Cramm This Book: So You Know WTF Is Going On in the World Today Book Review

When we get to a certain age, it is not uncommon to see the younger generation as lazy, entitled, or selfish. While this may be true for some, the truth is that young people are not always what their elders think they are.

Cramm This Book: So You Know WTF Is Going On in the World Today was published last month. Written by The Cramm founder Olivia Seltzer, this book takes both historical events and news headlines and explains them in a way that Gen Z would understand. Diving into contemporary issues (Black Lives Matter, Me Too, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, climate change, etc), she explains the history behind each and how that history has impacted its current status.

Reading this book gives me hope for the future. Though it is written for a certain audience, the appeal does not stop beyond the age of 25. Her ability to translate the past into understandable chunks is the key to its success. Its the type of book that if used in an academic setting, has the potential to make history come alive and feel relevant.

My only issue is that the section on what is going on in the Middle East (with Israel in particular) is missing some important facts that complete the story.

Other than that, do I recommend it? Yes.

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Thoughts On the Anniversary of George Floyd’s Death

It is amazing how a year can change us or the world as we know it to be.

One year ago today, George Floyd‘s life was taken by Derek Chauvin. Floyd could have been just another number, another causality of the police brutality against Americans of color. Instead, he became an icon and a match that would light the fire of protest against prejudice and hatred for people across the country and the world.

I wish that it did not have to be this way. Mr. Floyd did not have to die that day. But because he was a black man in America, Chauvin decided that he was both judge and juror.

May the memory of George Floyd forever be a blessing and a reminder of how powerful and pervasive racism can be.

Z”l.

Justice for Ashli Babbitt? How About Justice for Brian Sicknick?

Justice is not always black and white. Sometimes, it can be twisted to fit one’s perspective.

Today is a month since the riot in D.C. If we lived in a perfect world, those who perpetrated this heinous act would be facing a judge. But we don’t live in a perfect world. There is a certain segment of the population who believe that it was the rioters who were wronged, not the police who tried to stop them or those who were forced to hide and fear for their lives.

The phrase “Justice for Ashli Babbit” has been making the rounds in right wing circles and media.

Starts at 1:42

What gets me riled up is the hypocrisy. They claim to be for “law and order”, but only when it suits them. When left wing groups like Antifa or Black Lives Matter make their voices heard, then it becomes a problem that must be solved. My question is, if we are asking for justice, what about Brian Sicknick? Officer Sicknick gave his life to protect the constitution and our long held political traditions that these rioters claim to hold near and dear.

Justice is supposed to be blind. We are supposed to judge the case and the accused on the facts, not on emotion or a mob mentality. The problem is that what happened on January 6th is based on both. Until we are able to review the events of that day with a clear head, regardless of where one stands politically, this will continue to be nothing but a mess.

There is no Justice for Breonna Taylor

On March 13th of this year, Breonna Taylor was an ordinary woman, sleeping in her bed. Then the police barged into her home and she became another icon of racism and police brutality.

The outcome of the trial against the police officers who killed her was announced today. The grand jury in Kentucky declined to charge the officers for her murder.

Once again, the message is clear. Americans of color are unimportant and their lives are disposable. The police can do whatever they want, without fear of the justice system catching up to them. I wish I could say that in 2020, things have changed. But nothing has changed and another life was needlessly lost.

The NBA Strike is More Than a Night Off

Whether we know it or not, we often look to celebrities as examples of how to behave or not behave.

Since May, when George Floyd was murdered, protests have exploded all over the country. Across Hollywood and the sports world, celebrities have stepped up in the name of justice and equality.

With the shooting of Jacob Blake last weekend, America was again reminded that police still single out Americans of color. In response, several NBA teams have chosen to strike. Jared Kusher, sticking his nose in where it did not belong, claimed that they were “taking the night off“.

The full quote is as follows:

“The NBA players are very fortunate that they have the financial position where they’re able to take a night off from work without having to have the consequences to themselves financially.”

While it is true that they will still earn their salaries, this strike is not about money. It is about racial inequity and violence that still exists in the United States. These players are using their platform to take a stand and send a message.

Not that Kushner or anyone around him would be able to understand that message.

Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt Book Review

Disagreeing with another person is a normal part of life. The problem becomes with the disagreement creates a gulf that divides us and makes us see the other person as different or other.

In his new book, Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt, Arthur C. Brooks wants to remind  his readers that in spite of the ideas that divide us, there is still a way to for us to come together. We can still disagree on any number of issues, but we have to find a way to live and work together. It is possible, Mr. Brooks argues, but it takes effort, especially when it is easier to rely on baseless accusations and schoolyard-esque name calling.

One of my favorite examples in this book was a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement and a man who supports you know who. Politically and ideologically, these men couldn’t be more different. But yet they were able to find common ground to agree on something. This is the point of the book. Mr. Brooks understands that there are many in this country who are very far apart when it comes certain ideas or subjects. That’s fine but, we must make an attempt to find something to agree upon.

I recommend it.