What Happened in Myanmar Can (and Did) Happen in the US

For nearly three hundred years, the American democracy has been a shining light in a world in which dictators and autocrats still rule.

As we all know, on January 6th, there was an attempted coup to overturn our democracy. Thankfully, it was stopped before any real damage could be done.

In Myanmar, there was also a revolt by the military after an election. But this revolt was a success. The leaders of the democratically elected government have been imprisoned. General Min Aung Hlaing is, for all intents and purposes, in charge.

I don’t know about anyone else, but this is another reminder that a democratic government does not exist on thin air. It requires that both lawmakers and citizens fully participate. Only then will it last for generations, if not centuries.

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RIP Dustin Diamond

Whether they like it or not, when an actor plays an iconic character, that character stays with them for the rest of their life.

For a certain generation, Dustin Diamond will always be known as Samuel “Screech” Powers, one of teenagers on the 90’s high school sitcom, Saved by the Bell. He passed away from cancer earlier today, he was 44.

Looking on the show with adult eyes, I have a new appreciation for Screech. Unlike the rest of the main cast, he was not one of the “pretty people”. He was socially awkward, far from modelesque, and despite his academic intelligence, not always the brightest bulb in the box. Forever chasing after Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies), Screech never quite understood that the crush he had on her was one sided. But he had the biggest heart and never failed to be there for his friends.

Screech was more than just the comic relief. He was representative of many teenagers who want to be cool, but never completely figure out how to be cool.

Though his career profile after SBTB was not the same as his co-stars, he will always be remembered for being part of a show that defined a generation.

May his memory be a blessing. Z”l.

The Long Song Pilot Review

Historical fiction is more than just a story based on facts. It has the ability to make the modern person think about where we have come and where we are going.

The new three part miniseries, The Long Song (based on the novel of the same name by the late author Andrea Levy), premiered last night on PBS. July (Tamara Lawrance) was born a slave on the island of Jamaica in the 19th century. She is taken as a child from her mother to work as a personal maid for Caroline Mortimer (Hayley Atwell) and given the new name of Marguerite. Caroline is petty, selfish, and self-serving.

When the slaves start to revolt and talk of freedom, things start to change for both July and Caroline. That change is represented by the new overseer, Robert Goodwin (Jack Lowden).

Like many Americans, I was only taught about slavery within the United States. But I was not entirely aware about slaves that were kept by Brits living and working in Jamaica. I enjoyed the first episode. Caroline is a character that is similar to Scarlett O’Hara (aka, you love to hate her), played to perfection by Atwell. Lawrance is brilliant as July, continually outwitting her mistress. The brief introduction of Robert Goodwin (Lowden) toward the end of the episode is just enough to stir the plot up further, making me at least want to watch the second and third episodes.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

The Long Song airs on PBS on Sundays at 10PM.