Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna, wearing a pre-COVID mask, and Red Bank activist and Board of Education member Sue Viscomi. photo via Viscomi’s facebook page
By Tommy DeSeno
“There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by
those who hear it.” – William James
A regrettable development in American culture is that racism
is being obscured by false claims of racism.
Both destroy their targets.
If a racist is one of the worst things a person can be, then
falsely claiming someone is a racist is one of the worst things you can do to a
person. We are in a current whirlwind of
Cancel Culture and instant ostracization by social media. Those who are
careless labeling others as racist can easily ruin the life of someone who had
been careful not to be one. No one should have such power over the reputation
of others, but in these odd times where the Internet is forever, everyone does.
I dare not fight; but I will wink and hold out mine iron. Shakespeare, Henry V, II:1
The Star Ledger is running a story about the fate of Tillie (I’d
add a puke emoji after saying his name if I knew how).
If you can’t get past the paywall, the Star Ledger story is
about the non-art cartoon mural of a psycho named Tillie that was once on the outside
wall of the old Palace Amusements, knocked down long ago.
After over 40 years observing, studying and serving on
the political stage I am disturbed by what I see going on in politics today. Back
in 1980 when first elected in South Belmar (now Lake Como) I can’t remember the
intrusion of politicians (Federal, State or County) in our day to day lives
like I see today.
What bothers me most about today seems to be a lack of
understanding from citizens of how politics really work. Real politics, not fantasy promises.
The Republican Party is in chaos as Donald Trump continues to rule with an iron fist even though he left the White House in disgrace. Dissenters dare not speak up against The Donald.
In the 1960s anti-war activists adopted songs like the Eve of Destruction and For What It’s Worth as their anthems. Disenchanted youth feared that the world was on the verge of collapse; we were nearing the end of days. Concurrently, the civil rights activists were singing the hopeful “We Shall Overcome.” (Black folks singing an upbeat and emboldening song written by a white guy would be frowned upon today.) Both groups were buoyed by the blessing of free speech. Their voices were heard. Attempts at silencing them only made their voices louder and more widespread. Even people on the sidelines began to pay attention.
We’ve met a few times.
Not in any way you’d remember.
Just a fan running into you at Asbury’s bars. I have a picture of us meeting at The Jeffersonin
Asbury in the early 80’s. I was a
teenager working the boardwalk and racing Asbury’s “Circuit” in the 70’s. One of the kids “huddled on the beach in the
mist,” if you will.
Goals are endpoints. Missions are plans/strategies to achieve goals. Our “goal”, and it’s one we should shoot for, is to get 70% of the adult NJ population vaccinated by the end of June. We need to understand the mission we’ll need to accomplish to achieve our goal.
Former NJ GOP State Chair Doug
Steinhardt is the wrong choice to represent the Republican Party in New
Jersey’s 2021 gubernatorial elections for many reasons. The below list of why
he should be unacceptable to the grassroots, Trump supporters, veterans of the
Tea Party movement, those who want transparency, and those dedicated to party
building amongst others, is not exhaustive – but brace yourself – it is
alarming:
The murder of “Liberty and Justice for All” is happening at this very moment in the last country left on earth where people run to find freedom. Three more nails were driven into the coffin of our 1st Amendment Rights in the last few weeks. Many unprecedented attacks have occurred over the past decade but in recent weeks some of the most blatant and heinous acts against our Constitution and our Free Society, have been thrust upon us. Unfortunately, as “sheep to the slaughter”, too many Americans are watching with No reaction.
