topic, I put the matter to a vote. It was unanimous; me, myself, and I decided to go with Thanksgiving.

As in the past, since it is Thanksgiving Week, this post will deviate from the standard fare. I know that travel schedules (in some cases impacted by weather events, and COVID-19, again this year), meal planning, family time, shopping, football, basketball, parades, and if there is any time remaining, relaxation, will be the dominant theme this week.

However, it is Wednesday, so there shall be a blog.

Those among us who have perfected humility, and ascended to a genuine Nirvana state, have no doubt also elevated giving thanks to an art form. The rest of us must fully invest our appreciation in the notion, “That’s why we have Thanksgiving!”

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, which kicks off what we commonly refer to as the Holiday Season. Almost instinctively, Thanksgiving and Christmas come to mind. Yet, there is so much more than that to the Season.

Over the next 54 days, many of us will enjoy succulent feasting at Thanksgiving, exchange gifts and contribute to the needy during Hanukkah. We will buy, give, exchange, and/or receive, and (in far too many instances) return gifts at Christmas, eat, drink, and celebrate the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa, and party and toast the dawn of 2022 on New Year’s Day. We will honor the life and works of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on MLK Day. In addition, even in these tough (though improving) economic times, further complicated by soaring inflation, this weekend, millions of Americans will pay (literally) homage to our most celebrated of shoppers’ holiday weekend, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, by rising early, and proceeding to scour the aisles for those perfect gifts…and if not perfect, at least cheap, relatively speaking. There are even some precociously enterprising businesses that will start the shopping clock Thursday (though, fewer than in the recent past). Sigh!

In some previous years, I have recounted my reasons for being thankful. This year, like most, I find that I have more reasons than ever to sit contemplatively in humble repose, and affirm boldly, that I know, without caveat, not only the goodness, no the greatness of God, but also of his inestimable and inexhaustible beneficence. I thank Him for deliverance, and for imbuing me with the sense and sensibility to discern the distinction between Kairos and Chronos, Greek concepts for God’s time, and man’s time, respectively.

In this the Year of our Lord and Savior, 2024, I have again been reminded, God really does have a sense of humor. Welcome back Donald Trump. I Thank you God, dearly and daily for your gloriously ineffable wit. Hallelujah, Amen!

Eons ago, when I was a college student, I pledged a fraternity. It is familiarly known as the Oldest, Boldest, and Coldest, but I digress. The point of this reference is that during the erstwhile pledge process, as prospective initiates, we were required to learn and recite several classic poems. There were many, each selected to convey a specific life lesson. Some of them have stayed with me, but none more than Invictus, written by English poet, William Ernest Henley (1849-1903).

The Latin translation for Invictus is Undefeated. You may recall it, but just in case, see it below:

Invictus (Latin for Undefeated) By William Ernest Henley:

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

So, as you go about your way tomorrow, and all the tomorrows that follow, recognize that Thanksgiving, at its core, is not simply a day on the calendar, or of the epic epicurean experience. It is a spirit that dwells within each of us, an impulse that prompts us to thank God (for enabling us to be undefeated), and a level of insight that compels us to graciously share His blessings with our fellow men and women. Indeed, every day is “A Time for Giving Thanks, Redux ’24!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: https://thesphinxofcharlotte.com/. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box. Consult the links below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kairos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ernest_Henley

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year’s_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr._Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2024/11/a-time-for-giving-thanks-redux-24.html

To the Victor Go the Spoils: Trump Takes a Victory Lap

2024-11-20T02:11:00.005-05:00

It's time to Break It Down!

Donald Trump, the former and future President has been the President in waiting for two weeks now. He, along with those who supported him are exuberantly immersing themselves in the moment…as well they should. That’s how democracy works. There will be, and always would have been, a peaceful transfer of power…as long as Trump won. Remember January 6, 2021? Trum’s supporters all emphasize he won, so let’s look forward, not backward. That would be a fair, and much more resonant point, if only Mr. Trump had embraced that outlook back in late 2020, and early 2021. Hell, even to this day, he has refused to concede he lost the election. But I digress.

Trump’s supporters claim Trump had a massive win, and with it, a mandate. Well, yes, sort of. Why sort of? He did win all 7 of the swing states. That is a compelling argument. However, even though he did amass more votes than Kamala Harris, it was technically, not a two-person race. In addition to Ms. Harris, Jill Stein, Cornel West, and even Rober F. Kennedy, Jr. appeared on some ballots. The result is, at the end of the day, Trump failed to reach 50% of the vote. He won by a plurality. So, in some ways, it’s not the dominant performance that it may have appeared to be two weeks ago. He massed 312 Electoral votes; just 5 more than Joe Biden did in 2020. But to draw a finer point on putting the matter in context, Barack Obama won 365 Electoral votes in 2008, and 332 Electoral votes in 2012. You know what, I don’t recall a single Republican proclaiming Obama had a mandate, in either year and he bested Trump’s Electoral vote total by 20 in 2012, and by 53 in 2008, so miss me with the faux narrative.

Trump won, and many Democrats seem surprised by that result. But surprise doesn’t equate to mandate. As it currently stands, his actual margin of victory is the 44^th worst out of 51 elections since 1824. He won. Let’s leave it at that.

Winning does have its privileges. And Trump is taking full advantage. He has moved quickly to build his cadre of appointments and nominees. So far, they include:

Chief of Staff – Susie Wiles

Steven Cheung – White House Communications Director

Karoline Leavitt - White House Press Secretary

Matt Gaetz – Attorney General

Todd Blanche - Deputy Attorney General

Dr. Mehmet Oz Administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Linda McMahon – Education Secretary

Tulsi Gabbard – Director of National Intelligence

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – Department of Health and Human Services

Pete Hegseth (Fox News) – Secretary of Defense

Stephen Miller – Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy

Tom Homan – Border Czar

Mike Huckabee – U.S. Ambassador to Israel

Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy - Heads of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) Musk is likely to serve as an outside consultant, evading a requirement for Senate approval

Sean Duffy (Fox News) - Secretary of Transportation

Marco Rubio – Secretary of State

Elise Stefanik - Ambassador to the United Nations

Lee Zeldin Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

Howard Lutnick – Commerce Secretary

Brendan Carr – Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission

John Radcliffe – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Kristi Noem – Secretary of Homeland Security

Doug Burgum – Secretary of Interior

Doug Collins - Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Chris Wright - Secretary of the Department of Energy

Mike Waltz – National Security Advisor

William McGinley – White House Counsel

Jay Clayton – U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York

During the campaign, Trump promised to visit vengeance on those he felt opposed him. His has offered several appointments that push the upper limits of reason. He has signaled that he fully expects the Senate to confirm them, or provide him the option to make recess appointments, a kind of wonky exception to regular order, whereby, when the Senate is in recess, the President can make appointments that would normally be subject to advice and consent.

To be clear, not all of Trump’s appointments are controversial in nature. But some are. Below are a few of the ones that are.

Gaetz, Musk, Hegseth, Kennedy – allegations of sexual improprieties, including lawsuits, and Congressional investigations

Tulsi Gabbard – Democrat turned Republican is suspected of being a Russian sympathizer, and a Bashar al-Assad (Syrian President) apologist.

Mehmed Oz – Promoted several weight loss products, deemed false advertising, and drawing Congressional scrutiny.

Marco Rubio – Forever Little Marco

Kristi Noem – In her book, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward, tells a story about killing her 14-month-old female dog, “Cricket,” which she shot and killed because the dog did not submit to training for pheasant hunting, due to an aggressive personality. Michael Vick is giving this one the side eye.

Sean Duffy – Like Pete Hegseth, a Fox News alum.

Mike Huckabee – Asserted “There is no such thing as a Palestinian. Peace in the Middle East?

The argument that Trump won, and therefore deserves to get to pick the Cabinet he wants will probably prevail in most of these cases. Like it or not that’s politics. It underscores the crucial nature of voting in every election. But it is what it is. We are here now. Whether you like it or not, “To the Victor Go the Spoils: Trump Takes a Victory Lap!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com. Find a new post each Wednesday.

Consult the link below for more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post:

http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2024/11/to-victor-go-spoils-trump-takes-victory.html